oe

THE ee,

BNNUAL REGISTER,

on A VIEW or tue

PL ds dA oY:
POLITICS,

AND

LITERATURE,
For the YEAR 1803.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR W. OTRIDGE AND SON 5 LONGMAN, HURST, REES AND ORME 5
CLARKE AND SON 5 B. CROSBY ; J. BELL; R. FAULDER 3 CUTHELL
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By J. Srevey, of Buckingham, and J. Wricut, of St. John’s Square,

1805.

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Iw offering to the public the present volume of a
work of such long established reputation as the An-
nual Register—and the former volumes of which have
already assumed a place of no inconsiderable rank
among the historical documents of our country—we
cannot but feel an anxiety proportioned to the subjects
of which we have had to treat.

Already, in the close of our preceding volume, we
had anticipated the renewal of the war, that great
event which forms the leading feature of the period,
whose transactions are here related ; and which will,
in its influence, too probably pervade all the political
relations of the country during a long course of suc-
ceeding years.

At a time, when the public press appeared almost
exclusively devoted, to the object of prolonging the
delusive

bed
delusive expectation of permanent tranquillity, we
ventured to offer it as our opinion, that a Peace ne-
gociated in a tone of submission, and concluded on
terms of manifest inferiority, with an ambitious and
overbearing neighbour, was not likely to be of long
continuance. Our opinion was grounded on the ex-
perience of all history, and on the very first axioms
_ of political wisdom. We claim from it no merit of
extraordinary foresight, but the higher merit, because
it is more rare, of delivering, in opposition to the ge-
neral wishes and prevailing prejudices of our coun-
try, a sincere and honest opinion, upon a pointvof the
highest importance to the public welfare. The same
spirit will, we trust, be found to obtain, throughout
every part of the present publication; and will not
cease to animate it, so long as the endeavours of those
to whom its conduct is entrusted, shall continue to
prove acceptable to the public.

In speaking of the transactions of the year, of
which this volume treats, the task has indeed been
less difficult, because no difference can be entertained
by any candid and dispassionate man with respect to
the character and principles of the public enemy ;
whose aggression constitutes, as we have already
stated, the prominent feature of our present narra-
tive: nor can any subject of the British empire, or
any friend to the principles of liberty and, justice,
whatever be his country, ayoid partaking in that sa-

| tisfaction

kha, *]
tisfaction which we have expressed in the general
display of zeal, courage, and public spirit, which has,
on the present occasion, reflected so much honour on
- the inhabitants of these islands, and so well distin-
guished them from the nations of the continent.

All that could be. wished for, and more than could
be required, by any government, from the people
whose affairs it administers, has, on the present occa-
sion, not only been given with cheerfulness, but press-
ed upon our rulers with earnestness and zeal. The
voluntary offers of service of every description, have
anticipated their requests, and have even outrun their
wishes. With them remain the task—and with them
it still remains—a pleasing task if well understood, a
glorious one if well executed—the task of directing
this spirit in its proper channel; of applying it to its
proper objects; and of rendering it ultimately availa-
ble to the success of the sacred cause, of national ho-
nour and national independence.

By this theme, the nearest to the heart of every
Briton, we have been, in some degree, led away from
the immediate object of this address ; which is, to ex-
press our gratitude for the countenance we have re-
ceived, and to bespeak its continuance by a pledge of
that sincerity of intention, and uprightness of prin-
ciple, by which alone we can hope to merit it; and of
that manly freedom of opinion and discussion which

become

[Lt aw J

become British writers treating of the imterests of
their country, and addressing themselves to British

~
readers.

We trust, also, that, in the o-her departments of
this work, our desire to deserve the public patronage
will be found to have excited us to such endeavours,
as are not wholly unworthy of it. The value of
our literary extracts, must, of necessity, depend in
some degree on the character and merit of the se-
veral publications, to which the year may have given
birth: yet, few indeed are the works which may not,
by judicious selection, afford materials both for the
entertainment and instruction of the readers of a mis-
cellany such as this: and whatever discredit the con-
fession may reflect upon our own labours, we do not
hesitate to declare, that, far from experiencing any
deficiency in this respect, we believe and hope, that
the state of literature, both in its useful and its orna-
* mental branches, is daily improving in every part of
this United Kingdom.

fee 24% THE

THE

ANNUAL REGISTER,

For the YEAR 18093.

HISTORY

OF

PB y. Late

oe ae

CHAP. I.

Preliminary Observations. Meeting

of Parliament.—Election of a Speaker.

—Mr. Abbot proposed.—Chosen without opposition.—King’s Speech.—

Address moved by Lord Arden:—Seconded by Lord Nelson.—Speeches of .

the Marquis of Abercorn—Lord Carlisle—the Duke of Norfolk—Lords
Grenville—Pelham—Carysfort—and H, obart.— Address carried nem.
diss.— Moved the same day in the Lower House by Mr. Trench.—Seconded

by Mr. Curzon.—Speeches of Mr.

Cartwright—Sir John Wrottesley—

Mr. Pytches—Fox —C anning—Lord Hawkesbury —Mr. Windham—
Addington — T, Grenville — Lord Castlereagh—and Mr. Whitbread.

—Address carried unanimously,

A Rees parliament, which assem-
bled in the winter of the year
1802, was the first which had been
summoned since the union between
Great Britain and Ireland; By the
provisions of the act of union, Ire-
land returned to the imperial par-
liament thirty-two peers (includ-
ing four spiritual lords), and one
hundred commoners, The addition

Vol. XLV,

of so many members, was a circwia=

stance which must eventually pro-

duce a most powerful influence on
the state of parties in Great Britain.
It was on this ground, principally,
that Mr. Fox opposed the legislative
union with Ireland from the begin-
ning; he apprehended, that from
the manner in which the Irish re-
presentatives were returned, they

would

/

2: ANNUAL RE

would be constantly found in the
ranks of whoever was the minister
of the day, and would give him apre-
ponderating influence over every
constitutional opposition that eee
be made in parliament; and,
this point of view, he thought the
union between the two countries
injured most materially the consti-
‘tution of Great Britain. Whether
those fears were well or ill founded,
the history of the times we live in
will best evince; if however it should
prove, that the representatives of
Ireland were equally independent
of ministerial influence with those
of Great Britain; in that case it
must be allowed, that such was the
alarming aspect of affairs at the
opening of the first imperial parlia-
ment, that all the united talents of
_ the empire appeared necessary, not
“only to secure its honour, but its
very existence. Ifthe Irish repre-
sentation was so constituted, as to
e€all the best talents of their coun-
try to assist in the grand council of
the empire at this momentous Crisis ;
in such case the uffion would doubt-
Jess have been of immense advan-
tage to both countries, and to the
interests of the empire at large;
this however is a question that ra-
ther belongs to the page of history
than to the temporary nature of
a periodical work.

On Tuesday the 16th of Navan
ber the parliament was called to-
gether. The lord chancellor, in
the mode usual on similar occa-
sions, communicated to the house
of lords that his majesty had ap-
pointed commissioners to open the
business of the sessions. The lords
commissioners who attended, were
.the archbishop of Canterbury, the
lord chancellor, and the duke of

GISTER, 1805.

Portland. The commons attended
to hear the commission read, and
retired to choose their speaker.
The peers, who were present, then
took the oaths, and the commons
proceeded to the election. The
members, who attended in the
house of dies ees being sworn by
the clerk,

Sir W. Scott rose, and addressed
the house in a speech of uncommon
neatness. He pointed out the great
importance of a proper choice in
the person who was to be their
speaker: the various talents which
should be combined in the person
who was to fill that high office, the
principles which he ought to have
of loyalty and attachment to the
‘sovereign, and a profound venera-
tion for the constitution. After
describing, with great eloquence,
the rare assemblage of talents and
virtues which were necessary to fill
such a situation, he concluded by
moving “ that Mr. Abbot be again
elected to the discharge of the of
fice of speaker of this house.”

The hon. Henry Lascelles second-
ed the motion. He observed, that
if this assemblage of virtues and ta-
lents were at all times necessary in
the person who was to fill the situ
ation of speaker of that house, they
were more peculiarly necessary at
a time when not only the fate of
this kingdom, but of Europe, might
be involved in the future delibera-
tions of parliament. He concluded
by warmly seconding the motion of
sir W. Scott.

Mr. Abbot then rose, and ina

very handsome manner expressed
his high sense of the honour that
was intended to be conferred upon
him. Although he declared that
he felt strongly his own inability to
discharge

‘
*

HISTORY OF EUROPE. =f

discharge the important duties of
the office, yet he put himself at the

' disposal of the house, and was sa-

tisfied to act as they should direct.

Mr. Abbot was then introduced
into the chair, as speaker, and re-
turning thanks for the honour that
had been conferred upon him, hoped
that the house would judge of his
gratitude more by his future con-
duct, than by any words he could
find to express himself.

Lord Castlereagh congratulated
the speaker on his re-election, in
an appropriate speech.—The house
then adjourned.

On the 17th of November the
house of commons attended at the
bar of the house of lords, with their
newly-elected speaker; who, after

Informing the lords commissioners

of the choice of the commons havy-
ing fallen upon him, expressed a
hope (according to the usual form),
that his majesty might allow the
commons to go to a new election,
in order that they might find a
person worthier of that high office
than himself.

Thelerd chancellor then express-
edhis majesty’s entire approbation of
the choice of the house of commons.

The speaker, after returning
thanks, claimed, as usual, the free-
dom of speech and other privileges
of the house of commons.

At half past two,-on the 23d, his
Majesty came down to the house of
peers. The commons being order-
éd to attend, he addressed his par-
Hament in the following manner:

«* My Lords and Gentlemen,

*‘ It is highly gratifying to me to
resort to your advice and assistance,
after the opportunity which has
been recently afforded of collecting
the sense of my people.

‘¢ The internal prosperity of the
country has realized our most san-
guine hopes; we have experienced »
the bounty of divine providence in
the produce of an abundant harvest.

‘* The state of the manufactures,
commerce, and revenue of my
United Kingdom, is flourishing be-
yond example; and the loyalty and
attachment which are manifested to
my person and government, afford
the strongest indications of the just
sense that is entertained of the nu-
merous blessings enjoyed under the
protection of our happy constitu-
tion. : ;

‘“« In my intercourse with foreign
powers ih been actuated by
a sincere disposition for the main-
tenance of peace. It is nevertheless
impossible for me to lose sight of
that established and wise system of
policy, by which the interests of
other states are connected with our
own; and I cannot be therefore in-
different to any material change in
their relative condition or strength.
My conduct will be invariably re-
gulated by a due consideration of
the actual situation of Europe, and
by a watchful solicitude for the per-
manent welfare of our people.

“You will, I am persuaded, agree
with me in thinking that it is incum-
bent on us to adopt those means of
security which are best calculated to
afford the prospect of preserving to
my subjects the blessings of peace.”
« Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

‘« T have ordered the estimates of
the ensuing year to be laid before
you, and I rely on your zeal and
liberality in providing for the vari-
ous branches of the public service,
which it is a great satisfaction to
me to think may be fully accom-
plished, without any considerable

B2 addition

4 ANNUAL REGISTER,

addition to the burdens of my peo-
ple.”
“ My Lords and Gentlemen,

“I contemplate, with the utmost:

Satisfaction, the great and increas-
ing benefits produced by that im-
portant measure which has united
the interests and consolidated the
tesources of Great Britain-and Ire-
and. The improvement and ex-
tension of these advantages will be
objects of your unremitting care
and attention. The trade and com-
merce of my subjects, so essential
to the support of public credit, and
of our*maritime strength, will, I
am persuaded, receive from you
every possible encouragement ; and
you will readily lend your assist-
-ance in affording to mercantile trans-
actions, in every part of my United
Kingdom, all the facility and ac-
commodation that may be consis-
tent with the security of the pub-
lic revenue.

“To uphold the honour of the
country, to encourage its industry,
to improve its resources, and to
maintain the true principles of the
constitution in church and state, are
the great and leading duties which
vou are called upon to discharge.
In the performance of them, you
may be assured of my uniform and
cordial support; it being my most
earnest wish to cultivate a perfect
harmony between me and my par-
lament, and to promote to the
utmost, the avelfare of my faithful
subjects, whose interests and hap-
piness I shall ever consider as in-
separable from my own.”

The same day the address was
‘moved in the house ef lords by
lord Arden, and in the commons
‘by Mr. Trench (of Galway.)

Lord Arden, after stating that

1803.

the prosperity of our commerce and
manufactures, the abundance of
the necessaries of life, and the unt-
versal spirit of loyalty and attach-
ment to the king and constitution
which now prevailed, justified com-
pletely what had fallen from his
majesty in his most gracious speech,
took particular notice of that part
of it which referred to the situation
of Europe. The order of domi
nion could not be there indefinitely
changed, without endangering the
security of thiscountry. Although
in the conclusion of the last war
we had reluctantly abandoned al-
lies, who had neither the power or
the will to make a stand for their
own political existence: yet there
were limits beyond which this plan
of conduct could not be extended.
He therefore thought the house
must approve of the resolution of
his majesty, to keep the vigilance of
the governmentawake to the changes
in the arrangement of continental
power; and that they would not
refuse such supplies, as the neces-
sary vigor of such preparation
must require. His lordship con-
cluded by moving the address,
which as usual, was an echo of the
speech from the throne.

The hero of the Nile (lord
Nelson) seconded the address, and
declared his approbation of a plan
of government, which promised to
maintain the antient dignity of the
country, without hastily throwing
away the blessings of peace. War
had not exhatisted our resources 5
our national industry had not been
slackened, nor had it been frustra-
ted of its rewards. The condition
of unexampled prosperity which
the country enjoys, immediately
after the late war, is such as would

reuder

mis TORY

render us inexcusable were we to
sacrifice its honor. He had him-
self seen much of the miseries of
war: he had himself seen horrors
of human distress which had made
an indelible impression on his heart;
He was therefore, in his inmost
soul, a man of peace: yet could he
not consent, for any peace however
fortunate, to sacrifice one jot of
England’s honor. Our honor was
the most valuable of our interests;
it was what had always procured
us the respect and regard of the na-
tions on the continent. The nation
had been satisfied with the sincere
spirit of peace, in which the Bri-
tish government negociated the late
treaty ; and if now a restless and
unjust ambition in those with whom
we desired a sincere amity has
given a new alarm; the country
doubtless would rather press the
government to assert its honor,
than shrink from the supplies which
a vigorous state of preparation
would require.

The marquis of Abercorn wished
to impress the house with the ne-
cessity ofattending, with more than
ordinary vigilance, to theawful and
critical situation of the country.
Upon the wisdom, policy, and reso-
lution of Parliament for a few
months, the very existence of this
country appeared to him to depend.
After adverting to the extraordinary
aggrandizement of our ambitious
and inveterate natural enemy, he
declared he was ready to give his
support to any ministers, who
would manfully adopt that system
which.the exigency of the times
required; but he should never give
4s countenance to any half mea-
sures, palliatives, or concessions.

dlis Lordship then paid the highest

OF EVDROPE 5

compliment to the vigorous mind
and unrivalled talents of Mr. Pitt,
and expressed his opinion to be
in favour of peace, which however he
thought was most likely to be pre-
served, by being prepared with such
means of defence as would enable
us to repel insult and agression.
He concluded by hoping, that the
unanimity of the house would con-
vince Europe, of the unanimous de~
termination of the nation, to support
and maintain their weight and im-~
portance in the scale of nations.

The earl of Carlisle congratula-
ted the house and the country on
the tone of the address, which he
hoped would have the happy effect
of inspiring publick confidence,
which was so peculiarly necessary
in the present state of the country:
he never had approved of the terms
of the peace, and considered the
present administration as weak in
its original formation, and he had
not expected them to gain any
fresh energy in their progress.
Ministers had hitherto appeared to
view with indifference the aggran-
dizement of France: it was an in-
difference which, at the same time
that it depressed the spirit of this
country, inflated the pride and con-
fidence of the French government
so much, that they set no bounds
to their ambition. On whatever
grounds his majesty’s ministers had
changed their opinions, he was
glad to find that they were changed ;
and he could not telp expressing
his most cordial approbation of the
present address.

The duke of Norfolk also cordi-
ally approved of the tone and terms
of the address: it was such as
became the dignity of the house,
and would doubtless have its dua

B3 weight

6 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1903 .

weight with the country at large. If
he supposed however, that the lan-
guage of the address arose merely
from a hope of the co-operation of
continental powers against France,
he should disapprove of it. He
looked to the innate strength, cou-
rage and public spirit of the country,
as the foundation of its security ;
and on that foundation alone, he
trusted that we should rise superior
to every difficulty which presented
itself. With this qualification then
which he had prescribed to himself,
the address met his hearty con-
currence.

Lord Grenville agreed that the
present was a very serious aspect
of affairs. The new parliament
had been assembled at a very awful
period, in which the public, doubt-
ful of the principles and policy of
the present ministers, were anxious
to learn whether we were to have
peace or war. ‘The interests and
happiness of Europe were nearly
destroyed by the inordinate ambi-
tion of the French government,
which was extending its power and
influence to the total subversion of
the liberties of mankind. It was
therefore better to meet the perils
of war with manly fortitude, than
to see with silent indifference the
subjugation of Europe. The speech
from the throne met in several of
its passages with his cordial concur-
rence: he thought many of its pro-
positions were a direct censure on
men in power, for their want of
capacity and vigilance in the direc-
tion of public affairs, He would
ask, was any attention paid to the
machinations of France between
the signature of the preliminary
and that of the definitive treaty?
Did not France during that interval

send a large fleet to the West Indies
without informing us of it? Did
she not take possession of Louisi-
ana? We saw Europe also pros-
trate at her feet, its territories
plundered, and its liberties destroy-
ed. Had we then boldly stood
forward in defence of her liberty,
France must have receded from her
desperate measures, discontinued
her depredations, and Europe would
have been sayed from the tyranny
of the French republic.

After the signature of the defini-
tive treaty, France pursued the
same line of conduct: The ink was
scarcely dry with which it was
signed, the wax scarcely cold with
which it was sealed; when France,
in violation of the treaty of Amiens,
began to add territory to territory to
the republic. Piedmont was the
first which fell under its griping
ambition. Had Great Britain, in
concert with Russia, remonstrated
at the time, France would not have
dared to annex it to her empire.
France, with her usual cunning,
first pretended to occupy Piedmont
merely as a military position, but
afterwards she thought fit to annex
it to her states. She made a treaty
with the king of Sardinia when he
was a-prisoner in his own capital;
but even then kis Sardinian majes-
ty had fortitude and fidelity enough
to refuse to act hostilely against
Great Britain, or to exclude the
English from his sea-ports; yet this
was the man whom we afterwards
so fully abandoned to the mercy of
the French government. When we
signed the definitive treaty we by
no means acknowledged this right
in France, nor had we abandoned,
our own right of interference for
the liberties and interests of au

HISTORY OF EUROPE vd

The definitive treaty was signed in
March, and ratified in June, In
the month of August, France took
upon herself to regulate and new
model the several states of Europe.
So early as the month of August,
she set about new modelling the
German empire. Our ministers
viewed this scene too with the
greatest indifference. The inter-
ests of another old and faithful
ally, the prince of Orange, were
also sacrificed at the peace of Ami-
ens. It was understood however,
and the noble marquis (Cornwallis)
who had concluded that peace, had
risen in his place and asked with an
honest warmth, ‘Could any man
suppose that a full indemnity was
not intended for the prince of
Orange?” And yet his rights have
been sacrificed. If any fears or
alarm can now be entertained of
the incapacity of this country to
combat France, they were owing to
the censurable and criminal con-
duct of the king’s servants, who had
dismantled the fleet and disbanded
‘the army, before they had any cer-
tain demonstrations of sincere and
permanent peace on the part of
France. ** Another part of his ma-
_ Jesty’s speech has my sincere appro-
bation; I mean that part which
recommends an augmentation of
our forces. This was certainly not
very pacific, but it shews that
ministers at length see the necessity
of vigor and watchfulness when op-
posed to an able and an active
government.” On the retrospect of
affairs he could not heip expres-
sing astonishment at the absurd
conduct of ministers, ‘* We have
now obtained peace, and yet, in-
_ stead of the boasted reductions and
savings which we were taught to

‘on the part of France.

expect, we were now to havea con-
siderable augmentation. In the
late encroachments on Switzerland,
they did not think it proper to in-
terfere, but now they find out that
it is necessary to be watchful of the
conduct of France. In order to
expect any real good, we must
have a total change of men and
measures. In the madness of mi-+
nisters for a hollow peace, they
sent out orders to abandon all our
conquests. It was reported, how-
ever, at present, that orders had
been sent out to retain such of our
conquests as had not been already
ceded: he feared those orders would
not arrive at the Cape of Good Hope
early enough to answer the end pro-
posed ;~ but the country has still
the happiness of possessing Malta,
whose commanding interest in the
Mediterranean is too great to be
abandoned by a wise and vigorous
government. From all those con-
siderations, he could not but state
that he had no confidence in the
present administration, Instead of
watching the operations of France
with an eager solicitude, they had
been aiding her against this country,
Their policy was something similar
to that of our ancestors, who gave
bribes to the Saxons and Danes, to
desist from the invasion of the coun~
try. Those bribes they applied to
the purchase of ships and ammuni-
tion, and subjugated the country,
In this manner we had surrendered
Martinique, &c, as a bonus not to
violate the peace. Let Malta be
added to this bribe, and the price
will be complete. We shall they
perhaps experience a similar attack
The war
was now coming to our own doors,
and no man could be absurd enough

B4 $e)

S ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

to suppose that France will be more
favourable to Great Britain, than to
Piedmont, Switzerland, &c. We had
no claim to her partiality.” His
Lordship concluded, by expressing
his opinion that Great Britain might
still be able to rouse the powers of
Europe, if its councils were under
the direction of a leader of courage
and capacity, of the man (Mr. Pitt)
to whom Europe looked up for the
preservation of its dearest nights and
diberties.

Lord Pelham hoped that neither
the house nor the country would
believe that there was any thing in
the speech which applied to the
augmentation of our forces, as if
war was inevitable. It was a mea-
sure of prudence rather than neces-
sity, and dictated by the present
appearance of affairs on the conti-
nent of Europe. As to our want
of confidence mn France, it may be
readily perceived that after such a
Jong and dreadful war, a spirit of
jealousy must long continue. This
was of itself a suflicient ground
for the watchfulness now recom-
mended.

Lord Carysfort expressed his re-
gret that both the speech from the
throne, and that from the noble se-
cretary, admitted that we were not
prepared at present to enter into
a contest with France. The treaty
of Amiens had certainly been vio-
lated, but while France was in pos-
sesion of the isle of Elba, and the
principal strong places of the Me-
diterranean, he could not conceive
that she would make the possession
of Malta a very important object.
‘Lord Hobart vindicated the con-
duct of administration from thé
charge of incompetency, advanced
by lord Grenyille; he thought it ne-

ea

cessary to recal to the recollection
of the house, that they had not
courted the situations they now
held. He regretted, as much as
any man, the resignation of the
noble lord and _ his colleagues in of-
fice, but that change was not pro-
duced by the measures of his ma~
jesty’s presentservants. He thought
that when the noble lord spoke of
the perilous situation of the coun-
try at the present moment, he had
forgotten the state in which he left
it, when he resigned; and if he
and his friends then chose to aban-
don their posts, when the country
was in real danger, he did not think
that on that account the house
should be told that the interests of
Europe had been sacrificed. His
majesty’s ministers concluded a
peace, when the objects of the war
were no longer attainable. The
noble lord so well knew the diffi-
culties of office, that he thought in
criminating the present administra~’
tion for incapacity, he was at the
same time criminating himself for
relinquishing his situation.

The question was then put upon
the address, and carried nemine
dissentiente.

In the house of commons, on the
same day, a similar address was
moved.

The hon. Mr. Trench (member
for Galway). rose, to propose an
address of thanks to his majesty.
He observed, that in a new parlia-
ment, which had been the first
called since the legislative union
with Ireland, it was necessary to
consider both the important conse~
quences of that event, as also of the
change from a state of war to that
of peace. After touching on the
prosperous situation of our trade
‘6 and

HISTORY! OF SEVUROP E

and manufactures, and the termin-
ation of the disturbances which had
agitated Treland, he cordially agreed
in his majesty’s gracious wishes to
preserve the peace, while, at the
same time, he was convinced that
the house must be impressed with
the necessity of keeping a vigilant
eye upon the continent, and being
always in a state of preparation ;
for his part, he did not think, at the
present time, that it was adviseable
for us to interfere much in the af-
fairs of the continent, without the
concert of other powers. He con-
cluded by expressing his confidence
that his majesty’s ministers would
conduct themselves in relation to
continental affairs, with firmness
and moderation; and that if peace be
not tenable on those grounds, they
will have the hearty concurrence
and united strength of the whole
empire for their support, should war
be the necessary alternative. He
then moved an humble address to his
majesty, in the language of the
speech.

The hon. Mr. Curzon seconded
the address, which was moyed. He
could not but view, with the greatest

satisfaction, the internal situation of

the country, both in respect to its
trade, manufactures, and domestic
tranquillity, as also to its abundant
harvest. With reference to its foreign
relations, the importance of pre-
serving peace, if it could be done
with honour, was sufficiently obyi-
ous. The acquisitions of France
upon the continent, and her extend-
ed line of maritime frontier, di-
rectly opposite our eastern coasts,
required a much stronger defensive
system, on our part, than was ever
before deemed necessary. He con-
cluded by declaring, that he per-

9
fectly coincided in the sentiments
expressed by the-honourable mover.

Mr. Cartwright agreed with the
honourable moyer, in thinking the
maintenance of peace desirable ;
and that the best means of preserv-
ing to the country its blessings were,
to shew ourselves prepared for the
extremity of war; considering the
present conduct of France, the root-
ed enmity of its ruler to thiscountry,
the pains he has taken to irritate the
feelings of the nation, and to degrade
its character abroad. Although he
was fully sensible of the calamities
of war, and the sacrifices which its
renewal would call for, still it was
necessary that vigorous defensive
preparations should be made for the
security of the state. He could not
help expressing his surprize at mi-
nisters having so suddenly disarmed
the country, and reduced all our
establishments. ‘This was a course
diametrically opposite to the prac-
tice of former ministers, who pro-
portioned their reductions to those
adopted by the enemy. We dis-
mantled our ships and dischar: ved
our men, with the same ac tivity
that the French have increased
theirs. However adviseable this
might be, merely on the ground of
economy, it was somewhat unac-
countable on the ground of policy.
After lamenting the tate of Switzer-
land, which however he conceived
that we had no power to remedy, he
concluded by expressing his concern
that those great talents which had
so long with :stood the tide of French
principles, and upheld the dignity
and honour cf this country, were
not now more actively employed in
its defence.

Sir John Wrottesley, notwith-
standing the respect he felt for the
gentlemen

10 ANNUAL RE

sentlemen at the head of administra-
tion, could not subscribe to all the
statements of our prosperity in the
speech. At least he was sure they
were not borne out by the situation
of the district in which he happened
to reside, He should however be
happy to find the assertions of mi-
nisters verified, although they were
not agreeable to his own. individual
experience. He feared ministers
had been equally mistaken in the
views of France, when they per-
mitted themselves to be lulled into
a fatal security by the professions
of that government. We had now
seen all the powers of the continent
reduced to a state of subjection;
we had seen the virtuous and unof-
fending Swiss nation prostrated be-
fore the feet of France,without even
a remonstrance on the part of this
country—and perhaps many of the
bravest Swiss patriots would soon
share the fate and dungeon of
Toussaint. He joined the hon. mem-
ber who spoke last, in regretting the
secession of those great talents,
which conducted the affairs of this
country through the vicissitudes of
the late war ; and hoped they would
again come fcrward in the defence
of the country, should war now
become necessary,

Mr. Pytches opposed not only
this address, but the whole spirit cf
addresses presented on similar occa-
sions, which he conceived were no-
thing but servile echoes of ministerial
sentiments into which the house had
been cajoled year after year, under
pretence of payingacustomary com-
pliment to his majesty. ‘The present
address was so heterogeneous in its
composition, and embraced so many
diflerent objects, that it appeared to
him a sort of political salmagundi.

GISTER, ©1863.

He disapproved of the practice of
speeches from the throne, which,
with the addresses that followed, he
considered a piece of bad machinery
and of servile adulation,which every
good monarch should execrate and
forbid. As to the particular parts
of this speech he should for the pre-
sent decline to observe upon them,
as they were topics which must be
discussed in the course of the ses
sion.

Mr. Fox said, he should not have
risen so early in the debate, if it had
not been for some expressions
which had fallen from other gentle-
men, which had made it necessary
for him to explain the grounds on
which he gave his. cordial assent
to the address. There was how-
ever one expression in his majesty’s
speech, respecting the blessings
which were to be dertved from a
legislative union with Ireland, which
he never could approve of, although
since that event had taken place
he must wish every success and
advantage might attend it. There
was another material part of the
address to which he had no objec-
tion, but would conceive highly
objectionable if he understood it
in the sense in which it had been
explained by the honourable mover,
who supposed his majesty had re+
commended generally the extends
ing our military establishments ;
whereas the speech made mention

“of no particular establishment, but
only of such establishment as might
be most calculated to give security
to the country. When the question
should come before the consider-
ation of the house, those who
thought large military establish=
ments the most likely to obtain this
object, would state their reasons:

those,

HISTORY OF EUROPE,

those, on the contrary,who thought
that small establishments were best
valculated both for the continuance
of peace, and for the renewal of
war if it should be necessary, would
have also an opportunity of deliver-
ing their sentiments. The words
in his majesty’s speech are general,
as they ought to be; and the question
is left entirely open to future con-
sideration, and the extent of the
establishment will be such as the
house may from the circumstances
of the country think right. One of
the gentlemen who had y preceded him
deemed to consider the tone of the
address too warlike, considering the
great power of France upon the
Continent. Another, on the con-
trary, whoseemed for the same reason
to consider it too pacific, spoke of
the declining state of our manufac-
tories, and thought that on that
account, we should be induced to
re-commence the war: he hoped
however that it would never be con-
sidered a ground for going to war,
because our manufactures were

otin as prosperous a state as we
‘could wish. Those who disap-
proved of the peace altogether,
might be consistent, if they now
wished to breakit: but those who
joined in the general approbation it
met with, both from the parliament
and the country, could hardly now,
with consistency, view the definitive
treaty in a light very different from
what they did when it was first
made. It was obvious, that if we
renewed the war with France, the
most natural way of carrying it
on with SUCCESS, would be again to
take possession of those places which
we had ceded.

laces, merely to take them again,
would place both the makers and

Now to give up.

lf

approvers of the peace, in avery
ridiculous point of view. How-
ever ardently he wished to see peace
preserved throughout Europe, yet
he would by no means say, that we
were not justified in going to war
ona mere point of honour; but be-
fore he could assent to this country
provoking a war onthe ground of its
injured honour, he must have the
case made out, and proved to his
satisfaction. He would allow, that
the preservation of national honour,
as well as the principles of self de-
fence, often made wars unavoidable;
if however, at the present moment, |
no such strong case could be made
out, he thought that there could not
be a time, in which circumstances
were less favourable to beginning
awar. He wished to know whether
France was for ever to be considered
our rival? Whether we were to be
always, even when apparently at
peace, in such a state of rivality
as bordered upon hostility? This
country appeared to him, never ta
have a fairer chance of superiority,
than at the epoch of the present
peace, As to the F rench navy, the
most timid had ceased to dread it.
The general objects of the French
government were, it appeured ato him,
to revive commerce, and improve its
commercial and manufacturing sys-
tem, by imitating the means which
have raised this. country. If so,

ought such *rivalship to give us any
alarm? We had gotten the start of
them, and would doubtless be able
Jong to keep the lead. Every step
that France takes in this course,

will be an advantage to the manu-
factures and commerce of this coun-
try. Ina contest ofthis kind with
France, we had every prospect of
being successful, The case must
Taleo) |) eR CIOR

12

therefore be made out very strongly
to him, before he could consent to
engage ina military war, in prefer-
ence to a commercial one: he
thought that the house could not so
far have forgotten the event of the
Jast ten vears war, as to wish a re-
newal of it: that was a war too car-
ried on with the co-operation of
several German princes, and which
in its commencement afforded some
hope of success, but yet that war
might be described,
“ Spe lata, eventu tristia.”

He must for ever repeat, that the
only reasons which could justity us
In wishing to change a state of peace
for war, would be either our self-
preservation, or what is equally dear
to us, the preservation of ourhonor.
Hlad. France either injured the one
or the other? One gentleman has
said, that since the signing of the
definitive treaty, France has not ap-
peared to entertain sentiments con-
formable to our interests or wishes.
Did any man suppose that when we
had made peace with the first con-
sul of France, he was immediately
to become our friend, and that he
would have a great consideration for
our interests? Those who made
the peace expressed a very different
sentiment, and allowed that * Eu-
rope was in a very unsatisfactory
state.” No man more regretted
than himself the agerandizement of
France, nor wished more sincerely
that it had been prevented ; but at
the same time he considered this ag-
grandizement as one of the gre: atest
agerayations of the conduct of the
lite ministers. But if we were
content to make peace when we ac-
knowledged Europe to be im an un-
satisfactory situation, we certainly
would not be justified in going to

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

war, merely because it continued in
the same situation. Knowing the
fact, sceing it, and statingit, we were.
content to make peace; and if we
are to feel our national honor much
hurt by any infringement. of the
peace, we must on the other. hand
be as cautious not to give offence, as
we are resolute not to receive any.
Leaving this ‘ unsatisfactory state
of Europe” out of the question, he
would ask what insults had France
offered to this country, or what in-
fractions she had committed of the
treaty of Amiens? He really thought,
that if we were so little influenced
by considerations of justice and po-
licy, as to.be resolved upon the re-
commencement of war, we should
find it difficult to get a pretext for it.
As to the disposition of the people
of this country, without pretending
to be a better judge than other gen-
tlemen, yet it was his opinion that
there never was a time when the cry
for war was less the sense of the peo-
ple of England, than at the present
moment. A supposed cry of the
people of England was set up, which
in fact only proceeded from a coali-
tion of newspapers, who probably
wished for war, as the means of sel-
ling more of their paren Mankind
had been sacrificed to the interest of
princes and parties, but dreadful
indeed would be the state of a coun-
try, if nations were to be driven inta
war, merely to serve the private in-
terests of publishers of newspapers,
This would be one of the most base
and ignoble causes for which twa
countries ever went towar. ‘There
was another description of persons
who gained by war; namely, those
who by money bargains, stock-job-
bing, loans, contracts, and other
means which war affords, accumu-

late

:
F
-

fl

HISTORY

late large fortunes in a few years of
war. He would rather from his soul
that the blood of his fellow creatures
should flow to gratify the ambition
of an Alexander, than that certain
persons should infamously make it
the source to enrich their coffers.
We had terminated the war in which
we had been so long engaged, hap-
pily; we had preserved our antient
dominions, and had acquired others ;
in other respects we had not been
-so fortunate, as Europe was still left
in an unsatisfactory state. He sin-
cerely hoped however, that adminis-
tration still approved of the peace
they had made. (A cry of hear,
hear.) Some supposed that minis-
ters only made peace because their
administration was young, and they
wished tosecure it: he for his part
should impute to them no such un-
worthy motives, and was convinced
that they then acted with sincerity.
‘The power of France was certainly
greater than he or any Englishman
could wish it, but that was no ground
for gomg to war. Although we
might not be pleased with the pro-
visions of the treaty of Luneville,
yet at the time it was concluded we
were not in a situation to interfere at
all in settling the affairs of Germany.
It would be 1 monstrous then, if after
having positively refused to have any
thing to do with the treaty of Lune-
ville, we were now to quarrel about
the execution of the details of that
treaty between France and the em-
“peror of Germany. He concluded
by hoping that the sense of the na-
tion might be to retain the advan-
tages of the peace they had made.
Mr. Canning said, there was one
point which must be pretty univer-
‘sally approved of, namely, the sys-

, Mem of preparation which ministers

OF EUROPE.

13
thought it necessary to adopt. He
had generally approved of the peace
which had been made, but if every
thing was conciliation on our side,

and we shewed a disposition to bear
every insult from the French govern-
ment, in such case the conduet of
government was blameable. If ei-
ter ministers had instigated the un-
fortunate Swiss to a hopeless resist-
ance, or if they only made a weak
and ill-judged remonstrance in their
favour, in such case their conduct
was very blameable. How they had
acted in those respects could be col-
lected from no other source but
public report. Ife certainly at the
present time approved of the mea-
sure of recruiting our exhausted
army, and dismantled flect. It was
when Piedmont was incorporated
with France that our army was dis-
banded, and the allotments of Ger-
many were perhaps the effect of our
ceniandlina our navy. He could
not but totally disagree with Mr.
Fox, who attributed all the calami-
tics of the war to the late adiminis-
tration; and he was prepared to
maintain that the situation of the
country was not so calamitous as it
was represented, at the time when
his majesty’s late ministers retired
from office. It was that adminis-
tration who had planned the arma-
ment which the quarrel with the
northern nations made necessary 5
and it was that administration w ho
prepared and sent forth the Egyp-
tian expedition, which contributed
so materially to the peace. He did
not mean to blame the conduct of
the present ministers ; but they be-
gan with this advantage, that they
could claim all the merit of the suc-
cess of their expeditions; whereas if
they had “gsi itwwas the late ad-
ministration

14

ministration which must have borne
the blame. Hewas an advocate for
such a state of preparation as would
always leave us at liberty to put for-
ward such 4 degree of strength and
energy, as would now, and at allt times,
be sufficient to check all the hostile
designs of the French government.
Lord Hawkesbury observed, that
although the address appeared to be
unanimously approved of, yet the
grounds upon which different gentle-
men supported it were very different.
He could not agree entirely with
what had fallen from either the hon.
gentleman (Mr. Fox), or the right
honourable gentleman( Mr Canning)
who had just sat down. He himself
had said on the conclusion of peace,
thatit was right to close the accounts
of war; but that still they must
look forward with a watchful jea-
lousy to prevent any future en-
croachments on the part of France.
The right hon. gentleman (Mr. Can-
ning) who was not present at the
discussion of the preliminary and
definitive treaties, had certainly mis-
conceived the grounds on which
they had been defended by his ma-
jesty’s ministers. His supposition
that ministers had relinquished the
system, upon which they concluded

that treaty, was founded upon a mis- ”

conception. ‘The principle that was
avowed and acted upon at the late
treaty, was what would govern his
majesty’s ministers now, and for the
future. It was this, that as far as
respected merely the interests of this
country, the peace was made on
honourable terms; inasmuch as the
integrity of the British dominions
"was preserved: but as to the conti-
nent, it was allowed to be unsatis-
factory ; which was regretted in
terms still stronger than had been

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

used to-night. The principle of
concluding this peace then was this,
that it was better to take the chance
of peace than the chance of war,
for objects merely continental, un-
less we had the support of the con-
tinental powers. This was the prin-
ciple upon whieh his majesty’s mi-
nisters had acted, on which they
now act, and on which they would
always be ready to act in future, and
to justify themselves. The right
hon. gentleman had misunderstood
him, when he supposed that he had
ever wished that this country should
abstract itself from the politics of
the rest of Europe. It was impos
sible that a country connected as
this was by commerce, with the
interests of all other nations, should
ever feel indifferent to what befel
these other nations: we could not
seperate the politics of this country,
from the politics of Europe. Among
nations, as well as individuals, those
who are great and powerful, have
interests to attend to, beyond the
mere preservation of their existence.
The protection of those who are
weaker, is not only a duty, but it is
among the most important of their
interests. The extent however to
which this principle was to be car-
ried, depended on the existing cir-
cumstances, and was regulated in
a great measure, by expediency.
This had been always attended to
in the consideration of the line of
conduct, which this country should
pursue. When Poland was blotted

out of the map of the world as an

independant nation; it was expedi-
ency alone, which prevented our
interference. There was no British
sovereign, who ever felt a stronger
desire to limit the power of France
upon the continent, than William

thea

HISTORY OF EUROPE

the third, and yet he did not think
it adviseable for this country to en-
gage ina war singly against France,
merely for continental objects.
Although we should be always pre-
pared to act according to circum-
stances, yet we could not pretend to
controul existing circumstances.
He must declare it to be his most
decided opinion, that if (under the
present circumstances of the coun-
try and of Europe) peace could be
maintained with honour to our-
selves, it would be better than a
renewal of the contest. His right
hon, friend had also misunderstood
him, when he supposed that he had
held forth desponding language, at
the conclusion of the peace. He
was sure that if war became neces-
sary, the spirit of the people of this
country would be always found
equal to the contest. As to Swit-
zerland, he must say most positively,
that the resistance of that country
was by no means instigated by the
British government; and that no
encouragement had been held out
to them by this country. Some
honourable gentlemen, in their
compliments to Mr. Pitt, appeared
to consider that the present admi-
nistration wanted the firmness ne-
cessary to theirsituation. Noman
was more disposed to bestow praise
on the conduct of that gentleman
than himself; but events had hap-
pened in the latter part of his ad-
ministration, which shewed that
wt was not in the power of the
greatest talents to command suc-
cess. The right honourable gentle-
man had described the state of
the country, as most prosperous
when he retired from office. He
Seemed to have forgotten, that
there was at that time a com-

15
bination of almost the whole of
Europe against us. He had for-
gotten the dismay and anxicty which
pervaded the public mind before the
battle of Copenhagen, and the suc-
cess of the Egyptian expedition,
Some gentlemen seemed to think
our navy had been dismantled,
and our military force imprudently
disbanded; but, in truth, there
never was before, a peace in which
our naval establishment had been
so strong, and that of France so
weak. The right hon. gentleman
had said that he did not so much
regard the conditions of the peace,
as the animus in which it was made.
As to the animus of France, if we
were to wait till it was completely
friendly to this country, we must be
at war for ever. The policy of mi-
nisters was now, and ever had been,
to resist any unjust demands from
gny foreign power; and if a stand
must be made, to make it in the
first instance. It was their wish to
preserve peace as long as they could,
consistently with the policy and the
general circumstances of Europe.
The altered situation of Europe
must certainly be a subject of re-
gret to every lover of this country;
but it must'be acknowledged, that
we had it not alway in our power to
redress whatever we might feel to
be our grievance. He concluded,
by trusting that the conduct of his
majesty’s ministers would always be
found consistent with the principles
they professed, and would give oc-
neyal satisfaction to the country.
Mr Windham particularly direct-
ed his argument against the obser-
vations of Mr. Fox, who had formerly
praised the French revolution, and
who now considered France, merely
on the footing ofa commercial rival.
When

16

When every messenger who arrived
from the continent, brought the
account of some nation conquered,
or state subverted by the ambition
of France; he was astonished, that
the hon. gentleman could still con-
sider France, as only a commercial
rival. Since the peace, Piedmont
had been annexed to France, and
Switzerland enslaved. He considér-
ed this country approaching to its
dissolution, and going the way of
all flesh. The Continent of Europe
formerly contained neartwenty in-
pendent nations, now it has but four
or five; and if France, within so
short a space of time, has been
enabled to subdue so many nations,
it seemed a simple question of arith-
metick, what time she would require
to subdue the rest. It must be also
recollected, that her means have
been encreased in the same propor-
tion, as the means of defence in other
nations has been diminished. The
balance of power on the continent,
is completely gone, and France can
bring against us, the full force of her
superior population. When he con-
sidered what she had already done,
and the situation in which we stand,
he could not help exclaiming with
Macbeth,
«Can such things be,

And overcome us like a summer’s cloud,
Without our special wonder? You make

me strange,
Even to the disposition that I owe,
When now I think you can behold such

sights,
And keep tbe nat’ral ruby of your cheek,
When mine is blanch’d with fear !”

The first eflect of the peace, was a
great saving of expence, as if our
wealth would encrease faster than
the power of France; but this pros-
pect of gain began to fail us, for we
were obliged to keep such high

ANNUAL REGISTER,

peace « establishments, as nearl?
equalled the expence of those of
the war. In point of gain how-
ever, the statesman would not always
weigh money against the sword, and
commerce against continental poli-
tics; but France could, when she
attains this imperial power to which
she aspires, cut up at pleasure, all
the sources of our commerce, and
ofour gains. If France is suffered
to continue her career, if she is per-
mitted to extend this system of
agerandizement and encroachment
unopposed, if we are to look on
with apathy and cowardly indifier-
ence, what can we expect, but that
when she has accomplished her de-
signs upon the continent, that she
will immediately fall uponus? He
therefore thought, that we should
now retain those things which were
still in our possession, as arms for
our own defence and protection:
he thought the time was come, when
no administration could save the
country, without the most cordial
co-operation from the country itself.
Arguments could be found for every
description of people ; forthe gener-
ous, the patriotic, the high-minded,
and the liberal: he would appeal to
the jacobins too, not as lovers of
social order, or of monarchy, but
as men of spirit, as lovers of what
they call liberty, and men of hot
and proud blood: he would ask
them, would they be content that
this country should be crushed be-
neath the yoke of France? To the
inert, inactive, and selfish, he would
put the question, what security was:
there that in the present course of
things, they would be allowed much
longer either to enjoy their fortunes,
or their ease? If the country
shculd be once subdued by France;
every

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

every thing that is dear to every man
in it, would be tor ever lost. We
were now in a state, that we could
not stand still, and therefore with
us, as well as the enemy, the motto
should be “* aut Cesar, aut nullus.”
He did not wish wantonly to spread

alarm, butif an enlightened rational *

fear was first felt, it might be soon
followed up bya proper manly spirit :
itis necessary the country should be
made sensible of its danger, before
it could be saved. He hoped the
present ministers were not the du-
gustuli under whom the British em-
pire was to fall: he spoke from a
deep sense of the calamities of our
situation, from seeing that the power
of France was growing round us, that
this country was labouring under a
complication of disorders both chro-
nic and acute, and that unless great
sacrifices and exertions were made,
it must inevitably be ruined. He
concluded by declaring, that the
dying words of Lord Chatham, “‘ that

he would pawn the shirt off his back
_ before he would consent to submis-
sion,” expressed completely his
feelings upon the present occasion,

Mr, Fox, in explanation, said,
he had been completely misrepre-
sented by the right hon. gentleman;
he never said that France was not
most formidable ; he regretted it as
much as any man, but he always
imputed it to the measures of that
right hon. gentleman and his col-
leacues, that France had grown so
powerful. He thought that they
were gravely responsible to. the
country for the aggrandizement of
France.

Mr. Windham, in a few words,
declared it was not his intention to
misrepresent the hon. gentieman,
and he must submit it to the house,

Vol, XLY,

17

whether he had misrepresented him
or not?

The chancellor of the exchequer
(Mr. Addington) could not hear it
stated, that we were running rapidly
the race of ruin, and hurrying to
destruction, without making some
observations on thoseexpressions. He
could not allow himself to suppose,
that sentiments so disheartening and
so unworthy of the situation of the
country, were held by many men.
He would not rise to apologize for
the peace his majesty’s ministers
had made; on the contrary, he
could not think, without the most
heartfelt satisfaction, on the share
he himself had in bringing about
that peace. As to the influence of
France upon the continent, it was
nothing new; except in Holland and
Portugal, theinfluenceof France up-
on the continent was always greater
than ours. There was no period of
our history in which the government
of thiscountry ever thoughtit advise-
able to go to war with France singly,
for continental objects. He was
surprized to hear the government
accused of reducing all our esta-
blishments. “The fact was, that the
army is now double what it was in
the year 1784, the year after the
peace. There had been no reduc-
tion, except in the cavalry and in
the disembodying the militia, a mea-
sure which necessarily took place,
at the conclusion of every war. Our
naval establishment in 1786, was
115 ships of war, now it is 207 ;
in 1792, we had 18,000 seamen em-
ployed, now we have 46,000. In
the discussion upon the peace, it
was insisted that our commerce end
manufactures must sutier considera-
bly ; whereas, on the contrary, our
foreign export trade had increased,

from

18

from twenty-three millions, the
highest which it had ever reached in
any preceding year, to twenty-seven
millions and a half, to which it ar-
rived this year. He thought the
right hon. gentleman would find it
difficult to prove to the house that
a state of war was the best for our
internal security. He believed, in
his conscience, that the disposition
of the nation was the same as that
of his majesty’s ministers ; that they
anxiously wished for peace, but
were not afraid of war. There
could be no wish in any body to lay
the country at the feet of France ;
but he saw a wish in some people to
inflame the two countries to hosti-
lity, without any definite object.
He felt that war, without any de-
finite object, was the greatest of all
evils; but still he should prefer it,
at any time, to the sacrifice of our
‘honor; he should be ready, onany
future occasion, to enter minutely
into the principles of the govern-
ment, both at the conclusion of the
peace, and to the present moment.
Mr. Thomas Grenville said, that
after the turn which the debate had
taken, his tacit support of the ad-
dress might be construed into an
assent of propositions,- which he
could by no means allow. His sen-
timents, on the present address, co-
incided exactly with those of his
right hon. friend (Mr. Windham).

The details which the chancellor of

the Exchequer had given of the re-
yenue of the country,.were no an-
swers to the arguments that had been
adduced. He could not allow that
the makers and approvers of the
peace were equally pledged to main-
tain it.. The approvers of it had
only acted on the assurances that
they had received, of the beneficial

ANNUAL’ WEG FSTE R.

1805.

consequences which were to result
from it. Those assurances, how-
ever, had now completely failed ; and
therefore those who had merely ap-
proved of it, were no longer bound
to support it. The fact was, that
the peace had never been thorough-
ly discussed, as to the tone and
temper in which it was made. The
tone of it had been taken on the
mere word of ministers, and it was
now found that they had either been
completely deceived themselves, or
had deceived others. ‘The treaty,
in truth, was no sooner signed, than
the disposition of the French govern-
ment was found to be very different
from what mimsters had affected to
believe it. And that disposition
was every day evinced more plainly.
No sooner had the treaty been
signed, in May last, than we heard
of Piedmont being annexed to
Trance; in August we heard of
the plan agreed upon by France
and Russia, tor the destruetion of
the Germanempire. And yet, by
the treaty of Westphalia, this coun-
try guaranteed the German empire ;
but now we were to be told, in the
language of The Moniteur, ‘ that
we had the treaty of Amiens, and’
nothing but the treaty of Amiens.”
In September, the unhappy fate of
Switzerland arrested our attention ;
and in October the duchy of Parma
is irrevocably united to France.
These are the first indications of
the friendly disposition of the firs,
consul. ‘lhe very words of the ad-
dress shew, that the sentiments of
administration are changed. It was
on that account, and because a
high military establishment was re-
commended, that he gave his hearty

concurrence to the address.
Lord Castlereagh defended the
conduct

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

conduct of his majesty’s ministers,
but freely confessed that the state of
Europe was much more unsatisfac-
tory now than it was at the time of
the signing of the peace at Amiens.
Great adyantages, however, had
been derived from that peace.
“ Had we continued the war on the
reasoning of the right hon. gentle-
man and his friends, we should
have lost our energy, and the coun-
try would not have been with us.”
Another advantage had been de-
rived from the peace: the country
sees that its resources are firmly

' fixed, and do not depend upon the

’

circumstance of peace or war. His
noble friend (lord Hawkesbury) had
been misunderstood by those who
supposed him to have stated that
all continental alliance was at an
end; he certainly had never meant

_to express the dispiriting idea, that

no circumstances or time could re-
vive the vigour and energy of the
continent. The determination of
his majesty’s ministers was to place
the peace establishment, on the
mostefficient and permanent footing;
and should war become necessary,
he felt no doubt but the spirit and
resources of the nation would
enable us to repel every danger
with which we might be threaten-
ed.

Mr. Whitbread said, he should
yote for the address, although he
could not deny but that he was
alarmed at what had fallen from his

19

majesty’s ministers. Those who
disapproved the peace, acted con-
sistently in now wishing for war;
but thos..who had made the peace,
while France was in possession of
Piedmontand Switzerland, and who
had not then made the slightest sti-
pulation, in regard either to Swit-
zerland or Sardinia, would act in-
consistently if they were to break
the treaty on such grounds. How-
ever he admired the abilities and
lively imagination of a right hon.
gentleman (Mr. Windham), he
could not agree with him in his
reasoning, when he supposed France
would increase much faster in power
during peace than in time of war.
The fact was otherwise: at the first
effort at negociation, France was
content to cede Belgium; at the
second she refused to give it up; at
the third her pretensions were still
higher; the fourth attempt was,
when Bonaparte sent overtures of
peace, which, in an evil hour, were
rejected; and during the warI'rance
had enormously increased in power.
She had not made an equal pro-
gress in peace. He hoped peace
was not likely to be soon broken,
and he lamented that language
tending to inspire such a belief
should have been so inconsiderately
used,

After some explanations between
the chancellor of the exchequer
and Mr. Whitbread, the address
was carried unanimously.

C2 CHAP.

20

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

CHAP. I.

Report of the Address brought up—Debate on the Second Reading.—
Speeches of Mr. Wilberforce—Elliot—Sir Francis Burdett—Mr. John-
stone—Earl Temple —Gen. Maitland—Secretary at War—Mr. For—
Archdall—Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Report agreed to.— Address
presented.—Gracious Answer of the King.—Observations.

N the 24th of November, the

report of the address having
been brought up by Mr.Trench,
and the question being put on the
second reading,

Mr. Wilberforce rose to deliver
his sentiments. The address seemed
to him to hold out that language
which was proper for the house to
maintain, He thought the country
had been hitherto rather too forward
in entering into war and continental
connexions, in which it had often
engaged itself to an extent. that it
certainly had not foreseen, and
which had wasted much of our
blood and treasure, without pro-
ducing any adequate advantage :
but he never did say that continen-
tal connections were at all times,
and under all circumstances, to be
avoided, It was certainly desirable
to prevent France extending her
power by land as well as by sea ;
but then, in attending to this princi-
ple, we must consider expediency, as
well as the speculations of states-
men. How had the speculations
of the wisest been turned into fool-
ishness? The profoundest politi-
cians had overlooked what men of
the plainest and meanest capacities
had foreseen. He could not but

remember the splendid and eloquent
speech of his noble friend, (Lord °
Hawkesbury) which, though replete
with knowledge, and displaying the
profoundest political combinations,
only shewed the weakness of poli-
tical speculation, and how one dis-
astrous event could overturn the
foundation of the best reasonings,
The quantity of treasure vainly ex-
pended in the last war, ae better
have been employed in the improve-
ment, than in the destruction of
mankind. Atthe conclusion of the
treaty of Utrecht, a single accident
changed the whole complexion of
political affairs, and produced a
peace for thirty years. If he had.
said to his constituents ‘ that the
people of this country were too ho-
nest for continental connexions,”
what he meant by the expression
was, that we were always faithful to
our engagements, whereas we were
as generally forsaken by our allies.
The principle of the continental
powers seemed to be, to pay no at-
tention to political engagements,
longer than it suited their conve-
nience, Jivery court in Europe
had at different times belonged to
the late confederacy against F rance,
and yet they had all found means to
get
4

HISTORY, OF -EUR-OP £.

get out of it, and leave this country
glone. The court of Vienna, as
well as the rest, quitted us in the
year 1797, without giving us any
intimation of what they were medi-
tating, and without shewing more
fidelity than the others. In the
affair of the German indemnities,
no regard was paid tos any engage-
ments with us. He then proceeded
' to observe the probable effects of a
new confederacy :—Austria or Rus-
sia might be bought off by France
giving to them a part of Turkey. He
recalled to the recollection of the
house the partition of Poland, and
if Turkey had not yet shared the
same fate, it was because that hi-
therto it was not the interest of
France that it should, In reply to
Mr. Windham, he asked what were
we now to expect by war? (Acry
of hear, hear, from Mr. Fox.) In
the last war we had taken every
thing which was takeable, and were
content to give them up; we should
not gain much by taking them over
again. Ina free country there was
a consideration more important
than revenue, than resources, than
armies or navies; and that was, that
the government should possess the
hearts of the people, (hear, hear,)
If government were to hurry the
people into a war, without a most
substantial cause ; instead of their
affections they would merit their
execration. He concluded by ex-
pressing his opinion, that it we
carefully improved our resources,
and cultivated the affections of the
people at large, we had nothing to
fear from the unwieldy power of
France; and that the best way of
producing the dissolution of that
mighty power was to leave it to it-
elf,

21

Gen. Gascoyne supported the ad-
dress, and hoped that the language
and spirit shewn in this debate
would shew the feelings of the coun-
try, and deter the first consul from
the prosecution of his designs,

Mr. Elliot declared he was so
unused to speak in that house, that
nothing but his strong feeling of the
situation of the country could over-
come his personal embarassment.
He thought it was necessary that
the house and the country should
thoroughly be acquainted with the
dangers which threaten, in order
that all precautions which human
prudence could suggest, might be
taken to avert the evil, and that we
might meet it with becoming firm-
ness. Experience had shewn us
that France in timelof peace could
conquer, as well as in war. —
States had fallen, and even the Ger-
manic empire had been overturned
in time of acknowledged and pro-
found peace. A new revolution
had taken place in Europe, by the
dissolution of that august body,
which was full of political and moral
evil. When we saw property, titles,
and honours overthrown; when we
saw corporations, both spiritual
and civil, destroyed; sovereign prin-
ces transferred from one domi-
nion toanother; and subjects sepa-~
rated from their legitimate rulers;
could we witness these scenes with-
out feeling that all the opinions, ha-
bits, principles, and prejudices,
which constitute the foundation of
civil government and social order,
were shaken to their basis? This
was all done by France, im conte-
deration with Russia and Prussia,
without any communication with
our court, or with Austria, the ac-
knowledged head of the empire.

C3 The

92

The records of tyranny had fur-
nished no instance of a more foul,
flagrant, and unprovoked aggression
on the rights and liberties of a
brave, innocent, and injured peo-
ple, than the conduct of France
towards Switzerland exhibited.—
Switzerland was principally impor-
tant to Europe, as being the barrier
to Germany; but we suffered Ger-
many to be partitioned, and then
we feebly interposed for Switzer-
land. The power of France in-
creased with accumulated rapidity,

but her principles remained the
same, as did her system of fraud,

violence, and insult. Had we for!
got that while our ambassador was
at Amiens, she had siezed the most
flourishing portions of Italy? Did
they remember how they had been
imposed upon with respect to the
limits of Portugueze Guiana? How
we had been deceived about the
isle of Elba, and the trick which
had been practised on the Turkish
minister at Paris? The peace was
allowed to be only an experiment,
and yet ministers acted as if the ex-
periment had succeeded: they
reduced our armies and our fleets,
without waiting to see whether
France was pacific i in her disposi-
tions or not. He then alluded: to
the conduct of the French Govern-
ment in the instance of Napper

Tandy, and in countenancing a new
English paper in Paris, (the Argus)
directly levelled against the British
government. As to the prosperity
of our commerce, notwithstanding,
the prohibitions of France, although
it was true we might carry on a
considerable contraband trade, yet
that must be done in neutral ves-
sels, which would hurt considerably
our shipping interest. In this com-

ANNUAL “REGISTER,

1805.

mercial riyality, much had beén
said of British capital and credit,
and perhaps not enough of French
power andenergy. The same causes
which had rendered France so for-
midable in war, would have the
same influence when directed to
the enterprizes of commerce. If
gentlemen relied on our surplus,
four millions; he couldsay, France
hadfourhundred thousand bayonets.
“ The armed robber is at the door,
and if not well resisted, the richer
we are, the better for the robber.”
He concluded a long and very able
speech, by expressing his opinion,
that if we were now obliged again
to go to war, it would not he for
our honor, or for any of those in-
terests which form a legitimate
cause of war; but it would be for the
existence of the empire itself, and he
hoped that from the spirit of the
people, we might look forward to a
favourable result.

Sir Francis Burdett allowed that
France now presented a spectacle
which England could not look on
without dismay, but he thought it
extraordinary that a right hon.
gentleman yesterday should have
pointed out, with an air of triumph,
those dangers into which he him-
self had conducted us, in conjunc-
tion with his colleagues in office.
It is an extraordinary course he re-
commends for avoiding those dan-
gers, to put ourselves again under
the suidance of those men who
brought us before into danger, and
to pursue the same measures which
have produced this efiect. The
power of France is formidable, but
it is owing to the war, and the
mode it was conducted, that she
has been placed in that situation.
When the combined despots of

Europe

HISTORY OF EUROPE. . 93

Europe pressed upon her on every
side, no alternative remaimed but
victory or unconditional submission,
and therefore she was obliged to
make exertions beyond what human
power would have been supposed
capable of. He only objected to
two expressions in the address. One
appeared as if we were watching
for another opportunity to interfere
in the affairs of the continent, which
would, in his opinion, be most un-
wise, if we really intended it, and
idle vapouring, if we did not in-
tend it. He also objected to that
which had been stated respecting
what ministers called- the union
with Ireland, but which he rather
thought should be called subjuga-
tion; the only effect that resulted
immediately from it was, the rein-
forcing the ministerial phalanx,
_which was before too strong. As
to what an hon. gentleman had said
about jacobins, the word jacobin
had been so universally employed,
that he really was at a loss to un-
derstand the meaning of it, or to
know who was a jacobin. Another
hon. gentleman had seemed to think
that the safety of the state depend-
ed on the return of another right
hon. gentleman into office. For
his part, he thought that genfle-
man’s character was described in
the passage: ‘ Satis eloquentie,
sapientie parum,.” A little less
eloquence, and a little more wis-
dom, would have spared the state
many misfortunes.

Mr. Johnstone, in supporting the
address, approved of the conduct
of ministers, whom he was very
sorry to see deserted by their for-
mer friends, while they were op-

osed by such formidable abilities.
t was most evident that endeavours

try,

were making to remove them from
ottice. He concluded by recom-
mending moderation and patience,
rather than precipitancy and rash-
ness; and quoted an opinion of
Machiavel, ‘‘ that there are evils
which are more easily removed by
time than violence.”

Earl Temple severely animad-
verted on that part of the hon. baro-
net’s speech, in which the present
power of France was ascribed to
a combination of despots. While
those despots acted with this coun-
they were the objects of the
hon. baronet’s spleen and invective,
but now that the despotism of
Europe is united in one hand, and
directed against this country, it
was no longer the subject of his
invectives. He must most flatly
deny the imputation, that “‘ he and
his friends would prefer war at any
rate, before peace upon any terms.”
They only wished to open the eyes
of the people, to shew them how
their dignity suffered; how their
interests were impaired, and how
impossible it was to look for safety
in war, or security in peace, under
an administration like the present.
Instead of being able to secure us
from the impending storm, they
would serve as conductors (though
blunt ones) to draw down the light-
enings which were to consume us.
He considered the address as a
mawkish mixture of pretended firm-
ness and conciliation. As tar as it
thanks heaven for the abundant
harvest, it should have his cordial
concurrence.”

General Maitland said, thére
never was a time when our military
establishments were on so high a
footing as.at present. He was not

afraid of our commerce being
C4

destroyed

24

destroyed by the tyrannical power
of Bonaparte. On the contrary, he
thought commerce could only flou-
rish in a free country, and the ef-
fects of the tyrannical government
of France would be only to crush it
in that country. He could not ap-
prove of a renewal of the war, be-
ing convinced that France would
doas it had done before, and make
some neighbouring state pay for all
the losses she might sustain in a
contest with this country.

The secretary of war (Mr. Yorke)
expressed astonishment that any
gentleman should say we had no
army, and had laid aside our navy ;
when, in fact, we had a greater
efficient force than we ever posses-
sed in peace, or even for many years
of the last war. The diminution
is only of the militia and of several
corps who were enlisted only to
serve during the war. Our army
was not only respectable in nuin-
bers, but its discipline and orga-
nization were such as would enable
it to be rapidly increased, to a point
that would make it not very desir-

able to any foreign force to meddle ~

with it. He was very glad to hear
a noble lord (lord Temple) avow in
a manly way, that the object of
his friends was to obtain a change
of the administration, and that they
thought they would make better
ministers than the present. If they
should succeed, if their administra-
tion was not a mawkish one, it
would probably not be without a
considerable share of insolence,
The present ministers came into
power without cabal or intrigue;
it must be acknowledged that they
had given peace to the country, and
that it had suffered no calamity at
their hands,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.
Mr. Fox had heard, with lively

satisfaction, the warm eloquence of
the youthful lord, he had heard
with pleasure the avowal of the ob-
ject, and conclusion of his argu-
ments; and now found that all the
imagery which had adorned the
speeches of the noble lord and his
friends, went only to a change of
ministry, by substituting a part of
the late administration for the pre-
sent. ‘lhat being the case, if those
gentlemen were restored to oflice,
the only consequence he expected
from it would be, that we should
get rid of all their warlike speeches.
As to the gentlemen who now are
ministers, if they have drawn a
gloomy picture of the country, for
the purpose of arming beyond what
was necessary, he considered such
lavish and wauton profusion of the
resources of the country, as great
a crime as ministers could well be
guilty of, and such as would justify
their removal; but it would be too
much to join the noble lord, who
merely found fault with the admini-
stration as'a mawkish one, and
wished for another. Although he
had hitherto supported the present
ministers from their conduct, he
was by no means disposed to ap-
prove of the manner in which they
came into office. The late minis-
ters assigned a certain principle as
the cause of their removal. If the
present ministers came in upon a
contrary principle, and to prevent
the extension of their rights to a
great portion of his majesty’s sub-
jects, he could by no means ap-
prove of their manner of com-
ing into office. As to the suppo-
sition of a right hon. gentleman
(Mr.Windham), on a former night,
of a man rising from the dead, and

inquiring

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

‘inquiring about the fate of the dif-
ferent nations of Europe, and find-
ing that all but England had fallen
under the power of France ; to this
supposition he would answer by a
question, Would not this man have
also asked who were the ministers
of England, when all those changes
happened? If it be asked what
were the measures which have ren-
dered France so formidable? It
may be answered, she was forced
by our menaces and attacks to make
extraordinary exertions; and al-
though the spirit raised in France
has, in a great measure, subsided;
yet, the impuis@ being once given,
she was enabled to continue in the
same career. He was no advocate
for France, but agreed with an hon.
gentleman (Gen. Gascoygne), that
there were many things which we

now dislike, but which’ time would
do more to cure than violence. He
then considered what had been called
aggressions on the part of France,
As to the affair of the German in-
demnities, every body knew there
was no other way of effecting them
but by secularizations. As to Swit-
zerland, it was in the absolute pos-
session of France, both at the sign-
ing of the treaties*of Luneville and
Amiens ; and as to Piedmont, the
only change has been, that instead
of the the 29th Military Depart-
ment, it is now called Department
of the Po, or some such name.
England can never have a military
force equal to France, but she might
_make up for that inferiority by a
superior navy, and by a systematic
economy, which would enable us
to remedy that military deficiency.
The treaty of Amiens recognized
Trance as a mighty empire, and
therefore the greatness which was

25
J

then acknowledged, cannot now be
a ground of quarrel. After the ex-
perience of the last ten years, he
did not hope much from connexions
with German princes; and he did
not think it generous always to
be holding out to France that Aus-
tria was the power on whom we re-
lied for curbing its ambition. If
we had a right to be jealous of the
military power of France, French-
men had also a right to be jealous
of our great naval superiority. As
to the language of the French news-
papers, he did not think that was
a ground of war, our own were per-
haps equally irritating. Some gen-
tlemen appeared to,think it aggres-
sion on the part of France to cut @
canal, or improve her harbours,
and advise war, merely to prevent -
the rivality of French commerce ;
for his part he had no such dread
of the rivality of French commerce,
and considered peace at least as
saie as war. As to our Commerce
being supposed to have somewhat
declined since the war, if that was
the case, and such an argument
could be listened to, the argument
would go for being eternally at war.
Such were his reasons for support-
ing the address, and differing trom
the opinions of a right hon. gentle~
man (Mr. Windham.)

Mr. Archdall replied to the ob-
servations which had been made by
Sir Francis Burdett, respecting the
state of Ireland.

Mr. Windham eloquently sup-
ported the opinions he had main-
tained on a former night. He in-
sisted that this country had gained
by the war, as she had preserved
her constitution and her indepen-
dence, and at least restrained with-
in the bounds of Europe, ‘the

daring’

o ANNUAL REGISTER,

~ °

daring ambition of this second Alex-
ander, who aimed at the conquest
of the entire world. France had
gained by the peace: like the spell
of a magician, it immediately open-
ed to her the obstructed passages to
the West Indies, Africa, and Asia;
to every region to which otherwise
she could net have made her way.
After a variety of argument in sup-
port of his former opinions, he con-
cluded, by vindicating the fidelity
of Austria in her engagements with
this country.

The chancellor of the exchequer
vindicated the conduct of adminis-
tration from those charges of want
of vigour and energy, which were
so often brought against them, Dur-
ing the war, there was no want of
. vigour in conducting it with energy
and success. There were some
gentlemen who were in the habit of
making exaggerated statements, and
using language tending to war,—
Others, on the contrary, seemed to
be ready to make any sacrifices for
the maintenance of peace, Ministers
would not fellow the advice of
either, but adopt a middl¢ course,
which should be at the same time
firm and moderate.

Sir James Pulteney supported
the conduct of the matin

Lord Hawkesbury, Mr. Canning,
and Mr. Bragge, each made a few
observations.

The chancellor of the exchequer,
in reply to a question of Mr.Elhot’s,

said, the saving in consequence of.

peace, might be 25 millions ster-
ling annually,

The report was then agreed to,
and the address was presented to
his majesty by the whole house, on
the following day ; when his majesty
returned a most gracious answer.

18058.

Having thus given at considerable
length, the debates which took place
in both houses of parliament on the
king’s speech, and the consequent
address; our readers will thereby
have been enabled, to form a more
perfect opinion, of what the sense of
the imperial representation was
upon public affairs at this crisis,

than from any statement we could
possibly pretend to give. With the
exception of Mr, “Pitt, all those
characters to whom the public were
taught to look up in the moment
of danger and peril, for counsel and
direction, had elaborately given
their opinions; and a singular. and
unusual coincidence to the tenor of
the proposed address, appeared for
a moment to assimilate and unite
the jarring elements, of which it
was well known those assemblies
were composed. But in fact, it
was far otherwise. Never did par-
ty round and collect itself more
strongly, or determine with more
decision on the conduct it meant to
pursue, than at this moment; and
even in the assent, given by those
who notoriously ditiered trom ad-
ministration, to the address, were
the grounds and motives of the most,
determined oppesition , laid bare,
and exposed to public view. Inthe
speech from the throne, govern-
ment, all at once dropping that tone
of contidence in the good disposi-
tions of the present ruler of France
towards this country, to the sur-
prize and dismay ofa people, who
had too eagerly depended on the
assurances of Mr, Addington and
his colleagues, that we were in
possession of, and might enjoy in
undisturbed tranquility, the ** bles-
sings of pceace;” had announced
the necessity of warlike preparation,

wW

HISTORY OF EUROPE. 27

th a way not to he misunderstood,

and which-it was impossible (though
no effort was spared for the purpose)
to explain away or deny. In vain
did the supporters of the minister
assert, that this preparation was not
meant to apply to any circumstan-
ces now actually existing; but
rather to those, which might possi-
bly exist hereafter: that, though
not meant to disturb France in the
controul and preponderance she had
usurped over the rest of the powers
of Europe, yet it might contribute
materially to prevent her farther
encroachments, This reasoning, or
rather sophistry, met with no credit
or approbation, save from those who
are always to be found in the ranks
of the minister of the hour; or from
those who thought peace preferable,
under any circumstances of national
disgrace and dishonor, to a renewal
of contest, doubtful and hazardous
as it must prove in the event. To
all others, it was evident that the
ministers themselves had taken
alarm; that they were roused from
their supineness; and that they
were anxious to tread back those
steps, which a total want of politi-
cal experience, or the love of place
and power, had induced them to
take, perhaps to.the utter destruc-
tion of the country they had been
called upon to govern. Yet was
the magnanimity wanting, fairly to
come
their errors. In the face of circum-
staitces the most notorious, they
still persisted in defending their past
‘conduct, and inmaintaining the truth
and consistency of their pacific pre-
dictions, at the very moment, when
they called on the country for a war
expence, and a war establishment!

orward with an avowal of

Opposition to such apparent ime
becility, began now however to
appear in a quarter, the most alarm-
ing to the personal feelings of the
minister, as well as to his prospects
of continuance at the helm of
public affairs. It was well known,
that for his present power, as in-
deed for his very political exist-
ence, he was indebted to the re-
commendation and protection of
Mr. Pitt. That great man had
supported him on the abstract prin-
ciples of the peace, as exhibited
in the preliminary articles; nor did
he desert him in carrying that mea-
sure through the more distressing
details of the treaty of Amiens.
In giving this support, he certainly
carried his friendship toan extreme.
Nor could any assistance, short of -
this powerful aid, have enabled
Mr. Addington to urge measures,
which revolted every principle of
national feeling and national ho-
nor; and which the short period
that had elapsed, from its consum-
mation to the present meeting of
parliament, had abundantly proved
to be as hollow and fallacious, as it
was disgraceful and dishonorable.
But, however consistent it might
be with the character of Mr. Ad-
dington and his colleagues inpower,
to defend those measures, which ali
experience and all policy had de-_
cided upon, as unwise and unsate;
yet from the late minister, a very
different line of conduct was looked
for, and not looked for in vain.—
Was it possible for him, however ke
might havesupported even the treaty
of Amiens, such as it was, to behold
with indifference, ‘ ere the ink was
dry with which it was signed, or
the wax cold with which it was

sealed,”

28

sealed,”* its abuse and its violation ?
Could he witness without emotion
the promulgation of secret treaties,
by which territory upon territory
were added to the republick:—the
annexation of Piedmont; the siez-
ure of Parma; the possession of
Louisiana; the hard measure which
our faithful but unfortunate allies
of Sardinia and Orange had expe-
rienced from the despot, whose uni-
versal empire that treaty had gone
so far towards establishing; the new
modelling the empire of Germany
ima manner at once the most arbi-
trary and unjust, in defiance of the
constitution of the empire itself,
and of the treaty of Westphalia, by
which Great Britain guaranteed
that constitution; the cruel and
- unmerited encroachments on Swit-
zerland; in short, the assumption
of all power and authority on the
continent: while with respect to
the British empire, the conduct of
France was not less conspicuously
overbearing and hostile: the sailing
to the West Indies of an immense
armament, even before peace was
concluded; the most direct attacks
upon our pormiiencial spirit of ad-
venture, and commercial security ;
the contemptuous tone of the
French official papers,which sneer-
ingly told all Europe, that “‘ Engiand
should have the treaty of Amiens,
and nothing but the treaty of Ami-
ens;’’} the prodigious increase of her
military and marine establishments,
from the moment she had disgraced
us in the eyes of all Europe, by for-
mally limiting our pelitical affairs
to our immediate insular concerns,
in all her public declarations, and by

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

her conduct immediately subsequent
to the treaty; by the encourage-
ment and protection theIrish jacobi-
nical emigrants and proscripts expe=
rienced at Paris; and finally by the
establishment of an English news-
paper in her metropolis, under the
auspices of the government itself,
and the direction of those traitors,
whose avowed object was to kee

alive the spirit of rebellion and dis-
content, among that unhappy class
of people, against their native (per-
haps in many cases too lenient)
government? It was not, we re-
peat, possible for the great and
comprehensive mind of Mr. Pitt to
see unmoved, the conduct of those
whom he had placed in power, so
utterly disproportioned to the mag-
nitude of the approaching evil: he
could not approve of their weaken-
ing the force of the country, in an
exact ratio with the increasing
strength of a power, whose every
step indicated unabated fierceness
and hostility: he could not ap-
prove, under the formidable acqui-
sition of strength to France, which
had accrued to her, either by nego-
ciation or by violence, since the
period of the cessation ot hostilities,
of the supineness of ministers, who
looked on with apparent apathy at
all that passed, without one exer-
tion or solitary remonstrance,which
might shew our sense of the conduct
of our enemy, or might check his
predatory ambition: under such
circumstances he could not approve

‘the surrender of those conquests,

one by one, which had been the
hard-earned meed of British valour
and enterprize, and the fruit of his

* Vide lord Grenville’s speech on the address. P: 6.

*t Moniteur.

vigornus

Fal "

HISTORY OF EUROPE. og

vigorous councils: he could not
witness, without bitter pangs, the
approach of that enervating. lan-
guor, which had already stolen
upon the councils, andvover the spi-

rit of the people; nor without a

secret determination, to rouse the
antient energies of his country, and
rescue her from that sleep of death
which had already palsied her ex-
tremities, and threatened to sieze
upon her vitals. Yet was he un-
willing all at once to drive back to
obscurity those whom he, and he
alone, had raised into notice.—
Antient habits, personal friendship,
and perhaps thatdesire of preserving
consistency, which must ever have
its due weight with every public
man, deterred him from appearing
in the foremost ranks of opposition
on the present occasion; but his
support was no longer to be found:
he did not appear, as he was wont,
the prop and bulwark of the admi-
Nnistration; and both its friends and
itsenemies, in his absence saw the
grounds of future irresistible oppo-
sition to its existence. Nor was this
all—that person* who was supposed
to be, more than any other indivi-
dual, interior with his councils and
determinations, in the most marked
manner disapproved of the conduct
of ministers, since the conclusion
of the peace, and coincided with
them in the address, only as it ap-

roved that state of preparation
which the speech from the throne
announced as necessary, and which
in itself conveyed the severest cen-

‘sure on the disarming system pur-

sued since the treaty of Amiens.
Many of those who were considered
personally attached to the late mi-

* Mr. Canning.

nister, in both houses of parliament,
avowed the same sentiments; nor
from the periog of the discussion we
allude to, was there thenceforward
any cordiality or eifectual co-oper-
ation looked for, from any quarter,
between the late and _ present
ministers.

The defalcation from the side of
government, of those who originally
supported the peace, did not include
great strength of numbers—But
their leader was himself a host—
They might be considered as the
converts of circumstances. —Not so
the steady band of politicians, who,
generalising their ideas, and argu-
ing from the immutable nature of
things, had early applied political
science to the existing circum-
stances, at the periods of the preli-
minary and definitive treaties ; had
exposed their insufficiency and pre-
dicted their instability; who now
come forward in formidable array,
to take credit for their prescience;
to re-urge that charge of incapacity
and imbecility, the eflects of which,
often predicted by them, now began
to be severely felt by the country ;
again to call for a complete change
of measures and of men, as the only
means of preserving what yet re-
mained to Great Britain of conse-
quence and independence. They
shook the walls of the senate with
their convincing and luminous elo-
quence; and their opinions, now
confirmed to the conviction even of
their enemies, became the standard
and measure of those of the public.
All the clamour which had been
industriously raised and propagated
against the views of those who
were designated by the appellation

of

\

30 ANNUAL REGISTER,

of ‘the new opposition,”* suddenly
subsided. The sun of truth had
chased away the mists and fogs,
which the malignant spirit of party
and prejudice had raised to ohscure
their conduct; and their real cha+
racter, talents, wisdom, and virtue,
appeared in all that brilliancy and
purity, which belonged to the ag-
gregate of that rare assemblage of
statesmen, of whom it was com-
posed. To this last description of
oppositiont no great increase of
number on the present occasion was
discernible; but public opinion was
with them, anda similarity of pre-
sent views indicated an approxima-
tion towards Mr.Pitt and his friends;
an union sufiiciently powerful to
overthrow any administration from
whence they were excluded. In
supporting the address, the ‘‘ new
opposition” only gave that part of
it, which alluded to increase of
force, their support, and this only
as it was an earnest of more vigor-
ous measures.

Having noticed two descriptions
of persons sufficiently distinct to
be so discriminated, there remains
but one more to be arranged under

\its proper banners, namely, that of
the “ old opposition,” of which Mr.
Fox had been for so long a period,
and still continued, the ostensible
leader. This party, though “shorn
of its beams,” by the defection of
Mr. Burke, and those who thought
with him onthe subject ofthe French
revolution, was yet sufficiently for-
midable, by the talents of the in-
dividuals who composed it ;_ by the
great property of some of those
who still steadily upheld its princi-

1803.

ples and its cause; and by the ine
fluence it possessed over a portion
of the community at large; to have
given great cause of disquiet to
governments had it thought proper
to martial itself in array against the
minister, at the opening of the
session. On the present occasion,
however, personal animosity to
Mr. Pitt and his friends, or a blind
attachment to the pacific system,
seems to have biassed men in op-
position to those lights which must
have derived to them from their
superior talents and great political
experience, They were apparently
disposed to give a warm support to
Mr. Addington; yet, in preserving
their own consistency they qualified
their approbation on the present
ministers, with so many severe re-
bukes and disquisitions on the con-
duct of the last, of whom those
now in power formed a part;
that the latter could not accept
those compliments of their present
conduct, at the expence of that
which had been the uniform tenor
of their early political life. Nor
was the approval of the address, by
Mr.Fox and his friends, grounded on
any other basis, save on that part of *
his majesty’s speech, in which estab-
lishments were generally recom-
mended, by which they supposed,
such only were meant as were ne-
cessary for our security, and did
not go to the extentof iricreasing our
military establishments, which sys-
tem they deprecated and disap-
proved of in the strongest degree.
‘They persisted in their belief of the
pacific “‘ tone and temper” of the
first consul; and assured. the

* Vide historical part of the last volume, 1902.
t Lords Grenville, Spencer, Buckingham, Fitzwilliam, Carlisle, &e. in the lords.—

Messrs.Windham, Grenville, Elliot, Dr. Lawrence, &c. in the commons.

legislation,

{
:
j
{

“HISTORY OF EUROPE.

legislation, “ that a rivality in com-
merce and in the arts of peace,
were the sole objects of his ambi-
tion!” From support, thus qualified,
the ministers could receive little
pleasure and less advantage. It
was evident that it arose from a be-
lief that they were determined to
persevere in pacific meastres, at
all events, and under all circum-
stances; and that should war (which
was evidently in their contempla-
tion, however they might endeavour
to conceal it from the public, per-
haps from themselves,) be the re-
sult of the present menacing posture
of affairs, that all concurrence in
Opinion, and assistance from their
now apparent well-wishers, must
cease. In consequence of which
the advocates of the present govern-
ment, rejecting such assistance, had
to combat at once the friends of
Mr. Pitt—the new and the old op-
position—a task totally beyond their
powers in debate or political science,
and the failure in which must ex-
pose them, as will always be the
case in a popular government, to
ultimate defeat and ruin. Under
such disastrous auspices did the
present administration commence
their parliamentary campaign of
this year; and such the view of the
materials of which that parliament
was composed. Warm and eager
contention was looked to among
the political circles. Nor was the
state of the public mind more tran-
quil. Lulled into the most pro-
found security, by the assurances
of the ministers; the inhabitants of
the British empire had seen, but
prospectively, a continuation of the
peace, for aterm of sufficient dura-
tion, to ensure the reduction of the
national debt, a decrease of taxes,

$i
internal prosperity, and a vast
increase of commercial and colonial
advantages. In vain did the “* warn-
ing voice” of the first statesmen ot
the age, announce the coming tem-
pest. In vain did the ambitious
turbulence of Bonaparte in every
quarter of the globe, bespeak his
inveterate hatred to us, and his
unlimited ambition. In vain did
the British press, that great lever
of public opinion, (and which had
to its immortal honor first taken the
alarm at that despotic violence
which threatened in its unchecked
progress, the liberties of the worid,
and of course its own,) exert itself
to open the eyes of a deluded peo-
ple.—The specious and flattering
prospects held out by administra-
tion, prevailed over the better
judgments of a burthened and com-
mercial nation; and it was not till
the speech announced the necessity
of military preparation, and the
jealous view which it took of con-
tinental affairs, that the people
could be brought to look their dan-
ger in the face.—But this thunder-
clap soon aroused them—a deter-
‘mination to engage cheerfully in
new wars, if such were necessary,
quickly prevailed in the minds of
all; but with this determination be-
gan to be conceived a deep and
rooted contempt for the charac-
ters of those, who had blindly er
wilfully deceived them, and an
anxious desire to be delivered in
the moment of approaching trial,
from those hands which had, ia
comparatively easy periods, so
feebly held the reigns of goyern-
ment; and that they should be
committed to such as had expe-
rience, ability, and skill to guice
them.—Before we close however
ultimate

this statement, it is but justice to
remark, that one inestimable good
consequence seems to have resulted,
even from the very weakness of ad-
’ ministration. In proportion to our
submission and acquiescence to the
views of France; in proportion as
we gave way to her ambition, and
the accomplishment of her objects;
in proportion as we bent tinder the
impositions of an insatiable and in-
sulting enemy; in that proportion
the resentment and indignation
ef a generous and brave people

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

arose at the proofs of his un-
merited hostility. One sentiment,
one motive,seemed to pervade,with-
out a single exception, the whole
community ; and the British nation
were, to a man, determined to shew
our insulting foe, should a contest
be inevitable, that it had not lost
its ancient strength or elasticity,
but could spring back with tenfold
force and energy, to the destruction
of the power who had dared oppres-
sively to humble it.

CHAP.

THISTORY' OF “EVROPE. 33

CHA P., Ti.

Resolutions of the Committee of Supply.—Debate on the first Resolution.
—Speeches of Mr. T. Grenville—Addington—Sir S. Smith—Lord
Hawkesbury—Mr. Canning—Attorney General—Dr. Luwrence.—Ke-
solutions agreed to.—Lord Moira’s Motion for Papers on the Assump-
tion of the Dominion of the Carnatic, in the House of Lords, agreed to.
—Proceedings on the Middlesex Petitions. — Military Estimate.—
Debate — Secretary at War—Mr. Bankes—Earl Temple—General
Maitland—Tarleton—Mr. Archdall—W hitbread—Sheridan—Canning
—Wilberforce—For—W indham—Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Reso-
lutions committed.—Debate resumed on the bringing up the Report of the
Committee—Mr. T. Grenville—Lord Hawkesbury—Sir F. Burdett—
Dr. Lawrence — Mr. For —Windham— Lord Castlereagh. —Reso-

lutions carried unanimously.

HE next debate of importance,
which occurred previously to
the Christmas recess, took place in
the house of commons, on the 2d
of December, when the resolutions
of the committee of supply were
brought up. The first resolution
was, that fifty thousand seamen be
employed for the service of the
year 1803, including 12,000 ma-
rines.
On the resolution being put,
Mr. Grenville expressed his asto-
nishment at the conduct of minis-
ters, who proposed a vote of so
many additional seamen, without
stating the necessity for it ;~he con-
sidered such an explanation would
be due to parliament, before they
agreed to the proposition of the mi-
nister. The speech, in fact, con-
tained no sentiment or opinion,
applicable either to the present
times, or to any former period of
our history; it was a mere collec-
Vol. XLV.

tion of truisms. In former speeches,
delivered at critical periods, there
were some declarations of the opi-
nions of ministers, with respect to
the state of Europe; in the present
there was not even the attempt
made, Last year, the minister said
he considered 30,000 seamen sutfti-
cient for our peace establishment ;
at present he demanded 50,000.
Parliament ought to be informed of
the reasons of this excess. If we
were likely to continue in peace,
parliament might think it too much ;
if we were likely to be soon at war,
they might think it too little. He
wished the house to consider the
vast exertions that both France and
Holland were making for the re-
storation of their navies; Spain and
Portugal too, were so completely
under the influence of France, that
she would be enabled to direct their
strength against this country,
whenever she chose; and perhaps

D shut

Sh ANNUAL RE

shut us out for ever from the Medi-
terrancan, Wherever we turned our
eyes, we must see the progressive
agorandizement of France. He was
decidedly of opinion that the sum
which was demanded was too large
for a peace establishment, arid yet
too small cither for war, or to ena-
ble us to interfere, with weight, in
the affairs of the continent.

The chancellor of the exchequer
trusted that the house would not
believe, that it was from any dis-
respect, that he did not think it
necessary to preface the resolutions
with any observation. The right
hon. gentleman and his friends, had
a very short time ago felt, thatthere
were sufficient reasons for a larger
establishment, and they then called
for it; but now, when an increased
establishment is proposed, he was
asked what was the reason for this
excess? If he and_ his friends
believed the descriptions they had

hemselves given of the state of
Europe, he should suppose no far-
‘her reasons could be necessary,
to them at least, for an“increased
establishment. It seemed now to
be agreed by every body, that a
strong defensive force was neces-
sary for this country, in the present
situation of Europe. As to the
increase of the Dutch navy, when
it was considered how it had been

reduced last war, it was no wonder
that exertions were made to res-
tore it: butif there was no supine-
ness on our part, those exertions
couldnot be tousinjurious. In the
beginning of the last war the fleets
of the enemy were as follow :—
France had 105 sail of the line,
Spain 79, and Holland 27; but at
the conclusion of the war, this
force was so reduced, that France

GISTER,

1803.

had but 39, Spain 63, and Holland
16. The British navy now exceeds

the navies of France, Spain, and,

Holland, by sixty sail of the line,
and proportionally in frigates and
sloops of war. Under those cir-
cumstances, he did not think this
country need feel any serious alarm
from the naval exertions of the
powers which France could influence
to join her. His majesty’s minis-
ters had no other wish than to be
enabled to put forth, upon any emer-
gency, a force sufficient to repel all
danger from this country.

Sir Sidney Smith expressed con-
siderable regret, at the great re-
ductions which were suddenly made,
both in the king’s dock-yards, and
in the navy in general. A prodigi-
ous number of men had been thus
reduced to the utmost poverty and

distress; and it might be appre-:

hended that they would be obliged
to seek employment from foreign
states. Whatever reluctance they
might feel to this, they might, by
dire necessity, be compelled to it.
On this ground he wished the num-
ber of seamen to be employed were
considerably greater than it is; for
he knew, from his own experience,
that what was called an ordinary
seaman, could hardly find employ-
ment at present, either in the king’s
or in the merchants’ service. He
had himself been present at some of
the changes which had taken place
in France; they resembled more
the changes of scenery at a theatre,
than any thing else. Every thing
was done for stage effect, and whe-
ther it was the death of Caesar; the
fall of Byzantium; or the march
of Alexander, it seemed to French-
men almost equally indifferent. If
the invasion of Britain was to be

produced,

—— ee ee

MISTORY (| GPF EUROPE.

produced, it might have stage effect
enough to draw 400,000 volunteers
to join in the procession. Under
those circumstances, he wished that
this country should always be ina
situation to call together speedily a
strong naval force,to frustrate any at-
tempts on the part of the enemy.

Mr. Sturges supported the reso-
lution, from his idea of the neces-
sity of a large establishment ; but
expressed surprize that ministers
had assigned no reason for this in-
crease, and earnestly hoped that it
would be yet possible to continue
in peace.

Captain Markham defended the
conduct of the admiralty board, in
contradiction of the instances ad-
duced by sir Sidney Smith.

Lord Hawkesbury said, it was
not usual for ministers to preface
resolutions of this nature with many
observations; but, in the present
instance, he thought it more pecu-
liarly necessary, as it was gene-
rally understood at the time of dis-
cussing the address, that our esta-
blishments were to be considerably
increased. Ministers had then dis-
tinctly avowed their intentions of
proposing such an increase. It was
uncommon for ministers to give such
an explanation; it was very uncom-
mon to demand it from them. As
to a permanent establisment, that
was certainly a fit subject for par-
liamentary discussion; but the esta-
blishment which ministers might
think necessary for the year, de-
pended upon their opinion of the
situation of affairs, that, they were
not at liberty to disclose. It was
therefore absolutely necessary to
place such confidence in whoever
were the ministers, as to give them
#redit, when they declared their

35
opinions generally, that such a force
is immediately necessary for the de-
fence of the state. He believed,
that without speaking from any ex-
clusive information his majesty’s
ministers might have, there were
sufficient circumstances known by
every man in that house and in the
country, to induce a very general
opinion, that our military establish-
ments ought to be increased. He
wished, however, that the country
would endeavour to continue the
peace, in the true spirit of peace ;
a spirit which was perfectly con-
sistent with the national honor;
but free from that degree of irrita-
tion, which, if pursued, could an-
swer no one good end, but must
inevitably lead to hostilities. It
had been usual for that house, with-
out much observation, to yote such
peace establishment for the year, as
ministers should declare to be ne-
cessary. It was not, however, mere-
ly on this ground of confidence, that
ministers relied for the support of
the house; there were abundant
circumstances known to the whole
world, to make an increased esta=
blishment a thing of evident and ab-
solute necessity.

Mr. Canning professed to be sa-
tisfied with the explanation of his
noble friend (lord Hawkesbury),
and if such an explanation had been
given before the resolutions were
brought forward, he thought it
would have prevented all discussion.
He allowed that it was always ne-
cessary to be prepared, not only
against the hostility, but against
the perfidy of France. We should
be prepared against the attack of
our foreign: possessions, and* the
possibie event of invasion, not: only
on the first declaration of war, but

D2 eveR

36
even before such declaration should
have been made. As to the affairs
of Switzerland, he wished to know
whether the honor and character of
this country had been at all com-
mitted; and if so, how that pledge
had been redeemed? He considered
that underthe present circumstances
of Europe, a considerable augment-
ation of our military establishments
were necessary; and yet he could
hot vote for that proposed, without
some farther explanation.

The attorney general (Mr.
Percival) thought it somewhat cu-
rious, that those objections should
come from persons who had al-
ready recommended an increase of
our establishments ; had they come
from a right hon. gentleman (Mr,
Fox) who always recommended
small establishments, it would not
have been so surprizing. Ministers,
however, were determined to steer
a middle course, and if it was not
in their powér to reconcile the jar
of parties, he trusted they would
be able to reconcile themselves to
the public. As it was not to the
principle of an increased establish-
ment or an increased supply, but
merely on the quantum that they now
areued, it might be supposed that
it was men and not measures which
were the objects of their attacks,
Opposition speeches often ended in
good government votes, and per-
haps those who were so violent in
their philippics against ministers,
were actuated by a violent desire for
their places. And if they could
supplant them, he supposed they
would proceed on the very same
principles. He considered the op-
position to ministers on this subject,
as merely an opposition to their
places,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

_ Dr. Lawrence thought this line
of observation as unparliamen-
tary, as it was unusual; he consi-
dered it an attack on the liberty
of speech in that house. France
had, since the definitive treaty, in-
creased her army, by nearly 100,000
men, and her navy in the same
proportion ; he therefore thought it
necessary that we should increase
ours upon a similar scale, if we
would be safe. He denied that he
himself belonged to any party, or
that he was secking the places of
any body: he was content with the
profits of an honorable profession,
and had nothing further to wish for
personally. He voted for the in-
crease proposed, because, although
he thought it inadequate, it was

better to have that than nothing,
The resolutions were then agreed

to.

Such were the opinions expressed
by the leading members, in this
spirited debate, on the circum-
stances of the times. ‘There never
appeared to be a period in which
parliament were more unanimous in
their vote for increasing the military
establishments of the country; as
indeed it had been most obvious to
all, from the very day in which the
definitive treaty was signed, that
France was by no means willing to
confine herself within any given
limits; but was proceeding regu-
larly and steadily, to the establish-
ment of her own domination, over
the degraded and weakened nations
of Europe. During the interval of
peace, the French government were
at open war with our commerce:
avowed their intention of retaking
Sgypt; and by their cruel and un-
justifiable treatment of Switzerland,
roused the indignation of every
individugd

HISTORY) OFC EUEOF E.

Andividual in Great Britain. It was
therefore naturally to be expected,
at the opening of parliament,
that different parties would seize
the opportunity of delivering their
opinions on the situation of the
country. Although there appeared
no strong systematic or united op-
position to the minister, yet many
unequivocally expressed their hopes
of Mr. Pitt’s return to office; and
without disapproving of the speci-
fic measures proposed, yet appeared
to consider the present administra-
tion not sufficiently able or vigorous
to conduct the affairs of the coun-
try, at sucha crisis.

On the next day, the 3d of De-
cember, after the usual course of
business in the house of peers,

The earl of Moira rose, in pur-
suance of a former notice, to call
the attention of their lordships to
the affairs of the Carnatic. The
unfortunate prince, whose rights and
interests he had undertaken to de-
fend, was now beyond the reach of
any farther calamity!

After life’s fitful fever, he does well !

Treason has done its worst ! Nor steel nor
poison,

Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing

Could touch him further!

He therefore could now make no
motion for the purpose of restoring
him to his throne; but would call
the attention of their lordships to
the necessity of controling the Kast
India company, in their system of
excessive agerandizement and in-
crease of theirterritories; and in their
unjustifiable measures of making
war for conquest. We had found
fault with France for invading and
_ Oppressing all the feeble states about
her; and now, by the conduct of
the East India company, we allowed

37

that opprobium to be retorted
and to attach upon ourselves; and
it was held up to all Europe, that
we pursued in India that same con-
duct, of which we so loudly accused
France. He concluded, by mov-
ing for papers, for the information
of their lordships, respecting the
assumption of the government of the
Carnatic.

After a few observations from
lord Hobart and lord Grenville, the
motion was agreed to.

On the 6th and 7th of December,
the principal business which occu-
pied the house of commons, was
the presenting several petitions re~
specting the Middlesex election:
the first was, a petition from Mr.
Mainwaring, complaining of the re-
turn of sir Francis Burdett; and
stating that it was owing to the
partiality and misconduct of the
returning officers; and the corrupt
practices of sir Francis and his
agents; that there was a colourable
majority against him upon the elec-
tion. There was also a petition from
the freeholders in the interest of
Mr. Mainwaring, against the elec-
tion, on the grounds of bribery and
treating. On the other hand, a
petition was presented by the free-
holders, in the interest of sir Fran-
cis Burdett, against the petitions of
Mr. Mainwaring and his friends.
This counter petition stated, that
*“ Mr. Mainwaring was not a person
competent to have been returned,
both on account of not being pos-
sessed of property amounting to a
qualification, but by being also
further disqualified, by holding cer-
tain offices.” It also charged him
with bribery and corruption; with
abusing his powers as a magistrate,
to obstruct and prevent the frec-

ee oa holders

58

holders from coming up to the hust-
ings to vote for sir Francis; and
threatening many publicans with
the deprivation of their licences,
if they should vote against him.
The two first petitions were referred
to a committee ; but upon the coun-
ter petition being presented, the
speaker put it to the house, whether
they could receive as an election
petition, a petition which did not
complain of an undue election, and
was not easily to be reduced under
any of the heads which were pre-
scribed by the law on that subject.
A debate took place, which was
adjourned, in order to give time to
look for precedents; but, on the
day of its being finally discussed, it
was resolved, ‘‘ that the said peti-
tion does not come within the de-
scription of any petition, the pro-
ceedings on which are regulated by
the act for regulating petitions, to
be presented in election cases.”—In
consequence of this resolution, the
counter petition was withdrawn.

On the 8th of December there
#ccurred a very anjmated debate in
the house of commons, on the se-
cretary at war’s statement of the in-
tended military establishment for
the ensuing year.

The secretary at war (Mr.Yorke)
acknowledged, that the estimates,
which it was now his duty to pre-
sent, were for a military establish-
ment, much higher than had been
kept up at any former period, when
the country was at peace; and
the question for their consideration
was, whether circumstances did not
justify such an increase in our mi-
litary establishment? He thought
the present situation of Europe, and
the relative condition of this coun-
try and the neighbouring nations,

ANNUALSREGISTER, . 1803.

had been sufficiently described in
the preceding debates ; and were in=
deed too obvious to require, that
he should attempt any further ex-
planation upon that subject. The
overgrown power of France, which
had now realized all the dreams of
Louis the X1Vth and his ministers 3
its menacing attitude, and the am-
bitious and enterprizing spirit of
its present government; spoke too
strongly to the feelings of every
rational man, to render any obser-
vations of his necessary upon the
subject. He considered that the
feelings of the nation had been dis-
tinctly manifested ; that we should
preserve the peace we had made,
so long as it could be preserved with
honor; that we should also abstain
from aggression and irritating lan-
guage; but that, at the same time,
we should be always ready and pre-
pared to repel aggression, and to
resent a national insult, In con-
sonance with this feeling, he wish-
ed to abstain from a war of words
with the enemy; but to be always
in astate of preparation against any
alternative, was his great object,
“‘ France is now possessed of the
Netherlands; she is all powerful in
Holland, and mistress of the whole
course of the Lower Rhine, the
Maese, and the Scheldt. With such
an immense increase of sea coast
and naval resources, as well as of
territorial power, our navy alone,
however excellent, could not be
entirely depended upon, for the pro-
tection of such an extensive coast
as ours from the dangers of invasion,
The military force of France, at the
commencement of the present year,
consisted of eighty-four regiments
of cavalry, amounting to 46,000
men; 100 demi-brigades of infantry;

MISTORY OF EUROPE.

and 130 of light infantry, amounting
to 341,000 ; there were 14,000 vete-
rans employed on garrison service,
and the artillery establishment was
26,000. So that upon the while,
the regular force of France, amount-
ed to about 428,000, to which were
to be added near half a million of
gens d’armes, which he did not
mean to state as regular troops,
but still must be reckoned at some-
thing. Such being the state of
military preparations in France;
and such being her position, it was
necessary for this country also to
hold itseif ina high military state
of preparation. No nation could
look for the continuance of peace,
without feeling a proper confidence
in its own means of defence and secu-
rity. It was theretore the duty of
every government to provide such
means of defence ; as without them,
all the accumulations of commerce

and wealth would only lead to an.

accumulation of anxiety, disgrace,
and misfortune.” He had heard of
objections to an increased establish-
ment, both on the grounds of the
constitution and of economy. He
‘thought all those objections would
be answered, by simply asking, was
it not necessary ? That force which,
in the present state of Europe was
necessary to guard the country and
its constitution, was both agreeable
to the constitution and to true eco-
nomy. He then proceeded to state
the force that was necessary to be
kept up for the ensuing year, which
was as follow: thirty regiments of
cavalry, including horse and dra-

- goon guards, amounting to 17,250;

three regiments of foot guards 6060
men; 102 battalions of regular in-
fantry, together with eight West
Tndig regiments, amounting to 415$

39

men. Of foreign corps also, it was
proposed to retain the regiments of
Stuart, Meuron, and Watteville,
amounting to 2552. ‘The whole of
the force would be 129,000, The
general distribution that was intend
ed, was 60,000 for Great Britain
and Ireland; 30,000 for the Planta-
tions, and the rest for India. The
expence of this force would be some-
thing above £1,0€0,000, the entire
expences of the army for the ensu-
ing year, he calculated at five mil-
llions and a half, which was less by
2,000,000 than the expence of the
present year, and by £10,000,000
than the expence of the last year of
the war. He vindicated the con-
duct of administration from the
charge of having imprudently dis-
banded the army, and stated that
the actual force for the defence of
the United Kinedom, would amount
to 200,000 men, including the mili-
tia and yeomanry ; this was a force
which he thought would not tempt
any foreign nation to attack us. Le

then proposed his first resolution.
Mr. Bankes said, that if he dis-
approved of a high peace establish-
ment, it was not because he thought
less highly than others of the for-
midable power of France, but be-
cause he thought more highly of
the natural means and resources of
this country ; and he did not like
to waste those resources in guarding
against a danger which did not exist.
In former times it had been found
that small peace establishments
were, sufficient to keep the country
secure at home, and preserve its
respectability abroad; but if we
were now to make the military
establishment of France the measure
of our own, that could not be done
without ruining the resources of the
D4 country,

40

country. If this country was quiet
and contented at home, he did not
think it need to be panic struck on
hearing of half a million of men
drawn up upon the shores of France.
Our insular situation was to be esti-
mated as a powerful defence, but,
above all, we were to rely on the
resources of the nation, when satis-
fied with its government. It was
by public credit and confidence,
and not from our population, that
Great Britain had carried on so
many wars with advantage and
glory. He relied also on the great
number of men trained and disci-
plined to arms, who are now in the
country ; he wished, instead of in-
creasing, to diminish as much
as possible, the expences of the
army, by allowing the soldiers
leave of absence for a considerable
part of the year, as had always been
done upon the continent.

Sir Eyre Coote approved of the
proposed increase of the military
establishment, which in times like
the present was, he coficeived ne-
cessary, to support the honor and
dignity of the empire.

Earl Temple said, that consist-
ently with the principles he had
ever acted upon in that house, he
could by no means oppose the in-
crease which was now proposed, nor
should he by any vote of his, either
damp the spirits of the country, or
check that spark of spirit which had,
however tardily, been exhibited by
his majesty’s government, He gave
full credit to the able speech which
had been made by the ‘secretary at
war; but in that statement there
was nothing which could enable the
house to judge whether this was an
estimate for a peace establishment,
or for a war establishment, There

ANNUAL REGISTER,

ject.

1803.

was no language of the noble secree

tary which appeared like telling
France, as it was the duty of this
country to do, “ Thus far shalt
thou go, and no further.” We
were voting a large: establishment,
without any information on the sub-
His lordship then condemned
the general conduct of administra-
tion, and particularly their conduct
with respect to the aflairs of Swit-
zerland ; and on the whole he con-
sidered, that his majesty’s ministers
were not persons fit to be entrusted
with the government of the country
in times like the present.

General Maitland highly approv-
ed of the very able speech of the
secretary at war; and thought that
there was no occasion for any other
argument to justify the vote, except
the present situation of Europe.
Besides the enormous power of
France, the ruling passion of that
people is now entirely for military,
enterprize ; and their government is
in the hands of a general, who if
not the first and greatest now alive,
is certainly the most ambitious and
enterprizing. He never gave a
vote in parliament with “oreater
pleasure than the present. It was
for an establishment which would
have all the effect of real economy,
and a mode of securing to us peace,
far better than could be effected by
any seal that was ever put to the
treaty.

‘General Tarleton stated, that he
had uniformly voted against the late
war, and had done so most con-
scientiously ; but he should vote
with pleasure for the increase now
proposed, as he considered it abso-
lutely necessary for the honor and
security of the country—however
great were the horrors of war, -

is tae

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

the horrors of seeing Bonaparte’s flag

onthe tower of London, or his politi-

cal principles current in this coun-

try, were still more terrifying to
him.

Mr. Archdall hoped the vote of
that night, would be understood
both at home and abroad, as the
cool decision of the representatives

_of a great nation, who wished to act
in the spirit of the answer given to
his majesty. It was not the dark
manifesto of a perpetual dictator,
but the voice of a great and free
nation, adequately represented. He
had often heard the situation of
the country, spoken of in the most
desponding terms, by those very
gentlemen who were for the most
vigorous measures. They seemed
to wish to vote the country to vigor,
but to debate it to despair, He
had heard that a general should not
think lightly of his enemy, but that

-acommon soldier should; now he
saw no policy in describing our situ-
ation to the enemy, so as 5 that they
should despise both general and
soldier: if .what was said in the
house passed no further, there
would be no harm perhaps, in gen-

. themen speaking one way, and voting
another: but as those things tra-
velled far, it was very dangerous.
The strength of France was also

magnified ; it was supposed by
many, that her resources were
founded on pillage, and its alliances
on compulsion: if so, he saw no
great reason for us to dread her
power. Ifwith ourgreat resources,
our loyalty firm, our honor un-
touched, our glorious navy, our
army and people in a mass .attach-
ed to our constitution, we should
yet be doomed to fall and be des-
troyed; he must say, there was

Al

something in it beyond human fore-
sight, and therefore we must not be
daamed of our destruction,

Mr. Cartwright also supported
the resolution proposed,

Mr. Whitbread condemned the
language that had been so often
repeated, of adetermination to de-
fend our honor, and not to bear
insult: he thought that might be
very well inferred, from what this
country had formerly done; and
that consequently such language
was unnecessary, and not in the
tone of true spirit. He did not seri-
ously believe, that France meditated
an attack upon this country, and
thought the French government
might as well pretend to be alarmed
with the fears of an attack from
this. Nations, as well as indi-
viduals, often retained ridiculous
apprehensions of danger; we had
once entertained strong apprehen-
sions from Dunkirk being fortified,
and now we cared very little about
its harbour. We were very much
afraid of Jamaica too, when the
French fleet sailed for St. Domingo;
but those sort of fears cannot last
a very long time; he did not sce
how the vote now proposed, could
at alltend to diminish the power
of France. He concluded by de-
claring, that it was with pleasure
that he had seen the government
of the country, taken out of those
hands, who had so misused it; and
he dreaded the consequences of
such men returning to power.

' The hon. Dudley Rider sup-
ported the resolutions of an increas-
ed establishment.

Mr. Sheridan regreted, that any
allusions had been made, to the sup-
posed fitness or unfitness of individu~
als, to hold high offices in the

government ;

49

government ; he thought there never
was a crisis, in which it was more
necessary, than at the present,
to prove to the people of England,
that they were above all party
feelings ; all party distinctions ; and
superior to any petty scramble for
places or power. The case of
Switzerland was, he thought, a
case which deserved serious atten-
tion; inasmuch as it shewed how
France was disposed to use its great
power. <A power capable of such
unprovoked aggression, and such
perfidy, was a power that ought
strictly to be watched. If the pow-
er of France does not appear great-
er than in June last, her mischie-
vous disposition certainly appears
much greater. . He should not
however say, that Switzerland was
a sufficient cause for going to war,
he should still prefer peace if pos-
sible, but ifit was not possibie, he
should wish to oppose the most
prompt and determined resistance,
to the first act of aggression. On
that principle, he should cheerfully
vote for a large peace establish-
ment. Ifwe were now to look to
the map of Europe, there, where a
great man, (who was however
always wrong in his opinion on this
subject) said, “ he saw a chasm that
once was France,” on the contrary,
now, we would find nothing but
France. The ambition of the ruler
of France, must now be principally
directed against this country. Prus-
sia was at his beck, Italy his vassal,
Spain at his nod, Portugal at his
foot, Holland in his grasp, and
Turkey in his toils. © What object
then remained for his devouring
ambition, greater or equal to the
conquest or destruction of — this
country? As to the opinion that

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

some gentlemen entertained, that
itwas arivality of commerce that
he aimed at, that was an opinion in
which he could not acquiesce; he
saw him indeed taking positions for
the destruction of our commerce,
but he did not see him taking any
measures for the mutual benefit of
the trade of the two countries. An
ignorant observer, might see two
armies, and pronounce there was
no war, because there was no battle;
yet the one may make such move-
ments, as to oblige the other to
surrender without a blow, Of the
‘commercial talents of Bonaparte
he could say butlittle; it was more
likely, that being bred in camps, his
views were more directed to the
conquest of this country, than to
any riyality of commerce. — This
is the prayer that he daily addresses
to whatever deity he © adores,
whether Mahomet, the goddess of
battles, or the goddess of reason,
He had discovered that we all
belong to the western family; for
his part, he did not wish to be of his
family party; but would rather be on
the terms of civil neighbourhood
and visiting acquaintance; he
would implore him not to consider
us as belonging to his family. The
existing circumstances appeared to
him, to call for great vigilance and
preparation, but they were not
sullicient to justify awar. A noble
lord lord Temple) had with the
ingenuousness of youth, or as some
would say, with the inexperience
of youth, avowed that his princi-
pal object was to obtain a change
of ministers: but if that noble lord
and his friends had been ministers,
they could not have acted other-
wise than the present: they would
not have gone to war with Fragce

about

HISTORY -OF ‘EUROPE.

‘xbout continental objects; they
might have grumbled a little, made
more wry faces, and instead of sit-
ting with their arms across, they
might have sat with their. arms
a-kimbo. The noble lord’s dislike
to the present minister, put him in
mind of the following english paro-
dy of two lines of Martial :

“«T do not like thee, Dr. Fell,

«© The reason why I cannot tell ;

« But this 'm sure, I know full well,
« T donot like thee, Dr. Fell.”

He then entered generally into a
Vindication of the conduct of the
present administration, and thought
the former ministers had no right
to take much credit to themselves,
for the Baltick expedition, which
chance, and the extraordinary skill
of lord Nelson, brought to a happy
termination: nor for the Egyptian
expedition, which they had sent
out orders to countermand. An ex-
secretary at war (Mr, Windham)
appeared formerly only to be afraid
‘of jacobinism: that is ** killed off”
‘and gone, and yet his fears continue.
If however any aggression should be
made, we must meet it with a firm
conviction, that a country which
has achieved such greatness, has
no retreat.in littleness; and that if
we were content to abandon every
thing, we would not find security in
abject submission; and that we
should meet it with a firm determi-
nation to perish in the same grave,
with the honor and independance
of the country.

Mr. Canning expressed the great-
est admiration of the sentiments of
‘Mr. Sheridan; they were worthy
the man who had so often come
forward in times of public embar-
fassment, as the champion of the
country’s rights‘and interests, and

A$

had rallied the hearts and spirits of
the nation; he only regretted that
such a speech had not come from
the mouth of a minister, Such
language from those in adminis-
tration, would in his opinion,
do more than fleets and arinies,
to ward off the attack of a
foreign enemy, and to animate and
maintain the spirit and energy of
the people. But it was vain to
look to that quarter for such lan-
guage. He then, in the course of a
long and very able speech, vindi-
cated himself from the imputation
of want of candor, in expressing his
general sentiments, on the unfitness
of administration, while he support-
ed the measure proposed. When
it was considered what wonderful
efiects had been produced in
France, by the genius of one man,
Bonaparte, he thought that it was
absolutely necessary, that the ad-
ministration of this country, should
be entrusted to those, who were
most evidently the fittest, from their
superior talents and energy, to con-
duct its affairs in the hour of dan-
ger, with honor and advantage;
and expressed in the stongest terms,
that in his opinion, there was no-
thing more desirable for the coun-

try, than Mr. Pitt’s return to
office.
Mr. Wilberforce repeated the

objections he had formerly urged,
against this country involving itself
too much in continental alliances.
He wished that thenations of the
continent, would for the future,
rely more upon their own exertions,
than on our alliance.

Mr. Fox vindicated himself from
the charge of being the apologist of
France, but contended that small
peace establishments were better

for

AA

for the defence of the country, than
large ones. It was our continen-
tal connexions, and not our own
necessities for self defence, which
first introduced the idea of standing
armies into this country. Our an-

cestors never saw the necessity of

them, as they did not wish to trou-
ble themselves about continental
affairs; and it was remarkable, that
of all the wars which the country
had waged for the Jast century, it
-was precisely those which we had
began frem the smallest peace
establishments, that were the most
successful. After expressing his
opinion, that France could not con-
quer us by invasion, he said, there
was another point in which we
were perhaps more vulnerable; he
meant, in our finances. He thought
jt might be the policy of F rance, to
drive us by the menace of invasion,
into an expence, that would pre-
vent us from freeing ourselves from
the national debt, which was the
best ally of France. He thought
that wise economy was better for
this country, than high establish-
ments; but if it were judged neces-
sary to have 50,000 seamen, he
did not conceive, that that could be
a reason for ind increasing our
military establishments so enor-
mously: if we rested our security
on high establishments, he should
suppose it was not necessary to
have i in addition, the aid of philip-
pics, For his part, he saw nothing
improbable in the supposition, that
the ruler of France, having gained
for himself great glory, should now
wish to turn his attention to the
jmprovement of his country.

Mr. Windham considered, that
from the first day of the French
revolution, to the present time, Mr,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

Fox had always been the apologist,
and often the eulogist of France ;
that at this very day he looked upon
the revolution with affection, and
kept all its enormities out of sight.
He praised very highly the speech
of Mr. Sheridan; but declared,
that if formerly he was alarmed at
French principles, he had now as
good grounds to be alarmed at
French power,

The chancellor of the exchequer,
in reply to the argument of Mr.
Fox, with respect to the financial
state of the country, said, that its
revenue was now so flourishing, that
it could afford the increase pro-
posed ; and he thought that no
smaller establishment would be suf
ficient, when the great power of
France, and other circumstances,
which had happened since the treaty
of Amiens, were taken into consi-
deration. After some observations
from sir James Pulteney, the com-
mittee agreed to the resolutions.

The next day the debate was re-
sumed, on the bringing up the re-
port of the committee.

The right hon. ‘Thomas Gren-
ville complained of want of sufficient
parliamentary information, belove
this increased establishment was
proposed, He shewed that upon
all former occasions, for the last
century, the sovereign had always
informed parliament of the circum-
stances which called for high or low
establishments; when however 4
very large establishment was to be
voted, he could not think of limit-
ing the use of it, merely to the case
of an actual invasion of the country.

Lord Hawkesbury insisted that
as much information as was neces=
sary, or usual, had been given to
parliament,and that ministers called

for

MISTORY OF EUROPE.

Sor no more confidence, than was ab-
solutely necessary for every govern-
ment. The address contained the
system which his majesty’s minis~
ters had adopted, namely, to de-
fend our own empire against all en-
croachment, and look with vigil-
ance to the state of the continent.
The adoption of such a system made
it absolutely necessary to increase
our establishments.

Sir Francis Burdett denied that
Mr. Pitt’s return to office was the
wish of any considerable part of
the people, and severely condemn-
ed, not only the late administration,
but the abuses in the system of go-
yernment as it now stood: such as
the pension list, barracks, and soli-
tary imprisonment. He thought
the best way of uniting the people
in defence of the country was, by giv-
ing them a more equal parliamen-
tary representation, and a greater
interest In its defence.

Mr. Hawkins Browne and Mr.
Calcraft, spoke in support of the
resolution, and expressed confidence
in his majesty’s ministers.

Dr. Lawrence was of opinion,
that the national honor had been
impaired by the misconduct of his
majesty’s ministers, on several oc-
easions; he particularly instanced
the dereliction of the interests of
the prince of Orange, which had
been formally promised, at the time
of signing the treaty, to be attended
to; 2dly, the conduct of the French
government in imprisoning, and af-
terwards arbitrarily sending out of
the country a British officer, cap-
tuin D’Auvergne; and lastiy, the
readiness with which our govern-
ment ordered the prosecution of
Peltier tora libel on the first consul;
while the Moniteur was daily slan-

45

dering his majesty, the ministers,
and the parliament.

The chancellor of the exchequer
defended the conduct of his majes«
ty’s ministers in those instances ; im
the case of captain D’Auvergne, as,
soon as the British minister in Paris
heard of his imprisonment, he made
a demand of his release, which was
immediately obtained.

Mr. Fox said, if the case of cap-
tain D’Auvergne had been exactly
what was stated by Dr. Lawrence;
if the national honor was reall
wounded in the person of a British
officer; this would be, in his opi-
nion,a much more justifiable ground
of war, than the conduct of France
with respect to the German empire
or Switzerland. Strongly as he
was disposed to peace, still he
should always prefer war to insult
or infamy. He did not think the
present was a time for renewing
continental connexions. It would
be rather ungenerous to expose
Austria to such danger; and as for
the great power of France, he
thought there was no use in con-
stantly complaining, unless we could
point out some remedy.

Mr.Windham could not see, why

Mr. Fox would suppose the na-
tional honor could be a’ground of
var, if he saw nothing of national
dishonor in the case of the prince
of Orange and captain D’ Auvergne.
He agreed with what had followed
in the last debate from Mr. Sheri-
dan, that a country which had been
so long great, had no retreat in
littleness.

Lord Castlereagh endeavoured to
prove that Mr. Windham. over-rated
the danger of the country, as much
as Mr. Fox had under-rated it.

The.

46

The resolutions were then agreed
to unanimously,

On a review of these two very
important and highly interesting
debates, it will have been seen that
the note of preparation was swelled
to a still higher pitch; and that, in
calling for a vote for 129,000 men
for the service of the year, indepen-
dently of the great naval force al-
ready granted, (however ministers
might conceal the real causes of
alarm) a renewal of hostilities was,
even by them, supposed not very
distant. But the effect of this
vote, on the public mind, was by
no means dubious. The alarm
which was given by the speech from
the throne was now universal, and
received abundant confirmation
from those measures of Parliament
which had, since that period, taken
place. The public funds expe-
rienced immediate depression, and
the minds of all were aroused toa
sense of danger, and that too im-
mediate; the more surprizing to a
people, who but a month before,
were wrapped round in universal
confidence and security. Yet, to
theastonishment of the whole coun-
try, could not the minister, nor his
colleagues in office, be prevailed
upon to assign satisfactory and suf-
ficient reasons for those great de-
mands, unprecedented in time of
peace, onthe public resources. In
vain was it urged, that it was uncon-
stitutional and unparliamentary, to
press a vote for such an enormous
increase of the military establish-
ments of the country, without
any information to guide them in
the propriety of passingit. In vain
was explicitness demanded, as the
best means of rousing the public
spirit, and even, as the best mode of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803,

answering the ends, proposed by
the ministers themselves, in the
augmentation. In yain was it
pleaded, that if intended for war,
the numbers voted were too few,
if for peace too many. Govern-
ment still maintained a sullen and
unaccountable reserve, and they
entrenched themselvesin the position
that this force was meant solely
to repel hostility and aggression; to
defend our own empire against all
encroachments; and to enable us to
look with vigilance, to the state of
the continent. To this vague
and indeterminate explanation, if it
could be called explanation, did they
confine themselves; nor could the
splendid eloquence, the convincing
reasoning, nor the bitter taunts of
their adversaries, procure any more
specious or more solid reply.
Support however, was given by all
parts of the house, to administra-
tion, with but a few, and those
individual exceptions. The friends
of the late minister, (who however
did not himself come forward) and
the “ new. opposition,” supported
the estimates, as manifesting some
small degree of energy, in what
they termed a feeble and spiritless
government ;—and_ the partizans
of Mr. Fox did not oppose them,
although they shewed evident symp-
toms of dislike, at the slightest
appearance of a renewal of hostili-
ties with France. An exception
however must be made, with res-
pect to Mr. Sheridan. His senti-
ments, as delivered in his speech on
the night of the 8th of December,
when the secretary at war moved
the peace establishments of the
year ; and which was replete with
sound reasoning, argument, and
wit; was decidedly in unison with

the

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

the sentiments of the government,
whom he professed to vote with,
on that occasion, with the greatest
cordiality and cheerfulness. Ina
noble burst of eloquence, he painted
to the life, the atrocious conduct of
Bonaparte, with respect to Switzer-
land; which of itself, he said, if
none other existed, was almost a
legitimate cause of war; and urged
from a review of his systems, his

Ay

sity of resistance, ‘* prompt, reso-
lute, determined resistance, to the
first aggression on his part, be the
consequénces what they might.”
These sentiments were received by
the house and the public, with the
warmest applause ; and were the
more attended to, as coming from
one, whose personal attachment to
the leader of those, who supported
the pacific system, could not be

* consent has usually attached exclusively to

politics, and his power, the neces- doubted.*

* A portion of this speech however, produced an effect very different, we believe,
from the intentions of the ingenious and able character who delivered it.—It was
meant to be, asindeed it was, a ministerial speech, and supported the measures of
administration with energy and effect. But in the playfulness of that wit and fancy,
which distinguish Mr. Sheridan’s oratorical effusions, he fastened a degree of personal
ridicule on the premier, the effects of which long remained, after his more serious
arguments were forgotten; and was of far greater detriment, eventually, to his politi-
cal existence, than the assistance he this night afforded him was of advantage. Some
supposed resemblance in the deportment of Mr. Addington, to that. which common
the professors of medicine, coin-
eiding with the circumstance, of his being the son of the highly respected and eminent
physician of the same name; had procured him, partially, the familiar appellation of
“the Doctor.” Mr. Sheridan, in the course of his celebrated speech on this evening,
not contented, (under pretence of giving their adversaries’ sentiments,) with holding
up ministers to view, as the “ lees of a bottle of Tokay, on which white wine had beeg
poured to make it pass for genuine ;""—one as a mere goose quill,”"— another as “astick
of sealing wax, which, as soon as the drudgery of signing the peace was over, were to
be considered as functi officiis, and thrown aside—allusions which were quickly
caught, and kept the house in continued laughter— took occasion, in stating the
personal dislike of some gentlemen to Mr. Addington, to quote Martial’s epigram,

Non amo te, Sabide, nec possum dicere quare;
Hoc tantum possum dicere, non amo te.

Of which he said the English parody would be more applicable to the parties—
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell, &c. (vide speech.)

The particular emphasis which he laid on the word doctor, and his subsequent repe~
tition of it, occasioned it to be instantly applied ; and thenceforward the minister was
generally distinguished by the apellation of ram poctor. ‘The public prints in the
interest of his opponents, re-echoed the title, and twisted and tortured it into every
species of allusion, that wit and humour could bring to bear upon the man and _ his
measures, and held them up to that ridicule which is always fatal and destructive ta
public character and confidence.

Let it not be considered, that we have given in this note, too much consequence and
importance to a nick name. It has been remarked by one of the most acute and philo-
sophic of the French historians, that the epithets which were affixed to the descendants
of Charlemagne, such as ‘ the bald,’ ‘ the stammerer,’ ¢ the fat,’ and ‘ the simple,’
were suited tothe contempt in which they were held by their subjects; and were the
means, by which their enemies prepared those subjects for the destruction of the Car-

_Wevingian race, and the admission of a more vigorous dynasty !

CHAP.

48

CHAP. IV.

Prelimmary Observations.—Committee of the House of Commons on thé
Supply and Ways and Means.—General Statement of the Finance, by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Four Millions granted from the Excess
of the consolidated Fund, towards the Supply.—Petitions from the Ship-
owners, against the Tonnage Duty—Ordered to lie on the Table.—Bilt
Jor appointing Naval Commissioners, for the Purpose of Enquiry into
Naval Abuses—Debate thereon.—Further Debate on the second Reading.
—And, on the third Reading—carried.—Debate in the Lords on the
Malt Duty Bill—Speeches of Earl Spencer—Lord Pelham—Earl of
Carlisle—Lords Limerick—Grenville—The Lord Chancellor.—Read a
Jirst Time.—Debate on the second Reading.—Speeches of Earls Spencer
—Suffolk—The Lord Chancellor—Earl of Carlislk—Darnley—Lord
Hobart—The Duke of Norfoik— Lords Grenville—Pelham—and Minto.
—Bill committed and passed.—Naval Commission Bill passed in the
Lords.— Observations. —Christmas Recess.

HE unexampled demand in

time of peace, of supplies for
an immense augmentation, both in
the marine and military depart-
ments; made it more than ordi-
narily necessary for ministers to
come forward, with a comprehen-
sive, and, if possible, satisfactory
statement, not only of the supply
for the year, and the ways and means
of providing for it; but also a ge-
neral review of the whole financial
system; accordingly, the day after
the preceding debate, December
the 10th, the chancellor of the ex-
chequer moved the order of the
day, for the house to resolve itself
into a committee, for those pur-
poses ; which being read and agreed
to, he moved that the amount of
the produce of the permanent taxes
for 1802, be referred to the said
eommittee; which being ordered,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

18034

the house resolving itselfinto a com+
mittee of the whole house, then
entered into a statement of the sup-
ply for the year, and the mode by ~
which he intended to raise it. He _—
first observed that he was induced
to bring forward the motion, of
which he had given notice, for
granting to his majesty a sum on
the growing produce of the consoli-
dated fund, at a season of the year
earlier than usual, by the very sa«
tisfactory circumstance of the ex-
traordinary produce of the revenue,
during the last halfyear. It would
be recollected that four millions
and a half had been voted on the
credit of the consolidated fund for
one year to the 5th of April next;
of thatsum no less than 3,800,000]. _
had been realized on the 10th of —
October last; and there was little
doubt, that on the conclusion of

the

HISTORY

the ensuing quarter on the 5th of
January, the surplus of the con-
solidated fund would exceed the
£700,000 necessary to complete
the sum which had been ‘voted.
The committee therefore would be
aware, that unless a power were giv-
en to his majesty’s government to
apply such further surplus as might
accrue to the public service, a con-
siderable sum might remain dead
and useless inthe exchequer : while
money must be raised by other
means to defray the necessary ex-
penses. He then shortly recapitu-
Jated the principal measures of
finance in the year 1802; and ob-
served, that the unfunded debt in
exchequer bills and navy debt,
_ which in Noy, 1801, had amounted
to upwards of £37,300,000, had
been reduced to about 19} millions,
making a reduction of nearly 18 mil-
lions, which in the course of the
year had been either funded or paid
off; Of the remaining sum of 194
millions, three millions which had
been advanced by the bank as a
consideration for the renewal of
their charter, bore no interest, and
was not payable till 1806, and
£900,000 were charged on the an-
nual taxes of the present year, the
arrears of which would be sufficient
to discharge them. Deducting
these sums, and £4,500,000 of na-
vy debt, the remaining exchequer
“bills scarcely exceeded 11 millions.
That in order to effect this reduc-
tion, to provide for the present ser-
vices of the year on that extensive
‘scale which the circumstances of
the state had required, and to re-
e the country from the pressure
of the income tax, it had been
Peary to make provision for 97
aye, SLY,

OF EUROPE.

49

millions of funded debt; of which
11 millions arose from the funding
of exchequer bills, 57% millions
from the stock charged upon the
income tax, and about 30 millions
from the loan of the present year.
That the charge accruing from so
large an addition to the funded
debtamounted to above #3,100,000,
for which taxes were provided, whic h
were estimated at four sgilliorh but
which in the first quarter in which
they had become productive, had
brought into the exchequer about
£900, 000, although scarcely any
thing had ean received on the ad-
ditional assessed taxes, which were
estimated at one million. Adding,
therefore, one-fourth of this sum to
that which had been realized, it
would appear that the produce of
the taxes of 1802, in the quarter
ending the 10th of Oct. in’ that
year, ‘night be estimated at no less
than £1,170,000, He had the
satisfaction to state, that so far as
a judgment could yet be formed, the
services of the year would be de-
frayed by the grants of parliament,
with the single exception of the ex-
traordinaries of the army. Gentle-
men would recollect that he had
expressed his apprehensions in the
spring that a considerable excess
would arise on that service, and a
large addition of expense had un-
doubtedly been occasioned by the
detention of our troops upon foreign
stations longer than had been ex-
pected. He had reason to believe
that the excess beyond the sum of
£1,600,000 provided by parlia-
ment, would exceed one miilion;
but he had the consolation of being
able to state to the committee, that
the total expense of the extraordi-
io naries

50

naries of the army in 1802, would
not exceed one half of its amount in
the preceding year. It was also sa-
tisfactory to reflect, that the econo-
mical management of the naval ser-
vice had effected a reduction of no
less than four millions and a half of
navy debt, He next stated the
supplies proposed for the year 1803,

and the ways and means by which
they were to be defrayed as follow:

SUPPLIES.
Navy, 50,000 men,
at £7 per man,

per mon. 4,550,000
Ordi. and extra. 1,218,238
Buildings, &c. 901,140
_ 6,669,378
Army, 5,500,000
Extraor. (includ.
surplus extraor.
issued in 1802) 2,000,000
= 7,500,000
Ordnance 787,947
Corn bounties 524,573
Miscellaneous—England
Ditto fetand i 43000;000
Trish permanent grants 363,339
Amount of joint charge -£ 16,845,237

ENGLAND’s SEPERATE CHARGES.
To pay off excheq.
bills on aids 1801 2,781,000

Do. do. on aids
1803 (Bank) 1,500,000
Repayment to [n-
dia Com. 1,000,000
Interest on excheq.
billsand dise.&c. 600,000
- Reduction of nati-
onal debt 100,000

———— 5,981,000
Total supplies 22,826,237
®-17ths of the
above sum of
£16,845,237,
are to be contri-
buted byIreland 1,981,792
Add for Ireland
2-i7ths of
3£1,200,401, for
civil list, and o-
ther charges on
the consoli. fund
not relating. to
the public debt 141,225

Sees

ANNUAL REGISTER,

,

1803,

On acct. of Ireland 2193;015

2
£ 20,703,222

Ditto of England
WAYS AND MEANS.

Land and Malt 2,750,000
Surplus consolidated
fund 6,500,000
Excheq,. bills on aids
1804 11,050,000
Lottery 500,060
£ 20,750,000
Estimate of excheq.
bills outstanding
Sist Dec. 1802 14,180,000

To be funded 7,000,000
To be paid off 4,281,000

re 11,281,000
2,899,000
Proposed to be is-
sued on aids
1804 11,000,000
£ 13,899,000

He next proceeded to consider
the supplies of the year as distin-
guished between permanent services
and such as were only occasional.
Under the former head, he observed,
might be included the navy, the ar-
my (except that sum which might
be voted to make good the excess Sof
the extraordinaries of the present
year, which he estimated at one
million,) the ordnance, the miscel- —
Janeous services of Great Britainand ~
Treland, and the imterest on ex-—
chequer bills, although on all those
services it was possible that reduc-
tions might hereafter take place.
The total amount of those charges"
was about 16 millions, of which the.
British proportion would somewhat
exceed £14,100,000. Inthe latter |
class might be placed the corn
bounties, the excess of the army ex-
traordinaries of 1802, the repay-
ment of exchequer bills, and of th

adyance

MIisTORyY

advances of the bank and East In-
dia company, amounting in the
whole to £6,800,000. He was
strongly impressed with the convic-
tion, that whatever our necessary
permanent expences might be, they
ought to be provided tor by a per-
manent revenue equal to the charge ;
and he trusted, that in this opinion
he was supported by a general con-
currence of the house, and of the
country. That we must not at-

tempt to accommodate our expen- —

diture to our revenue, but must
resolutely determine to raise our
revenue to a level with our expen-
diture. He did not, however, at
present, feel it necessary to recom-
mend to the committee any such
effort. The only operation of
finance which he had at present in
contemplation, was at some late
period of the session, to propose that
from six to eight millions of ex-
chequer bills should be funded, in
order to prevent any inconvenient
accumulation in the market. The
committee would be aware that un-
less a bargain could be concluded
with the holders of those bills, on
terms advantageous to the public,
it might be necessary to raise a loan
to this extent, for the purpose of
discharging them. In either case,
he trusted, that the means of defray-
ing the charge which would be
brought upon the public, might be
- found, withoutany materialaddition
_ ito the burthens of the people.—He
next proceeded to state to the com-
mittee, that it might be observed
that he had proposed, to vote no
more than four millions as the pro-
_ duce of the consolidated fund, al-
__ though he had stated his expectation
of a sum of 6} millions in the gene-
_ fal account of the ways and means
K 2

OF EUROPE.

51

of the year. He had proposed a
vote so moderate, because it would
be sufficient for the immediate pur-
pose of, and would avoid any incon-
venience to, the public service, in
case the hopes which he thought
himself well warranted in entertain-
ing, should not be realized by the
experience of the two next quarters,
He had, however, to state the pro-
duce of the three preceding quar-
ters in support of his expectations,
The actual amount of the surplus
of the consolidated fund in three
quarters of a year ending the
10th October, 1802, amounted to
£5,508,067. To this was to be
added the bounties paid on corn
within that period, and not yet re-
paid by parliament, being £431,729,
and the sum which might be expect-
ed from the produce of the taxes
of the present year, which had not
taken place in the two first quarters
of that period. The total would
be £7,939,796. From which, de-
ducting the whole of the sums re-
ceived on account of the income
tax, amounting to 2,054,893, the
total produce of the three quarters
would appear to be £5,884,905. If
the ensuing year proved equally

. productive, the surplus, in four

quarters would be no less than
$7,845,000; and he therefore
could not consider himself over san-
guine in expecting a clear surplus
of £6,500,000. It was also satis-
factory to observe, that the above
sum of £7,845,000 was little less
than double the surplus of the con-
solidated fund in any former year ;
as the largest produce ever known,
which was in the year ending the
5th January, 1792, amounted to
£4,300,000. In comparing the
produce of the taxes, it would be
found

5? ANNUAL REGISTER

found that a progressive increase
had taken place, not indeed in every
year, but in every period of a cer-
tain number of years compared
with periods preceding it. This was
an undeniable proof of the prospe-
rity of the country, and a satisfac-
tory indication of its -encreasing
resources. Supposing the produce
of the revenue to continue equal to
what it had been of late; which he
was far from venturing to predict
with confidence, it would afford the
means of providing for the defence
of the country in a very ample
manner. In confirmation of which,
he stated the supply, and ways and
means as follows :—The naval ser-
vice, in its different branches, might
be estimated at about 4,230,000,
a sum capable of supporting an
establishment nearly double that
which had been maintained in any
former peace.—The army (allowing
£500,000 for extraordinaries, and
supposing a reduction of one million
below the present estimate,) would
amount to#5,200,000. For the ord-
nance he should allow £800,000 ;
and for the miscellaneous services
of the united kingdom £1,300,000.
The total joint contribution would be
£11,530,000.. Adding £500,000
for the separate charges of Britain,
to the British proportion ofthe above
sum, the total to beprovided by Great
Britain would be £10,553,000.

To meet this expence, we |

might estimate. land tie

malt tax 2,750,000
Surplus consolidated fund, es-
- timated according to the

produce of the three last

quarters 7,845,000
Lottery 500,000
Contribution of the East In-

dia Company 500,000

Total 11,595,000

ere

1803.

a sum which would leave a clear
surplus of upwards a million.—But
there were other indications not less
satisfactory and decisive, of the in-
creasing prosperity of the country.
Tt was not possible, till the conclu-
sion of the year, that the accounts
of the commerce of the country
should be completely made up.
But from the best accounts which
could be procured, it appeared that
the real value of the principal arti-
cles of British produce and manu-
factures, exported in the year end-
Ing Oct. 10, 1802, amounted to
£27,900,000, while in the preced-
ing year, they were somewhat less
than £24,500,000 ; and that, sup-
posing those articles to bear the
same proportion to the whole of the
exports, which they had done in
former years, the total value of
British manufactures exported in
1802, would not fall short of
£50,000,000, being an increase of
cight,millions above the year pre-
ceding, which’ was itself greater
than any former year.—The ac-
count ofthe shipping of the country
was still more imperfect, as, till the
close of the year, returns were only
made up for the port of London:
but it was not less satisfactory, so

far as it could be ascertained, par-

ticularly in the important cireum-
stance of the increase of British
shipping. In the year ending the
10th October 1801, 1726 British
ships, measuring 418,631 tons, and
manned with 23,096: men, had en-
tered that port; and 1331 ships, |
measuring 350,634 tons, and ‘car-
rying 24,070 men, had cleared out- —
wards. In 1802, the British ships —
which entered inwards, were 2459, ©
tons 574,700, men 33,743.—The
pinkish ships which cleared: out- —

wards ;

_—— ———-

and salutary effects.
ton then concluded with moving his

HISTORY OF EUROPE. 53

waids were 1933, tons 419,067,
men 28,112.—The diminution of
foreign shipping was not less re-
markable than the increase of Bri-
tish. In 1801, the number of fo-
‘reign ships which entered inwards
was 3385, tonnage 452,677, men
20,388. The foreign ships which
cleared outwards were 3381, ton-
nage 445,651, men 23,302, In the
year 1802, the number of foreign
ships entered inwatds was reduced
to 1549, tonnage 214,117, men
10,555. The foreign ships which
cleared outwards were 1868, ton-
nage 262,006, men 14,826. Such
were the proofs of the increasing

rosperity of Great Britain. But
that of the other part of the United
Kingdom was not less remarkable.
—The revenue of Ireland had in-
creased between the 5th of January
and the month of August last above
£900,000, compared with the cor-
responding period of the preceding
year. An increase which in pro-
portion to the total amount of the
Irish revenue was even greater and
more rapid thanever known. Hethen
took a view of the state of the sink-
ing fund—a measure which had
originated in the sagacity and abi-
lities of the late minister, and had
been established by the wisdom and
firmness of parliament. In 1787
the sinking fund bore a proportion
to the national debt as one to ten.
It now had risen to the proportion
of one to three, and amounted to
no less than six millions, a sum,
which annually added to the pro-
ductive capital of the nation, cannot
fail to produce the most extensive
Mr. Adding-

resolutions, which were agreed to,

_ andthe report ordered to be received

on the next day. The first resolution -
was, ‘“ that towards raising the
supply, there be granted the sum of
£4,000,000 net of the growing pro-
duce of the consolidated fund.”

On the report being brought up,
Mr. Princep, without wishing by
any means to abate the exultation
which must be felt at the flourishing
state of our resources, as stated in
the report, recommended a revisal
of our commercial system, and the
navigation laws to which this country
was principally indebted for its
naval superiority. He decidedly
preferred the commercial, prudent,
and pacific system recommended
by Mr, Fox,to the chivalrous system
which seemed such a favourite with
another right hon, gentleman (Mr.
Windham). ;

The chancellor of the exchequer
corrected an error the honorable
gentleman had fallen into, in sup-
posing, that because he had stated
the growing produce of the con-
solidated fund at six million and a
half, that therefore he wanted that
sum at present: although he be-
lieved, the growing produce of that
fund would exceed six millions and
a half, yet the present vote was
only for four millions.

Mr. Windham disavowed his ever
having used theexpression ‘‘ Perish
commerce, but let the constitution
live !” he knew that in this country
they mutually supported each
other; but he also knew, that the
opinions of mercantile men, were
often somewhat influenced by their
personal interest and immediate
gain, and often differed materially
from the opinions of statesmen;
he was therefore for giving their
opinions all the weight they really
deserved, but nothing more.

Bind After

54

After a few more observations
from other honorable members,
the resolution was agreed to with-
‘outa division.

On the 14th of December, Mr.
Burdon presented a petition to the
house of commons, from the ship-
owners of Blythe in Northumber-
land, against the new duties on
tonnage. He stated at the same
time, that other nations had adopted
the principles of our navigation
laws, and that the British shipping
suffered materially thereby; and
that therefore instead of any new
burdens on our shipping, it was
rather the policy of the country to
foster the British navigation, even
though our commerce should suffer
by it.

The chancellor of the exchequer
admitted, that he was not then pre-
pared to lay before the house an
accurate statement of the tonnage
of Great Britain; he knew that the
shipping in the port of London
alone, would not be an accurate
criterion: and as to Liverpool, the
information which he had received,
was very different from what had
been stated by one of its represen-
tatives (General Gascoyne): the
tonnage of British ships had, ac-
cording to the information before
him, considerably increased in the
course of the last year, and so had
the number of sailors.

General Gascoyne said, when he
spoke of the trade of Liverpool, he
allowed that theexport of manufac-
tures had inereased there ; but the
West India trade in that town was
by no means flourishing. The Rus-
sian embargo, the war, and several
other causes, rendered the year
1801, not a fit period to compare
with the present year.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1808.

Sir William Curtis insisted that
ship-building was going on with un-
remitting activity, at the different
docks on the river Thames.

After some further conversation,
the petition was ordered to lie on
the table.

The only other debate of general
interest which took place in the
house of commons, previously to
the Christmas recess, was upon a
bill brought in for appointing com-
missioners to enquire into frauds
and abuses committed in the naval
department.

Captain Markham, on the 13th,
moved for leave to bring in this bill,
which, was called for by the board
of admiralty, who had not leisure
to examine those matters with suf-
ficient minuteness; and who, be-
sides, were not invested with the
power of administering oaths. He
campletely disavowed, in bringing
forward this measure, every idea of
conveying censure upon the late
administration, for whom, and the
noble lord who then presided over
the admiralty, he had the highest
respect. ‘The circumstances of the
war, however, had prevented them
from examining thoroughly this
subject.

Lord Temple considered that a
sufficient ground had not been stated
for the appointment of those com-
missioners; he apprehended that
the navy board possessed the pow-
ers which were now proposed to be
given to this committee.

Mr. Dickenson in support of the
principle of the bill, made some al-
lusions to the sending an admiral ag
ambassador to Russia.

‘The chancellor of the exchequer
vindicated the conduct of govern-
ment in this respect, and said, that

2, yee

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

wo man could have been found more
- qualified in every respect for such
a mission than Sir John Borlase
Warren.
Leave was then given to bring in
- the bill, and the next day on its
being read a first time,

Admiral Berkeley said he should
Not oppose the bill, but on exa-
mining the patent of the lords of
the Admiralty, he was convinced
that they possessed those powers
which it was now intended to give
to commissioners.

Mr. Cooper supported the bill.

Mr. Jarvis said the admiralty

_ were not possessed ofall the powers
“now demanded by the commis-
sioners ; they were not empowered
to regulate prize agents, nor to call
for papers and records ; but besides
that, these commissioners were to
enquire into abuses, if any existed,
in the higher departments of the
navy, in the admiralty and navy
_ boards, and therefore it would be
highly improper that those boards
should be judges in their own case.

The, bill having been read a se-
cond time, and gone througha com-
mittee, Captain Markham, on the

~17th of December, moved for its
re-committal.

Mr, Canning, without meaning
to oppose the re-committal of the
bill, wished that a measure of Such
importance, and which did not ap-
pear to him very urgent, should be

postponed till after the recess, to
give gentlemen time to direct their
attention to the subject.

The chancellor of the exchequer
said it was not his wish to hurry the
bill, but at the same time, the im-
portance of it appeared to him a

_ sufficient reason against unnecessary
_ delay; if such abuses did exist, no

t

55

time ought to be lost in detetting
them ; if the house were of opinion
that they did not exist, the bill
should be rejected altogether. It
would be recollected that those
commissioners were only empow-
ered to enquire, not to punish; and
parliament had, in fact, in the year
1792, pledged itself to make such
inquiry when peace was finally
restored.

Admiral Berkeley could not per-
fectly approve of the persons ap-
pointed for commissioners with such
extraordinary powers : for (except-
ing sir Charles Pole) he thought
that they though very respect-
able men in their own particular
line, were not sufficiently acquaint-
ed with the persons or things with
whom they would have to do.

Mr. Sturgess objected to this bill,
as having for a principal object, to
extract confession of guilt from the
delinquents, or punish them for
perjury ; this was contrary to the
spirit of our constitution,

The attorney general expressed
surprize at the new career of oppo-
sition, which some gentlemen had
now embarked in. It was perhaps
the first time, when ministers had
called for an inquiry into abuses,
that such inquiry was resisted by
opposition, j

Dr. Lawrence thought that the
bill was in opposition to an excel-
lent principle, which had been laid
down, that no man should be com-
pelled to give evidence of his own
delinquency ; he thought it was the
duty of the admiralty to punish the
delinquents when they found them
out; but he did not approve of
commissioners being now appoint-
ed, to overhaul every transaction
of the late war.

E 4 After

56

After some farther conversation,
the bill passed through the com-
mittee: but on the question for the
third reading,

Lord Folkstone moved, that the
third reading should be on the 18th
of February ; this produced another
debate, in which Mr. Lemon con-
sidered the bill as an ex post facto
Jaw, and consequently unjust.

The chancellor of the exchequer
replied, that every inquiry must be,
in the nature of things, ex post facto.
The object of this bill was not to
inflict penalties, but to institute
inquiry.

Mr, Kinnaird objected to it as
unconstitutional and unnecessary,
he thought more places would be
created by it, and less responsibility
attached to the board of admiralty.

Lord Temple supported the mo-
tion for putting off the third read-
ing of the bill till after the recess ;
and thought if the bill was of such
importance it ought to have been
brought in earlier in the session.

Mr, Sheridan supported the bill,
and in answer to the observation
that it was an ev post facto measure,
quoted an expression of Lord Bur-
leigh, in a similar case of inquiry
in the reign of queen Elizabeth :
he said, ‘It is an ex post facto
law: if you had lost your horse,
how would you go to find it? Would
you not go back the way you
came? So it is now with us; the
queen has lost her purse, and we
are going back to seek it the way it
was lost.” Ile proposed, however,
an amendment, which was agreed
to by the chancellor of the ex-
chequer, that in case the persons
now nominated, did not accept of
the appointinent, members of par-
hament hereafter should be disqua-

ANNUAL*REGISTER,

18053.

lified from holding the office of
nayal commissioners,

After some farther conversation,
and mutual explanations, the bill
was read a third time and passed.

In the house of lords, this bili
was further debated, on the 21st
and 22d,of December ; but to follow
the order of time, we think it bet-=
ter first to present an abstract of
two important debates which took
place in the house of lords, on the
13th and 15th of the same month,
upon the malt duty bill. On the first
of those days; when the question
that the malt duty bill should be
read a first time, was put,

Earl Spencer reminded the house,
that this was the first bill of supply,
which had been offered to their
lordships’ consideration, in this first
parliament which had been called
since the union; he’ therefore
thought they should hesitate in let-
ting it pass a single stage, before
they had received more information
as to the state of the country. It
had been customary atevery former
period, to lay more precise informa-
tion before parliament, of the state
of the country with respect to its
foreign relations, than had been
done at the opening of the present
session. He thought it strange,
that those ministers who made the
peace, and had given such strong
assurances ofits continuance, should
now demand such a large establish-
ment, without assigning suflicient
reasons. He had heard it whisper-
ed, that it was partly through fear
ot cfiending France, that the usual
communications had not been made
to parliament ; if this were true,
and ministers had allowed them-
selves to be influenced by such un-
worthy considerations, they did not

deserve

HISTORY

@eserve to retain their situations a
single hour. It had been, however,
supposed that they were governed
by that principle, both in the affair
of Napper Tandy, and of Count
D’ Auvergne.

Lord Pelham said, that in the
Jatter instance, the F rench govern-
ment had released Count D’Au-
vergne as soon as application had
been made for that purpose by the
British minister ; and the conduct
of government with respect to Nap-
per Tandy, was occasioned by cir-
cumstances very different from a
fear of offending France.

The earl of Carlisle supported
the opinion which had been given
by earl Spencer.

The duke of Norfolk differed
from both the noble earls. He
thought the circumstances of the
times were notorious enough, to
justify ministers in proposing an
increased establishment. The cir-
cumstances of the times were now
very different from those times, in
which it was necessary to inform
parliament, of what otherwise they
might not know.

Lord Limerick justified the con-
duct of his majesty’s ministers ; he
thought peace had been necessary
for the recovery of ourstrength, and
he hoped before war was renewed,
the disturbances which had existed
in Ireland would be at an end, and
the people of that country recon-
ciled to the mild government and
free constitution of the country.

* Lord Grenville thought the house
could proceed no farther in a sup-
ply bill, without information from
his majesty, as to the causes which
called for an extraordinary supply.
It had been the invariable usage
for the last hundred years, for the

OF

EUROPE. 57

crown to demand such supply, and
state its reasons, before patliament
votedit. The house had now no
information that could warrant
them in. granting extraordinary
supplies; they could not even guess
whether ministers intended to keep
Malta and the Cape of Good Hope,
or to surrender them; and there-
fore could form no opinion about
the probability of immediate war.

The lord chancellor replied, that
the present bill. was not for an ex-
traordinary supply, but one of the
usual supply bills, brought in at
the beginning of every session. He
contended, that public notoriety
was a sufficient ground for parlia-
mentary proceeding: he could not
pretend to state positively, the.
words used by any other of his ma-
jesty’s ministers: but he could po-
sitively say, that he never was of
opinion that the peace was an ad-
yantageous one; but it was still
better than continuing the war
without object or possible advan-
tage.

After a few explanations between
the lord chancellor and lord Gren-
ville, the bill was read a first time.

On the 15th, when the bill came
to be read asecond time, the de-
bate was resumed in a more for-
mal manner.

Earl Spencer addressed their
lordships at very considerable
length, on the ground that he had
before touched upon. His objec-
tions to the establishments, for
which the supply of the year was to
be voted, were principally reduced
to three heads: first, he objected
to the manner, as being to be raised
without that communication from
the crown to parliament which was
usual and necessary : secondly, he

objected

5s ANNUAL RE

objected to the extent of these esta-
blishments ; for if it were necessary
to have 130,000 soldiers, besides
our militia and volunteers, 50,000
seamen could not be sufficient:
and his majesty’s ministers were
blameable in reducing the number
from 70,000 to 50,000 : thirdly,
he objected to the probable appli-
cation of such a force, from a firm
conviction, that the present admi-
nistration had not sufficient judg-
ment and energy of character, to
use such a force to advantage. At
@ time when France was every day
extending her empire and her re-
sources, ministers had disbanded
eur army, and diminished the num-
ber of seamen in employment. He
declared, he agreed perfectly with
a noble friend of his (lord Temple)
that in an administration he looked
to the men, as well as the measures:
as to measures, every body would
allow, that buying a good gun was a
good measure for the defence of a
house; but it was an important
consideration to whom this gun
should be entrusted. If we are at
sea at a time of impending danger,
it would be well to hear that the
ship was sound; but it would be
full as important to hear that the
pilot was skilful.

The earl of Suffolk condemned
the conduct of the late administra-
tion in the whole of the war; and
praised that of the present admi-
histration, whom he thought de-
serving of the confidence and sup-
port of the nation; and who should
therefore receive his support and
confidence. He aliuded then, to
the conduct of the late adminis-
tration, with respect to confining
persons for a long time, whom they
suspected of treascnable practices,

GISTER, i803.

but whom they never brought t@
trial.

The lord chancellor with great
warmth declared; that he would
sooner suffer death upon the spot,
than hear the conduct of the late
administration aspersed upon that
head without confutation. If it
was criminal, he was as deeply cri-
minal as they, and the only reason
for pursuing a different conduct
now, was, that the country was un-
der different circumstances. He
also approved of the conduct of the
late administration during the war,
and had always supported it: the
peace had been approved of by that
great character, whom the opposers
of the bill had so highly respected,
(Mr. Pitt) and he was much sur-
prised to hear the same noble lords,
who so highly admired that exalted
character, express opinions'so very
ditferent. With respect to the pre-
sent situation of Europe, he felt as
an Englishman must feel, but would
consider it inconsistent with his du-
ty, to give any detailed information
upon the subject.

The earl of Carlisle: said, his
principal objection to the establish-
ment proposed was, that it was to
be voted altogether on the credit
of the minister; which was a de-
gree of confidence not to be found
on the records of parliament. He
was not guided in his opposition to
this, by any paltry motive of obtain-
ing place or power; but if in the
hands of other ministers, the am-
bition of Bonaparte was likely to
receive a greater check; if the
tone and spirit of the country were
more likely to be supported, under
the management of men of greater
talents, and men of more elevated
minds; in such case, he wished to

see

MIsSTORY OF: EUROPE.

gee the government of the country
in the hands of such men. He
therefore voted against the bill.

The earl of Darnley expressed

his doubts, whether such a force
as had been proposed, could be
safely trusted in the hands of the
present ministers: he considered
the ambition of Bonaparte to be so
gigantic, that he would never be sa-
tisfied, till he forced the doors of
the bank of England with his legion
of honor, and planted his flag upon
the tower of London. Against such
an enemy, he thought, this country
should employ its ablest ministers.

Lord Hobart denied that go-

-yernment had compromised the
honor of the country, either in the
affair of Switzerland; or in any
other respect. He stated that a
greater force than that which was
now demanded had been entrusted
to ministers in 1801 : he complain-
ed that some noble lords who had
promised an active, constant, and
zealous support to the present ad-
ministration, had on the contrary,
honored them with an active, con-
stant, and zealous opposition;
whichincreased in proportion, as
they gained the confidence of the

ublic.

The duke of Norfolk, expressed
his surprize at the opposition of
some members of the late adminis-
tration, to the present measure:
The person who was at the head of
that administration, resigned his
situation at a period which called
_ for the exertion of his great talents:
_ he was sure that the conclusion of
peace had given general satisfac-
tion; and that the majority of the
nation wished for its continuance.
He concluded by declaring his con-

_ fidence in the present administra-
ton,

59

Lord Grenville commenced an
animated, and very able speech,
by denying that he or any of his
noble friends wished to stop the
supplies: they wished, that accord-
ing with parliamentary usage, a mes-
sage might be sent from his majesty
to the house, to inform them of the
causes for which an increased sup-
ply was necessary. Such a mes-
sage might be sent down the next
day, and then there would be no
delay in passing the bill: at present
the house was ignorant whether the
establishment proposed was for
peace, for war, or for preparations
of war. There were abundant pre-
cedents of the line of conduct which
ought to have been pursued.
George the first, did not hesitate to
tell his parliament in the first speecle
from the throne, after the conclu-
sion of a peace, that the peace was
insecure and precarious. In such
a case, parliament knew what they
were about, in voting the military
establishments. As to a charge of
inconsistency, brought by the noble
secretary (lord Hobart) against
him and his friends ; he must reply, -
that he supported the present mi-
nisters, as long as he could approve
their conduct. It was not till after
the convention with Russia and the
peace of Amiens, that he found
himself obliged, in honer, to with-
draw that support. After those
events, he had no confidence in the ~
wisdom of their councils: He cid
not wish to pry into the arcana of
government, or secrets of the state ;
‘but he, and every noble lord who
heard him, were ‘constitutionally
entitled to’those proper communi-
cations, which’had been heretofore.
uniformly *made. ‘The power. of
France had, since the peace, been

regularly

60

resularly increasing ; while that of
this country had been impaired.
He had aright to ask ministers the
reason of this change of system, or
to infer, that they had hitherto act-
ed in a most unwise and impolitic
system. He considered the idea of
waiting for the changes which time
might bring about, as completely
ridiculous,

The lord chancellor expressed
his regret, that ministers had lost
the confidence of the noble lord.
Were be at liberty to declare the
circumstances which governed the
conduct of ministers, in the mea-
sures they had adopted; he was
convinced the noble lord would
agree with him, that they were in-
fluenced by the best considerations
for the prosperity of the empire.

Lord Pelham rose for the purpose
of replying to some points of lord
Grenville’s speech. He thought,
that if in his lordship’s opinion, the
present ministers were so unworthy
of confidence; it would have been
his lordship’s duty to go further
than in making speeches in opposi-
tion; he ought to have moved an
address to his majesty for their re-
moval. He had never coveted
office ; he assumed it with no other
view than for the service of his
country, in a critical and awful
period. He acted to the best of
his judgment, and did not wish to
hold his situation a moment longer
than he enjoyed the confidence of
his country. He concluded by
stating, that no charges of incapa-
city in ministers, could be a reason
for not passing the present bill.

Lord Minto agreed in the objec-
tions that had been made by other
noble Lords, to votes of supply, or
their being offered to the house

-}

ANNUAL REGISTER,

18053.

without the usual information. He
strongly suspected, that the honor
of the country had been compro-
mised with respect to Switzerland.
He believed it was after a rémon-
strance made on the part of this
country, that Switzerland was in-
vaded ; and yet ministers never
gave any information to parliament
upon this subject, though often
asked for it.

The bill was then read a second
time and committed,

On the 21st of December, : the
bill for appointing naval commis-
sioners, was introduced into the
house of lords, by lord Pelham.

Lord Nelson warmly supported
it, principally on the intolerable
difficulties that naval men now find
in getting their prize money.

The lord chancellor wished for
full time to consider a bill, that ap-
peared to depart from that principle
of law by which no man is obliged
to criminate himself.

The bill however was read a first
and second time without further op-
position, On the question being put
the day following for its committal,

The duke of Clarence, who con-
sidered the bill not only unnecessa-
ry but mischievous, moved as an
amendment, that it should be com-
mitted this day three months.

The lord chancellor, however, op-
posed this motion, but called for
the peculiar attention of their lord-
ships to the clauses of the bill, when
it should be committed.

The house then went into a com-
mittee, and proposed an amend- .
ment, to protect persons from being
obliged to answer any questions
which might criminate themselves.
The amendment was adopted, and ~
tlic bill was passed.

Such

i a

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Such were the principal debates,
which occupied the attention of
parliament, before the Christmas
recess.

“In the slight, but we trust suffi-
ciently accurate and comprehen-
sive sketch, we have given of the

_ subject matter of the public bills,
_ which came before the legislation in
this first period of the domestic

‘tions;
‘tend its deceptive and deleterious

history of the year; we have dwelt
more particularly, on the discussions
which arose from the consideration
of the king’s speech; and on those
which took place on the army and
havy estimates ; as being, not only

highly important in themselves, in

a national point ‘of view; but as
amply unfolding the opinions of the

_ great leading characters of the day;
and the outline of their political

associations. We purposely waved,
however, any ‘examination of the
minister’s financial statement : first,
because it passed in the house of
commons without remark or com-
ment of any kind; and secondly,
because an appropriate opportunity
will present itself,’ at a more ad-
vanced period of the account of
the remaining proceedings of the
session of parliament, which comes
within the limits of our present vo*
lume; and in which we shallexa-
mine with impartiality, whether this
statement, satisfactory and flatter-
ing as it was in its details, deserved
that credit and applause, which Mr,
Addington solemnly claimed as its
right; or whether it were founded
in that fallacious and temporizing
system, which had hitherto paralyzed
and crippled us in our foreign rela-
and now threatened to ex-

effects over our domestic concerns.
But however public opinion might

61

be held in equilibrium, on those
great leading features of the early
part of the session; it decidedly
manifested itself, as hostile to the
last act of it; namely, the introduc-
tion of the bill for navy cominis-
sioners; and perhaps no subject of
equal importance ever agitated the
public mind, or produced more
eager or animated debate within the
walls of parliament. The introduc-
tion of the bill in question, was con-
sidered on all hands, as a measure at
once nugatory as to the benefits it
proposed; oppressive and arbitrary
in its mode of operation; invidious
with respect to the navy board,
whose most material functions it
usurped; and as being, as expensive
as useless to the nation. While this
bill depended in parliament, the
reasoning for its being thrown out
was supported on various grounds.
It was convincingly proved, that
there existed no necessity for such
a measure; as the commissioners
for executing the office of lord
high admiral of England, possessed
by their constituted authority, and
within themselves, sufficient pow-
ers, if they chose to exert them, to
correct the abuses complained of;
since by authorizing the navy-board
(which by patent possessed the
right of administering oaths, and of
punishing all frauds committed in
the naval department) to inquire
into the alleged’ causes of com-
plaint, they might, and must have
been eflectually removed. ‘To en-_
force this argument, it was urged,
that when in the year 1792, the
grossest miscoriduct occurred in the
ordnance department in the West
Indies; recourse had not been had
to the institution of a new board,
ii order te dgtect and punish the
ofienders.

62

offenders. They were detected and
punished most effectually, by a
commission, issuing out of the board
of ordnance itself, without resorting
to novelty, oppression, or expence.
It was objected, that this bill had
been framed, with the most pro-
found ignorance of the fundamental
laws of the country, inasmuch, as it
contained within it, a compulsory
clause to oblige offenders to accuse
themselves! And indeed this fact
was so evident, that every lawyer in
the lower house, gave it his decided
‘negative; the servants of the state,
the attorney and solicitor general,
differed most materially upon its
construction; and even many of
the warm friends of the minister,
and pensioned by. the crown, refu-
sed their support to the measure,
upon the ground of its being too
strong. Under these opinions and
circumstances, at once discordant
‘and inauspicious, the bill was pared
down, the most exceptionable
clauses were rescinded, various
amendments made, and it was then
transmitted to the house’ of peers.
Tlere the opposition assumed a new
and singular form: twoof the cabinet
ministers (one of whom was the
lord chancellor) declared it to be,
the most arbitrary and unconstitu-
tional attempt that had ever been
made: they struck out several parts,
including even some of the amend-
ments made by the commons: era-
sed the compulsory clause alto-
gether; reduced the bill with respect
to its efficiency, to an absolute nul-
lity; and in thisshape, gave it a
tardy and ungracious assent. The
bill having passed both houses in
this crippled and mutilated form, it
was evident, that as to any object
of public utility, it might as well

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

never have been committed; and
therefore could by no means answer
the professed intention, of those who
brought it forward; and that all
the ends of justice might have
been obtained without an establish-
ment, which superadded to pe
ciency, an heavy increase of the
public burthen. Other objects, and
other motives, than those which
originated in views for the pub-
lic weal, were now resorted to; and
the minister and the first lord of the
admiralty participated the censure.
It was not overlooked, that in the
former, whose professed objects
were ceconomy and disinterested-
ness, there was on this occasion
manifested a thorough dereliction
of both those vaunted qualities, Ten
or twelve thousand spounds yearly,
from the public purse, distributed
through the medium of this com-
mission, to his particular friends
and connexions, abundantly proved
his slender claim to either; while to
the latter, who was ostensibly the
great promoter of the bill, many
attributed the wish of establishing
delinquency, and affixing criminality
on the navy board; an object,
which was supposed to have arisen
froma desire to displace the excellent
and amiable character at the head
of it, and place therein a follower
of his own: one in which he had
hitherto failed; and that vexation at
the disappointment, had originated
this, as. it proved, very obnoxious
measure, Others however con-
ceived it to arise from purer motives ;
they believed that the first lord of
the admiralty had already too
much upon his hands, (when it was
considered, how trifling was the
assistance he derived,) owing to the
want of experience and knowledge,

frogy

WISTORY OF EUROPE

from the junior members of his
poard;) to undertake this investiga-
tion himself; and that the infirmities
induced by great age, as well as the
consequences of a most afflicting
infirmity, to which this great officer
avas subject, rendered him unequal
to the task of going through more,
than the ministerial and political
functions of his high office. He there-
fore most probably wished fer a
commission of this sort, as much
for the purpose of lightening
the burthensome part of his duty ;
as for that of his own future excul-
pation,should any inquiry ever occur,
respecting his administration of the
naval affairs of Great Britain. Be
the motives however what they
might, the means were completely
abortive i in themselves, and produ-
ced no small share of odium to both
Mr. Addington and the earl St.
Vincent, as statesmen and as indi-
viduals, in their consequences.—
Such were the objections prima
facie to the naval commission bill.
And here before we dismiss the
subject, probably for ever, 1t may
be necessary to consider whether in
the result, it appeared that they
were well founded, or the contrary.
For this purpose we shall anticipate
a little in order of time, and from
such of their proceedings as occur-
red within the year, collect all that
appears necessary to lay before our
readers for that purpose
In the reports of this new com-
mission, generally speaking, there
were not to be found any detail ot
abuses, which had not previously
been adverted to by the navy board ;
and the defaulters or delinquents
had either actually been punished,
or were undergoing a judicial inves-
_ figation of their conduct at that

63

moment, and sect on foot for that
purpose. Some regulations indeed
were recommended,which could and
certainly ought to have originated
with the admiralty board itself:
but even in these, the leading fea-
tures of their deliberative opera-
tions, bore the marks of hurry and
precipitation, and of anxious eager-
ness to deteriorate, and affix blame
on existing establishments. ‘This
was more immediately apparent in
their reporton thecharity, known by
the name of the Chest of Chatham ;
as in order to remove that fund to
Greenwich, a great degree of unme-
rited censure was thrown on the
officers, in whose administration and
custody it was placed: the more
unmerited, because it was notorious,
that in no one instance of a public
institution, have the accounts and
property of the nation been con-
ducted and managed with such true
economy, as well as such disin-
terested honesty: and because, had
the commissioners called for the
necessary documents, and examined
those officers themselves ; which in
the ordinary course of conducting
business of such a nature as they
were employed upon, was indispen-
sibly requisite, but which most un-
accountably was neglected by them;
they would have found, and they
would have done but a common act
of justice in stating it to the public,
that the estates belonging to this
fund had been augmented consider-
ably in their value, instead of re-
maining stationary; which is most
erroneously atiirmed by themin their
report on this subject to be the case!
It would be wholly unnecessary to
dwell longer on these reports: we
have endeavoured toshewthespiritin
which this commission set out, and

the

64

the mode in which it operated. In
short, on a thorough view of it, in
all its points and bearings, there
appeared in it nothing new or neces-
sary, save in that part of its pro-
posed functions which alluded to
the abuses, and to the regulation, of
the prize agency of the navy, over
which the admiralty had certainly no
previous controul; and of which we
shall hereafter take occasion, when
the debates on that subject occur, to
take more particular notice. But

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805.

even here it was evident that this
subject was fixed upon, more as a
popular vehicle, to carry through
the objectionable parts of the mea- -
sure, than from any other motive 3
as Sir Wm. Scott, who presided in
the courts of civil law, where sub-
jects of maritime jurisdiction are
decided, had just brought in a bill,
which provided for every case which
the commissioners of naval inquiry
had. pointed out a$ an existing
abuse,

~ CHAR,

1g HISTORY OF EUROPE.

65

rina Poy,

%

/ Discouraging prospects at the commencement of the year.—Mecting of

_ Parliament after the recess Chancellor of the Exchequer moves for
continuation of the Bank restriction bill.—Debate.—Supported by Sir
F. Baring—Lord Hawkesbury—and Mr. Princep.—Opposed by Mr.
Tierney—Fox—Banks.—Passes the Commons.—Moved in the House of
Lords by Lord Pelham.—Debate.—Lord Auckland—Moira—King.—

~ Second reading.—Debate——Lord Auckland —Grenville—Sheffield.—
Passes without further opposition —Message from the King on the
Prince of Wales’s affairs.—Congratulatory address to his Majesty from
both Houses, on his providential escape from the machinations of Despard
and his associates.—Account of the conspiracy.—Trial of Despard.—

And execution of the Traitors,

ey NEE very different circum-
stances and aspects, did the
year 1803, compared with that
which preceded it, commence.
Unbounded confidence in the go-
vernment; security in the good
understanding which subsisted be-
tween France and Great Britain;
and a firm reliance on the continu-
ance of a peace, for which so many
sacrifices had. been made on our
part, and by which so many adyan-
tages were secured to the enemy ;
marked the first of these periods.
_ At the latter era, distrust in the
ability and firmness of the king’s
‘Ministers; demonstrations which
could not be mistaken, nor explain-
ed away, of the hostility of the
_ Views and designs of the ruler of
_ the French nation; and the almost
‘Inevitable rupture of the treaty of
Amiens and a renewal of the war ;
‘were the most prominent features
‘of public opinion. In January
1802, the public funds were high ;
Vol. XLY.

the spirit of commercial adventure,
raised by the hope of arrangements
for facilitating the trade between
France and England; and internal
tranquillity and attachment to the
constitution, universally prevailed
throughout all parts of the British
Empire: In January ,1803, the
stocks began rapidly to decrease in
price ; nocommercial treaty what-
ever had taken place with France;
and our prisons were crowded with
traitors, whose suspected aim and
purpose, were to overthrow our esta-
blishinents by the aid of France;
while in Ireland, beneath a smooth
and tranquil surface, the current of
disaffection and discontent, set rip-
pling in; to the dismay ofall, save
those who ought not implicitly to

have trusted to appearances,
Before we proceed however, to the
detail of the circumstances, which
produced this great and unlooked for
change of affairs ; in order to preserve
the integrity of our subject, we shall
he previously

60

previously give a summary of the
principal matters, which occurred
in both houses of parliament, to
that period, when the dangers which
now menaced us were no longer
preblematical ; and when the king’s
message, left no more doubt as to
the hostile yiews of Bonaparte.

On Thursday the third of Febra-
ary, parliament met again after the
Christmas recess ; for the first three
or four days, the lower house was
occupied principally, in settling the
election petitions ; but on the 7th,
the chancellor of the exchequer
moved for leaye, to bring in a bill
for the renewal of the bank restriction
bill. The solvency of the bank
he said, was undoubted; but after
n0 less than twenty millions of
specie, had been lately drained from
the country for grain, it would be
dangerous, suddenly to take off the
restriction; as that might operate
to draw all the remaining bullion
out of the country.

Mr. Tierney thought, that how-
ever time and custom might have
reconciled us to the measure ; it
was a great evil, that the circulating
siden of the country had been
completely changed: it was now
six years since we had any report
from the bank; and consequently
the house was entirely ignorant of
what the bank had been doing in
the mean while. He wished that
this bill should not pass asa thing
of course, but, that there should be
an inquiry into the necessity of it.

Mr. Fox agreed in opinion with
Mr. Tierney in this respect: he
wished, that the restriction should be
continued for a short time only,

in order to consider the state
ef exchange’ and other matters,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

which were supposed to make the
further restriction necessary. &

Mr. Banks expressed the same _
opinion, and wished the time that ~
this restriction should be in foreeal ‘
to be as short as possible.

Lord Hawkesbury thought an
inquiry into the state and admi- ;
nistration of the bank of England, —
quite unnecessary ; although | at a
future time perhaps, he should not _
oppose a rigid investigation of the
state of banking in general, through-
out Great Britain.

Sir Francis Baring, coincided with
Mr. Addir. gton, that it was ne-
cessary to wait, till trade had re-
turned within its former channels.
. The chancellor of the exchequer
concluded this conversation, by con-
fessing it was with reluctance and
regret, that he proposed the present
measure ; but however painful the
duty, he ‘felt it a duty, that he was
bound to discharge.

Leave was then given to bring in
the bill. When this bill had gone —
into the committee, ;

Mr. Addington moved, that the
duration of it should be “ until six
weeks after the commencement of
the next session of parliament.”

Mr. Banks, urged a variety of
reasons for shorter time to be nam —
ed; he principally relied on the
state of exchange which was at par, .
and the balance of trade, which was
now in our favour: he concluded by
moving as an amendment “ that
the first of May, should be the day ont
which the restriction was to cease.” —

Mr. Princep supported the ori-_
ginal motion, on the ground, that
no Joss or inconvenience, had been
sustained by any body, in_conse-
quence of the restriction.

Mr, }

; HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Mr. Addington, in a reply of
considerable length to all who had
opposed the bill, declared, that if
he supposed any considerable num-
ber of the reflecting part of the com-
munity, doubted the sufftciency of

the bank, he wouid agree to an in-
; if he now resisted it, it was
erely because he was convinced it
as unnecessary: he thought the
whole object of the. amendment
would be accomplished, by declar-
ing, that it should be in the power
_ of parliament to repeal or amend it
in the present session. He however
had no expectation, that the cir-
cumstances of the times would al-
low it so soon to be repealed.

The bill went through a com-
‘mittee, and after some general ob-
servations from Mr. Johnstone, it
was read a third time on the 14th

_ of February, and passed without any
farther opposition On Thursday
17th, it was carried into the
lords, where upon the first reading
being moved by Lord Pelham, se-
cretary of state, lord Auckland
moved for an account of the bank
notes outstanding; which was or-
dered.

The earl of Moira, could not a-
gree to absolve the bank for a fur-
ther term from its engagements,
without being perfectly satisfied
from full inquiry, that the public

anno risk; and that the necessi-
ties of the state required it. The
bank could have no necessities to
plead; and if it was for the accom-
‘Mmodation of government, govern-

- Ment ought to confess the reason.
Tf the wealth of the bank Was, as it
Ought to be, infinitely superior to
the demands upon it, it could re-
€eive no injury by the greatest pub-

ity respecting its affairs.

4

He-

67
seemed to consider, that ministers
continued the restriction, merely to
induce the hank to take their ex-
chequer bills. He concluded, by
moving an account of the money
and bullion in the possession of the
bank, and of its other property, ex-
clusive of the debt due by govern-
ment, on the 5th of January 1803.

Lord Peiham assured the noble
earl, that the measure was not call-
ed for by the bank; nor was pro-
posed in consequence of any such
connivance, as had been supposed
between government and the bank ;
but bona fide upon the grounds,
which had been stated wpon bring-
ing in the bill: he therefore oppo-
sed the resolution as unnecessary.

Lord Auckland was of the same
opinion; that as the validity of the
bank was undoubted, any resolu-
tions tending to an inquiry were un-
necessary.

Lord Moira’s first motion was
therefore negatived; but subse-
quent resolutions which he moved,
with respect to the amount of notes
outstanding: to the exchange, for
the last thirteen months between
London and Hamburgh; and the
prices of bullion ; were severally
agreed to. On the question for the
second reading of the biil on the
22d of Bebruary,

Lord Pelham, restated the
grounds upon which the bil was
brought in; and expressed his
hope, that as there had been a gra-
dual amelioration in the rate of ex-
change in the course of last ycar, it
might have compleatly returned to
its level by the time the bill expir-
ed; and that probably, a less ha-
zardous time might occur for re-
moving the restriction, éven before,
this bill should expire.

F 2

ae

68

Lord King, condemned the bill in
its principle; and thought the pre-
cedent was still worse, Inasmuch as
abuses, are gradual and progressive.
At present, as it was a time of
peace, it was possible that the bank
did not issue much paper for the
accommodation of government; but
if this measure should be had re-
course to in war, it was impossi-
ble to calculate to what an extent
the abuse might increase, from
having the whole monied interest of
the country at the disposal of the
minister and the bank directors, for
the time being. The issues of the
bank, before the restriction, was
about ten millions on an average ;
it is now sixteen millions, and it is
evident that their profits are in pro-
portion to their issues. He then
shewed, that the exchange with
Hamburgh, was turned against this
' country, by the conduct of the
bank, in increasing its issues. He
considered the issues excessive ; and
that this conduct of the bank, had
produced something of a deprecia-
tion. This depreciation, however,
was only discovered by foreign ex-
change; it must be great indeed
before it could be perceived in the
home market, by different prices
for commodities ; for gold and for
yank
was no security against the depre-
ciation of its paper, no more than
the security of exchequer bills, pre-
vented them from being at a dis-
count.

The earl of Moira repeated, that
it was his opinion, that this measure
had been brought forward by minis-
ters, in order to support the splen-
did statement they had chosen to
make, of the financial situation and
resources of the country: it was

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

necessary for the government, to
have an understanding with the
bank, for the purpose of circulating»
its exchequer bills. It was evident, |
the bank could not receive their ex=
chequer bills so freely, if they were
obliged to pay their notes in specie.
He thought nothing could be more”
unjust, either to the inhabitants of
this country or to foreigners, | than”
the interference of the government,
to prevent the bank from making
good their engagements. :

The earl of Westmoreland sup-)
ported the bill, on the ground of ac-—
knowledged solvency i in the bank.

Lord Auckland defended the
measure, at considerable length,
and held out. a very flattering pic-
ture of the resources of the country,
and of its financial prosperity ; and
said, at some future day in the ses="
sion,. he would bring forward some
resolutions, for the purpose of con-
vincing the house more fully, of the
accuracy of the financial statements
which had been made.

Lord Grenville rejoiced, that the
noble Lord had promised to bring
forward a discussion of the resources
of the country; he would join.most,
anxiously and most sincerely in
such an inquiry, and in forwarding:
such measures as would seem best
calculated to improve and increase —
our resources; because he was fully’
convinced, that by such manly ~
measures alone, the country could
be saved from the imminent danger, —
to which it is now exposed. It”
would give him great pleasure then, —
to find the gov ernment determined,
to look the situation of the country —
in the face.

Lord King, in explanation, said
that the Irish bank paper was de"
preciated considerably, mm conse

quence, -

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

quenee, as he believed, of exces-
sive issues.
The marquis of Sligo confirmed
the fact, of the notes of the private
banks in Ireland being at a dis-
count; but said, that the paper of
the bank of Ireland was not.
Lord Sheffield thought, that the
“bank paper not being depreciated,
‘Was a proof, that the issues were not
too large. It was now proved,
atit was not absolutely necessary
to have great quantities of bullion
n circulation. Scotland had im-
proved considerably, with scarce
‘any coin; while France does not
find her public credit at all improy-
ed, by the great quantity of coin
and bullion she possessed. Hol-
land, when she flourished most, de-
pended almost entirely on her bank;
and Spain, with a perpetual yearly
_ influx of precious metals, does not
now possess the character of a weal-
thy nation. His lordship seemed
to consider, that it would both em-
_ barass and diminish our trade, to
make coin a necessary payment ;
as the bullion of the kingdom was,
at all times, small in proportion to
~ its commercial dealings.
~~ The bill was then read a second
_ time, and after having gone through
the committee, was finally passed.
~ On the 16th of February, a mes-
_ sage from his majesty, was brought
down to both houses of parliament,
_Tecommending the present situation
‘of the prince of Wales to their con-
. ‘sideration. This message was ac-
_ eordingly taken into consideration,
‘on the 23d, in the house of com-
mons. The day preceding its dis-
‘elission there, an address of con-
gratulation to his majesty, on his
escape from the machinations of
traitors, was voted in both houses,

69

—In the house of lords, it was
moved by

The duke of Montrose, who felt it
unnecessary to make many prefa-
ratory observations, as there could
be but one sentiment in that house.
It was a rooted enmity to our happy
constitution, thatinstigated the trai-
tors, to conspire against the life of
one of the best and most amiable
princes who had ever filled the En-
glish throne ; and who for the many
substantial benefits conferred upon
his subjects,deserved their gratitude
more than any former king, who
had ever swayed the sceptre of
these realms. He concluded, by
moving an address, expressive of
personal attachment and loyalty ;
and a determination to support the
constitution and government of the
country.

Lord Camden seconded the mo-
tion for the address, and expressed
his horror at the conspiracy ;
which evidently originated from
those jacobine principles which
had done so much mischief in
France; but which had been suc-
cessfully resisted in this country,
and in Ireland; where he himself
had beena witness of the mischief
which marked thejr progress.. The
address was then ordered to be pre-
sented by the whole house, On the
same day in the commons, lord
Euston, after describing very forci-
bly, the horrors which would ensue,
from the government of the coun-
try being transferred from its con-
stitutional defenders, to a set of
men not far removed from savages ;
as were the majority of the conspi-
rators, who had been justly punish-
ed for their offence; declared, he
felt a pleasure which language
could not describe, at seeing that

P3 ouy

79

-our beloved monarch, still lived
and reigned in the hearts and affec-
tions, of the great majority of his
people. He then moved an ad-
dress, similar to that which was
passed in the lords, which was se-
conded by lord Boyle, and carried
unanimously.

The conspiracy, which gave rise
to this solemn testimony of the af-
fection of both houses of the legis-
lation, to the person of our excel-
Jent monarch; and which was fol-
lowed up by similar addresses irom
every public body in the united
kingdom ; was perhaps the most
extraordinary, that has ever been
recordedin the historic page. its
objects, were incontestibly esta-
blished by the clearest evidence, to
have been no less, than the ‘“ sei-
zure of the person of the king, com-
passing his death, and dethroning
him.”’—For these purposes, combi-
nations of small societies of disaf-
fected persons, were established in
different quarters of London and
the adjoining country. Engage-
ments were entered into, and oaths
solemnly administered, to all who
could be seduced to join the confe-
deracy. ‘To effect this flagitious
purpose, the seduction of the sol-
diery was in various instances at-
tempted, and in some few cases
successfully. And to such a height
and maturity had their treasonable
projects advanced, that the mode,
the time and the place, for the as-
sasination of the king, was actually
determined upon.—Vast as these
plans were, comprehensive and
mighty as were their designs, it
does not appear, that more than

* For a minute account of which, vide the Appendix.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

‘or abilities, could be

1803.

fifty or sixty individuals were ever |
concerned ; and of those, but one~
person whose rank in tife, eaucation,
supposed
to render him, in the slightest de
gree formidable. The residue of
those infatuated wretches, consisted
of some few of the guards, who
had, subsequently to the return of
the brigade ot that corps from
Chatham, been seduced from their
duty and allegiance, by the active
agents of the meditated treason, in
London; and of some of the lowest —
order of artisans and iabourers !
Such were the numbers, and such
the description of that combination,
which meditated nothing less than~
the life of their sovereign, and the
seizure of the bank, the tower, and
the members of both houses of par~
liament!

In our account of the domestie
transactions of the last year, we no-_
ticed the arrestation of Colonel
Despard, and many of his associates, —
at an obscure public house in Lam-_
beth. Some days after, a few
other persons, were apprehended on
suspicion of treasonable practiees,
but who were subsequently dischar-_
ged. On the7th day of February, in
the present year, the principal con~—
spirator, andon the 9th, twelve other —
prisoners, were tried at the Surry
sessions house, Horsemonger-lane.
before a special commission, of ©
which the lord chief justice of Eng-
land, was the principal, on anindict-
ment for high treason. ' f

In the course of the trial of the
former,* it appeared, that in the |
spring of 1800, a detachment of tha
guards returned from Chatham, anid

»

that

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

that shortly after, several of the

rivates were seduced to join in a
conspiracy, for overturning the go-
vernment. A society at some un-
known period, had been established
for the specious purpose of pro-
moting the extension of liberty;
from whence issued, what were
called, constitutional declarations ;

_ the forms of revolutionary engage-

ments ; tests and oaths, Meetings

_ were established at various obscure

w

4

.

yy

public houses, in order to avoid suse
picion, to which the objects of their
seduction, were invited and enter-
tained; and to whom unlawful
oaths were administered ; where se-
ditious songs were'sung, and toasts of
the most atrocious tendency drank,
Towards the end of the year 1802,
when the agitators of the plot,
thought their proceedings were
sufficiently matured ; their confi-

dence of success betrayed them

into the grossest extravagan-
cies; their audacity exceeded all

- bounds; a day for attacking the

tower was proposed, and the great
blow was mslvad to be struck on
the 16th of November; the day on
which the king first intended, to go
to his parliament, Hitherto their
meetings, had consisted entirely of
the lower orders of the people,
journeymen, day labourers, and
common soldiers; but now that
the drama was nearly complete,

_ that the minor parts were cast,

*

and the piece had undergone as
many rehearsals, as were judged

“i necessary before its public exhibi-
_ tion; the manager and principal
_ actor, thought it proper to make

his appearance.
This man, whose name was Des-

. oh was a person of respectable

amily and connections in Ireland,

71

of which country he was a native,
He had from his early youth been
bred to arms, and in the service of
his country, had given the most dis-
tinguished proofs of intrepidity,
zeal, and good conduct. He had
attained to an high military rank ;
and the evidence of Lord Nelson
and Sir Alured Clarke, no incom-
petent judges of merit, bore the
most honorable testimony to his
conduct and character while em-
ployed with, or under them ; nay, it
was eyen proved, upon this awful
occasion, that the preservation of a
valuable British possession, was en-
tirely. owing to his yalour and ex-
perience. Such, however, was the
person, who now became known, as
the leader and first mover of this
conspiracy, It was supposed, that
irritated by the refusal or delay of
government, to liquidate some claims
which occurred in the course ot his
services; and byalongand close con-
finement, he had undergone in the
prison in cold-bath fields, towards
the close of the late war; to which,
as an object of suspicion, on what
grounds has never appeared, he had
been committed ; and from whence
hewas onlyreleased by theexpiration
of the act for the suspension of the
habeas corpus ;—he had brooded
over his misfortunes, and the in-
juries he conceived himself to have
received ; till he had wrought up his
mind, naturally enthusiastic and
gloomy, to the belief of his having
it in hjs power, at once to avenge his
own wrongs, and restore his country
to freedom, Jt is difficult to con-'
celve, that with such associates as
we have just described, he could
form any feasible plan for effectually
overturning, such a constitution as
that for Great Britain ; for seizing
4 the

72

the person, or for assassinating one
of the most beloved and most
powerful monarchs of Europe ; for
attacking the strong fortress of the
tower ; and the taking possession of
the bank, the public offices, the
prisons, and the two houses of par-
liament! Such however, by the
most clear and uncontrovertible
testimony, were his designs; nor
did there, in the course of a long
and minute investigation, appear,
that he acted in concert with foreign
agents, or, that there was any cor-
responding combination, in any
other part of the united kingdom.
It was, however, tully and’ clearly
proved, that on the Friday preced-
ing the 16th of November, Colonel
Despard met some of the seduced
soldiery, and others of the conspi-
rators, for the first time; that he
spoke freely of their traitorous de-
signs, and the best mode of putting
them into execution; that the in-
tercepting and shooting the king, on
his way to parliament was then dis-
cussed with him, as well asthe pro-
bable difficulties attending such a
plan; on which he used theremarka-
ble expressions, “ If nobody else will
shoot him I will,” adding, ‘ I have
well weighed the matter, and my
heart is callous.” Every other part
of the design was then adverted to,
and freely debated. Colonel Des-
pard, spoke of the strength of the
conspiracy, at Manchester, Leeds,
Sheffield, and Birmingham, and of
his own activity in forwarding the
cause. ‘That the people were every
where ripe, and that the death of
the king would be the signal for a
general 1 rising, It further appeared,

that through the medium of one
Francis, with ‘whom he seems to
have been most confidentially con-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

nected, that Despard had himself
sworn, tae attempted tosw ear, sol-
diers and others, to engagements,
binding them to the destruction of
the king and government. To be
brief, 'themost flagrantand overt trea-
sonable acts were proved against
him; and finally, that he was, with
about thirty persons sitting in full
convention, assembled for treason-
able purposes at the Oakley Arms
public house in Lambeth, arrested
on the night of the sixteenth of
Noy ember; ; and after some exami-
nations, fully committed with twelve
others on a charge of high treason.
After a trial which lasted nearly
eighteen hours, the jury brought i in
their verdict of guilty. On the second
day following, nine of his associates,
on nearly the same evidence were
clearly convicted, and three ac-
quitted ; making in the whole ten
persons who were left for execution.
In consequence of the services and
former good character of Colonel
Despard, he was recommended by
the jury to mercy, as were, from
some circumstances which appeared
in their favour, three of the other:
condemned persons: it was not
however Judged adviseable, by his
Majesty in council, to extend the
royal prerogative in favor of a per-
son, so deeply tainted with the
crime of treason, as the leader of
this misguided and deluded knot
of conspirators ; and the law with
respect to him was suffered to take
its course: the latter were, in that
spirit of mercy, which has ever dis-
tinguished the administration of
Justice in these happy realms, res
prieved, and finally pardoned.

On the Ist of February, the
dréadful atonement to their injur-
ed country, was made by Colonel

Despard

}

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Despard and six of his wretched
companions in guilt. They were
executed, with the usual forms in
cases of punishment for high trea-
son, on the top of the new gaol in
the Borough; in the presence of
innumerable spectators of their un-
happy fate. The great majority
of the culprits, died with the utmost

penitence and decorum: but the

_ unhappy principal, evinced at this

awful moment, the same _ stea-
-diness of deportment, and obsti-
te adherence to his opinions,
which he had hitherto preserved:
Neither during his confinement,
‘hor since sentence of death had
_been passed upon him, had he avail-
_ ed himselfof the spiritual assistance,
that was assiduously tendered;
and of which his fellow prisoners
eagerly participated. On the scaf-
fold, which he ascended with firm-
ness, and without the least change
_of countenance, he addressed the
‘surrounding people in an elevated
and lofty voice: he pleaded his
long and meritorious services to his
country; denied (strange to say !)
in the most explicit and solemn
terms, the crime for which he was
about to suffer; accused the king’s
ministers of availing themselves of
legal pretext, notwithstanding their
conviction of his innocence, to de-
Stroy him, because he was the a-
vowed friend, of the poor and op-
pressed : and confidently predicted,
notwithstanding his fate, and per-
haps that of many who might follow
him; the final triumph, of the princi-
ples of liberty, justice, and huma-

_ hhity, over falshood, despotism, and

delusion, He then took his leave
of all around, with wishing them
that peace, happiness, and freedom,
which he had ever made it his ob-

73

ject, to endeavour to procure for
them, and for mankind in general.
Immediately after this speech the
populace cheered; it was, how-
ever, but a momentary impulse,
which instantly subsided. The
platform fell, and the whole were
launched into eternity! This im-
pressive and awful spectacle to a
British multitude, terminated with-
out the smallest riot or confusion.
Although all seemed to commiserate
the sufierings of the individuals, yet
it was not forgotten, that they had
violated the laws, and endangered
the constitution of their country ;
and it was considered by the spec-
tators, as at once the dignified
process of deliberative justice, and
a necessary sacrifice, to the welfare
and security of the empire.

Thus terminated a conspiracy,
unexampled, we repeat, in the an-
nals of history, for the extent of its
designs, when contrasted with the
weakness and paucity of its means :
yet when we consider the character,
and particular views of the indiyidu-
al, by whose plan it seems exclusive-
ly to have been framed, it cannot
but appear, to have been ofa suftici-
ently formidable and alarming na-
ture; and that the measures of
government, in the detection and
exemplary punishment of those
concerned, were amply justified by
every principle of policy and justice.
That Colonel Despard was an en-
thusiast, that his plans were visio-
nary and impracticable, were facts
admitted by all: but it was equally
true, that in the same proportion as
he was enthusiastic, in that propor-
tion was he dangerous ; and that it
was evident, that he had formed to
himself a system of revolutionary
action, the principal feature of

which

74 ANNUAL REGISTER,

which was, that a convulsion in
the state, was not to be effected by
extensive associations, thro’ which

1803.

constitution, than on any other
Causes; and that nine tenths of the —
felons who suffer in the ordinary —

in all human probability, the design
would transpire, and of consequence
be frustrated ; but by a smai! party
of desperate men, who having struck
One great blow (such as the assassi-
nation of the king) and having filled
the city with consternation; would
find, then, 2rd not before, thousands
of coadjutors: and that though many
chances were against such a scheme,
yet that it held out infinitely better
prospects of success, than one
founded on numerous and exteii-
sive combinations among a people,
far from being universally disposed,
to countenance conspiracy and re-
bellion. If such were the delibe-
rate opinions of the leaders of this
plot,—and that they were, was ad-
mitted on all hands—that which
appeared too romantic, to be seri-
ously embraced by any man of ac-
knowledged sense and talents, as
was Colonel Despard; assumes the
appearance of arrangement, and
leaves not ashade of doubt on his
individual criminality ; whatever
may be thought of the practica-
bility of his designs.* In reply to
those who adduced proofs of his
innocence, from. the fortitude he
evinced, and the steady denial of
his guilt at the place of punishment;
it must be called to their recollec-
tion, that the former quality de-
pends more on temperament and

course of justice, evince to the full”
as great a share, as Colonel Des-
pard. In fact, any other hne of
conduct would have been incompa-
tible with the character, and incon~
sistent with the nature, of the man :
and when it is remembered, that
he manitested not the smailest ves-
tige of religious education, habit, or
opinion, during the period of his con
finement; nor even at the approach ©
of his painful and ignominivus pu-
nishment ; it cannot be going too
far, if we assert, that his conducton
that awful occasion, was more owing
to the desire, of appearing a martyr ~
to the oppressive systems of go-
vernment, and thereby to increase
the strength and numbers of the
cause for which he suffered; than
from a consciousness of inno-
cence. Indeed the evidence of his
machinations were so convincing, as
not to leave a doubt of his guilt, up-
on the minds, of the most prejudiced; —
and the complete oblivion into
which his memory, and even the
transaction whieh we have gone so
much into detail upon, fell, almost
immediately, were the best proofs
of the siightimpression, his cause or
his sufferings, had made upon the
public. It is but justice to say
that the conduct of administration
throughout the whole of this trans-
action was highly commendable ;

* Nor even an this part of the subject, are we prepared to say, to what extent the execu
tion ofa scheme, projected and executed by such a leader as we have described, and
a set of determined desperate men, might be carried; when we recollect the circum-
stances of the daring attempts, which were made upon the persons of the kings of Por-
tugal and Poland, within the period of a very few years: and which were nearly

crowned with complete success,
capitals, ;

almost within the precingts of their respective

caution

caution and activity were equally
conspicuous in «their measures.
_ Early aware of the conspiracy, they
_ watchedits progress with unceasing
_solicitude, through all its windings
nd ramifications: at the . mo-
ent when the designs of the trai-
tors were ripe for execution, they
dragged them and their nefarious
project into light; and at once,
q bs rushed principal, abettor, and
_ treason, by the strong arm of the
law: thus raising a rampart
_ about the person of our beloved
monarch, and placing him and the
constitution, far beyond the reach
_ of thesacrilegious hands, by which
_ they were attempted to be violated.
Addresses from both branches of

the legislation, from the clergy, the
laity, and the corporate bodies of
the kingdom, poured in upon the
govereign on this joyful occasion ;

os

mISTORY OF EUROPE.

75
gratitude to providence for his
escape from the hands of the trai-
ters ; and che attachment and per-
sonal aiiection of his subjects, e-
qually beamed forth in these mani-
festations of loyalty : and perhaps
there had hitherto occurred, no pe-
riod in which mutual happiness and
satisfaction, were so strongly e¢in-
ced, as upon this occasion, both by
king and subject. Nor were there
wanting, those dutiful acknowleds-
ments to the supreme being, under
whose guidance and protection, the
empire had escaped thoseevils which
had impended over it: thanksgivings
were offered up, in all places of pub-
lic worship throughout the united
kingdom ; and forms of prayer were
composed for the occasion, at once
expressive of the purest gratitude,
the most touching piety, and the
greatest moderation,

CHAP.

"6 ANNUAL REGISTER, © 1803.

CHAP. Vi.

King’s Message respecting the Affairs of the Prince of Wales, taken inta
consideration in the House of Commons.—Committce of the whole House.
—Debate—Mr. Addington — Solicitor General—Sir R. Milbank—
Mr. Harrison—Lord Castlereagh—Mr. Sheridan—and Mr. Fox.—
The Minister’s Resolution for allowing £60,000 to the Prince of
Wales, from the consolidated Fund, unanimously agreed to by the Com-
mittee.—Message taken into consideration in the Lords.—Address of
Thanks moved and carried.—Message from the Prince of Wales to the
House of Commons.—Bill for increasing the period of Annual Exercise
of the Militia, passes both Houses without opposition —Interesting
Debate on Mr. Calcraft’s Motion respecting the Prince's Establishment—
Lost by a small Majority.—Original Proposition jinally agreed to.—
Abrupt relinquishment of the Prince’s further claims.—Considerations

and Remarks thereon,

N the 23d of February, the
; chancellor of the exchequer
having moved, that the house should
resolve itself into a committee of
the whole house, on his majesty’s
message, with respect to the prince
of Wales,

Colonel Stanley asked, whether
it was intended to raise money for
the purpose of relieving the em-
barassments of the prince ; or whe-
ther this measure was not a com-
promise for certain claimsof money,
which had not been appropriated to
his use? If it was a compromise on
account of claims on the revenues
of Cornwall; he must say that the
house could not know whether he
had any legal claim or not; and
lawyers were very much divided
in opinion upon that subject. In
any other light, his duty to his
constituents, would not allow him

to lay any additional burdens upon
them, on this account.

Mr. Addington denied, that the
present motion was founded at all
upon a. compromise of claims;
neither was it for the purpose of
paying the prince’s debts, as they
had been already provided for, by
a former arrangement ; it was mere-
ly for the view of re-establishing
his royal highness in that splendor
which belonged to his rank in the
state.

The house having then resolved
itself into a committee of the whole
house,

Mr. Addington said, he should
submit to them a proposition,
which, notwithstanding what had
been said by the hon, member, he
trusted would have the general ac-
quiescence of the committee. He
was sure that every member of it

would

RE HISTORY

would feel, that he had a constitu-
tional share, in the splendor and
dignity of the heir apparent of the
British crown. He was convinced,
that every member must feel re-
? " joiced, at the means having been
_ found to restore his royal highness,
to the dignity and splendor of his
igh state. In I795, a message
s delivered to the house from his
Majesty, for an extension of the
“prince of Waies’s establishment.
At that time the house had thought
revenues of the duchy of Corn-
ll, £13,000 annually, together
with £60,000 annually from his
- income, should be applied to the
liquidation of his debts, which then
amounted to £650,000. The re-
sult was, that £563,395 of the
debts had been now paid off; and
that by July, 1806, the whole
would be liquidated. The prince
had now, for eight years, borne this
diminution of his income, and it
was time to restore him to the situa-
tion in which he would have been,
if it was not for the arrangements
made in 1795, for the payment of
his debts. ‘The object of his propo-
sition was, “ to enable his majesty
to grant to the prince of Wales the
sum of £60,000 annually.” His
royal highness, in the year 1795,
had £138,000 annually, which,
considering the increase of price in
every thing, was not as much in
proportion as £90,000, which wa’s
the establishment for the prince of
_ Wales, above ninety years ago. He
_ did not mean to propose a grant of
__ any thing more to the prince of
- Wales, than what had been settled
eight years back; he only wished
him to enjoy the income that parlia-
ment had already thought preper
for the heir apparent, treed from
that diminution, which was occa-

OF EUROPE.

-vice of his royal highness,

77
sioned by the arrangement for the
payment of his debts. It was not
to be forgotten, that he was heir
apparent to the greatest crown
in the universe. He then moyed,
that “it is the opinion of this com-
mittee, that his‘majesty be enabled
to grant yearly, any sum or sums
of money, out of the consolidated
fund of Great Britain, not exceed-
ing in the whole £60,000, being
to be computed from the 5th.of
January 1803, and to continue
until the 5th of July 1806, to-
wards providing for the better sup-
port and dignity of the prince of
Wales.”

In answer to a question from M r
Harrison,

The chancellor of the exchequer
again stated, that £563,895 had
been paid off, of the prince’s debts,
and that there remained a round
sum of £235,754 to discharge.

The solicitor general, (Mr Man-
ners Sutton) began with stating,
that although no longer in the ser-
he still
was honored with his confidence ;
and could express in his name, that
he felt the most sincere gratitude to
his majesty, for the interest he had
been pleased to take, with regard to
his situation; and that he submitted
with cheerfulness, to the wisdom
and justice of the house. It was
the object of the prince, to shew in
all instances, his sincere respect and
duty to his country, and rather
than at all diminish the harinony
which should subsist between him
and his royal father, he was content
to forego every claim of right, which
must lead to a contest, that whether
successful or not, muSt be to him,
a source of the deepest regret.
For his own part, he had no hesita-
tion as a lawyer, in maintaining,

that

78
that the claims of his royal high-
ness were too firmly established, to
be shaken by any opinions, that
eould be brought against them;
and therefore, he could not but
admire, the delicate and dignified
conduct of the prince, in thus fore-
going those claims. There cer-
tainly had been no compromise,
nor any thing resembling it; the
intimation of the present measure,
came upon his royal highness unex-
pectedly, and no terms were at-
tempted to be imposed upon him.
He repeated the statement that he
had formerly made, that whatever
were the expences, incurred by his
royal highness, they had not tallen
upon the public. In order to be
convinced of that, it would be only
sufficient to compare the present
with formertimes; and the actual
situation of his royal highness, with
that of his illustrious predecessors,
He concluded, by declaring he
should vote for the resolution pro-
posed.

Sir Ralph Milbank said, that it
was notorious, that the prince had
lived in a state of comparative ob-
scurity, for the last eight years, and
that it was time to restore him to
that state and splendor, which be-
came his exalted rank.

Mr. Harrison objected to the
manner of granting this annuity, as
aboon to his royal highness, when
it was clear, that he was a creditor
to the public, for more than the
amount of his outstanding debts,
The solicitor general had informed
them, that legal opinions were
agreed upon that subject. Although
for his part, he did not think the
dignity of monarchy depended up-
enits trappings, yet when he saw
splendor in every corner of the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

court, and in all its appendages, he
saw no reason, why the prince of —
Wales should be the only person —
from whom it was withheld.

Lord Castlereagh was of opinion
last year, when this matter was first
suggested, that the time was come,
for restoring the prince to the full
dignity and comforts, which became
his rank; but as the claims of the
prince thea came forward in a more
legal shape, 1t was necessary to
await a legal decision. He periectly
approved ~ however, of the feeling
which dictated that course, namely,
that the prince wished rather that
his debts should be paid out of
his own means, than that he should
appear burthensome to the public.

Mr. Sheridan said, he preferred
so much, the character of his royal
highness, tc his comforts, that if
this was to be represented to the
public, as a boon to the prince
(who had come down to parliament
a third time for payment of his
debts,) that he was not prepared to
say, that he should support it. The
fact was this, the prince had in
the course of last session, applied
for the restoration of his RIGHT,
not on his own account, but for the
sake of his creditors: there was a
long discussion both historical and
political, on his claims, but the
house resolved they could do no-
thing in it. A petition of right
was then proceeded upon, but sud-
denly the proceedings were stopped,
and this message came down to the
house.
(Mr. Addington) objected to the
word compromise, but it was be-
cause he considered it a fair and
honorable compromise, that he
supported it. As to the petition
of mght, it would haye been very

doubtful,

The right hon. gentleman -

q
s

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

doubtful, when it could have been
decided. The “ glorious uncer-
- tainty of the law,” was a thing well
.known and complained of, by all
‘ignorant people, but all learned
gentlemen considered it, as_ its
greatest excellency. He therefore
_ thought this was a fair and honora-
ble compromise; but he wished
ee to bear in their minds,
that his royal highness considered
himself in honor and in justice,
bound to pay his creditors, the £10
‘per cent. which the commissioners
had reduced of their demands; and
until that was done, his royal high-
Ress could not resume conscien-
tiously, nor in honor, his state and
dignity.
_ The chancellor of the exchequer,
explained this circumstance in the
following manner: For all the debts
which were fairly and justly due,
there were given to the creditors,
who were at liberty to accept them
at their option, debentures ot £100,
: bearing 3 per cent. interest, or £90,
_ bearing 5 per cent. ; those who pre-
ferred the £90, could not be said
to have their debt reduced, as by
law, no interest at-all was due on
debts,which were merely book debts.
He was very glad that this measure
would silence for ever the petition
of right. Although legal opinions
had said, that he was entitled to
an account of the revenues of
_ Cornwall, none had said that in
that account, no allowances were
‘to be made for money expended
for his use; but at all events, if
is there were a legal judgment, the
fund was gone on which it was to
_be alten; and-if the prince should
be obliged at jength, to come to
‘parliament, for its equitabie inter-
pretation. of the judgment, it would

¥

79

Iet in an account, between the
public and the prince, which it was
much better not to gointo. He
concluded,-by maintaining, that
there had been no deduction made
from the debts of the creditors,

Mr. Sheridan, and the chancellor
of the exchequer, mutually ex-
plained.

Mr. Fox said, that as he con-
ceived the account closed between
the prince and the public in 1795,
hethought it was improper to allude
to what had passed in 1787. In
1795, there were some persons who
thought £125,000 per annum, was
too great anincome, to be allowed
a prince of Wales; but he was not
ofthat number. The chancellor of
exchequer, in arguing that there:
had not been a reduction of £10
per cent. made by the commission-
ers in the prince’s debts, said that
book debts bore no interest; that
was true, as long as they were book
debts; but from the time you pre-
tend to pay them,and give securities,
then these securities always do
bear interest, and therefore giving a
security for £90, for a debt of
£100, was most clearly a diminu-
tion of £10 per cent. As to the
claims with respect to the duchy of
Cornwall, the only way he thought,
they could enter into the present
question, was, that in addition to
the consideration, that the prince
had for eight years submitted to
great privations and restraints, other

reasons have. occurred, which
strengthened his claims on the
generosity of the nation. In that

point of view only, he considered

’ the sacrifice of the Cornwall claims,

applicable to the present question.
He concluded, by observing the
prince had now shewn himself

worthy

80 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

worthy of the management of a
large income, by his prudence,
which was the only virtue he was
ever charged with wanting.

After some observation from Mr.
Banks, who thought that the prince
ought to prosecute his petition of
right, the resolution moved by Mr.
Addington, was unanimously agreed
to in the committee.

His majesty’s message on this
subject, was taken into considera-
tion in the house of lords, on the
25th of February.

Lord Pelham, after a very few
preliminary observations, moved an
address to his majesty, similar to
that moved in the house of com-
mons.

Lord Carlisle seconded the mo-
tion for the address, but wished
the question, had been decided on
the petition of right.

After a few words from lord
Moira, in praise of the conduct of
his royal highness upon this ocea-
sion, the address was unanimously
agreed to.

On the 28th Mr. Tyrwhitt
brought down a message from the
prince of Wales, in which his royal
highness, after expressing his gra-
titude for the liberality of parlia-
‘ment; declared that there were
claims still upon him, both in ho-
nor and justice, fur the discharge
of which, he muststill set apart a
considerable sinking fund.

Mr, Calcraft gave notice of a
motion, to enable his royal high-
hess immediately to resume his
state and dignity ; which Mr. Ers-

kine declared was without the
prince’s ‘knowledge.

On the same evening, a bill for
extending the period for exercising
the ~ militia from twenty-one to

;

‘twenty-eight days annually, was
brought into the house of commons,
by the secretary at war, and was
passed there without any serious
opposition. ike
' It was brought into the house of
lords, on the 3d day of March;
and, on lord Hobart’s moving for
the second reading of the bill,
The duke of Montrose took a
view of the relative and positive —
strength of France, in the present
moment, which made the proper _
training and discipline of our mi-
litia, a very serious and impor-
tant consideration. He considered
twenty-eight days too few, and
wished that at least one third of the
militia, should be exercised double.
that number of days. He thought —
it necessary to augment the na-
tional defence, in proportion to the
increased danger of the times. .
After a few words from lord Ho-
bart, who complimented the zeal
shewn by his grace upon the present
occasion, the bill was read a se-
cond time, and afterwards passed,

without any opposition whatever,
On the 4th of March there was
avery long and interesting debate
in the house of commons, on the
motion of Mr. Calcraft, respecting
the prince’s establishment. That
gentleman began, by stating, that
the motion he was now to bring for-
ward, originated solely with him- —
self, and that he had not communi-
cated with any person on the sub-
ject, previously to his giving the
notice. He said the country was
anxious, to see the heir apparent
resume that state and dignity, due
to his exalted rank ; -which, . not-
withstanding the liberal grant of ©
parliament, could not now be done, |
unless there were some arrangements —
made —

CHIS TORY ‘OF EUR OP E.

made for those claims, which
‘affected the honor and justice of
the prince, and which otherwise he
must levy upon a considerable part
of his income, to discharge: He
therefore moved, that a select com-
mittee should be appointed, to in-
quire into the extent of those claims,
which had been signified to the
house, in the message from his
royal highness.
Sir W. Geary seconded the mo-
tion.
Mr. Erskine said, that when on

a former day, he had asserted this
motion was brought on, without
the knowledge of his royal highness;
he by no means meant to say, that
‘it was on that account improper
for discussion in that house. His
royal highness felt grateful for the
Kindness of his majesty, and for the
‘great liberality of parliament. He
was amply satisfied, and personally
felt himself no way interested in the
motion. If he therefore coincided
in the motion, it was as a member
of parliament, and not as servant
tothe prince. As to the prince’s
claims for an account of the reve-
nues of Cornwall, they were most
undoubtedly valid; but he did not
méan to say that what was expend-
ed for his education and support
during his minority, should not be
charged against that account. He
was glad that the subject was now
at rest 5 and he was only anxious
for the honor of the prince, that
it should be known, that he had,
out of his own revenues, paid, w ithin
the last eight years, the sum of
£575,000; and that now, at forty
years of age, he did not owe one
shilling to the public.
_ Mr. Fuller supported the motion,
as did Mr, Cartwriuht.

we Vol. XLV. .

*

$f

Sir Robert Buxton considered,
that in the present state of the
country, when the taxes were so
high, and a neighbouring nation
had 500,000 men 1 ready to pour in
upon us, on the first quarrel, princes
would do themselves most credit,
by avoiding uséless expences and
idle parade. His royal highness
knew, that the dignity of a prince
consists, not in the trappings of a
court, but in the virtues of the
man. He therefore moved the
previous question.

Mr, Curwen seconded the mo-
tion. If his royal highness found
himself still involved in debts, it
would be right of him to pay them;
but he could hardly expect the
public to be satisfied, with a burden
which might appear to them as pro-
ceeding from extravagance. Ile
thought a committee would be in-
convenient, as, it debts appear
that the committee did not think
fair, it was not to be supposed that
parliament would pay them.

Mr. Hilliard supported the origi-
nal motion.

Mr. Johnstone objected to the
motion most decidedly, Ata time,
that such large revenues were raised
upon the subject, he could not con-
sent to such an increase of the pub-
lic burdens. As to the Cornwall
claims, he thought the time for the
prince to urge his right, was in the
year 1795; but then he preterred
appealing to the liberality of par-
liament. He said, there was ang-
ther very good reason for not pro-
secuting this claim. The whole
amount of the revenues of Corn-
wall, from his birth to his coming
of age, was but £234,000, and the
expences were at least as much ;
therefore, pt did not appear that

there

$2

there would he any thing coming to
him out of those reyenues.

Mr. H, Lascelles. opposed the

sotion. He thought the Cornwall
claims were only held.over the house
in terrorem ; while indirect applica-
tions were making,
_ Mr. Burdon thought, that if such
a cominittee were appointed, it
‘would: be an the awkwardest situa-
tion that ever a committee of that
hous¢ was placed: it could not pre-
tend ito inquire into debts of honor,
which certainly an act of parliament
could not mean to consider.

Mr. Tierney voted for the com-
mittee, but would not pledge him-
self to vote the payment of all sums
that might be found undischarged ;
but, as a member of parliament, lie
wished to know what the circum-
stances were, which prevented the
prince from resuming his splendor.
He contended that his royal high-
ness was the least expensive prince
of Wales who had ever existed;
and that £30,000 was all that the
public had fay anced to him by ex-
traordinary grants; if the revenues
of Cornwall were deducted, as they
ought tobe. The £125,000, which
was assigned for the prince, in
1795, was not more than the
£100,000 per annum, which had
been given to his grand-father, in
1733. He believed, considering the
difference of times, that it was not
so much. . He concluded with giy-
ing his hearty assent to the motion.

The chancellor of the exchequer
-said, that ;knowing as he did the
sentiments of his royal highness up-
on this subject, the present motion
was to him» rather: matter of sur-

-, prize than of any» other sensation.
In point of regularity, no proceed-
sings could be taken.on-the present

: +

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

motion, without a previous recome
mendation from the crown. The
message that had been sent down, —
had nothing to do with the pay-
ment of the prince’s debts, which
had been provided for by a previ-
ous arrangement ; after that ar-
rangement of 1795 it was impossi-
ble for his majesty to conceive, that
any fresh debts could have been in-

curred; nor could the house take

notice of such debts. It would
be disgraceful to have entered on
the journals, a third proceeding for
the payment of debts. He insisted
that the Cornwall claim was by no
means as clear as had been stated,
and that some of the first law au-
thorities were of a contrary opinion;
aid besides, parliament had given
large sums,far exceeding the amount
of those claims, for the payment of
the prince’s debts. He therefore
opposed the motion.

Mr. Fox supported, the original
motion: he had himself no doubt
of the validity of the prince’s claim
to an account of the revenues of
Cornwall, and he did not think any
person could advise his majesty to
resist them, on the ground ‘“ that
he had educated the prince of
Wales handsomely, and given him
the same masters as his other sons,
and therefore that hewught to be
paid for it.” The debts of the civil
list, had been several times paid
during the present reign 5 particu-
larly in 1769, 1777, and 1782, and
ng other ground. was alleged for
the debt, except the high price of
the articles of life. Although he
did not much approve of this prac-
tice, yet he thought the principle —
would apply, as strongly at least to
the situation of the prince, as to any. -
other whatevet. ;
Mts

BISTORY, OF..EUROPE.

Mr. Sheridan supported the ori-
ginal motion with great force, and
answered the objections in the hap-
piest vein of humour, He consider-
ed, that coupling the message which
had been sent by his majesty, with
that which came down from his
royal highness, the house had docu-
ments enough to see, that the in-
tentions of his majesty could not be
‘tarried into execution on the sum
now yoted; and therefore it was
competent to them to increase
the vote: an honorable member
(Mr. Johnston) had said, that in
1795, when the spirit of jacobinism
was abroad, less objections were

-made to increase the splendor and
dignity of the royal family : this was
‘was indeed a strange principle for
‘supporting royalty. Itreminded him
of the story ofthe conversation of the
two owls ina ruined castle. One
of them said ‘‘ Long live king Mah-
-moud! as long as he lives to carry
‘on his devastations, we owls will
never want ruined castles to build
our nests in.” The royal family
‘might say on the same principle
“Long live the Jacobins ! as
long as they exist, we shall enjoy
all the splendor and dignity due to
our rank ; but the moment the spi-
rit of loyalty returns, and the love
of monarchy resumes its place in
the hearts of the people, we shall
be thrown on the shelf.” In reply
to Sir Rebert Buxton, (who ap-
peared to despise all external trap-
pings, and think that virtue alone
-was the only true dignity of a
_prince,) he said he was Teady to
admit the principle; out not to
_ confine it entirely to the heir appa-
_fent: for instance, if all the great
officers of state would consent to
Test upon their virtues, it would be
Als setae ae GQ

;

83

very well: if the speaker, when go-
ing to present an address to his
majesty would dispense with his
gilded coach and mace, and walk to
St. James’s, wrapped up in his vir-
tues, and a warm surtout, with the
privilege of carrying an umbrella,
if it should rain: if our judges
would lay aside their state, and yo
their circuits in the mail coaches 3
und the gentlemen of the bar move
as outside passengers: if the lord
mayor and sheriffs, instead of their
gilt barges and Guildhall banquets,
would come down in hackney
coaches, and dine at Dolly’s chop-
house on their return : then indeed
it would be undoubtedly right,
that the prince should conform to
the prevailing customs, and lay
aside all his state and splendor.
Mr. Sheridan concluded a very hu-
morous and argumentative speech
by supporting Mr. Calcraft’s mo-
tion,

Lord Hawkesbury defended the
arrangement which had _ been
propesed by ministers, in conse-
quence ofa message from his ma-
jesty; the house could not, as
members of parliament, look into
any debts contracted by his royal
highness since 1795 ; the discharge
of such debts (if they existed) must
be left entirely to his own honor and
prudence. No new account ought
now to be entered into about debts,
and there was nothing, in either the
message or the proceedings of par-
liament thereon, respecting his
speedy re-assumption of his state.

Sir John Wrottesley and. Mr.
Smith spoke in fayor of the motion,
and lord Castlereagh against it,

The house divided upon the pre-
vious question : the ayes were 184,
the noes 139.

On

84

On the 14th day of March, the
Prince of Wales’s annuity bill was
read a second time in the house of
lords ; previously to which,lord Pel-
ham made some observations on the
length of time, the prince had lived
in a state of comparative obscurity ;
and the universal wish that seemed
iow to pervade the house, and the
public; that he should be relieved
from his difficulties,

Lord Moira stated, that on ac-
count of debts, which the prince
‘found binding upon him, both in
honor and in justice, he was_pre-
vented even now from resuming his
state and dignity; but felt grateful
_ to parliament, and content with the
allowance they had made him;
and had instructed his counsel to
drop the proceedings respecting
Cornwall.

The earl of Carlisle felt, that this
“provision, was not sufficient to ena-
ble his royal highness to resume
his state; but in the present cir-
cumstances of the country, he
thought no more could be done.

The earl of Darnley was of the
Same opinion, but did not consider
the situation of the country so peri-
lous as to justify despondency.

- The duke of Norfolk thought, the
allowance for the prince insuffici-
ent; and that a person of his ele-
vated rank in the state, ought not
to be left in a situation, where he
was eclipsed by many lords and
many commoners: he knew how-
ever, that votes for a grant of money
must originate in the other house.

Lord Caernayon disapproved of
the bill, as inadequate to its object,
and as unconstitutional, in getting
rid of the Cornwall claims, which
was a civil list debt, without any

mnquiry, ;

ANNUAL REGISTER, 41803.

The earl of Moira, in explana
tion, denied that the abandoninérit
of the Cornwall claims was at afl
the eflect of a compromise : his
royal highness had only made that
claim for the benefit of bis credi-
tors, but when he found that the
allowance now proposed would ett
nable him to Satisfy his debts, with-
out recurring to it, he abandontd
it with pleasure. The bill was
then read a second time, and or-
dered to be committed,

The original proposition which
had been made by ministers, for
giving the prince of Wales an an-
nuity of £60,000 per ann. for three
years was the final settlement of
this important business: for in a
few days after, an event took place,
which caused the prince to signify
to the house by Mr. Erskine, (his
chancellor) that he could not think
at such a time, of increasing farther
the burdens of the country; and

, that he was perfeetly satisfied with
what parliament had done.

This large division against Mr.
Addington, in the house of com-
mons, the greatest he had yet en-
countered, sufficiently manifested
the sense of the house, to be with
the prince of Wales; and the
public beheld, in the minister’s
conduct upon this oceasion, either
a mystetious ambiguity, or a low
spirit of chicane, equally unworthy
the hich situation he filled. It was
recollected, with surprize, that ad-
ministration had refused to enter-
tain, in the course of the last ses-
gion of parliament, a proposition for
consideting the amount of his royal
highness’s claims, as the creditor
of the publie; and the reference he
proposed to make upon them to the

“judgment and wisdom of the legis-

lation,

HISTORY

jation; on the ground, that the
matter was one solely for the de-
cision of a cgurt of law, and not
for that of Parliainent. However
this opinion might be combated ;
and it was carried by a very smal]
majority ; the inference was ob-
vious. In consequence, his royal
highness had prepared a petition
of right, which was submitted to
the lord chancellor, and his claims
were ready to be finally deter-
mined by the issue of a solemn
adjudication, when now, adminis-
tration as if fearful of the result
of such an inquiry, and desirous
of quashing all farther proceedings 5
came forward with a specific pro-
position, (or rather compromise)
for increasing his royal highness’s
income, by an annuity of £60,Q00
er annum, for three years; spe-
cifically, however, premising, that
this sum was given, in order to
restore him to the stateand splendor
belonging to his rank; which it was
well known he had for eight years
yoluntarily foregone,by the diminu-
tion of his establishment, more thin
one half, in order that his credi-
tors might be finally satisfied. In
the same spirit of acquiescence to
the king’s government, which had
already distinguished in the course
of this business, the whole of his con-
duct, and now, as then, equally a-
verse from the indelicacy of a suit
with the crown, the prince cheerfully
announced his acceptation of the
proposed sum, with eagerness and
with gratitude ; and waved for ever
an investigation, which, jt was the
decided conviction of himself, and
his great law officers, would have
placed him in the Uesirable situa-
tion of appearing, what he really
was, the creditor, not the debtor,

OF EUROPE.

83.

of the public. But, in the accep-
tance of this increase of income,
his royal highness wished it ex-
pressly to be understood, that ia
consequence of the reduction he
had submitted to for more than
cight years, some incumbrances
had gradually increased upon him,
which, superadded to the payment
of those debts not provided for by
the arrangement of 1795, but which
he found himself bound in honor to
discharge, would yet farther delay
the re-assumption of the state and
dignity of the heir apparent to the
imperial crown of these realms 5
unless parliament should enquire
intothose embarassments, and adopt
the most effectual means of relieving
them, as speedily as possible, and
that therefore the sum, which he
took in the same spirit in which it
was given, namely, as a satisfac-
tion for the foregoing the farther
prosecution of his claims, was still
insufficient for the purposes, for
which it was alleged to be granted.
For this purpose the motion was
made, which gave ris@ to the
debate we have just detailed, and
which was supported by all the
talents, wit, and ingenuity, in the
house.—Mr. Addington, however,
brought the usual strength of the
ministerial numbers, to beay on
the subject, and it was lost, there
bejng 328 members in the house,
by the slender majority of forty-five!
—Nor did the minister retire from
the contest with any increase of
credit or reputation; it was not
forgotten, that after driving the
prince of Wales to the necessity,
(which he actually deprecated, in
the face of the nation, by his mi-
nister’s declaration in the former
session) of a suit at law with his

Soe royal

f
86
royal parent; that he deliberately
checked the course of public justice
by the offer, of, what could only be
considered a compromise. Nor
was this all; far from allowing it
to be, what in fact it, was, the price
of the relinquishment of a legal in-
vestigation, which was dreaded; he
sought, under the specious pretence
ofa boon to the prince of Wales,
to call it, the means by which the
splendor and dignity of this august
personage would be restored; yet,
when the fallacy, and utter impos-
sibility of the attainment of this
desirable end, being accomplished
without an inquiry into the actual
state of the prince’s affairs, was
stated; he obstinately refused to
-entertain such inguiry; and per-
sisted in giving the appearance of
increased obligation, to what was,
in fact, unjust in its principle, un-
satisfactory both to the prince and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

to the public ; and totally inade-
quate toits proposed ends. Such
however is the usual fate, of the
half measures of little minds.

Contrasted with this line of con-
duct, the people observed in the
whole of that of their future mo-
narch, dignity, equity, and modera-
tion; and when it was seen, that at
the critical and awful moment we
have already alluded to, he declined
giving any farther trouble to the
great council of the nation; that
in such a moment, he could not
think of adding to the burdens of
the country, and that he declared
himself perfectly satisfied with the
liberality of parliament; grati-
tude and admiration universally
prevailed ; and his future subjects,
beheld in this meritorious and ex-
emplary conduct, ample promise of
the greatest blessing providence can
bestow—a patriot king! f

CHAP.

‘HISTORY OF EUROPE, 87

CPMACP. VAR;

King’s message —Probability of immediate war.—His majesty's message
taken into consideration in the lords,—Address moved by Lord Hobart.
—Debate—Ear! Spencer—Lord Grenville—Earl of Moira.—Address
of thanks carried.—And in the Commons same day,—Address moved by
Mr. Addington.—Debate—Mr. For—Lord Hawkesbury—Mr. Wind-
ham—Sheridan—Grenville—Dr. Lawrence,—Address carried —Mes-

_ sage for the embodying the militia.—Motion for 10,000 additional sea-
men.—Debate.—Mr.. Francis—Chancellor of the Excheguer—Mr, Dent
—For—Burroughs — Lord Hawkesbury—Mr, Elliot — Canning —
Trench.—Increase agreed to.— Remarks.

N the eight of March, a
message from his majesty,*

was brought down to both houses of
parliament; which was received all
over Europe, as the signal of the
approach of war between Great
Britain and France, The sensa-
tion with which it was received was
great beyond description ; and from
the moment it was delivered, every
man of common sagacity or political
experience knew a rupture to be in-
evitable. In this message, it was
stated, “‘ that considerable military
preparations were carrying on, in
the ports of France and Holland;
and that it was therefore expedient
to adoptadditional measures of pre-
caution, for the security ofthe king’s
dominions ; that discussions of great
importance, were carrying on be-
tween his majesty and the French
government, the result of which
was uncertain ; and therefore, rely-
ing with confidence on parliament,

to enable him to take such mea-
sures, as circumstances might re-
quire, for supporting the honor of
his crown, and the essential interests
of his people.”

This message was the fore-runuer
of the war; whether his majesty’s
ministers of the day were, or were
not justified, by existing circum-
stances in sending it down, Is a mat-
ter of the greatest importance for
the historian of the times to consi-
der ; but here as a parliamentary
transaction we shall confine our-
selves to speak of it, from the effects
jt ‘produced on the legislation.
The further discussion of the prince
of Wales’s claims was abandoned
indeed, at his own request; and
every minor interest and lesser
consideration, were absorbed in the
great ‘question, ‘‘ shall we have
peace or war with France ?”

On Wednesday the 9th of
March, the order of the day for

* Vide State Papers,

taking

88

taking his majesty’s message into
consideration being read in the
house of jords ;

Lord Hobart rose to move the
"address. He thought there could
not be a difference of opinion, when
his majesty had communicated
to them, that great military pre-
parations were actually making on
the coasts of France and Holland ;
and that important discussions were
pending between himand the French
government; the result of which
was very uncertain. It was the
earnest wish of ministers, that the
tranquillity which subsisted between
the two countries, should not be in-
terrupted: and he relied upon it,
that the country would enable them
to preserve it, consistently with the
honor and interests of the nation.
He then moved an address, which
was nefirly a recapitulation of the
message.

Earl Spencer rose, not to oppose
the address, as he had been always
a friend to vigorous measures. He
rejoiced to find, that ministers were
at length sensible, they had gone
the full length of concession and
negociation; that they were now
determined to act a manly part,
There was no other chance of say-
ing the country, but by shewing the
first consul, that we are not afraid of
meeting France single handed,* and
that rather than suffer the smallest
particle of the national honor to be
tarnished, we were ready to recom-
mence hostilities. He should wish
however to know, whether the dis-
cussions alluded to in his majesty’s
message, were new, or of a long
standing ?
~ Lord Grenville, perfectly agreed

ANNWAL REGISTER,

1803.

in opinion with the last noble lord.
He rejoiced at this first instance of
sound political wisdom in his majes-
nty’s present ministers: they had
seen the consequences of a system
concession and meanness ; and he
hoped they would act with due ener-
gy and perseverance in that now
proposed. The reasonings of this
day, were warranted by the experi-
ence of the last eighteen months,
and he therefore cordially assented
to the motion.

The earl of Moira delivered a very
animated and impressive speech. He
wished however to be satisfied, that
sufficient cause existed for this ap-
pearance of energy; this sudden
change in the conduct of his majes-
ty’s ministers. He hoped it was not
a mere bravado, intended to cover
some farther concession. The
communication which had_ been
made, had created a very general
alarm, and materially affected those
who had property in the funds, He
hoped ministers would be able to
shew at a future day, that they had
not done this unnecessarily. He
wished ministers would speak out,
and not be afraid of offending the
first consul of France: as for his
part, he had no notion of talking
longer with compliment towards
this new Hannibal ; who had sworn
on the altars of his ambition, dead-
ly and eternal hatred, to the inte-
rests and prosperity of this country.
If we would consult our most im-
mediate interests, and uphold our”
national character ; we must shew
that man that we are not to be in-
timidated, by the menace of conse-
quences. We must, in the language
of our immortal bard,

* Vide State Papers.

me Be

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

% Be stirring as the time, be fire with
« fire;
« Threaten the threatener,
« face the brow

« Of bragging horror !””
We must boldly look our danger in
the face; and be prepared to mect
it in its worst form.— No man could
more sincerely wish for peace than
himself; no man regreted war
more as a great calamity; but con-
stantly to submit to the domineer-
ing arrogance of an implacable r-
val, is positive ruin, to which war
in its worst shape was preferable !
He considered, that an uniform,con-
sistent, manly tone, might prevent
war, by throwing all the blame up-
on the transgressor; and there was
no man, however great his power,
that was independent of public
opinion ; and above all, of the opi-
nion of the people he governed.
Whoever considered the history of
the man who now governed France,
would not consider attempts im-
practicable, because they are difli-
cult. We should prepare our
minds for an attempt upon this coun-
try. Ifit could only produce mis-
chief and confusion, the person at
the head of France, is the man who
would coolly calculate upon the
total destruction of an army, to
accomplish a mighty mischiet. But
when he said, that England was not
able, single handed to contend with
France, where did he get his infor-
mation? Was it from the noble
lords near him, whom he was proud
to call his friends? (lords Nelson
and Hutchinson) or at what period
of our history was it, that he disco-
yered England was not able to
grapple with France? Should the
enemy land, they would undoubt-
edly push for the capital ; and cer-
fainly a pitched battle would be

and guat-

89

fought, which should end in the des
struction of one army or the other,
before he should be permitted to
reach it. He concluded by ex-
horting ministers, in a very forci-
ble manner, to make a common
cause with the people, in the defence
of their common country.

After some observations from
lord Westmoreland and lord Auck-
land, in support of the motion, the
address was carried nemine dissen-
tiente.

On the same day in the house of
commons, after Mr. Erskine had,
as already mentioned, given up on
the part of the prince of Wales, any
farther demand on parliament, in
consequence of the situation of the
country,

Mr. Addington rose to move the
address to his majesty, in conse~
quence of the message: he felt con-
vinced that the appeal made by his
majesty to the wisdom and public
spirit of the house, would not be in
vain. Although the armaments
now preparing in the ports of France
and Holland, were ostensibly for
colonial objects; yet, as there
were important discussions between
France and this country, the issue
of which was very doubtful; no
one could foresee, whether those
armaments might not be diverted
from their original object, to the at-
tack of this country. He hoped
still for the continuance of peace,
but should that be impossible ; eve-
ry communication, that could throw
light upon the subject and bring it
level tothe judgment of that house,
should unreservedly be produced.
The whole object of the prepara-
tions, which he now recommended,
were for precaution and inter-
nal security ; and not directed to

‘ offensive

90

offensive operations. After again
expressing the wish of his majes-
ty’s government, that peace should
be preserved ; if it could be pre-
served with honor; he concluded,
by moving an address, promising to
support his majesty, in those ob-
jects mentioned in the message.
Mr. Fox said, after the message

of yesterday, he could not oppose .

the motion ; but he must say, no
vote was ever required from the
house, where they were left so com-
pletely in the dark. Whether the
object of the discussions lay in Eu-
rope, Asia, Africa, or America, mi-
nistershad nottold us. When how-
ever, his majesty stated those discus-
Sions to be of great importance, he
could not doubt the allegation ; but
when we were called upon to afford
additional means of defence, we
should be informed of the particu-
lars, which rendered such additi-
onal defence necessary. He con-
cluded with the following remark-
able words, “that his majesty’s
ministers, would do well to consider
the tendency of their measures.
If through their negligence, rash-
ness, or ill concerted plans, they
involved the country in wur, at this
important period; he should pro-
nounce the present administration
to be the most fatal and destructive

which ever directed the affairs of

Great Britain !”

Lord Hawkesbury agreed with
Mr. Fox, that the present address,
did not pledge the house to any
thing specific: but at the same
time if the pending discussions,
should unfortunately terminate in
war, the house would certainly have
a right, to the fullest information
on the subject; and he himself felt
perfectly prepared, to defend the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

conduct of ministers, either on every
separate part of those discussions ;
or upon the whole plan of their na-
tional administration.

Mr. Windham regretted, that thé
house was so completely i in the dark,
upon the subject which now called
for another armament: he hoped
that it would not be thought, that
the opposers of the peace of Amiens,
necessarily wished for a renewal of
hostilities; for his part he should
always consider a good peace as bet-
ter than a war; but he contended
ministers were equally responsible,
for making a bad peace, or for
making peace when it ought not to -
be made, as they would be for
making war, without proper grounds,
or where war ought not to be made.
He thought Mr. Fox considered
too exclusively, the evils of war ;
and did not sufficiently calculate
the evils ofa bad peace. Whether
at the present moment; we ought to
have peace or war, it was impossi-
ble for the house to judge without
more information,

Mr. Sheridan, in a very ani-
mated speech, reprobated an opi-
nion delivered by the last speaker,
on many occasions, and repeated
to-night, namely, that the peace of
Amiens had left the country in such
a situation, that if our existence,
as a nation, were at stake, we had
not the means of maintaining the
contest. What, was this language
to hold, at the present moment?
The first consul of France had
modestly proclaimed to the vassal
thrones of Europe, that England ts
no longer able to contend, single-
handed, against France; but J lit-
tle expected to hear that sentiment
re-echoed in that house. He trust-
ed, if war was unavoidable, he
should

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

fleman would see also, that

were still left spirit and resources
enough in British hearts, not only
to defend the existence of the
country, but to avenge the slightest
insult to its honor.

Mr. Windham denied, that he had
ever used the language imputed to
him.

Mr, Canning supported the ad-

dress ; but considered that ministers
had studiously wrapped up in mys-
try and reserve, that knowledge
which they ought to have commu-
nicated to parliament.
* The chancellor of the exchequer
disdained the reserve imputed to
him, and said he should never with-
hold from parliament any thing,
which the interests of the coun-
try required it should be informed
On!

Mr. Grenville defended Mr,
Windham, from the perverted com-
ment, which had been made upon
his speech this evening. He sup-
ported the address, but, at the
same time, thought the effect of it
was much weakened, by its not
touching the political opinions of
any member of that house, or pledg-
ing them to any specific measure.

The attorney general, defended
the line of conduct, which his ma-
jesty’s ministers had taken, from
the objections which had been made
in the course of the debate.

Dr. Lawrence expressed himself
friendly to peace, but if, upon due
information, war was necessary, he
should cheerfully vote the supplies,
for conducting it with energy.

The address was then unani-
mously voted,

On the next day (the 10th) a
message was delivered by the chan-

lor of the exchequer, expressing

should see, and the right hon. ier

91

his majesty’s desire of embodying

and calling out the militia of the
united kingdom.

On the 11th of March, +h house
formed itself into a committee of
supply.

' Mr.Garthshore moved for 10,000
additional seamen, including 3400
marines,

Mr. Francis said, he should have
made no objection, if the naval
force proposed had been much
larger; the house had, by their
address, performed their duty ta
his majesty ; but it will pause, be-
fore in pledging themselves to sup-
port his majesty, they should allow
ministers to construe that pledge, as
one of supporting “their measures.
Personally, he was neither an ene-
my nor a competitor to his ma-
jesty’s ministers; he bore a great
regard for many of them, and ill will
to none ; ; but still, he thought they
were highly responsible for their
conduct. By the treaty of Amiens,
we had paid a high price for peace 5
and yet, in point of fact, we never
had obtained it; instead of peace,
we obtained a hollow truce; a short
cessation of arms; and the conse-
quence was, war renewed at greater
expence and disadvantage, than if
the peace had never been made.
He therefore considered it, neither
safe, nor politic, to trust the ma-
nagement of a war, to the hands of
those, who shewed s0 little ability
in making the peace. It was a me-
lancholy ‘consideration, that at such
a time as the present, all the emi-
nent bilities of the country, weré
excluded from its councils and
government. In fair weather, a
Toderite share of skill might be |
sufficient ; but for the storm, other
pilots should | be provided.

Mr. Addington, was at a loss to
conceive,

9 ANNUAL RE

conceive, how the honorable gen-
tleman who spoke last, could now
accuse, for weakness and incapa-
city, an administration which he
had declared, had always enjoyed
his confidence ;. although, in the
same breath, he declared it to be
his opinion, that all the ability of
the country was excluded from it.
He, and all his majesty’s ministers,
felt the great responsibility under
which they acted. ‘They had been
uniformly consistent in the princi-
ples, which had induced them to ad-
vise his majesty to conclude the
peace; they sincerely wished its
continuance ; but should, unhap-
pily, the war be renewed, he was
convinced, that even then, they
should be able to prove their con-
sistency, and justify themselves to
the country.

Mr. Dent considered, that the
number of seamen, now proposed,
was insufficient; especially as we
had, by the peace, restored so
many thousand seamen to France.
He concluded, by moving, as an
amendment, that ‘ instead of ten,
there should be twenty-five thou-
send seamen and marines, now
voted.”

Mr. Fox said, he was as ready as
any other member in the house, to
vote for the proposed additicn of
_seamen, if they were necessary for
the public service ; but with so lit-
tle information as the house now
possessed, he could not pretend to
give an opinion, whether it were
10,000, according to the original
motion ; or 25,000 according to the
amendment; or whether it were not
stil a greater number that were
wanting, for the public service ? He
for one denied, that the sovereign
has in theory the uncontrolled

GISTER,

1S08.

right, of making war as well as.
peace; but in practice and ip, subs,
stance, this house possessed the pri-,
vilege, hy which alone, such decla-
ration could be carried into effect ;
and therefore, although it was only
this privilege of the purse, that the
house was possessed of, yet that
was sufficient to prevent any wars,
being entered into, which parlia-
ment disapproved of. Not to speak
of the eflect that the voice of par-
liament had on the American wars
the parliament of Charles the se-
cond did compel that sovereign, to,
relinquish the Dutch war. As ar-
maments must necessarily precede
the declaration of war, he feared the
effect of granting supplies for those
armaments, would be to make the
house a party to wars, that it might
hereafter disapprove of. Perhaps,
when ministers had plunged the
country into a war, the house might
be of opinion, that negociation
would have been better, or that
more vigorous measures should have
been taken ; ; he therefore cauld
never consent, that that house
should hachee. the mere echo, of
whatever communication, ministers
might please to sead down, in thé
shape of a royal message. Le was
not content to rely me rely upon
the good intention of ministers; he
wished the house to be enabied to
judge, whether their conduct was
right or wrong. Te still approved
of the treaty of Amiens, and prin-
cipally, because it freed us from
those detestable and abominable
principles, upon which the late war
was conducted. He hoped that
we should never hear again, of wars
begun for the pretence of the pro-.
tection of religion and social order.
He trusted, that such hypocrisy wag
OF

HISTORY.

for ‘ever ‘destroyed ; ‘and that no
ministers would again aftempt, to
impose upon a geferous people, by
‘such false pretéxts, He requested,
that ministers would not be afraid
of reproaches, for too great efforts
‘at conciliation ; as long as it was
‘consistent with honor, he was a
‘warm advocate for conciliation ; but
jwould ‘never be an apologist for
‘disHonor. He concluded by saying,
that he should not vote against the
‘motion,

Mr. Burroughs considered, that
secrecy ‘Im negociations, which
‘might possibly terminate amicably,
was much to be desired. We were

‘not yet at war, and he hoped it
would be avoided ; but, at the same
time, he felt the utmost confidence
in tlie resources of the country, to
‘Carry on a war, should it be una-
“yoidable. Great-as France had be-
come, by the’plunder and oppres-
sion of all the nations on the
continent, she was unequal to the
task of domineering over this coun-
try.

Lord Hawkesbury agreed in the
general principles laid down by Mr.
Fox ; he only differed in the appli-
cation of them. Whena negocia-
tion is terminated, he thought it

right to give ample information ;
bat, while it was pending, it was
better to keep silence, than state
‘matters which might produce irri-
tating discussions, that must im-
pede the negociation itself, On
the commencement of a war, it was
right to state the causes of it; but
perhaps, when things were settled
amicably, it was better not to stir
up again those passions which had
hardly subsided. Ministers consi-

dered 60,000 seamen a force ade-.

quate to the circumstances of the

OF EUROPE.

95

times; and, at the same time ne-
cessary, considering the armaments
of the enemy.

Mr. Elliot thought the resolution
‘offered to the committee’ unprece-
dented, not being sanctioned by
sufficient information.

Mr. Canning repeated the ob-
servations he had made on a former
evening, on the necessity of minis-
ters (if they intended to “deal fairly
by parliament) giving every inform-
ation to the house, at the time those
negociations were ended, whether
they should end in peace or in war:
should they end in peace, the house
ought to know why those large sup-
plies had been called for. The ar-
mament itself, if unnecessary, was
extremely imprudent ; unnecessary
armaments might lead to war. He
should vote, however, forthe force
proposed, in the hope, that minis-
ters would use it for the purpose of
obtaining a complete, honorable,
and durable peace, and not tor
restoring it to that feverish un-
wholesome repose, from which they
had roused it. There was no time,
at present, to consider in whose
hands, the administration of the
country might most safely be trust-
ed; and ministers must, at present,
act under the highest responsibility.

Sir W. Pulteney, thought minis-
ters acted prudently in fitting out
such an armament, as the present
situation of affairs seemed to re-
quire. He did not think it right,
while negotiations were pending, to
lay before the house such informa-
tion, us might only serve to put the
people into bad temper. He thought
the supply now demanded, was ne-
cessary, trom those circumstances
which are evident to all the world;
but ir any more were demanded,

then

os ANNUAL RE
then the house might pause, and
ask for farther information.

Mr. Trench, considered himself
pledged to no specific measure, by
voting for. this supply, which was
wanting merely for precaution.

After some explanations from the
different gentlemen, who had taken
a partin the debate, the resolution
was voted without farther opposition.

Tt is. not, here, our intention, to
enter at large into the causes which
led administration, to the measures
of vigour and resolution, which ap-
peared in the king’s message, and
in the subsequent increase of the
military establishments of the em-
pire: that subject more appropri-
ately belongs to another part of the
work, and shall form the subject of
our most particular consideration,
in which the conduct of France,
and the relative situation of both
countries, from the period of the

“peace of Amiens, to that of the re-
newal of hostilities, shall” be amply
detailed : a few remarks, however,
on the effect which the debates re-
sulting therefrom, and which have
been the subject of the present
chapter, produced on the state of
political party, and public opinion,
may not be unuseful nor irrelevant,

It was the singular fate of Mr.
Addington’s motion, of. an address
of thanks to his majesty, for his
message urging the necessity of
warlike preparation, in common
with that of every great national
measure, he had brought forward
since the commencement of the
session; to meet with no opposition
whatever from the great leading in-
terests in parliament ; though the
grounds of their acquiescence were
widely different, and of a nature,

* Vide page 29.

+ Ibid.

GISTER,. 1803.

which could afford him. slendet.
cause of satisfaction.

We have already seen* that the
late minister, and those who were
personally attached to him, had -
ceased to continue that warm sup-
port in parliament, which Mr. Ad-
dington had experienced from them
at the commencement of his admi-
nistration. On the present occa-
sion Mr. Pitt again stood aloof, and
in the debates of the ninth and
eleventh of March, that person whom
we have already described as his
most confidential friend,+ in giving
his support to ministers, qualified
it by many expressions of distrust
in the abilities of administration ;
and of dissatisfaction at the igno-
rance, in which the house and _ the
country were kept, on these impor-
tant occasions. From these indica-
tions—sufficiently obyious indeed —
conclusions were drawn, both with-
in and without the walls of parlia-
ment, not yery favourable to the
opinion, of the continuation of the
friendship and good correspondence
between the late leader of his ma-
jesty’s councils, and the present:
T'rom the ‘“ old opposition” as
was the party designated, of whom
Mr. ox was the acknowledped lea-~
der, the support to administration
was given in terms, even more equi-
vocal; a desire not to disturb the’
unanimity of the legislature, on this
trying occasion, was the sole prin-
ciple on which he and his friends
grounded their acquiescence ; and
repeated deprecations of a renewal
of the war, sufficiently manifested,
the only terms, on which the present
government could hope for their as-
sistance ; and it is still farther to
be remarked, that one gentlemant

+ Mr. Francis.

of

c

HISTORY OF EUROPE,

of the greatest respectability and
talents, whose attachment to the
party, whose conduct we are de-
scribing, could not be doubted,went

far on this occasion as to say,
that, “‘ the whole ability of the
nation was excluded from its ex-
isting councils!” | One. exception,
however, appeared in the speech of
Mr. Sheridan, to. the union which
Otherwise distinguished those, with
whom he had. hitherto acted.—He
took occasion to applaud the con-
duct of ministers to. the skies, not
only for their present activity, but
for their former moderation’; and
with considerable energy and effect,
called the attention of the house, to
the approaching contest ; which he
insisted, we were fully equal to
maintain, under the guidance of
the councils which now directed
the state. It was supposed, that
though it did not now appear, this

line of conduct would not be con-

fined, of all the individuals of whom

_ the party consisted, to this gentle-

‘man solely. Some other leaders of
the “‘ old opposition” were suspect-
ed of similar views ; to which they
might possibly be led, either by the
allurements of official situation,
which it must soon, from the threat-
ening aspect of their affairs, be the
object of administration to offer to
their acceptance ; or from the in-
yeterate abhorrence with which
they contemplated-the return of
Mr. Pitt to oflice; and which was
a circumstance alike to be expected,
both from the incapability and want
of energy, of the present ministers,
and from the apprehended extra-

95

grdinary pressure, of foreign and
domestic affairs. But by far the
most unfavorable impressions to the
credit and character .of Mr. Ad+
dington and his colleagues, were
made on the house and the public,
by the speeches and arguments, of
those, who had with unceasing soli;
citude, and the most perfect consis-
tency, exerted the whole force of
the most splendid talents, and bril-
liant eloquence, (hitherto in vain)
to open ‘the eyes of the king’s go-
vernment, and the empire, to the
impending dangers.

In vain had the most experienced
statesmen, the most accomplished
orators, individuals of the highest
rank, and greatest interest in the
public weal, with almost prophetic
prescience, warned the country of
the dangers of the peace of Amiens,
of the encroaching disposition of the
French ruler, and of their inevitable
consequences. ‘This little, but il”
lustrious band, few in numbers, but
of whom each individual was quali-
fied to lead; now found that they
were no longer considered by the.
multitude as a ‘“ war faction, ”
a “pack of sanguinary bloed-
hounds,”* whose objects were place
and power, and whose lust of both
were insatiable ; but as the seli-de-
voted, steady sentinels, over the
public safety ; who had descried the
danger from afar, and who had
sounded the alarm, with timely vigi-
lance, in the ears of a nation, delud-
ed, and lulled into the most proiound
and unsuspecting security! Were
it possible for men, such as we have
here described, to have triumphed

* Sneh were the epithets which clamour had most indecently applied, and even in
the ministerial prints, io such men, as the Spencers, Fitzwilliams, Grenvilles, Windy
Mims, &¢. Xc. dc. who composed the “ new opposition.”

in

96 ANNUAL RE

in the moment of their country’s
danger, at the complete fulfilment
of their predictions; this would
have been the period—the proudest
that perhaps ever fell to the lot of
statesmen to enjoy: but as, in the
hour when confidence took the lead
of experience, they had not been
awed or depressed by numbers in-
to silence, so were they now, not
betrayed intoimmoderate exultation
Acting upon immutable and firm
principles, they were found in their
ranks, at this moment of consterna-
tion, cheering and encouraging their
‘country to exertion :—congratulat-
‘ing the ministers on the appearance
“of vigour which they had shewn :-—
and proffering their assistance and
“co-operation in every meritorious ef-
fort, that they might make for the
restoration of the honor of the na-
‘tion. It must however, have been
‘matter of satisfaction to them, to
“see, the government, though tar-
dily, ‘complete converts to that
system they had so long abused,
and vilified; the approximation,

GISTER, 1803.

with some few shades of difference,
of the remaining two great leading
parties of the country to their opi-
nions; and above all, that by a
steady adherence to their principles,
they should at last have the satisfae-
tion of establishing, such an union of
talents, political experience, and
property, as might prove the best,
perhaps the only defence, against
the despotic machinations of the
powerful and inveterate enemy to
the British name.

But, howéver praiseworthy the
moderation of the ‘‘ new opposi-
tion,” certain it is, from hencefor-
ward, in proportion as their popu-
larity and their credit with the peo-
ple imcreased, in that proportion
did Mr. Addington and his col-
leagues decline in public opinion ;

_ and it was evident to all, that the mo-
ment when a junction should be
formed between the three great par-
ties, who seemed, though in different
dearees adverse from their measures,
that, that moment would witness
their dismission or retreat from office,

CHAP,

HISTORY. OF EVROPE.

ia"
™

CHAP. VIII.

India Budget—Lord Castlereagh—Mr. Johnstone—Chancellor of the
Exchequer—Mr. W, Dundas.—Prince of Wales's Annuity Bill, passes
the House of Lords, without opposition.—Irish Militia Bill— Debate.»
Mr. Wickham—Elliot—Si 0

_ gerald.—Proceedings on the Nottingham Election Bill—bill brought
in to regulate them in future, by Mr. Hawkins Browne.—Supported by
Mr. Pierrepoint and Mr. Bond.—Petition against it, from the Mayor
and Corporation of Nottingham—Presented by Mr. Far.—Or dered to
lie on the Table-—Further Proceedings on the Irish Militia Bill —De-
bate.—Mr. Windham—Secretary at War—Sir W, Pulteney—Generak.
Tarleton—Sir [L.. Parsons—Mr. Wilberforce —Mr, Elliot.—Kesolutions

agreed to—and a Bill ordered pursuant thereta—Remarks,

N the 14th day of March, in

the house of commons,
Lord Castlereagh brought for-
_ward, the India budget, for the
years 1800-1, as the accounts
for the last year had not been yet
received. He stated, first, the re-
venues on the average of three years ;
next he compared the estimated and
the actual amount of the revenue of
the last year; and thirdly, the es-
: timated revenue for the succeeding
year. The revenues of Bengal, for
the year 1800-1, amounted to
6,650,000/. which exceeded, by
319,000/. the estimated revenue.
The charges also exceeded the esti-
mate, by 358,500/. The net re-
venue of Bengal was 1,877,QQ0/.
for that year. He estimated how-
ever the net revenue of the ensuing
year, at nearly 600,000/. higher.
The excess of the charges above the
estimate, was owing to the war, and
the Egyptian expedition ; ; as ta the
ladras revenues, notwithstanding

‘Vol. XLY,

that they had increased in that year
350,000/. above the estimate, yet
the charges had also increased be- .
yond the estimate, by near260,000/.
‘This was owing to this presidency
having borne the principal bur-
den of the Egyptian expedition.
After going through a very minute
detail of the affairs of the company,
he stated the following, as the lead-
ing heads. The army of India,
now Consists of 24,000 Europeans,
89,000 natives, and 10,000 lascars,
making altogether, an army of
124,000 men. ‘The debt of India
was 18 millions anda half, of which
near ten millions had been added,
within the last ten years ; but, on
the other hand, it must be recol-
lected, that those were years of
war, and that the Indian empire
had been doubled in extent; and
the means of the company every
way increased in proportion to its
debt. If peace continued, the
country would participate, nex

H year,

98

year, to the amount of half a mil-
lion, in the prosperity of the com-
pany ; but if war should again break
out, they must, for a time, forego
this advantage. He then moved a
variety of resoluticns, conformable
to the statements in the budget.

Mr. Johnstone thought, his lord-
ship was not justified, by any past
experience, in drawing such a flat-
tering view of the future prosperity
of the company: the fact was, that
hitherto, notwithstanding the fine
statements, annually made to par-
liament, the debts of the company
were annually i increasing ; there had
been no less than seven millions of
difference between the estimates and
the-results, for the last three years;
which prevented him trom giving
much credit to the calculations of
the noble lord for the future. He
then entered into a variety of cal-
culations, to prove, that the finan-
cial statements of his lordship were
much exaggerated. As to the ex-
tention of our territories in the East,
it was not only contrary, in point
of policy, to the opinions of every
man of abilities and superior judg-
ment, but contrary to a positive act
of parliament ; and they were ob-
tained by violations of national faith,
as disgraceful as any of the most
reprobated acts of the French go-
vernment. '

The chancellor of the exchequer
~ denied, that our conquests had been
made unjustly; as to the circum-
stance alluded to (the assumption
of the territories of Arcot) he hoped
that the house would not entertain
any prejudice, against some of the
most meritorious men the country
could boast; but allow them time
to explain and justify their conduct
in that affair.

ANNUAL REG

IST ER, 1803.

Mr. Francis, objected tothe state-
ments of the noble lord, as built up-
on estimates which might, or might
not, be made good, and pérhaps on
false documents. ‘Those estimates
were nothing but promises, held out
from year to year; and promises
which, hitherto, had always failed.

On the renewal of the charter, half —

a million annually was to be paid
to the public ; and yet the public
never yet had received more than
one year’s profit from this.
contended that the whole statement
of to-night, was fallacious,
not to be depended on; and that
the accounts were not fairly drawn.

Mr. W. Dundas, and Sir The-

ophilus Metcalfe, replied to the
arguments of Mr, Johnstone and —
Mr. Francis, and supported the ~

statement, made by the noble lord,
in the name of the East India com-
pany.
voted, and the report received.

On the 15th, the house of peers

resolved itself into a committee, on
the prince of Wales’s annuity bill.
The earl of Carlisle was still of
opinion, that this bill was inade-
quate to the object it professed ; but,
in the present circumstances, it was
perhaps better to be silent on that
subject. He did consider the pre-

sent times, extremely perilous ; for

though our soldiers and sailors were
brave, we had but a weak admini-
stration.
could not fairly be called into efiect,
when its rulers were incapable of
directing its energy. He said, that
to the present bill, he must give a
reluctant concurrence; but ex-
pressed a strong hope of a change

being made in the administration.
Lora Pelham, defended the con-
duct of ministers, who had not
sought

He

and —

The resolutions were then

The spirit of the country

|
|

HISTORY OF EUROPE

sducht their situations, but were
called to them by his majesty, on
the recommendation of him who
was at the head of the last admini-
nistration. Nor had they ever ex
erienced a want of confidence, on
the part of the nation. He was
glad, however, to learn, that this
supposed want of confidence, was
the only ground of his lordship’s
fears for the safety of the country.
The lord chancellor complained
of the irregular turn the debate had
taken. ‘The question was about the
prince’s annuity, and the arguments
about the general merits of the admi-
nistration! He confessed, that the si-

-tuation he held, had always been

his highest ambition; he knew
‘that he had done his duty, and
while he was sensible that he had
the approbation of his king and
country, he troubled himself but
little about the sentiments of his
Jordship.. The bill was read a se-
‘cond and a third time, without fur-
ther opposition, and finally passed,

On the same day, there was a

long conversation in the house of
commons, upon a resolution, mov-
ed in the committee, upon the Irish
amilitia bill.

Mr. Wickham proposed a reso-
dution, authorising the lords of the
‘treasury, in Ireland, to give boun-

ties, not exceeding four guineas a

‘man, to persons enrolling them-
selves in the militia of Ireland; at
present, they being only allowed ta
‘give two,

Mr. Elliot wished, that the mi-

litia, in Ireland, as yall as in Eng-

Jand, were raised in the constitu-
tional way of ballot, rather than
by bounties; as it must interfere
yery much with the recruiting for

99

the ‘regulars, to give men bounties
for staying at home,

Mr, Wickham replied, that in
Ireland, it had been Somes almost
impossible to enforce the system of
ballotting; it was therefore neces-
sary to have recourse to bounties,
otherwise there would be no militia
in Ireland.

The secretary at war (Mr. Yorke)
observed, that the hon. gentleman,
(Mr, Elliot) from the official situa~
tion he had held in Ireland, must
know, that bounties were the most
effectual means of raising a militia,
in that country, where they were
unaccustomed to the ballot. The
Irish militia had displayed great
spirit and energy, during the war,
and most of them made general of-
fers of service, for any part of the
gldbe; there should, therefore, be
no objection now to raise this force,
in the only manner that it could be
done.

Sir Lawrence Parsons took no-
tice of the difference of the consti-
tution of the army in England and
Ireland ; in the latter country,
where most of the recruits are of
the catholic persuasion, the ca-
tholics in the army, are allowed
the free exercise of their religion,
which is not the case in this coun- |
try. He had the hunor of being a
governor of a county in Ireland,
and, at a meeting of the deputy go-
yernors, it was unanimously agreed,
that recruiting by bounties, and
not by ballot, was the only effec-
tual mode, for that country.

Colonel Fitzgerald confirmed
the statement, that the system of
ballotting was not practicable in
Ireland, where the people are not
ysed to it; and that the price of the

H2 substitutes

100 ANNUALTREGIST ER,

substitutes, if that system were
adopted, would be much higher
than what, by the present bill,
was proposed to be given to re-
cruits.

Colonel Bagwell contended, that
the Ivish militia was highly servicea-
ble to the recruiting service ; and ex-
emplified his observation, by stat-
ing, that last war, when there was
a pressing necessity for a large body
of troops, the Irish militia colonels
became recruiting officers, and in
a few days procured 10,000 volun-
teers, for the expedition to Hol-
land; a similar levy was made tor
the expedition to Egypt.

After some farther conversation,
the bill was agreed to.

On March the 16th, Mr. H.
Browne, as chairman of the commit-
tee, upon the Nottingham election,
presented the report, which stated,
that the last election was void; that
John Allen, the returning officer for
Nottingham, had acted contrary
to his duty, in opening a poll, ata
time when there was no third can-
didate; that the freedom of election
had been grossly violated, by riots
and disturbances; and acts of per-
sonal intimidation and violence
practised, during the election; that
Daniel Parker Coke, esq. the peti-
tioner, was obliged to quit the
town, from a just apprehension of
hazard to his life ; and that a large
number of electors, in his interest,
were deterred from polling; that
John Davison, esq. the mayor, John
Allen, esq. the returning officer,
and the magistrates of the town of
Nottingham, took no steps at all,

~ to secure the freedom of election,
and the peace of the place; and that
it appeared to the committee, that
there was no chance of a free elec=

1805.

tion m Nottingham, unless the ma-
gistrates of the county had a con-
current jurisdiction with those of —
the town, to preserve the peace of
the place, during the election. He
therefore moved, that the farther —
consideration of the report should
be postponed, till the 20th of April;
at which time he intended to bring
ina bill, pursuant to the report.

On the speaker’s putting the
question, upon the first resolution,

Mr. Fox thought it would be too
precipitate for the house, to vote ©
such resolutions, merely upon their
being read to them by the clerk.
‘The committee might be in posses-
sion of good reasons for their reso-
lutions, but, he thought, it would —
be, perhaps, too much to say, that —
Nottingham should be without a —
representative in parliament, until —
the house should have time to de-
cide, upon what measures ought to —
be taken on the voluminous report, —
which was not to be presented for
their consideration, sooner than in
a month from this time! It would, —
perhaps, be keeping the town of ©
Nottingham, too long in a state of —
ferment.

After some farther conversation,
the motion of Mr. Browne was
agreed to; and the house came to
a resolution against issuing a new
writ for the town of Nottingham,
until the farther consideration of
the report.

Upon the day appointed for the
farther consideration of it, when
the different resolutions were agreed
to,

Mr. H. Browne moved for leave
to bring in a bill, to regulate the
elections at Nottingham. It had
appeared, by the report, that the
freedom of election had been grossly

violated ;

HISTORY

Yiolated ; fiot only’on the last elec-
tion, but on former occasions. The
eutrages, committed at the last,
were -of such peculiar atrocity, as
to call for a special report from the
committee. The object of this
bill, however, was neither to dis-
franchise, nor to punish; but to
preserve the peace of that town, in
future elections, by giving the ma-
gistrates of the county a concurrent
jurisdiction with those of the city of
Nottingham.

_ Mr. Pierrepoint stated, that he
was in the town of Nottingham,
during the election; and thought
the present bill absolutely neces-
sary ; it was impossible. to describe
the confusion and riot, which daily
interrupted the election; and which
‘was owing, in a great measure, to
the negligence of the magistrates.

Mr. Fox did not oppose the
bringing in the bill, but felt him-
‘self convinced, from the most at-
tentive examination of the minutes,
that Mr. Davison, the mayor, was
not guilty of negligence; he had
done eyery thing in his power to
preserve the peace, except calling
in the military, and surrounding the
booth, with armed men. This was
what, he believed, the magistrates
‘of the county would be as incapa-
ble of proposing, as those of the
town. He hoped this country
would never witness such an elec-
tion as had been described, by a
naval officer, (Sir Sidney Smith)
to have taken place, at Brussels, in
a hollow square, of the French
army. He did not deny, however,
that a remedy might be necessary,
and, as a remedial measure, he
‘Should not oppose it.
Mr. Bond stated, some shame-

ful outrages, which had come to

OFT EUROPE.

101

his knowledge; and, after some
conversation, leave was given to
bringin the bill; and it was order-
ed, that.a:new writ should not be
issued, sooner than three weeks.

Previously to the second reading
of the bill,

Mr. Fox presented a petition
against it, from the mayor and cor-
poration of Nottingham, who stat-
ed, that such a biJl would be a vir-
tual censure upon, and degradation
of, the corporation, without any
imputatien of delinquency: and a
violation, in the persons of the ma-
gistrates, of those rights and privi-
leges, which Nottingham had now
enjoyed for nearly 400 years. ‘This
petition was ordered to lie upon the
table, till the second reading of the
bill,

The next daya debate took place,
upon the report of the comnuittee,
upon the Irish militia bill,

Mr. Windham rose, to pxotest
against the mischief, with which it
appeased to him, that the present
measure was fraught: he avowed,
candidly, that he was not a friend
to the militia system: he had a sort
of prepossession for it in his early
years; but he had none at present.
He gave every credit to the patriot-
ism of the militia officers, and the
courage of the soldiers; but, from
want of experience in real danger,
he thought the militia would always
be inferior to troops of the line.
Even the bravery of the militia,
might operate as a mischief, when
not regulated by that prudence and
discretion, which is only to be got
by experience; he thought, it was
highly dangerous, to rely upon
them for the defence of the empire ;
and that they never could be equal
to regular troops, He said, the

HS constitutien

102

constitution of the militia was every
way bad. A militia colonel could not
be disposed to correct severely#men
tvhose votes he was soliciting for the
next election; besides the militia
was merely a defensive force; m
which respect, the regulars had a
great advantage over them, as being
equally calculated for defensive or
offensive -operations. Had we a
disposable force of twenty or thirty
thousand men, when Bonaparte
marched to Marengo, the most
vital part of his empire, would have
deen left exposed to invasion and
insurrection !

Mr. Wallace considered, the ho-
norable gentleman was not in order,
in pursuing such a line of reasoning
on the simple question, of what
bounties should be given to recruits
in the Irish militia ?

Mr. Windham resumed; _ he
thought when the question was
about a bounty, it was a thing to
be considered, whether the force
to be raised was worth that bounty,
6r not. As to the constitutional
question about standing armies, that
was now merged in the question,
how longare we to keep the coun-
try? Another argument in favor
of the regular troops was on the
ground of accuracy, ‘The bounties
given to militia men, prevented ma-
ny from entering into the regular
service; he thought it a very whim-
sical mode of reasoning, adopted
by gentlemen on the other side,
that because exertion was acknow-
ledged to be necessary, that there-
fore, Jt was unimportant to consider
how that exertion could best be
made. Tor his part, it was -hris de-
cided opinion, that it was to re-
gular troops, and not to militia,
that the defence of the empire

ANNUAL REGISTER,. 1863.

&

Ma bs

Te

should be intrusted at the presegt
¢risis.
The secretary at war, was astonish~ —
ed, that the right honorable gentle- —
man (Mr. Windham) had now
thought proper to complain of the
militia ; a force, which when he ~
himself was in office, he had increas= —
ed to a most unprecedented degree.
Not only the militia of England —
was very much increased under his —
administration, but the militia of
scotland, and he believed of Ireland —
too had been formed on the same
plan, and upon those occasions he
made no objection. As to the mix
litia, it must be allowed, that they
were not altogether equal to regular
troops, but they had rendered great
services; in 1780 they saved the
metropolis : in Ireland, the Irish
militia, in conjunction with the
yeomanry, saved that country to ©
the British crown. Upon the ex- —
pedition to Holland, a great part of ©
our force were volunteers from the
militia, and on every occasion, both
the English and the Irish militia men, —
had shewn every disposition, to meet
the enemies of the British empire.
Sir William Pulteney, was sur —
prised that Mr. Windham could —
think the militia. not to be depended ©
upon in case of invasion, when it —
was recollected how much they had ~
been employed, and how gloriously
they had done their duty: it could
not be forgottert that an American
militia, had, in defence of their —
homes, defeated the best British
troops of the line, who attacked
them as invaders ; and there would —
be little doubt, but that an English
or Irish militia, would act with ©
equal spirit against those who should —
invade their country. There was —
another powerful consideration in —
favor

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

favor of the militia force, namely,
that they were incomparably: less
expensive than regulars, and in the
present situation of the country, he
would recommend it to gentlemen,
not to despise economy.

General Tarleton, thought it im-
prudent to compare the merits of
the militia and troops of the line;
but of this he was sure, that there was

» no officer in the house who would
not prefer 15,000 militia to 10,000
troops of the line for any service ;
and such a body as 18,000 Irish

militia, must, with the 25,000 regu-
lar troops in that country, be a
powerful means of securing it from
the attempts of the enemy.

Sir Lawrence Parsons, said the
entire question at present was, whe-

‘ther when Ireland possessed ail the
materials of an army, it should or
should not be allowed to use them,
in the cnly manner that it was pos-

sible to apply them? The Irish
militia had, in the course of last
war, conducted itself uncommonly
well, not only in their own country,
but in volunteering their services
abroad, and in garrisoning the isle
of Guernsey.

Mr. Addington, in defending the
militia system from the objections
of Mr. Windham, took an opportu-
nity to compliment Colonel Vere-
ker, (who was then sitting in the
house dressed in his militia uni-
form): that honourable gentleman
had, at the head ofa small corps,
on that establishment, checked and
defeated French troops in Ireland,
when in the full career of their
success,

Mr, Wilberforce strongly sup-
ported the motion: he said, ifany
political principle was more strongly
mpressed on his mind than arether,

103

it was his attachment to the consti-
tutional defence of a militia. It
was a force, which none but a free
country could enjoy ; -while a
standing army was a sort of force,
to which every one must look with
constitutional jealousy. He thought
it likely, that it was from his love
of expeditions, that, that right ho-
norable gentleman (Mr. Windham)
was so attached to standing armies,
and so averse from militia.

Mr. Elliot, approved of the prin-
ciple of the militia system, and
wished that a militia should always
be kept up, but on a very reduced
scale; he considered that the mili-
tia principle was abandoned in the
present bill, as it went to raise a
force by bounties, instead of by
ballot; in the place of a militia
force, he would consider this as a
fencible force of the worst species,
which was not to serve out of IJre-
land. The Irish militia had been
completely disbanded, and the sys-
tem dissolved at the conclusion of
the last war ; the question now was,
whether it should be revived, in a
manner the most likely to impede
the general recruiting service? He
thought, a board of French general
officers, could not contrive a mea-
sure, more likely to sap the military
strength of the empire, than what
was contained in the resolution now
before the house !

Lord Castlereagh, Mr. Hiley
Addington, and Mr. Dawson sup-
ported it: the resolution was then
agreed to, and abill ordered pur-
suant thereto.

This dereliction of the only mode
of raising a militia force known to
the law and the constitution, was a
sufficient, but melancholy proof, that
the contidence, so often and so

H 4 recently

104

recently expressed by ministers, in
the peaceable disposition, and at-
tachment to the government, of the
bulk of the people in Iveland; was
either not believed by themselves,
or that they acted under the in-
fluence of the grossest deception,
To all thinking minds, this aban-
donment, both in letter and spirit,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

'
of the law, by which this consti
tutional force had hitherto been
raised, and the substitution of an
army of mercenaries, (from the
impossibility of enforcing the origi-
nal actin Ireland) was a source of

the most serious and well founded
alarm.

CHAP,

—*:

:
|

s

PHISTORY! OF EUROPE.

CHAP.

105

IX,

Debate in the House of Lords, on the Earl of Carlisle's motion for naval
énquiry.—In the Commons on the militia officers’ bili—and on India
affairs.—King’s message, to reward Sir James Saumarez.—Lord Lilen-
borough's chalking bill—Debate on the punishment of Trotter for con-
tempt of the orders of the House.—Gencral Gascoyne moves for a bill, to
equalize the measure of foreign salt.—Proceedings on the clergy residence
bill.— Debate on the Pancras work-house—and on the coroners’ bill.—

Grenada loan bill.—Easter recess.

#N the house of lords, on the
eighteenth day of March, the
earl of Carlisle, called their lord-
ships’ attention, to a motion he
should have made had he seen mi-
nisters in their places ; the motion
which he had intended to make,
respected the artificers in the dock
yards ; and at which he particularly
Wished the noble earl at the head
of the admiralty to be present.
He came down as an independent
peer of parliament, unconnected
with parties, and perfectly unbiass-
ed; he was happily,
“ Unplac’d, unpension’d, no man's heir
or slave ;”
He was unsolicitous whom his pub-
lic language or his conduct might
offend: he declared his intention to
bring forward his proposed motion
early in the next week, if he should
then see ministers in their places.
_ The lord chancellor said, that as
to the motion of the noble earl, he
could say nothing, because he
knew nothing of its object ; but as
to his other observations, he must
say, that although he was convinced
that the parliamentary conduct of

the noble earl, would always be
guided by fair and honorable
motives; yet he should recollect
that others had feelings as well as
himself, and felt wounded at un-
favourable imputations thrown out
against them. Ife was convinced,
that those with whom he acted, had
the confidence of the country, as
expressed by its constitutional or-
gan, the parliament.

After some mutual explanations
between the earl of Carlisle and the
chancellor, the conversation drop-
ped.-

On the same day there was a
debate in the house of commons,
upon the second reading of the
militia officers’ completion bill.

Lord Folkstone, considered this
bill would be the death blow of the
militia, The constitutional prin-
ciple of the militia, rested almost
entirely on its being officered by
men of property; and therefore
highly disapproved of giving com-
missions in the militia to unquali-
fied persons, He thought the half-
pay officers, ought to get commis-
sions in the line.

The

io6 ANNUAL REGISTER, 18038.

The secretary at war, expressed
his astonishment, at his lordship’s
apprehensions ; as the present bill
was copied, almost verbatim, from
the act of the last session.

. Mr. Sheridan strongly supported
the bill. He had been always a
friend to the militia system, and
was a little surprised at the singular
discovery lately made, that it was
not constitutional. He lamented
any innovations made on the sys~
tem ; he was sorry to see exccllent
militia regiments, broken up, for

the purpose of reinforcing the troops °

of the line; and the militia colo-
nels converted merely into drill
serjeants. The noble lord had said,
that if persons unqualified, should
receive commissions, those who
were qualified, should resign theirs.
This was a most extraordinary sen-
timent, and delivered at an extra-
ordinary time! This bill, only gave
the lord lieutenant the power, of
fillmg up the vacancies in the
militia, from officers of another
description, in case that a sufficient
number of qualified persons were
not to be found. What else could
be done? If the country gentle-
men of England, should ever pre-
fer their horses and their hounds ;
their country sports and their
horse-racing, to the defence of
their country; was the militia on
that account, to be laid aside, or
remain unofticered ? He concluded,
by expressing his wish, to see the
militia system restored to its origi-
nal principle; but conceived the
present was rather a time for
prompt decision, and vigorous ac-
tion, than for speculative discussion,
and cavilling deliberation,

The billwas then readasecond time;
on the question of its gommittal,

Lord Folkstone thought, that
when Mr. Sheridan had spoken of
the backwardness of the young no-
bility and gentry of the country, hg
had alluded to him. He assured
him, that he had already applied
for a commission inthe militia, but
had not, hitherto, been fortunate
enough to obtain it.

Mr. Sheridan declared, that when
he spoke of the gentry of England
at large, he by no means intended
to allude particularly to his lord-
ship; but he was very glad to heat
from his lordship, that he had ap-
plied for a commission ; as in tha
case, his example might do more
good, than his speech could do
mischief.

After a few more explanations,
the bill was ordered to be com
mitted.

The earl of Carlisle made hig
promised motion, on the 21st.
After several previous observations,
on the character of the present ad
ministration, which he conceived
to be weak, fluctuating, and irreso-
lute ; and which had given orders to
arm and disarm, without alleging
any reasons for its conduct; con-
cluded by moving, that ‘ the pro»
per officers should lay before the
house, a monthly return of the
number of artificers employed in
his majesty’s dock-yards, from the
Ist of May 1802, down to the pre-
sent time.”

Lord Hobart thought, the houst
ought not to agree to such a motion,
without having adequate grounds
assigned for its adoption. As ‘to
the character of the present ad-
ministration, they rested it upon
their public conduct, and thought
the approbation and support they
met from parliament,was asuflicient

answer

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

answer tu the opinion delivered

by his lordship.

After an explanation from earl
Carlisle, the chancellor proceeded
to put the question.

Lord Grenville then rose, and

although he approved of the prin-
ciple of the motion, requested that
his noble friend would withdraw it,
as the present was nota time to
throw any embarrassment in the way
of Government. He did not think
the conduct of the present Govern-
‘ment, wassuch as to inspire any
confidence; to appearance, at least,
their measures denoted weakness
and irresolution: perhaps, how-
ever, at a future time, they might
be able to explain all those ap-
parent inconsistencies; at present,
as they had given no manner of in-
formation, the house was not in a
situation to judge; but, as they
had been sufiered to go onso far in
their own way, he thought this
avould not be a proper time to stop
them. .
Lord Pelham, defended the con-
duct of administration, which, he
thought, fully possessed the confi-
dence of parliament, and the coun-
try.

The earl of Carlisle, in conse-
quence of the suggestion of lord
Grenville, proposed to withdraw his
motion.

Lord Grenville denied, that
ministers could fairly say, they had
the confidence of parliament, unless
they laid such information before
parliament, as would enable it to
form a correct judgment.

The lord chancellor concluded
the conyersation, by a defence of
the conduct of ministers; who, he
said, were only silent on points,
that thar duty to their king and

10%

country, required that they should,
be silent upon.

The motion of the earl of Carlisle
was then withdrawn.

On the same day, in the hous¢
of commons, after lord Castlereagh’s
resolutions, respecting the revenue
of India, had been agreed to,

Mr. Francis rose, for information ;
he disclaimed having intended to ap-
ply falsehood or fabricaton personal-
ly to any of the directors: but, he
must still consider the accounts
presented to the house, false in
their balances and results. The
most important point on which he
wished to be informed, was, whe+
ther the public-had at all guaran-
teed the capital of the company,
as they had the imperial loan ?

Sir TheophilusMetcalfe defended
the accounts, and the characters of
the East india directors, who had
presented them. He said, the
guarantee, as it was called, was not
a government guarantec, but a gua-
rantee, regulated by the act of the
31st cf the king.

Mr. Johnstone, also found fault
with the accounts, both for the
present and the former years.

Mr. W. Dundas and Mr. Wallace
defended them.

The following day, in the house
of commons, there was some far-
ther conversation, about the mili-
tia officers’ bill.

Mr. Bastard, Mr. Lascelles, and
colonel Mitford, seemed to disap<
prove of the clause, allowing the lord
lieutenant to give Commissions to cei
tain officers, without qualifications.

Sir W. Geary said, that par-
liament had proceeded, ‘step by
step, to destroy the nature of this
constitutional body ; he thought the
present was the last step.

Mr.

1S ANNUAL REGISTER,

‘Mr. Bastard thought, the last
parliament had disgraced the ‘cha-
racter of the militia, by their inno-
vations, on the original principles
of the establishment: he conceived
that it was this conduct, which had
produced the many resignations,
of which ministers complained.

The chancellor of the exchequer
contended, that the militia had not
been ill treated by the former mi-
nisters 3 nor had they been insulted,
or degraded by the last parliament.
Who was it that conquered in
Egypt? The militia—Who was it
that fought jacobinism and treason
in Ireland? The militia.—He felt
so proud of the conduct of the mi-
litia, last war, that he could not
bear to hear it said, that the militia
had been degraded.

Lord Folkstone insisted, that
they had been degraded, and their
officers much disgusted, by having
their men taken from them.

General Tarleton thought, that
the officers fgom the line, which the
present bill alluded to, might well

associate with any description of

men in the country; he did not
know whether the noble lord meant,
that they were unfit company for
the landed interest, or the landed
interest for them?

The resolutions were then agreed
to, in the committee; but, upon
the report being brought up, the
next day,

Mr. Windham said, he should
certainly rather see the militia ofti-
cered, by officers from the line, than
not ofiicered at all; and, on that
consideration only, he should vote
fora nasure,. which appeared to
him subversive of the fundamental
principles of the-militia system. In-
deed he thought it ludicrous, to give

1803.

the term. Militia, to a force like
this, composed of officers without
qualification, and men without bal-
lot. For his part, instead, of wish=
ing to assimilate the militia to the
army, he would much rather as-
similate the army to the. militias
He wished, that drafting from the
militia, should be entirely abolish-
ed; -and that soldiers should be
raised for the regular army, only
for a'term of years. He thought,
the effect of the present bill, would
be this: that it would rob the re-
gular army of officers, by intros
ducing them into the militia; and
as for soldiers, it was pretty well
robbed already. If he then voted
for the present bill, it was merely
for want of a better.

The secretary at war said, that
in order, as much as possible, to
reconcile the measure to the feel-
ings of the gentlemen, who opposed
it, he should imtroduee a clause,
by which it should be declared,
that the power of the lord lieute-
nant, might not go farther, than
to introduce, unqualified officers,
as high as the rank of captain.

Lord Stanley, suggested the pro-
priety of admiting, Roman Catho-
lics, who should be qualified as of-
ficers of the militia.

The amendments were then
agreed to, and, a few days after,
the bill was read a third time, with
out any farther opposition.

On the 24th of March, the ehan-
cellor of the exchequer, brought
down a message from his majesty,
which, in consequence of the emi-
nent services, performed on various
occasions, by Sir James Saumarez,
and particulaily by his spirited and
successiul attack, upon a superior
fleet of French and Spanish ships,

mn

MISTIORY: OF EUROPE

in the straits of Gibraltar, on the
12th of July, 1801; recommended
the grant of an annuity of 1200/.
to Sir James Saumarez, for the
term of his natural life.

When this message was taken
into consideration, the next day,

The chancellor of the exchequer,
recounted his former services under
lords Rodney, St. Vincent, and
Nelson; but particularly dwelt on
the last gallant action, when he had
acted as commander in chief. Af-
ter a complimentary speech, he
concluded, by moving a resolution,
agreeably to the recommendation of
his majesty, which was unanimous-
ly agreed to.

On the 28th, lord Ellenborough
brought forward, in the house of
lords, the bill, now known by the
name of Lord Ellenborough’s Act,
for making the maiming, w ounding,
and disfiguring, any of his majes-
ty’s subjects, a capital felony. In
consequence of the Irish Chalking
Bill, which was soon to come again
before their lordships’ consideration,
he had turned his attention to the
subject, and, in this instance, would
wish to assimilate the LEnglish cri-
minal law, to that of Ireland. By
the Coventry Act, “a lying in wait”
must be proved; and, at present,
an assault, with intent to murder,
was, by the law, only a misde-
meanor, although an assault, with
an intent to rob, was a felony! He
then stated, some of the provisions
of his bill, respecting child-murder ;
and the wdudinistering medicines to
procure abortion. He should also
propose, to make it a capital of-
fence, for a man to burn his own
house, for the purpose of defraud-
ing the underwiiters.

Lord Auckland highly approyed

109

of the bill, which was then read 2
first time.

On the same day, in the house
of commons, a very long debate
took place, on the punishment
which ought to be inflicted, on
James Trotter, who had been com-
mitted, for not attending a com-
mittee of the house of commons,
to give his evidence respecting the
Dumferline election.

James Trotter, having surren-
dered himself, and presented the
usual petition, expressing his sor-
row for having offended against the
privileges of “the house, was brought
to the bar; and being asked, had
he any thing to say in his defence?
said, ‘* that he was absent from
home, for ten days, after the first
summons was sent him; and that
his family did not send the second
after him.” He then expressed
contrition, and asked pardon.

Lord Euston moved, that he
should be reprimanded, and then

discharged.
Mr. Tierney, considered this
punishment, as altogether insuf-

ficient: he considered that thecrime
of staying away, from giving his
evidence when required, was full as
bad as prevarication, if he had at-
tended; he could by no means be-
lieve, that the prisoner could have
remained so long ignorant of asum-=-
mons, from such high authority,
as the speaker of the house of com-
mons, which was a thing that must
have been spoken of, as a circum-
stance rather unusual in the neigh-
bourhood. It was much more
likely, that he was absent from his
house on purpose, to avoid being
obliged to answer some questions
he might be asked, about bribing a
vote, at Queen’s Ferry.’ He hones

that

116 ANNUAL REGISTER,

that he ought to be committed to
Newgate: he should, therefore,
‘move two resolutions; the first, de-
claring the sense the house enter-
tained of his conduct; and he should
follow that up, by a motion, for
committing him to Newgate.

Mr. Sheridan also thought, an
exemplary punishment should be
inflicted upon him; he, himself,
had confessed, that between the
times of the service of the first and
second warrants, he had returned
to his family; and yet, he had paid
no attention to the warrant he had
seen.

The lord advocate of Scotland,
was against a severe punishment,
on the ground, that there was no
wilful contempt ; but, that the
prisoner might have really thought,
the first order need not be obeyed,
as he did not receive it till after
the day, on which it specified, that
‘he ought to attend: he thought his
confinement, his being brought up
here, near 400 miles, and his eX-
pressions of sorrow, should weigh
with the house, against inflicting a
severe punishment.

Mr. W. Dundas and Lord Dunlo
thought, that under all the cireum-
stances, of what he had already
suffered, and his situation in life,
he might now be reprimanded and
discharged.

Mr. Fox strongly contended,
that an exemplary punishment
ought now to be inflicted. As to
perjury, it was a crime, to which
the laws had affixed, an adequate
punishment ;_ but
disobeying the speaker’s warrant,
and absenting himself from giving
evidence, if not punished by that
house, could not elewhere be pu-
‘nished. The only defence attempt-

the crime of

1805.

ed was, telling the house, that if
he had been aware of the dangers
of disobedience, he would have
obeyed their warrant! This was a
very curious sort of defence, and,
as he thought, ought not to be
listened to, by that house. He.
therefore agreed with the ideas,
that had been thrown out by Mr,
Tierney.

After some observations, from
the chancellor of the exchequer,
and other members, such minutes of
the evidence before the committee,
as related to James Trotter, were
ordered. ‘

On a subsequent day, the minutes
being read, after a long discussion,
the house resolved on committing
the said James Trotter to Newgate.

After this discussion, Gen. Gas-
coigne, stating the disadvantages
sustained by Liverpool, from the high
duties on their salt, over that of
foreign salt, imported into Ireland,
moved, that “leave be given, to
bring ina bill, to equalize by weight,
the bushel, of all salt imported to
that part of the united kingdom,
called Ireland.”

Mr. Corry stated, the absolute
necessity of importing foreign salt
into Ireland, for the provision trade ;
which, he said, would otherwise be
destroyed; and, on that account,
moved the order of the day,

After some conversation, Gene-
ral Gascoigne, finding the sense of
the house to be against him, with-
drew his motion.

The clergy non-residence bill was
read a third time, in the house of
commons, and passed without any
serious opposition.

On the 30th of March, upon the
question being put, for the second

reading of it, in the house of lords,
Lord

HISTORY!) OF SEUROPE.

ord Auckland felt great doubts
en which side heshould vote ; he saw
great danger in allowing the sus-
pension suddenly to drop $ ; but he
thought it would be much better to
ghorten the period of the suspension
demanded.

The bishop of St. Asaph, wished
the bill to go into a committee;
although he thought it might be

- hecessary to propose many amend-
y to prop

ments there, before it would be a
fit bill for their lordships to pass;
he wished the bill to be of a shorter
duration; and expressed his fears,
that the vicar or the rector often
took the curate along with him, to
énjoy the sports of the field, and
left their parishes without any
minister.

The lord chancellor defended the
bill, and instanced the case of the
rector of Bow church, whoalthough
he discharged most punctually the
duties of his office, was obliged to pay
nine several penalties for non-resi-
dence, although there was no parson-
age house in the parish! On the
other hand, there were clergymen
who held great livings, that seldom
or neverresidedon them. He feared
that the operation of this bill, might
in some degree tend to injure ma-
terially, several most deserving cu-
rates, who were now employed by
non-residing rectors. He warmly
defended the conduct of his brother,
«Sir William Scott) in bringing in
this bill.

The bill was committed for the
next day ; when the bishop of St.

_ Asaph again rose and declared him-

self generally averse from bills of
Suspension; which were contrary
to the principles of an enlightened
legislature : he wished that some
permanent system should be at

111

once adopted : he had heard much
of the hardship of men of-great
talents, buried in an obscure vica-
rage, and being obliged to throw
away the pearls of their eloquence
and erudition, to a swinish pea-
santry; he thought, those who
were not above accepting livings
among the peasantry, should not be
above instructing them: he there-
fore moved that the suspension
should be continued to the 13th of
May, instead of the 8th of July.

The lord chancellor admitted,
that bills of suspension were to be
avoided, except in cases of great
necessity ; he thought there was a
greater chance, that a general mea-
sure of that sort, desired by the
reverend bishop, would be brought
forward before the eighth of July,
than before the thirteenth of May:
he therefore npptscd the amend-
ment.

The bishop of Diachane: wished te
extend the duration of the bill te
the 8th of July; he bestowed the
utmost praise on the learning and
abilities of the honorable gentle-
man, (Sir William Scott) who had
brought in this bill, and he thought
the measure ought, as much as pos-
sible, to be left in his hands.

Lord Alvanley, was also against
the amendment ; in the hopes, that
before the expiration of the time
mentioned, some general system
might be introduced in a bill, in-
stead of the statute of Henry VIII,
which was now in force.

Lord Auckland wished, that a
general provision should be made,
to regulate the subject: he thought
if their lordships would but attend
their duty in that house regularly,
they might originate and frame a
bill for the purpose, which woultl

probably

12° ANNUAL -REGISTER,

probably be received by the other
house.

Lord Ellenborough, spoke very
eloquently on the necessity of the
clergy residing on their benefices ;
he said, this was the foundation of
the moral strength of the country ;
which even more than its military
strength, ought to be cultivated
and cherished. Highly as he re-
spected the learning of the univer-
sities, and the science and litera-
ture, that were taught there ; still,
he considered the parochial in-
struction of the clersy, of greater
national importance. He should
prefer punishing non-residence in
the clergy by indictment as a mis-
demeanor, rather than by civil pro-
cess or specific penalty. He said,
he should not support any future
bills of suspension on this subject.

The bishop of St. Asaph, after
hearing the lord chancellor, lord
Ellenborough, and lord <Alvanley,
agree in disapproving of any more
suspension bills on this subject ;
and wishing for a general plan to
regulate the : residence ofthe clergy;
said, under those circumstances, he
should withdraw his amendment,
and agree to the original motion.

The bill then went through the
committee, but, upon the report
being brought up on the following
day,

The earl of Carlisle said, that he
could by no means agree with those
noble lords, who yesterday declar-
ed they should vote for no more
suspension bills. This bill was
brought forward for the purpose of
saving from prosecutions, a number
of innocent clergy; and he could
not consent, to expose them again
to similar prosecutions ; even al-
though a, general plan were not

1803.

agreed to before the 8th of July:
he doubted, whether it could be
done within that time. As to his
majesty’s ministers, he thought
they could not well bring in sueh a
measure without doing what was
formerly in agitation, namely, as-
signing a provision out of the public
purse, to the inferior orders of the
clergy.

Lord Arden and lord Auekland,
both agreed in the propriety of this
general measure, which was so
much wished for, originating rather
in the house where the prelates sat,
than in the other house of parlia-
ment; they expressed a wish, that
lord Ellenborough, whose speech
the day before, had made so pow-
erful an impression, would take up
the business.

Lord Ellenborough ‘said, that
from his other avocations and of
ficial duties, he could not pledge
himself to give the necessary atten-
tion to the s subject.

Lord Alvanley said, the vine
doubt he had, of the propriety of
the measure originating in that
house, was, that perhaps, it might
be deemed right to make a provi+
sion for the inferior clergy, out of
the public purse.

The report was then agreed to
by their lordships.

The militia officers bill was read
a second time in the house of lords,
on the 3lst of March, and was
committed on the 4th of April.
On both these days it produced dis-
cussions of considerable length.
On the question for the second
reading,

Lord Caernarvon, stroiely ob-
jected to that part of the bill, which -
took away the landed qualifications,
before necessary. ‘This dangerous

experiment

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

‘experiment was now to be made,

on an alarm, that ministers -have
excited, to which, even the con-
stitution of the country is obliged
to give way. If the militia officers

‘were to be disgusted, there was an

end of all the services, which were
to be expected from the institution,

Lord Cawdor also, disapproved

of the clause, and expressed a fear,
that it was the intention of govern-
ment now, as during the last war,
to draught the men from the mili-

tia, into other services.

_ The bill was then ordered to be
committed; but, on the day ap-
pointed for the committal of it,

Lord Romney rose, and _profes-

sed himself to have been always, a

warm friend to tue militia system ;

the principles of which, he was sorry

to see, constantly departed from ;
he considered, that the clause

which dispensed with the landed

qualifications, would drive many

1}3>

sought the destruction of the mili-
tia, because it was a constitutional
defence, and not servilely in their
power. As this clause dispensed
with qualifications in officers, it
left nothing but a force, unequally
raised by ballot, or by rate, which
fell exclusively on the landed inte-
rest. He did not like the princi-
ple, of introducing into this coun-
try, the Irish militia, who are now
to be raised by bounties, and com-
manded by officers, not possessing
qualifications.

The duke of Cumberland sup-
ported the bill; which, he thought,
likely to give efficiency to the mili-
tia, without disturbing its consti+
tutional principles. As for the
draughting men out of the militia,
for foreign service,that was only done
in acase of extreme urgency, in
the last war ; and it was not likely
to happen again.

The earl of Westmoreland, de-

qualified officers out of the militia,_ fended the bill; and saw no more
He thought the militia laws had

been changing, from bad to worse,
€very year; and he thought it
would be better, to give up the

system altogether, than continue

it on its present footing. It would
be better, that the nobility and
fentry, should raise regiments, at
their own expence, to reinforce the
regular troops.

_. The marquis Townshend, de-

fended the bill; which then went
into a committee.

When the clause was read, al-
lowing the lord lieutenants and de-
puty lieutenants, to recommend in
certain cases, the appointment of
Unqualified officers,

The earl of Carnarvon, strongly
objected to the clause, as subver-
sive of the militia system: he
Wiought, that ministers had always

Vol, XLY, oh

reason, why there should not be an
interchange of militia, between
England and Ireland, than between
England and Scotland.

Lords Limerick, Radnor, Bol-
ton, and Pelham, also defended
the bill, upon general grounds.

The marquis of Sligo, bore tes-
timony to the generous spirit of the
nobility and gentry, commanding
the Irish militia. They did not
wish to stay at home, at their fire-
sides, until they were themselves
invaded; but were always ready to
stand, or fall with the empire ; and
volunteer, where ever their seryices
were most necessary.

The bill was then carried through
the committee; and, in a few days
after, read a third time, and passed,
without any farther serious objec-
tion, or Paperiane Opposition.

On

114 ANNUAL REGISTER,

On the 4th of April, there oc-
curred 4 debate, in the house of
commons, upon a petition against
a bill, fot erecting a work- house,
"in the parish of St. “Pancras.

Sir Francis Burdett, presented a
petition, against the same, from
above 1400 parishioners ; who com-
plained of it, as subverting the an-
cient mode of supporting and regu-
lating the poor; and placing the
government of them, in the hands of
a select number of the parishioners,
under the name of “ guardians
of the poor of the parish:” the
petitioners begged to be heard, by
their counsel, against the passing
‘the said’ bill. Sir Francis therefore
concluded, by moving, that ‘ the
petitioners should be heard, by their
counsel.”

Mr. Byng, opposed the prayer of
the petition, on the ground, that
the great majority of the people of
“property and respectability, in the
parish, were for the bill.

‘Mr. Hurst said, there never was
an instance of a number of men,
being deprived of their franchises,
without some alleged misdemeanor 5
or at least, without being heard in
their defence.

Mr. Courtenay, was for the pe-
tition. “No evidence had been ad-
duced for the bill, because there
was none.. He considered the bill,
as roing to invest the entire govern-
ment of the poor of the parish, ina
directory, most jacobinically elect-
ed by themselves, and neither ac-
countable to the vestry, or to any
one else.

Mr. Sheridan said, the question

was not, whether the bill was a
good bill, or a bad one; but whe-
ther the petitioners should be heard
by their counsel? This bill, in its pre-
sent shape, was so different from the

1803.

original bill, that he thought they
had a right to be heard. The pre-
sent bill had some strange clauses 5)
one was, to prevent disputes, be-
tween the guardians; and the re=
medy was somewhat Hibernian ;
namely, to remove them all in such
cases! One clause, was to prevent’
profaneness, swearing, and lewd
conduct, by punishing such of-
fenders, both in diet and dress;
which he supposed meant, stripping’
and starving! Another clause was,”
to make it a capital offence to carry”
off from the workhouse, any artiele
furnished there ; so, that if a poor
girl got a pair of shoes, and wen)
away with them, she was to be
indicted! Another clause was, to’
empower those guardians, to hire®
out children, in harvest or hays
making time! This put him in mind’
of dean Swift’s suggestion, to the
poor of Ireland, that ‘ they might’
fatten their children, and eat them.”
He hoped the justice of the house,’
would not suffer the petitioners to-
go away unheard.

Mr. Fox, in reply to Mr. Byngi!
said, that if the majority of the’
parisli, were for the bill, they might”
be entrusted to chuse those guar-
dians of the poor they called for;
and there was no necessity for their
being appointed by the legislature.
The fact was, that, at first, there
was an agreement between the two
parties, that each should ‘chusé
thirty; but, because the majority
chose gentlemen of fortune, the
party suggesting the bill, broke!
through the agreement, and ‘brought
in the’ present. bill, for the purpose’
of appointing, to ‘the same offices
tradesmen in a very inferior situation
in life.

Sir W. Pulteney said, the framers”
of the bill, had acted in opposition —

"aa Fg

|

|
|

complaint ;

HISTORY O

_ to the vote of the vestry, upon the
Subject.

After some farther observations,
the house divided; when the num-
bers were, 58 for the petition, and
124 against it. The question upon
the third reading of the bill produced
Some farther discussion, but it was
at length agreed to, and the bill was
__ passed and ordered to the lords.

On the next day there was an
animated discussion, and division
fn the house of commons, on the
Second reading of the coroner’s bill,
Which had been introduced by Mr.
Byng.

’ Mr. Hobhouse opposed the bill,
which had been in fact rejected by
the last parliament: a great majo-
Tity of the coroners, had made no
that the price of provi-
sions and the expences of living,
had much increased, were well
known facts: but there existed,
however, many other places, of
which the salariés’ had continuéd
the same, for a long’ time ‘back.
Upon the same principle, an appli-
Cation might be made, to increase
generally’ all salaries. -If this office
of coroner was so ill rewarded, how
came it, that it was so mach soli-
‘cited, and that most of the coroners
‘could afford to keep deputies? |
' -Mr. Shaw’ Lefevre, agreed in
opinion with Mr. Hobhouse; he
believed the emoluments of their
offices were considerable; he re-
collected an instance of a shipwreck
onthe coast near where he lived,
where flocks of coroners came down
from all the neighbouring districts ;
4nd fastened, like birds of prey,

onthe drowned mariners, in order

to hold inquests, atid charge the dis-
trict with their fees! He knew
‘the office, was so desirable to many

F EUROPE. 115

persons, that considerable sums
were spent to obtain it.

Mr. Sheridan, by the description
of the last speaker, thought instead
of flights of coroners, it was flights
of cormorants who came to the
shipwreck. He supported the bil),
as thinking the coroners’ pay at
present insufficient. On a division,
the second reading of the bill was
carried by a majority of 12.

On the 6th day of April, Sit
William Scott moved for leave to
bring in a bill ‘‘for amending the
provision in the act of Henry VIIL
relative to spiritual men holding
farms, and residing upon their be-
nefices.” The act which was now
to be amended, had been made be-
fore the reformation, when the na-
tion was justly indignant at the cor-
ruptions, and usurpations of the
clérgy, who ‘were then catholics.
Several penalties were, by that act,
to be inflicted on those clergymen
holding farms, or absenting them-
selves from their benefices. Those
penalties, however, had slept for a
long time; till about five > years ago,
they were called into activity, by a
general attack on the clergy, on the
part of common informers. A
number of cases occurred where the
non-residence of the rector, was by
no means criminal ; and yet it sub-
jected him to the penalty, The
last patliament found it necessary,
to re-consider this subject; which
lord Coke said, ought to-have been
done in his time, 70 years ago)
the bill, that he should now pro-
pose, was, in substance, the same
as he had presented last year; but
which he had withdrawn, on ac-
count of the quantity of business
then before the house. He took
occasion to throw out an opinion,

I 2 that

116 ANNUAL REGISTER,

that some provision should be made,
for building parsonage houses in
small livings ; and giving some as-
sistance to the curates, who might
be dismissed by the operation of
the present bill: . and he would
wish to follow it up with some mea-
sure of that sort; but he had not
introduced it in that now before
the house.

Leave was then given, to bring
in the bill. The next day the re-
port on the Grenada loan bill, was
taken into consideration.

Mr. Wilberforce considered it
impolitic, to continue this measure
at the present juncture. When
first this measure was brought be-
fore parliament, they were told,
that the money would soon be re-
‘paid; but instead of that, frequent
applications had since been made
to parliament, for farther loans!
Although he was no enemy to the
West Indian interests, yet he did
not like to see large suins of money,
which could be better employed at
home, sent over, to what he con-
ceived, the most vulnerable part of
eurempire. He thought the same
money employed in our own coun-
try, would be laid out, both on bet-
ter security, and more to the public
advantage.

The chancellor of the exchequer
said, the honourable member had
not sufficiently taken into conside-
ration, the peculiar embarassments
of Grenada, and St. Vincents, in
the year 1795: he had not suffici-
ently weighed the advantages of the
West India trade: nor did he seem
to have recollected, that every
hogshead of sugar, or puncheon of
Tum, was paid for by British manu-
facture: he could assure the honor-

18038.

able member, that governmenf.

had taken great pains, to be. satis=

fied, that the persons who received

this loan, were sufficient securities -
for the re-payment of it; they

could not however, fulfil their en-

gagements in the present year,

without the most serious inconyeni-

ence ; and their present application

was not for farther aid, but for far- —
ther time to make good their in-

stalment, in the re-payment of what

had been already borrowed. This

was an indulgence, they were enti-

tled to, from the liberality of the
house.

Sir Robert Peele was friendly to
the measure, and approved of the
principle upon which the loan was -
first made; it was demanded by
the West India gentlemen, to ena-
ble them to defend their property,
at a time, that it was perhaps very
doubtful, whether government
could have done it or not. He
thought the claim of the gentlemen,
extremely moderate and reasona-
ble ; and that perhaps they might
with justice have demanded, not
merely a loan, but an indemnity
for losses, occasioned by the inade-
quate protection their property had
received. Astothe objection, that
property in the West Indies was ra-
ther of a precarious nature, he
thought that was rather a reason,
why it should be assisted in time of
need, by the powerful arm of the
government.

Dr. Lawrence thought, that there
had been no impropriety in origi-
nally granting the loan; and it ap-
peared to him, that the same rea-
sons required its continuance. He
feared the islands would be in a
dreadful state of confusion and

misery,

misery, if by withdrawing from
_ them the support of government,
| the blacks (whose sanguinary tem-

per was well known) should be left
idle and unemployed.

Mr. Johnstone and general Gas-
aeygne also supported the bill. The

eri
i
t

2

~

HISTORY OF EUROPE. 117

report was then agreed to, and the
bill ordered to be read a third time,
on the 19th of April,

The house, then adjourned from
the 7th to the 19th of April, for
the Easter recess,

13

118 ANNUAL REGISTER, 180%

CHAP. X.

Proceedings in Parliament, after the Easter Recess.—Committee of the
House of Commons, on the giving Facilities to mercantile Transactions.
—Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Plan, jor the Consolidation of the Duties.
Proceedings on the Report of the Ilchester Election Committee—And on
the Coroners’ Bill—Lost.—Lord Folkstone moves for Papers, respecting,
the Cape of Good Hope—Kefused —Debate in the Lords, on the Irish
Bank-restriction Bull—Lord King—Eart of Limerick—Lord Auckland,

—Nottingham Election Bill, carried unanimously.—Clergy Bill—And
Mr. Markham’s Divorce Bill, — Sir Henry Mildmay’s Motion on naval
Abuses.—Debate.—Irish Bank-restriction Bill,—Clause agreed to, in

the Clergy Residence Bill, allowing the Rector three Months’ leave of
Absence.—Debate in the Lords, on the Insolvent Debtors’ Bill, —Re-

trospect.

MMEDIATELY on the meeting
of the house of commons, after
the Easter recess, pursuant to ad-
Journment; on the 21st of April,
The chancellor of the exchequer
moved, that the house should re-
Solve itself into a committee, to
consider, that part of his majesty’s
speech, which related to the giving
facilities te mercantile transactions.
General Gascoyyne declared, that
he thought it absolutely necessary,
for the house to know, whether
these reguiations applied to a state
of war, or peace? On this point,
he asserted, ministers had been
most unaccountably silent; and
yet, he thought, it was intimately
connected with the question, Al-
though the professed object of this
measure, was the consolidation of
duties, yet he found, by the sche-
dules, that a considerable increase
of revenue was intended. He there-
fore thought, he had an undoubted

right, before he should give his vote,
to ask, in what manner this in-
creased revenue was to be applied ;
whether to a state of war, ora state
of peace?

_ The chancellor of the exchequer,
in reply, said, that it was impossi-
ble for him, consistently with his

duty, to make any communication —

to the house, at present; but he
denied, that the principal object of
the proposed measure was, as supe
posed by the hon. general, an ine
crease of the revenues.

The house having then resolved
itself into the committee,

The chancellor of the exchequer,
proceeded to detail his plan for the
consolidation of the duties, which
were now raised, under no less than.
170 acts of parliament; he stated,
that the principal object of the bill,
was to simplify the mode of collect-
ing the duties; although, ultimate-
ly, it might lead to an increase of

revenue,

- fluence the said election;

HISTORY OFT EUROPE.

revenue. He dwelt, with consi«
derable force, on the great re
sources which this country derived
from its commerce, which has in-
creased, under every presure of
circumstances !

General -Gascoygne, repeated his
opinion, of the necessity of the
house-being informed o/ the state of

‘the country, as to. peace or war,

before they could form an ac-

curate judgment on questions of

finance.

After some farther conv epsatian
the chairman reported progress, and
had leave to sit again...

On the following day, Mr. Smyth
reported, from the committee, ap-
pointed to try and determine the
merits of the Ilchester election,
that “ such a system of corruption
was formed, and such individual
acts of bribery committed, to in-
as to
render it necessary, that the same

_ should be taken into the most seri-

_he farther reported,

ous consideration of the house ;”
that ‘“¢ Mr,
White Parsons and Mr, Alexander
Davison, were implicated therein ;”

he therefore moved, as a second

resolution,

“ that the attorney
general should be instructed to pro-

_ secute Mr. White Parsons and Mr.
_ Davison.”

Mr, Wallace, ‘objected strongly
to this resolution; he considered,
that there was, by no means, such

_ evidence before them, against Mr.

Davison, as would induce a jury
to find him guilty.
Mr. Burden thought, there was

_ sufficient evidence of bribery and

corruption, to induce the house te

_..€ome to the resolution that was

”
-

eraiggt to. them.
Mr, Johnstone, expressed hims

11g
seif, very .strongly, of a similar
opinion.

Mr. Sheridan declared, he could
not feel, that veh@nent degree of ins
dignation, against poor freeholders,
who sold their votes; when he res
collected, that great Lords sold
boroughs, by wholesale ; and con»
sidered their unconstitutional ins
fluence, as part of their property,
He did not see sufficient evidence
to. prosecute Mr. Davison, and he
hoped the house would examine
the minutes very carefully, before
they resolved on such a measure.

The master of the rolls, thought
it neither consistent with the digs
nity of the house, nor with justice;
that another prosecution should be
instituted against Mr. Davison, at
a time, that he was liable to prose-
cutions, from any common in
former. Bribery could be punisheg
in the common way ; and he had not
sufficiently considered the evidence, -
to say, whether any conspiracy had
been proved. He therefore moved,
the previous question,

After some conversation, the pre+
vious question was agreed to, and
the farther consideration of the re
port, put off for a fortnight.

On the 27th of April, upon the
question being put, in the house of
commons, for the house resolving
itself into a committee ef the whole
house, on ‘the coroners’ bill; sit
Robert Buxton, sir Robert Williams,
and Mr. Dickinson, jun. opposed
the question, as disapproving, altos
gether, of the inch of the bills
and considering the present emolua
ments of the office, amply sufficient.
Mr. Hurst, on the other hand, sup
ported it; and, on a division, ‘there
appeared a majority of eighteen, in
favour of the gommittal of th¢ bill;

14 but

126

but when, on the 10th of May, the
report was brought up,

General Tarleton, compared the
situation of those coroners, with
that of brave and meritorious of-
ficers, who lived on much smaller
incomes, and scorned to come to
parliament, for an increase of their
half- -pay.

Mr. Shaw Lefevre, alae opposed
it, on the ground of its being noto-
nds; that the situation of coroner,
was one much sought after; and
that, in the present situation of the
country, salaries ought not, un-
necessarily to be increased; he
concluded, by moving as an amend-
ment, that “ the bill should be
read a third time, this day six
months.”

The amendment was adopted, by
majority of five, and the bill was
consequently lost.

The 24th, lord Folkstone rose,
in pursuance of a notice he had
formerly given, to move for copies
of the different orders which had
been issued, respecting the evacu-
ation or retention of the Cape of
Good Hope; as also, for an ac-
count of the discussions, relative to
this subject, between the governs
ments of this country and France,
previously to the last orders sent
out for its surrender. It had ap-
peared, that a variety of contra-
dictory orders had been sent out
by ministers: sometimes they wish-
ed to retain it, at other times they
determined to ahandon it: and yet
no reasons for those sudden changes
of disposition, had been stated to the
house! The orders for retaining
the Cape, did not asrive there till
after the Dutch troops had landed ;

and were executed, ante by are-
gapture, than a retention. News

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

of this capture, had only arrived iw
England, twenty-four hours, or, at
most, not more than forty-eight
hours, before the message was de-
livered. It therefore, appeared, as
if ministers had sent the messagey’
merely from a consciousness, that
they had committed an act of hos-
tility, and not at all for the reasons
therein alleged. This act of hos-
tility, in re-taking the cape, must
certainly have produced much dis-
cussion; although it were true,
that orders were sent out, after the
business of Switzerland was over,
that the cape should be again re-
stored. He concluded, by moving
for the copies of the papers, before
mentioned.

The chancellor of the exchequer,
professed every desire to give in-
formation, but declared, that if
the papers were granted, they would
require explanations, which could
not be giyen, at the present mo-
ment, with safety to the public in-
terest: he had no objection to
granting the information sought for
by the motion, as soon as it could
be given, with safety. He thought
it his duty then, to move the pres
yious question,

Mr. Windham felt convinced, that
his noble friend had no wish to em-
barass the proceedings of govern-
ment;’ and, therefore, would not
press for any information, which
his majesty’s ministers had des
clared to be prejudicial to the pub-
lic interest; he was sorry however,
that the reason given by ministers
was such, as must debar the house
from jnformation, so long as they
should think proper to tithes
hold it,

Lord Hawkesburry, thought oN
impossible to discuss the question, ,

sespecting

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

@especting the Cape of Good Hope,
without also disclosing information
respecting other points of the nego-
ciation: he did not approve of de-
tached motions of this sort; the
house had a right to full informa-
tion upon the proceedings between
this government and that of France ;
€s soon as that information could
be given, without danger to the
country, it should be done. It
would clearly be the duty of minis-
ters, at a proper time, to make a
communicauion, stating every thing
of information that appears to them
giant if in the judgment of the
ouse, or of any individual member,
such communication should not be
Satisfactory, it would then be more
regular to cali for such farther in-
formation as might seem necessary.
Lord Foikstone thought, that the
information which he sought for, of
events that must have happened be-
fore October last, could not have
any bearing on those discussions
with France, which commenced
only a few weeks ago: he would
not allow, that one gentleman hay-
ing given notice of a general moiion,
was at alla reason, which should
prevent any other gentleman trom
bringing forward another motion,
on a subject connected with it ; if
80, it would be in the power of a
member, by putting off his motion
from day to day, to prevent any
other person from pressing for
information: he was, however, rea-
dy, after what was stated by minis-
ters, to withdraw the present mo-
ed ig
Mr. Fox thought, that before any
details of the conduct of ministers
were examined, there were other
questions which should first be dis-
pesedof; namely, the general state

191

of the nation, and next the general
conduct which led to that situation.
Although he thought the general
inquiry, should be previous to any
detailed discussion; and that the
present motion, as a question of de-
tail, would come in its proper place
when the general question came to
be considered; yet he was free to
acknowledge, that the conduct of
the noble lord had been candid and
fair.

Mr. Martin said, that he found
no reason hitherto to find fault with
the conduct of ministers; but when
he heard of their responsibility, he
must say, that though it was a term
often used, yet in his opinion it was
always used to little purpose: for
his part, he would not give a far-
thing for the responsibility of any
ministers in this country.

The house then proceeded to the
order of the day.

On the question being put in the
house of lords, on the 3d of May,
that the Irish bank restriction bill,
be read asecond time,

Lord King delivered his senti-
ments very fully onthe subject; he
considered, that it was those re-
strictions, which, by encouraging an
enormous issue of bank notes, had
produced their depreciation, and
finally the rate of exchange so un-
favourable to Ireland, Country
banks had not done so much mis-
chief, as was usually attributed to
them; on the contrary, they had
afforded great accommodations te
the public, and he believed they
were a very salutary check upon
the bank of England, which was
now, much more careful and vigi-
lant, as to its notes, than probably
it otherwise would have been. The
country banks were also an excelient

check

122

check to forgery, which would scl-
dom be detected, if there were no
other notes circulating than. those
of the bank of England, _ In Irve-
land, during the year 1797, the
number of notes issued, amounted
to only 600,000/.; and now, there
are no less than 2,600,000J, in cir-
culation! this was a circumstance,
which sufliciently accounted for the
balance of trade being so unfavour-
able. He thought the directors
of the bank of Ireland, had grossly
abused that discretionary power
which had been vested in them; he
should therefore beg leave to move
aclausein this bill, ‘* that the bank
of Ireland should be obliged to pay
their own notes in those of the bank
of England,” which would prove a
check on the enormous issue they
had lately made. He thought
there ought not to be two standards
of currency in the two countries,
which are now. united; he:should
not, however, propose that such a
clause should operate saoner, than
six months from the present time.
The earl of Limerick replied to
his lordship; he defended the con-
duct of the directors of the bank of

Treland, who had been circumspect ©

and prudent, as well as vigilant in
the discharge of their duty. The

first great increase in the issues of:

the bank of Ireland, was in conse-
quence of an effort of the conspi+
racy that was then forming, to dis-
tress the government by a run upon
all the country banks, which must
necessarily also produce a run on

the bank of Ireland; it was. to:

counteract this scheme, that. they
were first obliged to increase their
issues. The’ bank of Ireland had, in
spite of surrounding difficulties, of
foreign invasion and rebellion, still

ANNUAL! REGISTER,

1805.

kept up its credit, and given great
accommodation tothe public. He
attributed the unfavourable state of
exchange in a great measure, to the
increase of the public debt, which
was now 40 millions, although in
1797, it was but.7 millions.. His
lordship concluded by urging a va-
riety of topics, in support of the
bill.

Lord Auckland, entirely coincid-
ed with what had fallen from. the
earl. of Limerick; he therefore
supported the bill, which was then
read a second time, and ordered to
be committed,

On the same day in the honse of
commons, there was a warm debate
on the Nottingham election bill.

Mr. Fox contended, that if the
magistrates of that town had been
suilty, they ought to be brought to
trial; and if they were not guilty,
there was no occasion for legislative
interference. If even the magis-
trates elected by the townsmen of
Nottingham had been culpable, ~
that, (their reason for punishing
them,) would be no reason for de-
priving them who elected them, of
the ancient, right of chusing their
own magistrates. As to riots hay-
ing formerly taken place in Not-
tingham, where was it that they had
not sometimes taken place?. It
would be as unfair to disfranchise
Nottingham on that account, as ta
disfranchise the city of London on
account of the riots of 1780. Be-
sides those former riots in Notting-
ham were:principally oceasioned by
that party calling themselves loyal
ists, who upon the arrival ofahy good
news fron the continent, seized and »
ducked those whom they consider
ed as jacobins or dissenters.

Mr, Bond, the attorney.general,

' and

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

‘and Mr. Frankland, supported the
bill: Mr. Grey and lord George
Cavendish opposed it, as interfering
with the rights of election.

Mr. Rose said, if the riots of
Nottingham had been accidental,
he should not have thought it ne-
cessary to bring inthe bill; but it
had appeared that rioting was so
established as a system at Notting-
ham, that the interference of the
legislature was absolutely neces-
sary: he therefore was a warm
friend to the bill, and only regret-
ted that the attorney general had
pot been ordered, to prosecute those
who had conducted themselves so
gximinally.

After some observations from
Mr. Hawkins Brown, (the mover of
the bill) and Mr. Shaw Lefevre,
the question on the third reading
was carried bya majority of 164 to
29. The mode in which the pre-
sent bill was calculated to obtain
its object, was by allowing the ma-
gistrates of the county a concur-
rent jurisdiction in the town of
‘Nottingham, with the magistrates of
the town.

The house then went into a com-
mittee on the clergy bill, and there
was a considerable difference of opi-
nion expressed, about that clause,
which allowed spiritual persons. to
hold farms; Sir William Geary was
against this indulgence. Sir Robert
Buxton feared that it would turn
the principal attention of the cler-
py to avocations that yielded more
emoluments than their profession.
Mr. Keene said, that the virtue of
“charity which the parson should
inculcate, might be somewhat lost
in the profession of a farmer ; and
that in the event of a hard season,
the parson might, like other far-

193

mers, keep his granary full till the
prices were at the highest: the
attorney general, sir William Scot
and Mrg Windham, supported the
clause, as did also Mr. Bastard,
who thought the nation would de~
rive great benefit from the improves
ments in the system of agriculture,
which might be expected from so
enlightened a body as the clergy 3. if
hike other people, they were per-
mitted to direct their attention to
it.

The clause was then adopted, and
the further proceedings of the com-
mittee postponed till a future day.

Onithe 4th of May, the house
ef Lords having gone into a com-
mittee on the Rev. Mr. Markham’s
diyorce bill,

Lord Auckland rose, pursuant ti
a notice he had formerly g given, to
oppose that clause in the bill which
went to restore the lady to the pos-
session of all her original fortune ;
such clauses he considered, as like-
ly to lead to collusion between a
husband and wife, in order to ob-
tainadiyorce. In the present case,
where the lady had borne ten
ehildren to her husband, and was
afterwards unfaithful, there was no
reason for extraordinary indul+
gence.

Lord Alyanley had no objection
to the clause being omitted, if it
appeared, that the lady had suffi-
client proyision to enable her to live
yirtuously for the future.

Lord Auckland replied, that to
his knowledge, the lady would have
a sufficient provision.

The lord chancellor disapproved
of the clause entirely, and said,
that the more correct way of pro-
ceeding, would be, that if the lady
had not a sullicient proyision to

e

keep

1204 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

keep her from a state of prostitu-
tion, that she should come to the
house by a petition, and pray for
some farther provision.

The clause was then omitted.

On the same day in the house of
commons, Sir H. Mildmay brought
forward a motion, calling upon the
commissioners appointed under the
naval abuse bill, to make their re-
port. The principal circumstances
on which he grounded his motion,
were, first, the sudden dissolution
of a contract with Mr. Taylor for
supplying the navy with blocks,
without assigning any cause what-
ever; 2dly, the resignation of Mr.
Leycester, whose known talents and
abilities as a commissioner, was
ene of the principal inducements
for passing the bill; and 3dly, the
expectation which had lately been
held out, that in a case of emer-
gency 50 sail of the line could be
got ready in a month; this emer-
gency appeared now to have arriv-
ed, and the ships were not ready !

Sir C. Pole, (one of the com-
missioners) bore testimony to the
zeal and assiduity, with which the
commissioners discharged the task
reposed'in them; they generally
sat from five to seven hours a day.
In a very few days, the house might
expect their first report.

Capt. Markham, defended the
eonduct of the admiralty generally ;
and insisted that our naval force in
every part of the world, was abun-
dantly sufficient to cope with that of
any European power.

The chancellor of the exchequer
also defended the conduct of the
admiralty ; and said, he should suf-
fer more willingly the charge, of
having used unguarded language to

attach to him, than hear the board”
of admiralty found fault with, for
not having fifty ships of the line rea-’
dy within a month. Although the
ships might have been got ready
within that time, yet it would be im-
possible to have them manned so
speedily !!!

Mr. Canning considered the mo-
tion as perfectly fair and candid,
although, as a report was now pro-
mised, it would perhaps be unneces-
sary to press it farther.
commenting a little on the state-
ment of the chancellor of the ex-
chequer, he compared both that,
and the express terms of his majes-'
ty’s message, with an assertion that
had fallen this night, from a lord of
the admiralty, (captain Markham)
that there was no preparation of
any consequence, either in the ports
of France or Holland.

Capt. Markham confessed, that
in this instance, his zeal had out-
stripped his prudence: he had
spoken with the warmth of a sea-
officer ; who was always ready to
under-rate the power of the enemy.

Mr. Fox opposed the motion, on
the ground of its being necessary to
invest strong powers somewhere, for
the remedying the multiplied abuseg
in the navy.

After a short conversation, sir
H. Mildmay obtained leave to
withdraw his motion.

The Irish bank restriction bill,
being the following day committed
in the house of lords ;

Lord King, again adverted to
the rate of exchange between the
two countries, the unfavourable
state of which to Ireland, he attri-
buted to the depreciation of its
currency, that naturally arose ale
e

After:

%

HISTORY OF

the excessive issue of bank notes,
which were the circulating me-
dium. He concluded, by moving
a clause, that the governor and
company of the Bank of Ire-
land, should be obliged, upon de-
mand, to pay their notes, in English

bank notes.

_ The marquis of Sligo said, it was
impossible to add such a clause as
this, to a bill for restricting pay-
ments in specie; as the bank of Ire-
Jand could not get those bank of
England notes, without paying
guineas for them; such a clause
would militate against the whole
principle of the bill. As to the
rate of exchange, it perhaps carried
with it its own remedy. The ex-
change operated, as a tax upon im-
ports, and a bounty upon exports.
He admitted the very unfavour-

able circumstances in which Ire-
Jand now stood; but he hoped,
that better prospects would soon
appear.

The earl of Limerick also, disap-
proved of the clause, which, after

‘a few explanations between lords
King and, Limerick, was negatived,
_without a division.

_ In the house of commons, on the

same day, the house resolved itself
into a committee, on the clergy

bill; and there arose considerable
discussion on that clause, which

allowed the rector three months
leave of absence, in the year; the
_attorney general thinking this indul-

gence too long.

The chancellor of the exchequer,
on the other hand, said, that was
not more than was allowed in every
public office or collegiate establish-
ment, for necessary recreation and
“yelaxation. When the statute of
‘Henry VIII, was first passsed,

EUROPE. 125

from the then state of society, there
was a more absolute necessity for
the constant residence of the clergy,
than there is now. The clause was
afterwards agreed to, upon a divi-
sion, and the committee adjourned,

The earl of Moira, on the next
day, in moying the committal of
the insolvent debtors’ bill, in the
house of lords, made several preli-
minary observations, on the situa-
tion of debtor and creditor; he
wished a distinction could be
made, between honest and fraudu-
lent debtors; and that the latter
should be punished as swindlers,
He considered all those who con-
tracted debts, without a prospect
of repaying them, or who, after
contracting debts, deprived them-
selves, by their extravagance, of
the means of paying them, as frau-
dulent debtors. It was only the.
fair and honest debtors, whom he
would wish to relieve. He then
stated, that a benevolent institution,
in this metropolis, had, in the
course of last year, discharged
1125 persons, who were confined
for debts not exceeding, on an
average 2/. 7s, 2d. per head; and
those poor prisoners had depending
on them, 500 wives, and 1400
children! On the feelings and jus-
tice of their creditors, he thought
all comment superfluous.

Lord Ellenborough said, that
even that circumstance was only an
alloy of evil, attached to a much
greater good. The number of 1100
so imprisoned, for small debts, bore
no proportion to the multitudes of
those who were relieved by credit ;
and if credit was to be taken away,
he would expect to see 100 times
as many people, absolutely starving.
He was, in general, no friend to

those

196 ANNUAL REGISTER,

those kind of bills. Many fraudu-
lently entered the prisons, to take
the henefit of them.

~The lord chancellor, having ex-
pressed an opinion similar to that
of lord Ellenborough, lord Moira,
after a short reply, consented to
withdraw the bill for the present
Session.

The agitation of the public mind
at the petiod to which we have
brought down the proceedings of
parliament, was great beyond all
precédent. The information which
might lead to a proper estimate of
its real situation, had been con-
stantly denied by ministers to the
country ; and the indecision and
want of firmness which they had
shewn on every trying occasion, left
little room to hope for an honorable
termination of the pending dis-
cussions with France. The charac-
ter of our adversary, at once rapa-
cious and subtile, was contrasted
With the timid and wavering policy
adopted by the British councils, and
the most unfavorable conclusions
were thence deduced. No circum-
stance had tended so much to de-
prive Mr. Addington of that public
confidence and esteem, so essential
to the very existence of a minister,
as his retreat (to say the least of it,
hot a very honourable one,) from
his confident assertion delivered in
parliament on the 2d of December
of the last year, namely, ‘‘ that in
“* case of emergency, fiftysail of the
“line could be prepared for sea
*¢ within one month; and eyena lar-
“ ger number, were there an exi-
“gency sufficiently pressing.” When
that exigency did occur; two
months after the king’s message had

1803.

declared the nécéstify of arming,
in consequence of the preparation§
on the coasts of France and Hol¥
land; and, that alarm of invasiofi
Was universally eXcited; on pe

urged in the house of commons, 0
the state of our naval preparati+
ons, on the 4th of May; he wag
obliged to own, we had but thirty-
two ships of the line in commission,
(not fit for sea) and, that when hé
had asserted that we could equip
fifty ships ready for sea, he only
meant rigged and fitted out, but
not manned and ready for ser-
vice!!! What the real situation of
the navy was at the moment here
alluded to, it will be the subject of
another portion of our history to
state ; suffice it, that it was such a&
to open the eyes of all ranks of peo~
ple toits gross mal-administration.
Nor did the very strange declara-
tion of one of the lords of the admi-
ralty, in parliament, on the same
occasion, tend to lessen the inquié-
tude of the people, respecting the
critical situation of the country.
Our warlike preparations both na-
val and military, and the embody-
ing of the militia force, had origina-
ted, a& were stated in the usual
official communications to the legis-
lation, on the grounds of the “* pre-
parations going on in the ports of
France and Holland, and for the.
repelling a contemplated invasion
on the part of France.” Much in-
deed then, were parliament and the
country surprized, in the course of
the debate, on Sir Henry Mild-
may’s motion for naval enquiry, to
hear from a person whose ministe-
rial functions gave him the most
accurate means of information,
that

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

that “* he desired to be understood,
«that in all parts of the world, we
‘“had a naval force much more
“than adequate to cope with the
“force of any power in Europe;
“and, that at home, it was amply
“sufficient to meet any French
*€ force ; which indeed, consisted of

“ nothing better thar fishing boats,.

“and existed only in the minds of
“a few gentlemen on the other
*€ side of the house* !” Thus, in the
face of the nation and of all Europe,
was made a specific declaration,by a
a minister, which left the public to
conclude, that the alleged causes
of our arming did not exist; and
that they were simulated by the
king’s government, for the purpose
of covering the real grounds of our
hostile preparation, which were
such as would not, or could not be
avowed! it is but justice to state,
that the same person who had
' made this extraordinary acknow-
ledgment, + endeavoured by an
entire and immediate retractation,
to explain it away, and give it the
semblance of a mere professional
boast; but it was too late, the
assertion remained in its full force,
and subsequent facts abundantly
confirmed the impression it had
made.

During the painful and agitating
suspence in which the nation was
held pending the negociation with
France, one of the most daring and
infamous frauds ever attempted to
‘be put into execution, was practised
on the public credulity, though not
with all the success, with which the
contrivers of it had flattered them-
selves. At the moment when the

197
anxiety of the nation was highest,
on the fifth of May between eight
and nine o’clock in the morning,
a person, habited like a government
messenger, in a travelling dress, and
in vast haste, delivered a letter at
the marision house, purporting to
have come from the office of lord’
Hawkesbury, secretary of state for
foreign affairs, and directed to the
lord mayor of the city of London,
To it a seal resembling that of
office, was artfully affixed, and his
lordship, having no doubt of the au-
thenticity, lost no time in commu-
nicating its contents to the city
with the usual publicity: they
announced, the joyful intelligence
of an amicable adjustment, of all
matters in dispute between Eng-
land and France, in the usual
forms of official communication.
The news spread with the rapidity
of lightning, throughout all parts of
the city; and the satisfaction and
joy of every class of the people,
were excessive. At the stock ex-
chance, the funds rose above five per
cent; nor was it till nearly three
hours had elapsed, that the whole
was discovered to have been a
fabrication, doubtless for the pur-
pose of taking advantage of the
public delusion, by the sale of
stock either real or fictitious, at the
advaneed prices it had created!
The consternation and confusion
which followed upon the discovery
of the imposition, it is impossible te
describe; business of every kind
was suspended : and the elation it
had inspired, now fell into the
opposite point of dismay and appre-
hension, It is not our object

* Alluding to the bench on which sat what was called the new opposition,
t Captain Markham, one of the Lords of the Admiralty.

to

128

to detail with minuteness, the
commercial inconveniences which
were the consequences of this im-
pudent fraud; we have here given
it insertion, solely as acriterion, by
which the bent of the wishes and
hopes of the people may be decided
upon; how averse they were from
war; and as a proof mto what
complete security the nation had

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

been lulled by the assurances of
ministers, that peace could be main-
tained on the basis of the treaty
of Amiens alone, when it fell so
easily and completely into the shal-
low snare of some interested adven-
turer, whose contrivance had flat-
tered them into a belief, that it wae
yet attainable!

CHAR,

HISTORY “OF EUROPE.

199

CHAP.» XI.

Communication by Lord Pelham, to the House of Lords.—Motion for ad-
Jjournment—Opposed. —Carried on a Division—To the House of Com-
mons, by Mr. Addington—And similar Motion—Division upon tt—
Carried.—Proceedings in the House of Lords, pursuant to adjourn-
ment.—Further adjournment— And in the Commons.— Bill of Indemnity,

~ for the Export of Corn by the order of Ministers, brought in and
carried.— Debate on Lord King’s Motion, in the House of Lords, for
Jinancial Inquiry.—Able Speech of Lord Grenville —Observations.—
Repeated adjournments, in both Houses.—King’s Message to Parlia-
ment, announcing the Recal of Lord Whitworth—All hopes of Peace
at an end.—Copies of the Correspondence with France, laid before Par-
liament.—Motion for farther Information, in both Houses— Deferred,
—Conversation on Malta—And on the conquered Colonies in the West
Indies.— Day appointed to take the King’s Message, and the Corres-
pondence, into consideration, in both Houses.

N the house of lords, lord Pel-
ham, on the 6th of May, arose,
to make an important communica-
tion to the house. His majesty had
given orders to lord Whitworth,
that if he could not, against a cer-
* tain period, bring the negociations,
now pending, to a close, in such
case he should immediately quit
Paris. General Andreossy, the
_ French ambassador, had also ap-
_ plied for a passport to be ready, to
enable him to quit London, as soon
as he should be informed of lord
Whitworth having left Paris. There
were now grounds to suppose his
lordship was on his return, and
Might be soon expected ; he there-
fore proposed adjourning, till Mon-
_ day next, as he did not expect his
arrival the next day (Saturday),
Lord Darnley thought, that under
Vol, XLV.

such circumstances, it would be
improper to adjourn over till Mon-
day ; but, that their lordships should
continue at their posts; he declar-
ed, that he should persist in the
motion of which he had given no-
tice for Monday, respecting the
state of the nation.

Lord Spencer moved, as- an
amendment to lord Pelham’s mo-
tion, that the word ‘‘ to-morfow”
be substituted for Monday,

Lord Carlisle supported the
amendment, as he thought it ne-
cessary to allay, as speedily as pos-
sible, the great anxiety of the pub-
lic mind.

The lord ¢hancellor, saw no
good purpose in meeting to-morrow,
as no communication could be ex-
pected to be made so soon.

The house divided, on lord

K Pelham’s

130

Pelham’s motion, for adjournment
till Monday, which was agreed to
by a considerable majority.

On the same day, in the house
of commons,

_ The chancellor of the exchequer,
made asimilar communication, and
moved, that the house should, at
its rising, adjourn to Monday.

- Mr. Fox, thought the adjourn-

ment too long, under the present —

circumstances, as news might arrive
in the course of thenextday, which
‘would make a farther communica-
tion ‘prpper: he, thought, in an
hour of so much danger, the mem-
bers. should keep as much as pos-
sible, at their post.

Lord Hawkesbury, did not think
it probable, that lord Whitworth
could arrive before Sunday; and
therefore, no communication was
to be expected, until his arrival
should put the government in pos-
session of the official papers, with
respect to the points in dispute.

Mr. Grey said, that every mo-
ment of time, was now of the ut-
most consequence, as the house
might be detained, from giving that
advice to his majesty, which might,
perhaps, be the means of rescuing
this country from ruin. He then
moved, as an amendment, that
the house should be adjourned
till to-morrow, instead of Mon-
day. :

Mr. Canning wished, that the
house should meet to-morrow: not
that he expected that it was possi-
ble for ministers to lay full inform-
ation before the house, by that
time; but nevertheless, he thought it
possible, that they might have some
additional communication to make.
He thought, the house of commons
ought, on this occasion, to sympa-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

thize with the public anxiety; and
not delay a single day, for the pur-
pose of enjoying a holiday. He
therefore supported the amend-
ment.

The secretary at war, thought it
would be departing from their digni-
ty, were the house to sit, at unusual
times, merely because the French
ambassador had demanded his pass-
ports: as no apparent good seem-
ed likely to result from the amend-
ment, he should therefore oppose
It.

Mr. Whitbread, was then enter-
ing pretty fully into the question,
when Mr. Pole Carew, thinking the
discussion might lead to mischiev-
ous consequences, moved the stand-
ing order, that strangers should be
excluded.

After some hours, spent in pri-
vate debate, the house divided, and
resolved, by a majority of 90, to
adjourn, till the Monday follow-
ing.

On the ensuing Monday, there
was an unusual full attendance, in
both houses, as a, communication
was expected.

In the house of lords, lord Pel-
ham acquainted their lordships, that. -
in consequence of a new proposal,
made by the French government,

* to lord Whitworth, his lordship had,

resolved to continue his stay in
Paris, until an answer should arrive ~
from this country. The proposal
was not, however, of such a nature, .
as could be now communicated to
the house ; and he could not. hold
out any expectation, that any con--
sequences would result from it,
save a short delay, in waiting for
its answer.
The earl of Darnley, expressed
his sense of the candor, which the
noble

HISTORY

noble secretary had shewn, and,
for the present, withdrew his mo-
tion.

Earl Spencer, approved of the
motion being withdrawn, under
these circumstances, especially as
the whole of the negotiation, was
likely soon to come under the con-
‘sideration of their lordships.

The same day, the chancellor of
the exchequer, made a similar apo-
logy, for not making a communi-
eation, as was expected : unfavour-
able circumstances had prevented
his. being able to do’ so; but, he
expected, he should, ina day or
two, as the differences between the
two countries, must soon be brought
to a decisive result.

Although there were above 450
members present, yet not a single
observation was made, on what fell
from the chancellor of the exche-
quer ;
diately retired.

The next day, and the following,
the house made some farther pro-
gress in the clergy bill.

On the 12th, the attorney gene-
ral, moved for leave to bring in a
bill, to indemnify all persons, con-
cerned in executing two orders of
council: the one for allowing the
exportation of seed-corn to Norway ;
and the other, for preventing the
exportation of naval and military
stores to France, Spain, and the
Batavian republic. The first order
was made, in consequence of an
application from the Danish go-
vernment ; which stated, that, from

- the failure of the last harvest, Nor-

way was in danger of a famine, if

it could not import seed-corn. As

to the second, government having
received intelligence, on the 3Ist
of March last, that thirty-three tons

OFTEUROPE.:

and the members imme-

131

‘of salt-petre and gunpowder, were

preparing, to’ be ‘exported ‘to Am-
sterdam and Antwerp, ''sent orders

to prohibit the exportation, with as |

little noise and publicity as possi-
ble. From the situation of this
country, with respect to those
powers, the measure was. neces-
sary; but still a bill of indemnity
was wanting.

Mr. Coke (of Norfolk), did not
object to the first order of council,
but still he considered the bill, as a
bill of patronage, as ministers had
selected certain persons, to send
the barley and oats over to Norway,
instead of leaving it to fair compe-
tition’ at the market. He never
yet knew a minister, of this coun-
try, who attended, as he ought, to
thé’ landed interest.

The chancellor of the excheauer,
in reply, said, that government
knew‘nothing of the persons, who
were to export this corn.

Mr. Fox thought, if a commu-
nication had been made to parlia-
ment before, the competition would
have been more fair and open.

Leaye was then given, to bring
in the bill.

The following day, lord King
moved, in the house of lords, ** that
a committee should be appointed,
to inquire into the state of the
finances of the country.” The ac-
counts, which had been presented
with so much exultation, appeared.
to him very defective, and mate-
rially fallacious; and -he thought,
at the present times, the most mis-
chievous consequences might result,

from the entertaining a false idea

of the financial situation of the
country. After a variety of <tate-
ments, in which he compared
our revenue and expenditure; he

K 2 endeayoured

1392 ANNUAL REGISTER,

endeavoured to prove, that instead
of a million surplus of revenue,
as had been stated in another place,
there was, in fact, a deficit of near-
ly double that amount!

Lord Auckland, defended the
accounts, which he had before pre-
sented, and justified the conduct of
the minister, who was incapable of
such an imposition, as he seemed
charged with. ‘The total revenue
of the last year, was above 34 mil-
lions, being considerably more than
our expenditure; and the surplus
of the consolidated fund, was above
seven millions. This was a situa-
tion which, he thought, might just-
ly be spoken of, with some exulta-
tion.

The earl of Moira asserted, that
even from the noble lord’s state-
ment, it appeared, that there was
a considerable deficit ; for it only
allowed an excess of nine millions,
to meet an expenditure of thirteen.
He thought it was most preposter-
ous, to enter into a comparison of
the revenues of the country now,
with what they were in 1787 ; every
body knew they had much increas-
ed, but he, for one, did not con-
sider that increase, as a subject of
much exultation. We knew the
numerous additional taxes, which
had been the fruitful sources of this
increase ; it was, indeed, some-
what consolatory to find, that the
wonderful and unceasing skill and
industry of the people of this great
country, pushes forward its com-
merce, in spite of all its burdens.
He never heard those very florid
descriptions of our financial pros-
perity, without considering them as
the forerunners of fresh expences
and calamities.
false statements to be made, but he

He did not wish >

1803.

had a high opinion of the real.
strength and resources of this coun-
try, if it should become absolutely
necessary to exert them to the ut-
most, against our ambitious and
implacable enemy.

Lord Grenville observed, that he
should proceed to call their lord-
ships’ attention to the subject upon
which the noble lord had grounded
his motion, though he, in some de-
gree, differed from that noble lord
in what he had advanced ; his ob-
ject, however, in so, coming for-
ward, was not to place himself in
opposition to any of the noble lords
who had delivered their sentiments,
but impelled by considerations of
public duty, to shew, as far as he
was able, and which, he thought,
was the bounden duty of all, the
country its true situation, by a fair
and manly statement of the circum-
stances under which it was placed.
That system of concealment, which
had prevailed so much of late, had
been carried too far, and particu-
larly upon a subject, the most in-
teresting of all others to the coun-
try. He thought no member of
that or the other house of parlia-
ment, had need to apologize for
bringing forward a subject of such
vital importance, fairly to the view
of the country. ‘There must, how-
ever, be persons conscious of not
having thus come forward to serve
the country; but with respect to
parliament generally, it was neces-
sary they should open the eyes of
the people, and particularly in ,
such a momentous crisis as the pre-
sent, shew them their real situa-
tion: it ought to be made clear to

the country, whether or not its

finances were in that state, that
there existed a large disposable
surplus

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

surplus, or 4 real alarming de-
ficiency 2? In contemplating the cir-
“cumsiance of a deficiency, it should
be farther inquired into, whether
there really existed a necessity of
supplying those deficiencies, by that
most ruinous of all financial mea-
sures, a system of peace-loans?
He acknowledged the utility of the
yarious accounts which had been
laid before the house; however, in
the important, but perhaps rather
general view, which he then meant
to take of the subject, he was say-
ed the trouble of adyerting to them
in detail; a casual reference would
be sufficient for his purpose. Those
which he should have occasion to
refer to, were of unquestionable
authenticity, being signed by the se-
cretary to the treasury ; and the
result of these, he meant to con-
trast with the statements made by
the chancellor of the exchequer
himself, taken from a publication,
issued by authority into the world,
and with a view to the full informa-
tion of the public; and statements,
which be could not retrain from
observing, had been totally, to a
certain degree, credited and acted
upon by the monied interest of the
_ country. In considering the sub-
ject before them, he disclaimed the
least idea whatever, of exciting any
sensation of despondency, On a
subject of this particular nature, he
knew a speaker was more liable to
misrepresentation, than on any
other, and in that view he felt him-
self called upon distinctly to state
his firm conviction, that instead of
there existing any real cause for
despondency or dismay, the country
had upon every account, just rea-
gon to be confident of the strength,
gnd adequacy of its own resources,

133

The country was able to cover the
existence of much greater deficien-
cies, and this he was perfectly able
to prove; and farther, that it was
not only equal to maintain its ex-
istence and independence, but even.
to repel aggression, and take am-
ple vengeance on the authors of that
ageression: the parliament under
such circumstancesshould notshrink
from its duty, but fairly call these
resources into action, and provide
a revenue fully adequate to meet
the occasions of the country. It
was in the recollection of their
lordships, that, a short time before
the Christmas recess, the finance
minister of the country, at an un-
usual period of the session, and in
circumstances of extraordinary mo-
ment, anticipated the customary
statement of the finances of the pre-
sent year. The reason assigned
for this proceeding was, the neces-
sity of laying before the country,
a true picture of its finances; he
was relieved from much trouble on
the score of reference, as his state-
ments respecting that display of the
finances, was authenticated by the
publication he had before alluded
to, which he had reason to believe
was ushered to public notice, under
the authority of ministers; and
therefore it could net be conceived
to contain a false account of those
statements. Notwithstanding the
specious advantages there held out,
the effect of this publication was to
delude every monied man who
placed confidence in it, On this
head he could say much; but the
consideratiun of the subject, in the
view he alluded to, had better be
leit until the real budget of the pre-
sent year should come forward,
which in the course of a few weeks

kK 3 might

134; ANNUAL REGISTER, «1803.

might be found necessary.
other points of finance, that state-
ment exhibited: the’ melancholy
expedient of a lean; but the ques-
tion was, whether that-was the last
time such a measure would be re-
curred to? That publication con-
tained also a statement of the reve-
nueand expenditure of the country,
and Jaid before the public, the
comfortable yiew of a: surplus of
even a million sterling! What the
effect of such a statement must be,
on the public at large, and on the
metropolis, may be easily conceived.
It was not long, however, before
doubts weré entertained of the ac-
curacy of these. statements, and
they had fallen. nearly into com-
plete discredit, when a noble lord
(Auckland)was pleased tostep forth,
and contend, that the calcula-
tions in question, far from) being
exaggerated, were below the truth.
In considering the real state of the

question, he would undertake to:

prove, that the actual revenue at
that very time, instead of yielding
asurplus, was in fact more than
two millions below the expenditure;
which, therefore, as the result of
that statement; exhibited. a ‘gross
and inexcusable error of at least
three jnillions sterling! _In another
point of view, he contended, that
the actual revenue would be found
to fall even four million short of
the peace establishment, as voted
by the other house of parliament,
in November last... In. calculating
those points, he should: take the
year as ending the 5th of January,
and he had no hesitation in taking
his statements from the documents
he had_ before specified ; and that
the statement made by the finan-
cial minister, on the 19th of De-

Among:

cember, abounded in the grossest
fallacy! His first reference would
be to the 29th page of the publica-
tion alluded to, and there the sup-
posed expenditure was stated to be
in the aggregate, 11,350,000/. from
which were to be deducted 2-17 ths
for the Irish proportion, and also
the Irish charges upon the consoli-
dated fund: but afterwards was to
be added a charge of 500,000/.
which would make the total ex-
penditure of the navy, army, ord-
nance, and miscellaneous services
to amount to 10,533,000/. for
Great Britain, In this part of
the calculation, he had-to observe,
that one material article of expense
was entirely overlooked, namely,
the extra buildings in the navy,
whieh this year amounted to
960,000/. The average amount
of this most necessary expense
during the last peace, was about
500,000/. per annum, but allowing
for the various differences which
had taken place since that period,
he thought the average expense
of that department, could not in
future be estimated at less than
700,000/. per annum, which, add-
ed to the other articles of expen- .
diture, would form a total of
11,283,000/. This would be the
ageregate, when the expenses could
be reduced to the amount stated in
the speech, In considering the
amount of the revenue, as set forth
in the same publication, the noble
lord argued, that certain heads
thereof were not accurately dis
cussed. He alluded principally to
the consideration of the land and
malt taxes. He then passed to a
review of the statements in the
consolidated fund, and described
the real free revenue, to be only

that

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

that which was disposable after the
payment of the interest of the nati-
onal debt, and charges of the sink-
ing fund : this was stated as amount-
ing to 10,599,000/. to which was ad-
ed, after the produce of the lottery
(in calculating which, there was an
egregious mistake) —the expected
contribution of 500,000. from the
revenues of India, In this part of
his speech, his lordship took occasi-
on to panegyrize the adiministration,
and the abilities.of the noble mar-
quis, at the head of the government
of India, whose talents great as they
were in negotiation, war, and civil
government, were exceeded _per-
haps by those he possessed for mat-
‘ters of finance, a ground upon which
his. enemies had unaccountably
strove to calumniate him: but this
reference, his lordship observed,
materially depended upon the conti-
nuance of peace in India: this and
other points made the supposed to-
tal of the ways and means to be
11,595,000/. which after deducting
the hypothetical expenditure, as
set forth in the same document,
left. an imaginary surplus of
1,032,000/. In controverting these
statements, his lordship entered in-
to a variety of detailed calculations,
drawn, as he had before observed,
from the accounts signed by the
secretary to the treasury. He first
adverted to the different heads of
proposed reduction, upon which
the foregoing calculations were
drawn, and which, it would be su-
perfluous to observe, were, in the
present circumstances of this coun-
try totally out of the question. He
would consider what the actual
Situation of the country now would
be, were the’ proposed reductions
carried into effect. Under the head
of the army, to reduce the expenses

135

in the sum proposed, a number of
about 25,000 men should be reduc-
ed, which, according to the plan of
disposing the forces, would, at about
the period of the delivery of the
king’s message, not have left one foot
soldier in Great Britain! In #re
head of reduction proposed for the
navy, about 1,540,000/,° was ins
tended to be saved, and to do this,
he calculated about 18,000 men
must be dismissed: ‘* this, accord-
ing to the newly broached doctrine,
that ships might be ready for sea
without men, might be practicable
enough, but were the reduction ac-
tually made, we should now have
no navy ‘fit for service!” After
shewing the impracticability of
those intended reductions, and cal-
culating upon the indispensable ex-
penses of the actual establishment,
as arranged even in November last,
it would be 13,436,000/. A dimi-
nution was. a consideration of possi-
bility ; but a considerable increase,
one of great probability. His lord-
ship then proceeded to the conside-
ration of the real income of the
nation, and after touching upon the
various sources from whence it was
derived, and the absolutely neces-
sary charges to be made thereon, he
calculated the total of the ways and
means to meet the real expenditurg
at not more than 9,682,000/,, He
then adverted to the Austrian loan;
upon which, after commenting on
its origin, and the important cir-
cumstances connected, with that
measure, he declared it his opinion,
that it behoved parliament to make
provision for the interest of it,
which he stated at about 497 ,000Z,
Pursuing the line of general calcu-
lation farther, he stated that the
free revenue amounted to about
9,185,000], which caleulated tox

K 4 gether

136 ANNUAL REGISTER,

gether with the heads of the genuine
state he had given of the supplies
and ways and means, would evince
the deficiency he had sct out with
stating, of more than two millions
sterling ! His lordship then pro-
ceeded to calculate the different
heads of revenue and expenditure,
upon a more enlarged scale, and to
demonstrate deficits to a more con-
siderable amount. He then expa-
tiated on the conduct of ministers,
in having concealed the true firiane
cial ‘circumstances of thé country ;
and condemned the system of the
political conduct of ministers, as
equally censurable with the other
part of their conduct ; at the same
time disclaiming all ideas of perso-
nal animosity; so far from it, that for
several of them he entertained the
warmest feelings of friendship and
regard. The ‘great object of his
argument was to shew, that they
had not met the financial difficul-
ties of the country in any one in-
stance. He adverted to the salu-
tary expedient of their predecessors
of raising part of the supplies within
the year, which he thought they
acted unwisely, as well as we eakly;
in not’ following up. Their aban-
donment of the: system of finance
laid down | by the present minis-
ters had reduced them to the mise-
rable expedient ‘of peace loans,
measures which would eventually
palsy the operations of the sinking
fund, aud check ‘effectually, the
gradual extinction of the public
debt ; he principally. condemned
the financial system pursued by
ministers, which at the end of two
years, left them with'a real defici-
ency of four millions, instead of the
hoasted ‘surplus of a million ster-
Jing. And ‘he insisted, that no
financial minister, in the present

1803.

circumstances of the country; would
do his duty, if he shrunk from the
project of equalizing the actual re-
venue with the necessary expendi-
ture of the country.

Lord Westmoreland, defended
the statement of the minister, and
thought it unfair to expect an ex-
act balance of revenue and expen-
diture in the first year after a war,
If peace should continue, he had no
doubt, but that the estimates would
be found correct. __

Lord Pelham defended the minis-
terial statement of the finances, but
considered this as a question which
according “to established usage,
ought rather to be discussed “in
the other house of legislature.

The bishop of St. Asaph, thought
this was no time for invidious and
warm discussion of such a nature,
Parliament ought rather now to
shew itself perfectly united against
the foreign foe.

The question was then put on
lord King’s motion, and negatived.

The question of adjournment to
Monday the 16th was then put and
carried,after a few observations from
lords Darnley , Spencer, anda short
reply from the lord chancellor.

However the opinion of the pub-
lic respecting the political abilities
of the minister, might have hither-
to oscillitated ; certain it is, that
previously to the discussion of lord
King’s motion in the house of lords
on the 13th of May, it inclined
strongly in favour of his financial
science and administration,
~ The pompousand laboured state-
ment which had been given of the
resources of the country, when
contrasted with its expenditure, in
the month of December, and which
had been re-echoed throwsh the me-
dium of a publication, “avowedly

under

~

-

HES TOMY -O.F sEU RO PE.

under the auspices of, and circulat-
ed by the treasury; had flattered
the nation into a belief of great
and increasing prosperity, and the
public naturally looked to Mr. Ad-
dington with gratitude and admira-
tion, as the restorer of its credit,
and iis finances.

_ The voluntary confirmation of
the accuracy of these statements in
the house of peers, by a nobleman
whose experience in mutters of
finance and calculation was highly
rated, still farther confirmed them
in the public mind; nor was it till
the period of the debate,to which we
have given more than ordinary room
and attention, that the veil was re-
moved, which had hitherto complete-
ly bbscared the real state of things

from the view of the country ; aad

that a prospectabundantly mortify-
ing, whether considered with respect
to the resources of the country, or
the abilities and integrity of those to
whom they were entrusted, present-
ed itself. Itis probable, that the
extraordinary and unprecedented
circumstance of the public accounts
having been tendered to the exami-
nation of parliament and the public,
at a time considerably prior to the
usual! period of their being presented;
the industrious eagerness, with which
they were obtruded upon the pub-
lic in the pamphlet we have already
alluded to; and above all, the ex-
treme probability of exaggeration in

the alleged million surplus, induc-

ed the minute and critical inquiry
of those who were not to be imposed
upon by confident assertion, nor
apt to give implicit credit to the
interested egotism of the minister.
But when it was, in the course of
_ the investigation, seen, that the
"parliamentary statement of Mr.
“Addington ; ; the official documents

137

ofthe secretary to the treasury, and
the gratuitous corroboration of lord
Auckland, all differed materially
from each other, it was not difficult
to infer, that some of these asser-
tions certainly, most probably, all,
difered in the same degree from
truth ; and it was too fair an op-
sae ah for those who wished to
possess the country with the real
state of its resources at the eve of
the serious contest, in which it was
about to be engaged, and who
thought meanly of the capacity of
administration, not to embrace this
opportunity of rescuing it from the
effects of the most dangerous delu-
sion; and point out the errors, or
the want of integrity of his majes-
ty’s counsellors. ‘he result was what
might have been expected; the
most thorough refutation and ex-
posure, of the splendid fallacies of
the minister.

The young nobleman on whose
motion for financial inquiry, the
debate arose, in tracing the outlines
of the deception, which had been
practised on the public, evinced the
united force of perspicuity and ta-
lent; and gave te the public, in
a speech of uncommon merit, the
fairest promise of future excellence.
The earl of Moira, (whose abilities
can only be measured by his integ-
rity,) deprecated that system of
financial juggling which had been
constantly practised on the people
by the present administration, and
owned himself deceived in their
characters, as well as in the treaty
Amiens, But it was reserved for lord
Grenville, who, on this cecasion, as
far transcended all competition, as
indeed he almost surpassed himself,
in an effusion of oratory, as perfect
perhaps as had ever been witnessed
bya popular assembly, to explore,

ee

158

step by step, the labyrinth, in the
recesses of which, imposition had
been concealed, and drag it into
the face of day, to mect merited
contempt and ignominy. It had al-
ready been his lot, since in opposi-
tion, to expose the errors of adminis-
tration,in their great measures of the
Russian convention, and the defi-
Nitive treaty, with irresistible ar-
gument; but it was now seen,
that. this consummate statesman,
was as well versed in the minutest
detail of domestic economy, as he
was acknowledged, almost without
a rival, in the science of universal
politics. In a speech, in which
nervous language, lucid arrange-
nieht, and convincing argument,
were equally conspicuous, he proved,
by the most incontrovertible ‘evi-
dence, that instead of a surplus of
a million, there actually existed a
deficit of four, making in the whole,
a difference between the reality,
and the estimates of the minister,
of five millions!!! So complete was
the effect, which this disclosure,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

either of the grossest ienorance, or
the most wilful deception on the

part of government, produced, that ~

what could be called a defence or
a reply, was not attempted on the

the part of the ministry, though all -

the peers in official situation, were
then present. Some murmurs were
indeed heard, at the bringing for-
ward a motion of this nature in the
upper house of ‘parliament; on a
principle which it would be a waste
time to refute; but it must have
been forgotten by those who uttered
them, that the discussion was pro-
voked by the boasts (made by a no-
ble lord in that assembly, attached
to Mr. Addington’s goyernment, and
himself high in office) of the “ mag-
nificent receipts” and brilliant'state
of the resources of the country ; and
that they likewise betrayed the la-
mentable weakness of anadministra-
tion, which ‘could be attacked on
finance with impunity in the house
of peers, for want of any minister
there, capable of defending their
measures!! !* :

* The following statement, which appeared in a daily paper, professes to give lord
Grenville’s calculations, and which, in order to make the admirable speech we have
given so much in detail, periectly intelligible, we here subjoin.

No. I.

Expenditure, (supposed)
By Mr. Addington.

Army, £5,200,000
Navy, 4,230,000
Ordnance, 800,000

Miscella. services 1,300,000

Total joint contrib. 11,530,000
duct {2:27 ths, dpe. 900}
Deduct) Cons, fund,141,000§ 1,497,000

Remains, British proportion, 10,033,000
Add England’s separate charge 500,000

10,533,000
Add navy buildings, omrtied
by Mr. Addington, 700,000
Real expence ‘of Mr. Ad-
dington’s establishment, 11,233,000

No. IIL.
Expenditure, (actual).
Mr. Addington’s supposed reductions not
effected.
Army,(25,000men) 800,000
Navy,(18,000men ) 1,540,000

Total, (43,000men) 2,340,000
Deduct 2-17 ths, 137,000
2,203,000
Add to this navy buildings, 700,000
2,903,000
Which, added to Mr. Ad-
dington’s estimated ex-
pence of 10,553,000
Makes the total annual ex-
penditure, on the establish-
ment of November last, 13,436,000,
Deduct actual income, 9,185,000
Deficiency, £4,251,000

PR rE

“HISTORY: OF EUROPE.

In the house of commons on

the same day,
Lord Granville Levison Gower

moved that the adjournment should:

be till the next day, and not till
Monday, as was customary. “The
statement made by the minister on
Friday last, of lord Whitworth’s

No. III.
Income, (supposed )
by Mr. Addington.

159
having left Paris, had been since
contradicted; and he thought it
very possible, that such intelligence
might arrive in the course of to--
morrow, as Would be a. fit subject
for a communication.

The chancellor of the exchequer
said, this motion was inadmissible

No. IV.
Income, (actual).

- Annual taxes, 2,750,000 Total revenue 35,444,008
Surplus of consolidated fund, 7,845,000 Permanent charge 94,632,000
Total free revenue, "10,595,000 8,812,000
Add lottery, as stat- Add lottery (real a-
ed by Mr. Adding- mount) 370,000
ton, 500,000 Indian coatribution 590,000 870,000
Indian contribution 500,000 1,099,000
Rott | Rotals 9,682,008
Total of Mr, Ad- Deduct interest, &c» Austrian
dington’s supposed loan, 497,000
ways and meuns, 11,595,000 ——
Deduct his supposed expen- Total actual ways and means, £9,185,000
diture 10,533,000
Leaving his supposed surplus 1,062,000
. RESULTS.
Real expence of Mr. Addington’s supposed establishments, (No. 1.) £11,233,000
Actual income, (No. IV.) “ae - - i. 9,185,000
Deficiency, - - - - - - 2,048,000
Add estimated surplus, (No. IIL.) - : > 5 els 1,062,000
Total error in this view, - - - ~ 5,110,000
But
Expences of actual establishments, (No. LI.) “ . < 15,436,000
Actual income, (No. IV.) = 5 - -. 9,185,000
4,251,000
Add supposed surplus, (No. IIT.) - - > 1,062,000
Total difference between the actual and supposed state of the
finances = o 5 - - - 5,313,000
Allow for imports, &c. omitted by lord Auckland, 150,000
Deficiency of malt, doubtful, POW 130,000
280,000
Say 315,000
Remains actual difference, £5,000,000

Subject only to future increase of reyenue, or reduction ef expence,

iW

140

in form, even if he could agree to
it in substance: in point of form,
such a motion could only be made
as an amendment on a motion,
proposing to adjourn to a longer
time; but his principal objection
was, to the substance of the mction.
He had not stated last Friday, that
lord Whitworth had quitted Paris,
although he had reason tu appre-
hend it; nor could he now express
whether he was, or was not, on his
way from thence. Te had no com-
munication to make, and should
more, the house to adjourn till
Monday.

Mr. Canning wished the minister
expressly to declare, whether or
pot he expected to be able to make
any communication to the house
by the next day.

The chancellor of the exchequer
answered, that he saw n® probabi-
lity of his Majesty being enabled
to make a comunication by to-
morrow.

Mr. Grey felt some doubts upon
the subject: he had himself re-
ceived intelligence last Friday, when
the house was sitting, that lord
Whitworth had not left Paris; and>
possibly, this night or to-morrow
morning, the decisive result of the
negociation might arrive. He
thought any informatiow was better
than the present state of suspense.
The noble lord’s motion was then,
withdrawn, on the speaker’s declar-
ing it to be informal, and

The chancellor of the exchequer
then moved, that the house should
adjourn till Monday.

Mr. H. Lascelles thought, it
would be better to adjourn till to-
morrow ; but as, on Friday last, he
found, that he had voted with men
who were the systematic opposers
¢f administration, he should not

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

now give a vote, lest he should seena
to pre-judge the question,

Mr. Fox ironically lamented the
aukward predicament of the last
speaker, who was afraid to vote at
all, for fear the systematic opposers
might vote on the same side. He
did not however scem in so much
dread of the systematic supporters
of ministers, in his fears of being
thought fo pre-judge the question 5
but he wished to know, what question
it was supposed, he had intended to
pre-judge. Was it in favor of peace?
Although he (Mr. Fox) and his

friends were known to be attached -.

to peace, yet there was another set
of gentlemen who had been called
“ the blood-hounds,’ who were

certainly not supposed to be very-

favorable to that system, and yet
they had also yoted with him on
that occasion. Supposing accounts
should be received of a favorable
issue to this negociation, it would
be better that the house should
know it to-morrow thanon Monday:
or, if any decisive result was known,
that hotise was the proper medium
of communication, between the
king and his subjects. He did not
wish, however, to divide the house
upon the question.

Lord Hawkesbury was for the
adjournment to Monday, ‘because,
he conceived it inconsistent with
the dignity of that house to sit at
unusual times, merely for the
chance of hearing an oral commu-
nication; and because it was im-

possible for his majesty to give any

other by to-morrow, even if the
accounts should arrive.

After a few words from Mr. Mar-
tin and Dr. Lawrence, the motion
of adjournment till Monday was
agreed to,

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

* On the 16th of May, a message
was presented from his majesty,
to both houses of parliament,which
put a final stop to every hope of
peace, by informing them, that he
had recalled his ambassador from
Paris, and that the French ambas-
sador had left London! In con-
sequence,

Lord Pelham moved, in the
house of lords, that the message
should be taken into consideration
on that day se’nnight: it would
take two or three days before the
necessary papers could be got
ready, and it would also take some
time for their lordships to consider
their contents.

Karl Stanhope rejoiced, that time
was given for considering these pa-
pers, “and for resolving whether this
country should be plunged i in an-
- other calamitous war, the end of
which, no person could foresee.
His lordship then mentioned a
plan, that he had heard was pre-
sented to the French government
by an American gentleman, by
which the navy of England might
be completely destroyed, and the
channel of the river Thames stopped
up! He could not consent to the
going to war, unless he had informa-
tion from ministers, whether they
had directed their attention to that
specific point.

No answer was given by ministers
to lord Stanhope’s question, and the
_ consideration of the message was
fixed for the ensuing Monday.

In the house of commons on the
same day,

Lord Hawkesbury, on similar
grounds, moved, that his majesty’s
message should be considered on
the next Monday.

Mr, Grey made no objection to

141

the motion, which he thought per-
fectly proper; but wished to be
informed, whether it was true, that
letters of marque and of reprisal
had been ordered.

Lord Hawkesbury answered, that
such orders had been given; and if
they were not stated in the message,
it was not from any wish of con-
cealing the fact, but because it was
not usual so to do,

After a few words from Mr. Fox,
and Mr. T. Grenville, the motion
was unanimously agreed to.

May the 18th, lord Pelham pre-
sented to the lords,as did the chan-
cellor of the exchequer to the house
of commons, copies of the letters
and state-papers, forming the cor-
respondence between Great-Britain
and France, since the period of the
peace of Amiens.

The following day, Mr. Grey
moved for certain papers, which he
thought would be necessary to
throw a light on some parts of his
Inajesty’s s declaration, and that were
not in the papers presented yester-
day. The papers that he moved for,
were, first, those respecting the vio-
lence that had been stated to have
been offered to British subjects and
property, in the French ‘ports.
2dly, as to the commercial consuls
appointed by France; with the re-
monstrances, if any, made by his
majesty’s ministers on those sub-
jects. 3dly, the remonstrances, if
any, and the answers of the French
government respecting the continu-
ance of the French troops in Hol:
land, and the occupation of Swit-
zerland. 4thly, the orders last
sent for the evacuating the Cape of
Good Hope. And lastly, he wished
to have some information about the
nature of the preparations in France

and

42@ ANNUAL: REG

and Holland, at the date of his ma-
jesty’s message, as the French go-
vernment positively denied, that
there existed any such preparation,
and that there were only two fri-
gates fitting outin Holland, and
two corvettes in France at that
time! Mr. Grey concluded, by
proposing his first motion, for pa-
pers respecting violence committed
to British subjects and property in
the ports of France.

Lord Hawkesbury in reply said,
that it was not insisted, that any of
those particular grounds, was of it-
self a cause of war; but all toge-
ther amounted, in his opinion, toa
mass of aggression, which would
completely justify the conduct of
his majesty’s ministers. He thought
the honorable gentleman had taken
an exaggerated view of those points
on which he grounded his motion.
It was not necessary that France
should positively deny satisfaction ;
if she constantly evaded it, it was
evidence of a hostile disposition:
he therefore opposed the motion,

Mr. Whitbread thought the mo-
tions -proper; in all events, he
thought, it would be incumbent on
ministers to prove in their justifica-
tion, that they had acted cautious-
ly, as well as zealously ; and that it
was not through their fault, that
grievances had been allowed to ac-
cumulate, when that accumulation
was now made the ground of actual
hostility.

Lord Castlereagh, thought mi-
nisters had giyen every degree of
information, that their duty allowed
them ; and, that they had exposed
themselves to a severe ordeal, by
laying before the house, the whole
history of their conduct since the
treaty of Amiens.

IS TER,» 1803.

Mr.. Windham supported the
motion, and thought information
was necessary on all these points
which Mr. Grey had mentioned : he
censured the conduct of ministers
in wrapping themselves up in af-
fected mystery, when all that was
wanted, was, the substance of the
information in their power.

The chancellor of the exchequer
said, that there was only one of the
many motions made by Mr. Grey,
that he should feel himself bound
in duty to resist; that was, the
motion with respect to the arma-
ments going on in France and Hol-
land at the time of his majesty’s
message : he would however say,
that Mr. Liston had informed go-
yernment, that there was a body of

10,000 troops encamped in Hol-

land ; and the house would recol-
lect, that the first consul had himself
told all Europe in his exposé, that
he should keep 500,000 troops
ready to support his negociation
with England ; and that only a

fortnight before the message, when ~

France was at peace with the con-
tinent, a new and extraordinary
levy had been made by conscrip-
tion.

After some observations from the
secretary at war, and the master of
the rolls, on the impolicy of produe-
ing those documents, Mr. Grey
made a very able and animated
reply.

The question being put on his
motions, they were all carried, ex-
cepting those which related to the
armaments, and those respecting
the remonstrances concerning the
atiairs of Holland and Switzer-
land.

On the 20th, Lord Borringdon in >

the house of lords, moved also for

further —

=~) we

a

Oe ee ee ee

$ which was not official,

HISTORY OF EUROPE

“further papers, with respect to the
violence committed on British ship-
ping, with respect) to captain
D’Auvergne, and to the contre
projet, which, it was understood,
that the French government had
presented,
- Lord Pelham, had no objection
to the first motion. As to that re-
specting captain D’Auvergne, he
should enquire whether any written
documents existed ; but, at to the
third, no official communication
could be laid before the house, as
there existed only a proposition,
but had
been made in confidence; he pro-
fessed, however, every desire of

giving information, on» the other

points.

. Lord Borringdon, then withdrew
his motion: being content to. leave

it to the noble secretary, to bring

forward his. motion :at his own

4 ’ .
_ time ri

;

4

rt

5

WwW

*

~

;

;
i

- Earl Fitzwilliam, moved for pa-
pers exactly similar to those moved
the day before, in the house of
commons, with an addition of a
motion, with respect to the inter-
ference of France in the Ionian re-
public.

Lord Pelham, replied to those
different motions, in a manner
nearly similar, to what had been
done in the other house, by lord
-Hawkesbury. As to the Ionian
republic, sufficient information was
already given; and it would be
~ both unnecessary and impolitic, to
give any more detailed information

of the armaments in France and
» Holland.
‘After some observations, from

- lords Carlisle and Hobart,

Earl Fitzwilliam, declared bim-
Vidi

*

143

self satisfied with the explanations
of lord Pelham; he feit.no fear of
French preparations, unless they
could come under the sea, to invade
this country.

Earl Stanhope denied, that he
had ever stated the possibility of
such a scheme; but that he con-
sidered, with great alarm, a secret
for destroying our ships, communi-
cated io, the first consul, by an
American gentleman, of the name
of Fulton. 7

Lord Borringdon, called his lord-
ship to order, as departing wholly
from the question; and lord Fitz-
william’s motion was then. with-
drawn.

On the same day, in the house
of commons,

Lord Hawkesbury laid before the

house, several. papers, which had
been voted by diiferent addresses
from that house.
- Mr. Sheridan, thought the papers
of such importance, and being so
voluminous, that he wished the dis-
cussion to be put off, for some days
longer.

Mr. Grey, wished for the utmost
possible information, to enable the
house to judge, whether, even now,
war might not be prevented?

Lord Hawkesbury, required some
time to consider, whether he could,
with propriety, bring forward any
farther information.

Mr. Sheridan, then moved for
papers, respecting the remonstrances
made, in consequence of the French
troops continuing in Holland ; and
Mr. Johnstone, wished to know,
whether Russia had refused to ga-
rison Malta, ‘for herself; Both
these gentlemen, however, agreed
to withdraw their motions.

General

144 ANNUAL REGISTER,

General Gascoygne, moved for
a creat variety of papers, the prin-
cipal of which were relating to the
island of Malta; the assumption of
the isle of Elba, and the Italian
republic by France; and the annex-
ation of Piedmont; and also with
respect to the cession of the colo-
nies in the West Indies, and else-
where, which ought to have been
Tetained, as well as Malta,

Lord Hawkesbury, agreed to the
motion, respecting the cession of
the West Indian colonies, but found
it his duty to move the previous
question on the others.

Mr. Windham censured, in the
strongest terms, the conduct, which
it was generally supposed, that mi-
nisters had pursued, with respect to
the deputies from the island of Mal-
ta. Those deputies, as it was said,
were not suffered to wait on lord
Hobart, at. his office, for fear of
giving offence to the French govern-
ment.

The chancellor of the exchequer
denied, that any indignity had been

1803.

offered to the Maltese deputies 3
they had received every mark of
respect and kindness, while they
staid in this country; and when
they went, a ship was specially pro-
vided for them. They had tes-
tified, in a letter, of which lord
Hawkesbury had read an extract,
their satisfaction at the arrange-
ments which had been made.

After some observations, from
Dr. Lawrence, Colonel Graham,
and Mr. Ward, :

Mr. Canning consented to vote
for the previous ‘question, on the
assurance of the noble secretary
(lord Hawksbury), that, at a fu-
ture time, there would be no ob-
jection to entering into the discus-
sion of the conduct of Government,
with respect to those Maltese de-
puties.

After several mutual explana-
nations, the previous question was
carried, on all the motions, except-
ing that which related to the cession
of the conquered colonies, in the
West Indies.

CHAP.

HISTORY OF EUROPE 145

CMAP, XI

Important Debates in Parliament on the Negociation, and Correspondence,

—In the House of Lords, Speeches of Lord Pelham—Duke of Cumber+
land—of Clarence—Lord Mulgrave—Melville—Duke of Richmond—

- Marquis of Lansdowne—Duke of Norfolk—Lord King-—Ellenborough,
—Earl of Moira—of Rosslyn—Spencer—Marquis of Sliga—Lord

Grenville, —Division.—Great Majority on the part of Government.—
In the House of Commons,—Public anxiety to witness the Debate.—Defia
ciency in the Reports thereof.—Why.—Mr. Pitt's sentiments.—
Amendment to the address moved by Mr. Grey.—Debate adjourned.—
Speeches of Mr, T, Grenville—Whitbread—Dallas—E lliot—Serjean$
Best—Canning—Foxr—Addington—Attorney General—Mr, Windham
—W. Sinith.— Division —Address carried by a great Majority.—
Message from the King to Parliament.—Supplementary Militia embodied,
—Clergy residence Bill carried.—Motion by Mr. Fox on the Russian
Mediation.—Opposed by Lord Hawkesbury, and Mr. Pitt.—Withdrawn,

|

—Observations,

ONDAY the 23d of May

was the day appointed for

the discussion of the causes of the
war, and the whole conduct of mi-
nisters in the negociation, The
subject was of such uncommon in-
terest, that there was perhaps never

before exhibited so much anxiety

in the public to be present at any
debate. All the avenues to the
house of commons were crowded at
a very early hour,

The discussion was begun in the
house of lords by
- Lord Pelham, who rose to move
the address. He wished that in
this discussion, the support that he
trusted would be given to the pro-
posed address, would be kept sepa-
rate from the consideration of the
neral conduct of ministers, which

Vol. XLV,

might besolemnly discussed on a fus
ture day. He wished the only ques-
tion to be now considered should
be, whether, from a perusal of all
the papers laid upon the table, a
just and legitimate ground of war
had not been established. He then
traced an outline of the conduct
of the two governments since the
peace of Amiens: first, as to Malta,
which was the prominent feature in
discussion, the British goyernment
had taken the necessary steps for
carrying the treaty into execution ;
when, about the 27th of January
last, the evacuation of Malta was
pressedin a peremptory manner by
the French government. » About the
same time, ministers felt it their
duty to demand an explanation of
the pretensions adyanced, and the

views

146. ANNUAL RE-GISTER,

views disclosed by the French go-
vernment. It was then necessary
to review the whole conduct of that
government since the signing of that
peace, which proved that they did
not sincerely wish to maintain it.
His lordship then went over the ya-
rious acts of aggression, committed
by France, as stated in his majesty’s
declaration; and justified the con-
duct of ministers, on all the several
points, As to the possession of
Malta, he thought it absolutely ne-
cessary for this country, as a se-
curity against the designs of France
upon EF cypt, since, by the destruc-
tion of the order of Malta, it had
been impossible to-fulfil exactly the
treaty, in“this respect. His lord-
ship, after having dwelt at consi-
derable length, on the many acts
of aggression and insult, on the part
of France, concluded, by moving
an address to his majesty, expres-
sive of the sense the house enter-
tained of the anxious desire, shewn
by his majesty, for the preservation
of the peace ; their regret that
France had not manifested the same
principles; their indignation at the
spirit .of encroachment, exhibited
by France ; and the reliance which
his majesty might place in. their
support and assistance.

“The duke of Cumberland second-
ed the motion, ‘in a very elegant
and impressive speech. He con-
sidered the question, arising out of
the papers.on the table, was no-
thing less, than whether this coun-
try, which had so long held a proud
and distinguished rank among the
nations, should, or should not, cease
to be an independent country ? Or
whether we must now descend from
that rank, and take our place
among the vanquished. and. feeble

1803.

nations, which have been plunder
ed and insulted by France. The
country now, was again called to
war,to repel the most unwarrantable
system of encroachment and aggres-
sion, that ever sprang from Gallic
ambition. The first consul of

France had endeavoured to sub-

due all the nations of Europe, and
reduce them to the most abject.
vassalage. Holland, Italy, and
Switzerland, lay now subdued, at
the proud foot of France, after be-
ing plundered of all the wealth,
which the industry of ages had ac-
quired; and now France, in the

vanity of conquest, has ventured to
say, that ‘¢ England could not con-
tend with her, single handed.” He
then went over the whole conduct
of the Fvench government, during
the peace, and shewed, that it was
an uniform system of insult, aggres-
sion, and hostility. His royal high-
ness concluded, by expressing his
firm persuasion, that if this war
was prosecuted with vigour, it would
be crowned with success, and that
we should be able to convince the
world, that this nation has not de-
generated from the spirit of their
ancestors, and that there is still in
Europe, a powerful and uncon-
quered nation, always ready to de-
fend its own dignity, and to oppose
lawless ambition,

Earl Stanhope said, that it ap-
peared to him, that the only se-
rious difference between the French
government and our’s, was in con-
sequence of our insisting upon keep-
ing Malta for ten years, in spite of
the treaty of Amiens. In his opi-
nion, we were bound to restore it;
nor could he grant that France had
so much increased her dominions,
since, the peace. At the penerg

P she

mISTORY: OF [EU ROPE.

she was in possession of Italy and
Holland; she was also in possession
of St. Domingo, which she has
since lost, and which, if she pos-
sessed, our West India colonies
would be in great danger. As Bo-
_ Maparte offered to give up Malta in
perpetuity, for an ‘adequate consi-
deration, he theught our ministers
should, at all events, have nego-
ciated with respect to the consi-
deration which might have satisfied
the French government.
. The duke of Clarence, went over
the history of the last war, and
traced the anxiety and clamour for
peace, to the failure of so many of
our expeditions. It was from per-
ceiving the wishes of the public so
strong for peace, that he gave his
‘consent to the preliminary articles.
-He took an able review of the hos-
‘tile conduct of the French govern-
ment, from the day they had sign-
‘ed the preliminaries. He more
particularly dwelt on the conver-
sation of Bonaparte, with lord
Whitworth, in which the first con-
sul declares his views upon Egypt,
and considers the possession of
Piedmont and Switzerland, as “‘ des
bagatelles,” trifles not worth consi-
dering, and which must have been
foreseen, while the treaty was pend-
‘ing. At the time of the treaty, it
was considered a primary object to
- guarantee the independence of Mal-
- ta; but the destruction of that order,
to which it was to have been re-
< _ >stored, and the change in the rela*
- tive situation of France, since the
* treaty, made it more necessary than
-éver, not to restore Malta, till its
independence could be perfectly se-
) ¥ cured,
* Lord Mulgrave, thought the op-
"pressions exercised by France, ever
i vother powers, td agerandize her

147

empire, was a sufficient reason for
us to refuse to surrender Malta;
but by the letter of the treaty, we
were bound to surrender Malta to
the order, who were to be restored
to their ancient privileges ; instead
of that, the order had been strip-
ped by France, both of its property
and privileges. A grand master
had been chosen, by the pope, who
was himself a vassal of France, and
therefore to restore it now, would
be only giving it into the hands
of Praiice, as a key to the posses-
sion of Egypt. If ministers were to
bear longer the insolence of the
French government, they might
have Napper Tandy sent over to
them, as a commercial agent; or
Arthur O‘Connor, as proconsul of
Britain. He therefore approved of
the conduct of ministers on this oc-
casion,

Lord Melville, was glad to find,
that the importance of Malta, as a
key to Egypt, was universally ad-
mitted; and also that we had a right
to secure its independence, against
the ambition of France. In the ac-
tual state of Europe, Great Britain
and Russia were the only powers
capable of giving security to Malta.
He felt rejoiced, that the negocia-
tion, as respecting Malta, was at
an end, and that the treaty had,
on this point, become a dead letter,
by the act of France, who, had made
the execution of itimpossible. The
order of St. John of Jerusalem, is
now no more, and we must keep
Malta, not for them, but for our-
selves, He was content to say, that
we went to war, to keep Malta; and
to support the address to his ma-
jesty, for his gracious communica-
tion on this ground alone.

The duke of Richmond, did not
consider the questioy of Malta, as

L2 a suf-

148

a sufficient ground for war. He
declared, that until the late nego-
ciation, he had never heard of the
island of Lampedosa, and whether
it had springs or rivers, and whether
it was or was not capable of being
foititied, he was entirely ignorant ;
and yet this island, such as it was,
would have contented ministers,
witha ten years possession of Malta:

he really did not think the dif ‘

ference worth going to war about.
The marquis of Lansdown said,
that in the experience of a long life,
he‘ had always found, that when
ministers chose to go to war, they
also endeavoured to mingle among
their alleged causes, some of the
popular topics of the times. He
had often before now, heard ‘* the
liberty of the press” held forward,
by ministers, as an object of the
tirst importance. As to the aggres-
sions of France in Switzerland, “and
upon the continent, he thought
those subjects rather belonged to
Austria and the continental powers,
than to us, and yet, they did not
think them sufficient causes fora war,
For his part, in the present war, or
in the American war, he thought
that the spirit of reconciliation
would do more than force of arms.
The duke of Norfolk, could not
think of calling on ministers to
give up Malta to the: possession of
France; but he hoped that the be-
nefits of peace would not be lightly
thrown away on the provocation of
the moment. He hoped that the gua-
rantee of Russia might still be ob-
tained, upon this head. He wished
that it should be the recommenda-
tion of this house to his majesty,
that no mediation should be refused,
that would hold out a hope of
securing the peace of Europe ; but

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803,

if the independence of Europe, and
the honor of the country, could no
otherwise be obtained, then he must
agree to mect again, the miseries
and difficulties of war.

Lord King, expressed his con-
cern, that we were again to be in-
volved in war with France, for the
reasons set forth in his majesty’s
declaration. He could not see
what we were to expect, from a
new conflict with France; we could
make no impression on that coun-
try: she had no colonies, that could
be affected by our attacks: and at
home, she was invulnerable. He
did not think Malta a sufficient
ground for war, much less did he
consider it right to correct the er-
rors of a treaty, by a breach of
treaty. Although, as far as war
was necessary, the house would sup-
port his majesty; yet he did not
like unnecessarily hurling defiance
at France.. He then moyed, as an
amendment to the address, that
those expressions should be ex-
punged, which so warmly imputed
to France, the guilt of breaking the
treaties.

The question being put, on the
amendment,

Lord Ellenborough opposed it.
He thought it evident, that we went
to war, not for the island of Lam-
pedosa (as stated by the duke of
Richmond), but for our indepen-
dence, our liberties, and our com-
merce. It was most evident, that
*some new arrangements were ne-
cessary, respecting the island of
Malta, as we had neither the order
to restore it to, nor the guarantees
to secure its independence. This
country was never situated so, as
that any just claim could be made
on her for the surrender of Malta ;

an

-

misToORY OF EUROPE.

and the house must recollect the
threats which had been held out,
by the first consul personally, of
his intention of possessing himself
ef Egypt, sooner or later.

The earl of Moira, considered
war so serious a calamity, both to
the government and the people,
that he was not surprized, that the
noble lord (lord King), had _pro-
posed the amendment, although,
for his part, he could not agree to
it. The evils of war, fell not upon
their lordships, but upon the poor,
in the first instance ; it was there-
fore humanity to give them the
fullest consideration. He hoped,
however, that there might be no
division upon the question, as it
was a time that the greatest unani-
mity should be found in the coun-
cils of the nation. He did not
consider Malta as the only ground,
or the principal ground of the war ;
the many insults and aggressions of
France were such, that, for his
part, he did not consider Malta a
sufficient satisfaction. The state of
Holland, Switzerland, and Italy,
were grounds still stronger, than
that of Malta. The possessions of
France were now enormous, and
were employed in wounding and
injuring us. He considered that
the country was never engaged in
a war more necessary than the pre-
sent; nor was it ever more neces-
sary to prosecute a war, with vigour
and decision. If we carried it on

: well, he had no doubt of success; but

if we carried it on badly, he thought
the country would never be troubled

_ with managing another war,

Earl Spencer, considered the
war unavoidable, under the present
@ircumstances. He did not wish
The house to run away with the

+

149

idea, that this was to be but a short
war, as it might well turn out to be
otherwise. Ile wished the country
to understand its danger, and the
house to keep that jealous super-
intendance of the management of
the resources of this country, with-
out which we could not hope for
any important success.

The earl of Rosslyn, although he
agreed with a noble lord (lord Mel-
ville), that Malta alone would be
a sufficient ground of war, yet
thought it evident, that the whoie
system of France, since the peace,
and her many breaches of good
faith, amounted to an abundant
cause of war, on our part. He
considered the menacing language,
held forth by Bonaparte to lord
Whitworth, as a sufficient cause of
war. He considered his whole con-
duct, since he signed the treaty, as
an uniform system of arrogance, in-
sult, and injury. His views against
the Turkish empire, which he did
not take the trouble to concez!,
were contrary to the letter of the
treaty of Amiens, and therefore a
ground of war. He wished that this
should not be considered as a war
likely to be short, but as one so ah-
solutely necessary, that cur only
wish should be, to carry it on with
vigour and success.

The marquis of Sligo, thought,
the provocations, given to England,
were such as made war incyitable.
He hoped we should always retain
Malta.

After a few observations, from
some other noble lords,

Lord Grenville expressed _ his
approbation of the address, which
he thought was drawn up in terns,
congenial with those sentiments of
national honor and personal pride,

L3 which

150
which formed the best securities for
the country. He did not wish to
be considered an advocate for war.
No man felt more strongly than he
did the calamities of war, or the
care that ought to be taken to
avert so great anevil. But it was
often the best way to avoid it, not
to-appear too much afraid of it.
it was from this conviction that he
had always recommended to minis-
ters a system contrary to what they
had chosen to pursue, but which he
firmly believed, would have been
more eflectual even for avoiding the
war. As to the non-execution of
the article of the treaty respecting
Malta, he saw and stated, that
from the commencement, it was an
article not capable of being carried
into execution. Without dwelling
much, however, upon the ground of
Malta, he thought it clear that the
present war was just, necessary,
and expedient; inasmuch as it was
a resistance to a series of violence,
aggression, and insult, that could
~not be endured, without sinking
the country to the lowest state of
degradation. It was better to be-
gin the contest now, than wait till
we should be forced to engayesin it,
with diminished means, and against
increased forces. The designs. of
Bonaparte on the Turkish empire,
were in direct violation of the letter
and the spirit of the treaty of Ami-
ens. The first consul was not a
man to be conciliated to the prac-
tice of justice’ by the appearance
of submission: *all the energies of
this country must therefore be eall-
ed forward: we must expose our-
selves to dangers, and reconcile our-

ANNUAL REGISTER, ‘180s.

selves to burdens; and prevent, by
temporary sacrifices, the total sacri-
fice of our country and ourselves.

Lord Darnley supported the
original address, as did aiso lord’
Gwidir.

The house then divided on lord
King’s amendment. For it 10;
against it 142; majority 132 for
the original address.*

On the same day there was a
very animated debate in the house
of commons, but the public curio-
sity was sogreat, that the galleries
were filled at an carly hour, by per-
sons admitted in an wiusual manner,
and none of those persons who are
accustomed to report the parliamen-
tary proceedings, could gain admis-
sion: avery imperfect sketch, there-
fore, is all that can be presented to
the public of the very interesting
discussion, on the first day of the
consideration of the subject.

After some animated observa-
tions from Mr. Erskine,

Mr, Pitt rose, and expressed a
strong hope, that upon the great
and important question now at issue
between this country and France,
all parties would be unanimous.
There had been such evident proofs
of hostility on the part of France,
as justified this country in retaining
Malta for its security. The report
of Sebastiani, the circumstances of
his mission, and the express and de-
liberate avowal of Bonaparte him-
self, proved the intention of the
first consul to renew his hostile at-
tempts against Egypt, which would
be undeniably an act of hostility
against this country, and its most
important interests, and a direct

:

* The minority were, the dukes of Bedford and Leinster, the earls of Derby, Cow-

ger: Besborough, Thanet, Albemarle, Stanhope, Guildford, and Jord King.

violation

Bi

“HISTORY OF*° EUROPE.

violation of the treaty of Amiens.
He then commented at length upon
the report of Sebastiani, and his
mnission, which he thought was most
evidently of a hostile nature: as to
the pretence of his being sent to
answer and refute assertions in sir
Robert Wilson’s book, that was ri-
diculous, inasmuch as his mission
was antecedent to the appearance
sof that book ; and in fact, sir Rob.
Wilson’s statements had not been at
all contradicted by the report of
Sebastiani. Bonaparte, in his con-
versation with lord Whitworth, only
disowned the intention of siezing
Egypt at present; as he declared,
** that sooner or later it must belong
to France; and yet, although it
was thus confest to be a favorite
object of the consular ambition,
‘still the only security that France
would give, was this, “ that the
French ambassador at Constantino-
ple should be charged to give assur-
ances to the Porte, of the disposition
of France to strengthen instead of
weaken the Turkish government.”
He would not disbelieve this asser-
tion, when he recollected, that it
had been the-new policy of France,
ever since the revolution, to disclose
the most daring designs, long before
their execution, in order that the
first feelings of indignation, which
would lead to vigorous resistance,
might have passed away, and given
place to neglect and indifference.
He therefore did believe the first
consul and his minister, when they
declared their views upon Egypt;
and thought our ministers would
have been most blameable, if when
such designs were avowed, they
should surrender Malta without suf-
ficient security. He thought the
- annexation of Piedmont, the -arre-

\

151

gant conduct of France with re-
spect to the German indemnities;
and above all, the violence offered
to Switzerland; were suflicient
causes of war at any time, if we
had had such continental co-opera-
tion, as to afford any prospect of
success. The various agyressions
stated in his Majesty’s declaration,
were all grounds sufficient to prove
the necessity and justice of the war.
He concluded by calling upon mi-
nisters in avery impressive manner,
to prepare without delay such vigo-
rous measures of finance and na-
tional defence, as would convince
our enemies that they were neither
able to diminish our spirit by
threatened invasions, nor to exhaust
our resources by a long protracted
war. Great and unexampled as
were our efforts during the last war,
those of the present war should still
exceed them. He lamented the

_necessity of those painful exertions,

as-‘much as any man; but we had
no option between the blessings of
peace and the dangers of war: from
the fatality of the times, and the
general state of mankind, we must
consider our lot as cast in a time of
trouble and peril, and must now
rouse our national spirit, to meet
the dangers, and discharge the du-
ties, of the situation we find our-
selves placed in.

Mr. Grey moved an amendment
to the address, and a discussion
took place, which, from the cir-
cumstance already stated, we were
unable accurately to learn. The
debate however was adjourned til
the next day,when it was resumed by

Mr. 3. Grenville, who was deci-
dedly of opinion, that the conduct
of France upon all the principal

_ points, stated. in his Majesty’s

L4

declaration,

2 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

declaration, amply justified this
country in retaining Malta. He
should not have considered a mere
abstract wish of the first consul, to
possess himself of Egypt, asa sufli-
cient ground of war: but the con-
duct of Sebastiani, and the avowal
of the French minister, made it
clear that a hostile attack was me-
ditated, not only on Egypt, but on
the Ionian isles, in direct violation
of the treaty of Amiens: he knew
no period, in which so many and
invincible grounds of war on the
part of this country,were so clearly
and distinctly made out. He pre-
ferred the original address to the
amendment, because he thought it
necessary to shew the greatest una-
mimity,

Mr. Whitbread said, he. also
wished for unanimity: he put it
however, to the last speaker, to Mr.
Pitt, and other gentlemen, whether
they could, with a safe conscience,
vote an address, which would be a
direct approbation of the conduct
of his majesty’s ministers. The
tight hon. gentleman had distinctly
admitted, that ministers had com-
mitted the honor of the country.
It appeared to him, that the best
mode of obtaining unanimity, was,
by supporting the amendment of
Mr. Grey, which, while it pledged
the house to the support of the war,
did not approve of the conduct of
ministers. Whatever aggravated
circumstance might have occurred
since the peace of Amiens, he con-
sidered that the only thing we were
at war for now, was the terms of
our’ ultimatum delivered to the
French court. If we, had been
suffered to retain Malta, all would
have Leen well, and we would now
enjoy peace. After taking a review

of the whole conduct of ministers,
both before and after the treaty of
Amiens, he felt convinced, that they
had no right to declare those to be
reasons for going to war,which were
no reasons for preventing the peace
being signed at Amiens: he con-
cluded by expressing a hope, that
his majesty’s ministers might now
avail themselves of the interference
of Russia, and that the peace might
be preserved.

Mr. Dallas wished the attention
of the house to be now confined to
the question immediately before
their consideration, namely, whe-
ther the war was just or unjust?
As to the abilities of ministers, and
their general conduct, that was a
separate question, which might be
discussed at another time. He
thought there was no doubt, but
that, in this quarrel, the country
was in the right; ministers had
made every cession, required by
the treaty of Amiens, excepting
Malta alone, and in that instance,
they had done every thing in their
power to obtain the guarantees
that were stipulated in the treaty.
On the other hand, the conduct
of France, with respect to Switz-
erland, Holland, and Italy, jus-
tified the jealousy of our govern-
ment. ‘The first consul himself had
avowcd his designs upon Egypt ; he
therefore should answer the last
speaker, who asked, ‘‘ What we are
at war for?” by saying, ‘‘ We were
at war for Malta, but not for Mal-
ta only, but fory Egypt; not for .
Kgypt only, but for India ; not for
India alone, but for the integrity of
the British empire, and the cause
of justice, good faith, and freedom
all over the world.”

Mr. Elliot agreed in the justice

i and

HISTORY

and necessity of the war, and on
‘that ground, and that alone, sup-
ported the address.. Te considered
the mission of Sebastiani, as an
act: incapable of explanation or re-
paratio: He had always repro-
bated the ate unfortunate truce,
and wished now, that the contest
should be continued, until real
peace and tranquillity could be re-
stored.

Mr. Serjeant Best thought, that
not only Malta, but the smallest
island upon earth, would be suf-
ficient ground for war; if demand-
ed in the peremptory manner in
which France demanded Malta.
‘Although he admitted that France
had given many other just causes
for war, yet he did not blame mi-
‘nisters for not being too ready to
seize them.

‘Mr. Canning, supported the ad-
dress, but by no means conceived

himself to be precluded, by so do-

ing, from expressing his opinion
fully, upon a future occasion, of
the whole of the conduct of mi-
nisters. As to the justice and
necessity of the present war, he

- thought it was altogether obvious;

and whether ministers ought, or
ought not, sooner to have made
their stand against France ; yet he
had no doubt, but that, under the
circumstances which then existed,
they were right, m refusing to give
up Malta. The importance of Mal-

_ ‘ta had been proved by this, that

both the English and French expe-

_ ditions, bound for Egypt, found it

_ most conyenient to touch at Malta,

in their passage.

It was evident

_ that, in the present state of Europe,

Russia is the only neutral power,
which could sufficiently protect
Malta, but Russia had shewn no

OF EUROPE.

153

disposition, either to garrison or
guarantee it.

Mr. Fox, felt it to be his duty to
the people of England, to endea-
your to rescue them from a situa-
tion of great danger, and certain
misery, whatever might be the suc-
cess of the war. He differed from
those wha had divided the question,
as he thought the justice or injus-
tice of the war must, in a great
measure, depend upon the circum-
stances of the conduct of ministers.
He thought it was much better to
vote for the amendment, respecting
which there could be no difference
of opinion, than for the original
address, which certainly required
much explanation. The hon. mem-
ber took a review of the whole of
the correspondence, in which, he
thought, there was a great deal of
shuffling, on both sides. He very
much disapproved of the applica-
tion of the first consul, to remove
those emigrants, who had obtained
the protection of this country $ as
also that for abridging the freedom
ofour press ; he thought, however,
too much stress had been laid on
the expressions, used by him, in
the conversation with lord Whit-
worth, which being given from me-
mory, could not be supposed to
be exact. He however saw no
great pride or haughtiness in the
consul, speaking ct the invasion,
and confessing that the chances
were an hundred to one against him ;
and that he almost despaired of be-
ing able to accomplish his purpese.
The desire of Bonaparte to be pos-
sessed of Egypt, was not, in itself,
a sutlicient ground of war, or we
should neyer have been at peace
with the house of Bourbon. As te
their generai system, of aggrandise-

ment,

154

ment, we had no. more right to
complain of it in France, than
France would have to complain of
our agorandizement in India, To
excuse ourselves from possessing
this spirit, we must say as the lady
did, who was aecused of frequent
disregards of virtue :. ‘* Never be-
fore, upon my honor, on this side
of the cape of Good Hope.” As to
Egypt, at the time that Vergennes,
the minister to Louis the XVIth,
had an expedition ready for Egypt,
instead of war, we made a com-
mercial treaty with France. As to
Malta, it was known that Russia
would have guaranteed it upon cer-
tain conditions; but we rather
chose to keep it to ourselves, for
ten years. He did not consider
the mission of Sebastiani, as a suf-
ficient cause for war. There had
been hardly a year of peace, since
the treaty of Utrecht, in which the
old French government had not
some such missionary at work.
Europe would never know a single
year of peace, if war was necessary
on such a ground. He blamed
ministers, for allowing an accumu-
lation of insults, without demand-
ing satisfaction; and for finally
going to war, on a sordid principle,
for which it was impossible that we
could find any allies. He was
alarmed, when he heard of the un-
usual exertions that.should be made
‘this war, and that from an old
member (Mr. Pitt), who had al-
ready so much increased the bur-
dens of the nation. That gentle-
man seemed to threaten us with an
increase of two or three hundred
millions to our debt, and that pure-
ly for Malta, unconnected with
any great, general, generous inte-
rest of Europe. Ile had, in his

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

life time, heard plenty of philippies,
such as Demosthenes might have en-
vied; but whenever he heard mem-
bers indulging the house with luxuri-
ous treats of eloquence, full-dressed
speeches, and high-toned declama-
tions; he pitied ‘the people, whose
lot it was to pay dearly for all this,
It put him in mind of the French
proverb, ‘Le cout ote le gout ;”
and certainly, it must be admitted,
that the fine speeches in the Ame-
rican war, and in the last, cost the
country dear enough. After strong-
ly recommending an alliance with
Russia, if possible, Mr. Fox con-
cluded, by saying, that, in his opi-
nion, the best way to obtain
unanimity, was to support the
amended address, which every body
must approve of, rather than the
original address, which no one could
assent to, without some qualifica-
tion.

The chancellor of the exchequer,
lamented that the etiusions ‘of the
honourable gentleman’s great and
exalted mind, should have been
employed for the purpose for which
they were then applied. He con-
sidered the war, as one of obvious —
necessity, and justified the conduct
of his majesty’s ministers, from the
imputation of want of sincerity in
their endeavours to procure peace.
The honorable gentleman had not
done justice to ministers, when he
charged them with not having made
the proper remonstrances, as it had
appeared from the papers on the
table, that they had remonstrated
upon almost every topic mentioned
in the declaration. He avowed,
that it was the intention of this
country to assist Switzerland, if, by
any means, it could have been done.
He then proceeded to take a gene-

ral

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

ral view of the conduct of France,
since the treaty, which evinced a
Constant design of injuring, and in-
sulting this country. He dwelt par-
ticularly on the report of Sebas-
tiani, and the conversation of Bo-
naparte with lord Whitworth. As
to the interference of Russia, re-
specting Malta, he should say, that
if Russia, or any other great power,
should interfere, with friendly in-
tentions, and make any proposition
of a practical nature, by which
peace might be restored, no man
would be more glad to attend to it
than himself. At present, however,
he thought it necessary to prepare
the country for an arduous contest,
and to be ready to make great sa-
crifices in support of it. The cause
in which we were now engaged, was
that of justice, against insult and
‘agoression ; a cause which had left
to his majesty’ or parliament no al-
_ ternative.

The attorney general, supported
the address, and highly disapprov-
ed of the tendency of Mr. I’ox’s
speech, whose arguments went, as
he thought, to justify the conduct
of Bonaparte. He conceived that
this country had never been en-
gaged in a contest before, on more
honorable principles, or more ab-
solutely necessary, than the present
war.

Mr. Windham, in very strong
terms, condemned the arguments
‘of Mr. Fox, which, he thought,
not only fallacious, but wicked.
‘His speech was like a quiver of

poisoned arrows, aimed at the hearts

of his hearers. The honorable gen-
_ tleman had made himself a pandar

_ ‘to all the base and illiberal passions
of the people, by supporting sel-
‘fishness against patriotism, and op-

153
posing private considerations to 'the
grand views of national policy, If
he stooped so low, he was not to be
envied for the triumph of eloquence.
He then drew a comparison, betwen
his conduct and that of Mr. Pitt,
who had employed his great talents
in kindling the flame of patriotism,
and in calling forth the energies of
the country.

Mr. W. Smith, condemned the
severe epithets which had been ap-
plied, by Mr. Windham, to the
speech of Mr. Fox. He thought,
when the heat of the moment had
subsided, he must feel remorse, for
the expressions he had used.

Mr. Windham, in explanation,
allowed that he did not wish the
words that had fallen from him, in
the heat of debate, to be under-
stood in the strict literal mean-
ing.

Mr. Fox said, he excused the
warmth of the right hon. gentle-
man; and, as for himself, he had
a foible, of not easily and slightly
quarrelling with an old acquain-
tance.

The house then divided, on the
amendment, when there appeared
67 for it; 398 against it. The
original question was then put and
carried,

On the next day, the chancellor
of the exchequer brought up a mes-
sage, from his majesty, informing
the house that his majesty had
judged it necessary, for the secu-
rity of the kingdom, to call out the
supplementary militia; and the se-
cretary at war moved a correspond-
ing address.

Upon the report being brought
up, of the address voted the night
before,

Sir Robert Pecle, though strongly
adverse

156: ANNUAL RE

adversé to wars in general, yet
considered this war, as one that
could not be avoided. He did not
think it was sé much the rock of
Malta, that was the question, as
the rock of the British constitution,
which the first consul meant to
attack.

Mr. Lascelles, expressed his con-
viction, that this war was brought
on by no fault of our own, and that
the conduct of France, ever since
the peace, had been atrocious in
the extreme.

Sir W, Pulteney, agreed with him
in opinion, and felt eonyinced, from
a perusal of the papers on the ta-
ble, that ministers had neglected
no moderate means, to secure the
blessings of peace.

On the 26th, upon sir W, Scott’s
moving the third reading of the cler-
gy bill,

Sir Francis Burdett, opposed the
bill, as he thought, it threw the
body of the clergy, at the mercy of
the bishops, and also at the mercy
of the minister of the day, inasmuch
as many of the clergy voted for
members of parliament, and could
be acted on by the influence the
bishops obtained by this bill. It
was well known, that the bishop of
St. David’s had, previously to an
election, sent circular letters round
to his clergy, to influence their
votes. He thought the bishops re-
quired regulation themselves, as
well as any other description of the
clergy ; for instance, the bishop of
Landaff, was regius professor at
Cambridge, had a \iving in Hunting-
donshire, an archdeaconry some-
where else, and resided himself in
Cumberland.

After a few observations from

GISTER,

1803.

other members, the bill was passetl,
by a majority of 50 to 5.
On the 27th day of May, in the

house of commons,

Mr. Vox rose, to make his pro-.

mised motion, relative to the me-
diation of the emperor of Russia.
He had, on a former day, stated

his opinions very fully, on the ge-

neral question, and a great majo-
rity of the house had differed from
him; to the decision of that ma-
jority, it was his duty to bow, and
as the country was now actually at
war, he should give that war the
best support in his power. But, at
the same time, he thought no body
would deny, that it was desirable
to bring that war to an honorable
conclusion, as soon as possible.
The proposition which he then ins
tended to submit to the house, had
that object only in view. It hay-
ing been understood, that the em-
peror of Russia had offered his me-
diation, he wished to persuade the
house, to advise his majesty, to
avail himself of the friendly dispo-
sition so manifested. Nothing could
be more respectable, or hkely to
be more efficacious, than the medi-
ation of a sovereign so powerful,
and universally respected, as the
emperor of Russia. Should such
a mediation be accepted by us, but
fail from the unjust pretensions of
France, then, in the prosecution of
a war evidently necessary, we might
reckon upon the support of the
great mediating power, and the
public opinion of Europe and the
world, would be in our favour. It
might also be supposed, that a
power, so great as Russia, might
be able to mediate on all the points
at issue, between this country and

France,

Pn a ee

harm, but could do no good.
thought no case had been imadé out,

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

France, and not only on those points,

but that it would also be the fittest

' protector and guarantee of the rights

of all independent nations, and the
general interests of Europe. Be-
sides, the power of the emperor
of Russia, his character, and his
Jove of justice, together with his
pacific disposition, rendered him a
fit person for the office of mediator.
He considered that, at all events, a
connexion with Russia, was the
most desirable, which, under the
present circumstances of the world,
was open to this country. The em-
peror of Russia had given a striking
proot of his moderation, in reject-
ing a proposition of France, which

went to the dismemberment of

the Turkish empire. Mr. Fox
then dwelt, at considerable length,
and with much animation, on the
great advantages that might be de-

_ rived from a connexion with Russia,
without whose assistance,

although
this country possessed suflicient
means of self-defence, yet it want-
ed means, which could be brought
to bear upon those great conti-
nental interests, which are of such
jnfinite importance in settling our
disputes with France; he should
Not propose the interference of Rus-
sia, if he had supposed that power
at all partial to France, but be-
lieving her sentiments to be quite
the other way, he thought nothing
more desirable. He concluded,

-by moving an address to his majesty,

to the import stated in his speech.
Lord Hawkesbury, thought no fair

‘parliamentary grounds had been

laid for the motion, and that it
was one which might do much
He

which would warrant the interfer-

157

ence of parliament, in the exercise
of the kingly prerogative. He de+
clared, most expressly, that since
the signing of the peace of Amiens,
no efforts had been wanting, to en-
deayour to establish such a concord
among the continental powers, as
might best secure their peace and
independence ; this was done, with-
out any design of going to war, for
the purpose of setting the continent
to rights, but merely for defensive
operations, and to preserve the
peace of the continent. He consi- ;
dered, that the proposal of making
use of the Russian ambassador, as
anintermediary in the discussions
with France,-could not be produc
tive of any advantage, whilé France
positively refused to accede to the
only terms which-his majesty could
listen to, He wished that the ne-
gociation might again be renewed,
and peace restored, if it could
be done with honour; but, in the
mean time, he could not conseat
to cripple our exertions, and para
lyze our strength. He objected to
the motion, not so much upon the
principle of it, as because it appear-
ed to him unnecessary, and that i@
conveyed an unfounded distrust of
the sincerity of ministers, in their
desire of peace.
Mr. Fox, in explanation, denied
that this was his intention.
Mr. Pitt, concurred in all the
general principles, upon which the
motion was grounded. Lie had
heard that speech, with infinite
satisfaction, as the sentiments of
it were those which, in the best
times of this country, enabled it to
contribute to the general liberty
and independence of Europe; to
support the rights, and redress the
wrongs of the lesser powers, and
successfully

158
successfully to resist the encroach-
ments of ambition, These were
the principles which had been con-
tended for, in the last war, and
which had founded the honor of
this country. He was glad to hear
these principles admitted by the
hon. gentleman (Mr. Fox), who
formerly differed so widely from
him in the application of them.
As to interfering in the affairs of
the continent; he did think it was
the policy of this country not to be
too ready to involve itself in war,
upon “every slight movement ; but
that it should oppose any great con-
vulsion on the continent, which, by
destroying the independence of
other nations, materially affected
the interests of this country. It
would-be a weak policy, to throw
away entirely the assistance to be
derived from continental connec-
tions. After again expressing his
perfect approbation of the princi-
ples on which the motion was
grounded, he still hoped, that
Mr. Fox would not persist in it, as
there appeared no reason to doubt,
but that his majesty’s ministers
would act in conformity with those
general principles.

Mr. Fox, in explanation, vindi-
cated the consistency of his princi-
ples now, with those he had for-
merly expressed. The right hon,
gentleman (Mr. Pitt), had confess-
ed, that he had only abandoned
them last war, by the untoward
events which rendered the further
prosecution of it hopeless.. He had
considered the war in that light,
long before, and the only great dif-
ference between him and Mr. Pitt,
upon the subject was, that what
* that right hon, gentleman had seen
at the latter end of thewar, he had

ANNUAL'UREGISTER,

1803.

foreseen many years sooner. Hé&
did not wish to press his motion to!
a division, if the noble lord would,
give the house that information for
which he sought, whether it was:
the intention of his majesty’s mi~
nisters to avail themselves of; the
dispositions manifested by the em-
peror of Russia, or whether the
court of Russia had offered its.me-
diation on. a large and gene
scale?

Lord Hawkesbury said, -the offer
of Russia was made in a yery loose
and general way, and- just at the
time when lord Whitworth was on
the point of leaving Paris. Our
ultimatum had been rejected, and
the negociations were then at an
end. The British government was
ready to accept the mediation of
Russia, both with respect to our own
disputes with France, and to the
general interests. of the empire ;
but at the same time, until those
disputes could be settled, minis-
ters could not advise his majesty to
suspend, in any degree, his exer-
tions for the continuance of the
war,

Mr. Fox admitted this declara-
tion to be a sufficient. pledge of
the conduct of government in this
respect; and therefore consented
to withdraw his motion.

» Such was theissue of the solitary
attempt made by the “ old opposi-
tion” to direct the current of the
public opinion, respecting the pos-
sibility of evading a rupture with
France. What effect the proffered
mediation of Russia might have had
in the present circumstances; of
the principle on which it was ten-
dered ; and of the wisdom of its re-
jection; it will be the province of
a distinct portion ef this volume to

investigate,

te Addington,

Y
we
a
»

SHISTORY!: OFSEURORE:

investigate. In a parliamentary
point of view, the debate was wor-
thy of remark, as it afforded the
first instance of Mr. Pitt’s coinci-
dence in opinion, with those who

_ disapproved of the measures of the
Minister, at least so far as related .
_ to the hostile system now about to
be adopted; and which, though it

Hos pe: urged with all that strength
n

d pertinacity, which on most oc-

de casions, distinguished his public
x conduct ;
that there ‘existed no longer that
-mnion of sentiment,

yet it t sufficiently evinced

and harmony
of opinion, which prevailed during
the early period of the present ad-
ministration, between him and Mr.
On this occasion too,

159
it is to be observed, that though
Mr. Grenville, Mr. Windham, and
the strength and talent of those
who had always decried the defi-
nitive treaty, and predicted its in-
evitable consequences, were in the
house; they took no part whatever
upon this motion of Mr. Fox’s,
w ‘hich itis probable they consider
ed, as in itself inefficient or nuga?
tory; or which, if adopted, would
lead to that sluggish and temporiz-
ing system, which ministers seemed
for a moment to’‘have shaken off;
a conduct, in which it was too much
the interest of the empire, not* to
wish them to persevere; and conse-
quently net the object of the “ new
Opposition” to retard gr embarrass,

~ CIIAB,

10 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

CHAP, XIII.

‘Dehates in both Houses of Parliament on the conduct of Ministers—In the
Lards,—Speeches of Earl Fitzilliam—Limerick—Grosoenor — Lord
Miulgrave— Earl of Caernarvon.— Lord Ellenborough — Melville—
Hoburt-— Grenville.—Resoilutions for the censure of Ministers nega-
tived by a great Majority.—Debates the following day in the Commons,
‘on similar resolutions, moved by Colonel Patten Colonel Bastard, and
Mr, Hawkins Browne, vindicate the conduct of Ministers.—Lord Ken-
sington—Earl Temple—Mr. Hobhouse—Mr. C. W. Wynne— Mr,
Courtenay—Mr. T. Grenville—Chancellor of the Eachequer—Mr.
Pitt—Lord Hawkesbury—Mr. Canning.—Resolutions negatived by a
great Majority —In the Lords,—Earl Fitzwilliam moves for censure
on the Ministers.—Supported by Lord Minto, and Lord Grenoilde.—
Opposed by the Duke of Clarence,—The Lord Chancellor, and Lord

Flobart.— Motion lost. —Obscrvations,

FEXHE country having been, by

his majesty’s declaration; by
the rejection of Russian inter-
ference; and the irretrievable er-
rors of administration; fully com-
mitted in warfare with France and
her dependencies, Holland and the
ftalian republic; it was not to be
supposed, that that portion of the
legislature, whose exposition of the
weakness and misconduct of minis-
ters had been as unceasing, as their
predictions of their calamitous con-
sequences were prophetic, could
look on with acquiescence and
complacency, at the conduct of
public affairs being committed to
the identical hands of those, who
had first signed and sealed to the
dishonor of their country ; and who
still aspired to the task of extricating
her from the difficulties and dan-
gers incurred solely by their want

of experience, political science,
and steadiness of principle. Ac-
cordingly, in both the chambers of
parliament, resolutions of the
strongest and most decided ten-
dency towards the inculpation of
ministers, were brought forward, by
personages of the most distin-
guished integrity, rank in society,
and temperance in political dis-
cussion,

In consequence, on the second
day of June,

‘arl Fitzwilliam, in the house of
lords, brought forward certain reso-
lutions, condemning the general
conduct of ministers, in having
held forward to the nation a confi-
dent expectation of a permanent
peace, during the time that France
was pursuing a hostile system to-
wards this country. His lordship
prefaced his motion by a long on

abis

* -~

ablespeech, in which he first pointed
theattention of the house to the con-
duct of our ministers and of France;
at the time of the treaty of Amiens.
During the negociation, the first
consul, in contempt of decency, pur-
sued his constant system of aggres-
sion. It was then that he made him-
self president of the Italianrepublic:
changed Piedmont into a military
arrondissement ; annexed Parma
and Placentia to France; and it
was after France had thus ag-
-grandized herself, that our minis-
ters consented to cede the con-
quered colonies also. When the
consul next seized upon Switzer-
land, our ministers sent a person over
-to that country with offers of assist-
ance, which could evidently be pro-
ductive of no advantage to the Swiss.
Numerous insults and aggressions
had been passed over, without any
Spirited remoustrance, until, at
length, the report of colonel Se-
bastiani forced government to retain
Malta. Heconsidered the uniform
conduct of the present ministry to
be such, as neither to command
respect at home, nor abroad, and
that they had proved themselves
‘utterly unworthy of the confidence
of the public. He then moved
his first resolution, which described
the conduct of France in nearly
the same terms as had been express-
_ ed in his Majesty’s declaration.
* The earl of Limerick vindicated

_ the conduct of administration, in

the several points which had been

alluded to by the noble mover.—

_ As to their conduct with respect

“to the treaty of Amiens, it had

een so fully discussed, both at
the moment that the preliminary
and definitive treaties were con-
‘sidered, that it would be a waste

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

161

of time to discuss it over again.—
As to their conduct with respect
to Switzerland, it was not their
fault, that the continental powers
would not interfere to save it. In
the negociation which had ended
in war, he thought they deserved
approbation instead of censure;
they had avoided war as long as it
was possible to avoid it with honor,
He concluded by dwelling, with
great animation, on the rooted hos-
tility of the first consul towards
this empire, and his desire to re-
move from the neighbourhood and
eyes of the French people, the
image of a free country.

Earl Grosvenor defended the
conduct of ministers, and moyed
the previous question on Lord Fitz-
william’s resolutions.

Lord Mulgrave, thought the pre-
sent time improper for such dis-
Cussions, as the greatest unanimity
was now required; he therefore
moved the question of adjourn-
ment.

The earl of Caernarvon depre-
cated an adjournment, and con-
demned with the utmost severity,
the conduct of Ministers. They
had found the country at the time
they had the presumption to un-
dertake its government, in the pos-
session of many valuable acquisi-
tions, which had been the fruit of
former victories. These they had a-
bandoned to France! Whatever pri+
vate virtues ministers might possess,
he considered the want of talents to
be as highly criminial in those who
have the direction of state affairs, as
he did the want of courage to be
in an officer.

Lord Ellenborough said, he
could not sit still in his place,
when he heard the capacity of mi-

M ; nisters

169

nisters arraigned by those who were
themselves most incapable, and
whens he saw ignorance itself, pre-
tending to decide on the knowledge
possessed by others. He .warmly
vindicated the firmness and ability
displayed by ministers in the whole
of the negociation, and during the
whole course of their adminis-
tration.

Lord Melville, supported the.
question of adjournment, as he
thought it was better not to discuss
the question, than to discuss it
partially. He expressed a strong
disapprobation of many parts of
the conduct of ministers, but
thought it would be a dangerous
time to address his majesty to re-
move them, as this was not a sea-
son in which the country could
bear to be any time without an
administration; and there might be
a considerable difficulty in agree-
ing who should be the new minis-
ters, even were the present now
removed.

Lord Hobart, complained of the
mannerin which ministers had been
treated. It would be evident that
‘the adjournment would be an indi-
rect censure upon ministers.

Lord Grenville, although he dis-
approved ina variety of instances
of the conduct of ministers, said,
that he had hitherto abstained from
expressing his disapprobation, for
fear we might appear to the enemy,
not so firmly united as we ought be.
Of all the various acts of miscon-
duct of the present administration,
there were none which he con-
demned more severely, than their
wniform system of withholding the

* Foracopy of the resolutions, vide state papcrss

ANNUAL REGISTER,

‘ministers, were, that they had not

1803.

necessary information from parlia~
ment,

At half past four, in the morn-
ing, the question of adjournment
and the previous question were put
and negatived by a majority of 86
to 17. Some of the original resolu-
tions were then put and _negatived
also.*

The next day, in the house of
commons, a set of resolutions of a
similar tendency, were brought
forward by colonel Patten. The
principal charges he urged against

only withheld from parliament the
information they ought to have
given, but had deceived it by
giving false statements of the situa-—
tion of the country, and in no
instance more remarkably so, than
in his majesty’s message, which
stated great preparations in the
ports of France, which were not
known to lord Whitworth.

Ile then dwelt with considerable
force on the situation of Holland
and Switzerland, in which he
thought we were deeply implicated.
He concluded, by expressing strong-
ly his opinion, that, in the pre-
sent crisis, the best talents of the
nation, ought to be called forward
for its defence: and that a feeble
administration was not suited to the
character of the times. He then
moved his resolutions.

After the first resolution was’
read from the chair,

Colonel Bastard and Mr. Haw-
kins Browne briefly vindicated the
conduct of ministers; and lord
Kensington defended that of the late,
administration, which he thought

attacked

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

&ttacked by the observations of
the gentleman who precedgd him
in debate.
_ Lord Temple then spoke as fol-
lows: ‘ With regard to the first
resolution, little remains to be said:
His majesty’s declaration speaks
for itself, and, in this house, is
only to be considered as the lan-
guage of his majesty’s ministers.
They have observed, and they have
lamented, ‘ that the system of
aggression, violence, and aggran-
_dizement, which characterize the
different governments of France,
during the war, has been continued,
with as little disguise, since its ter-
mination. At length, then, we
have a bold avowal of the opinion
which his majesty’s ministers have
“held respecting the conduct of the
French government, during the
peace. At length; we are told,
that every species of fraud, of
violence, and of rapine, upon which
the different sanguinary govern-
ments have acted, at the different
periods of the evolution, haye
been at all times the rule of conduct
of him who now holds in his hands
the reins of power in that coun-
‘ty. We are told that the same
detestable system of policy, which
dictated that ambitious and boast-
ful menace, that France and Eng-
_Jand should never exist together in
the same hemisphere ; which sent
ensrare to seize, by force of
arms, a country, the possessions, of
_ 4 power, then in amity with France,
or the avowed purpose of striking
blow at the Indian interests of
is country ; who secured his en-
ance into that country, by dis-
wing his faith, by boasting that
ehad been the means of over-
Burning its altars, and dispersing the

163

ministers of his religion; by tramp-
ling on the bible, and swearing by
the koran; who secured his retreat
from that country, by destroying, in
cold and deliberate cruelty, the mi-
serable prisoners who had fallen
into his hands, and by poisoning
his own wounded and defenceless

soldiers. The same feelings which
dictated, and the same revenge

which prompted the execution, of
every act of hostility, of rapine,
and of horror, against this country
and the world, during the different
periods of his power, have existed
at every moment since the peace.
How his majesty’s ministers can
justify this tardy avowal ; how they
can presume to come down to this
house, with the declarations in their
hands, with the confessions unwil-
lingly drawn from them, of the
existence of proceedings which
they now say they have seen and
felt ever since the peace was signed ;
how they came to tell us zow, that
nothing but hostility and aggression
existed at periods when they told
us that nothing but harmony and
profound peace prevailed, remains
for their farther ingenuity to ex-
plain. A reference to their par-
liamentary conduct ever since the
treaty of Amiens, will shew, that
instead of putting us upon our
guard against dangers,which we now
tind, they knew, existed; instead of
stimulating our watchfulness, and
encouraging our vigilance; they
have universally, at the different
periods I allude to, tried to lull the
country into a security, which they
now tell us was not warranted by
the fact, and inspire us with hopes,
which they now declare, they knew
to be fallacious. Nov. 23d, 1802,
the chancellor of the exchequer
M2 clared

164

declared in this house, ‘ that there
was nothing that indicated the re-
newal of hostilities with France,
Look to the events of that period,
as collected in your papers upon
your table; recollect the public cir-
cumstances of Europe at that time ;
and then say whether ministers
were justified in what they asserted.
At that very moment, there is
scarce a circumstance whtich is now
declared to be a cause of war, or
coHectively, with others, to form a
cause of war, which did not exist
in its full force. Not one of the
articles of the treaty of Amiens,
had been executed by France.—
Parma was annexed to her domini-
ons by public proclamation, dated
the 23d of Oct. The system of
commercial agents which has justly
been made a cause of war, existed
in full force, at the period I allude
to. With the exception of one only,
every instance of ageression, com-
plained of, as being committed
by France against the commerce of
this country, had occurred long be-
fore the 23d Novy. It appears
from the printed papers, that from
June, to Oct, 1802. Mr. Merry re-
peatedly informed ministers of the
different acts of violence commit-
ted against our merchants and
their ships. On the 25th of Oct.
Mr. Merry informed government of
the most violent and flagrant breach
of treaty that ever existed, the
case of the ship George ; when the
ship was condemned with all her

cargo, because her captain had on’

board, ‘for his own private use,
knives, forks, and plates, of Bri-
tish manufacture. October the
13th is’ the date of Mr. Liston’s

first dispatch on a subject which is

made another ground for war—

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

the occupation of Tolland by
French troops. On October the
29th, his second dispatch is sent,
notifying that the French troops

had begun their march out of the —
Batavian territories; but that, in-—

stead of evacuating them, they had
halted on the frontiers, and occu- ~
pied Breda, Bois-le-Duc, and Ber-
gen-op-zoom.
appeared upon the subject, in the
papers first laid upon your table ;
but the noble secretary of state,
finding that more information was
wanting, produced, after much
seach yamong the pigeon-holes of
his bureau, another dispatch from
Mr. Liston, dated a few days after
the last, in which he says, that the
Batavian minister at Paris had made
a remonstrance on the subject of

the occupation of his country by

the French, and that he had writ-
ten a most able letter to the French
minister for foreign affairs; that in

consequence of this most persua-—

sive and most argumentative letter,
the first consul has been pleased to
do—what? To cause the French
troops to evacuate the country?
No! but to direct them to remain
where they were, in the occupation —
of the barrier towns of Holland, in
possession of the strongest fortresses
on the frontier, by which means
they had the key of the country in
their hands; and this at a period,
when both the Batavian and the
English governments, as well as
Mr. Liston, knew, that the project
of France at that instant, was to
sjeze upon those towns, for the pur-
pose of ultimately making Holland —
an integral part of the French re-
public. And Mr. Liston concludes
by saying, that, upon this occasion
it was thought adyiseable to humour

the:

-
FRE eK yt Fairs

This was all that |

- oes

HISFORN) OF .EDROPE.

the wishes of the first consul. All
this happened in October. Long
before this time, ministers knew,
that the execution of the 10th arti-
cle of the treaty of Amiens, relative
to Malta, had become utterly im-
possibie. ‘The declaration very
justly states, that the treaty of Aimi-
ens, and every part of that treaty,

was founded on the assumption of

the state of possession, and engage-
ments actually subsisting at the
moment of the signature of the
treaty. The practice of ministers
forms a singular contrast with their
theory. Ow that very principle,
they knew that the articles respect-
ing Malta could not ite executed,
The revenues of that order, the
independence of which, it was the
professed ohject of the treaty to
secure; and on the existence oi
which revenues, that independence
existed; were known to be confis-
‘gated, in fact, before the conclusion
of the peace, or immediately after.
In the Madrid Gazette, of the 27th
of April, 1802, it is stated, that
the king of Spain had annexed to
the royal domain the Langues and
possessions of the order of Malta,
within his dominions : and yet, with
‘this fact known, and avowed in every
newspaper in Europe, we see minis-
ters, trom the May following, down
to the breaking off the negotiation,
_ pestering every power on the conti-
nent with applications to guarantee
_ the execution of an article, which
they knew could not be executed,
Nay, onthe 25d of August, lord
Hawkesbury writes to M. Otto, to
inform him, that his majesty is
_ ready to carry into effect the article
-Fespecting Malta, the moment the
other powers of Europe had guaran-
yh its execution: anarticle which

165

had been framed with a view to the
actual pessessions and siivation of
the power,whose interest that treaty
was to provide for, and which pos-
sessions and situation were com-
pletely changed since the conclu-
sion of that treaty. That change -
ministers use as an excuse for their
not evacuating Malta; but it also
was a fair excuse for the other pow-
ers not to guarantee the treaty. It
was a fair reason for forming a new
arrangement for Malta; byt it
could not be a reason for employing
a whole summer in persuading ether
powers to do what you had retused
to do, because subsequent events
had rendered it impossible. As to
Switzerland, the ambitious projects
of France with respect to th: it Couns
try were well known before Novem-
ber: all that happened which made
it necessary for this country to in-
terfere in its iate, had happened be-
fore November; nay, at the very
time ministers weie gravely as-
suring the. country, that they saw
no prospect whatever of a renewal
of hostilities, Mr. Moore was en-
gaged at Constance in negociations,
which, if the situation of Europe
liad allowed of their being carried
to the extent, his instructions au-
thorized, must haye ended in a
renewal of hostilities, prior to the
time to which I have so often al-
luded; and every complaint which
we now urge as a cause of war
against France, for its insolent and
hostile interference in the adminis-
tration of our laws, and its auda-
cious attack on the liberty of our
press, existed in its full forge. On
the 7th of August M. Otto writes
that insulting letter to lord Hawkes:
bury, in which, in the name of the
first consul, he insists upon a stop

M3 being

166

being put to publications hostile to
France; the rémoval of the emi-
grant noblesse and clergy cut of
the country; and the ¢ deportation’
of other emigrants toCanada. All
this, and much more on the same
subject, happened long before the
23d of November. In August it
was, that captain D’Auvergne was
seized contrary to every principle
of justice, and in violation of the
treaty of Amiens. Long_ before
November, it was well known, and
universally acknowledged, that
France did not mean to indemnify
the stadtholder, according to the
spirit of the treaty of Amiens. In
short, almost every case, that is
now made, either of itself or con-
jointly, a cause of war; almost
every insult of which we so justly
complain; almost every aggression
which we are now called upon to
resent; had occurred before the
25d of November: and yet, on
that day, the minister comes down
to this house, and states, ‘ that he
Sees no prospect of a renewal of
hostilities.’ Weare now confirmed
in our researches, to this period;
for the same declaration, more
strongly marked, was made on the
23d of February following, in the
reason assigned for increasing the
establishment of his royal highness
the prince of Wales, which was, that

it was a moment of * profound»

peace; that the measure was one,
which, though equally necessaryin a
time of war, the difficulties of such
time rendered improper to bring
forward; and therefore a moment of
‘ profound peace’ was chosen by
the chancellor of the exchequer as
the auspicious moment. Thus,
sit, every argument that held
good on the 23d of November came

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

with redoubled force, when held on
the 23d of February ; every insult
was then aggravated, every aggres-
sion which had begun to shew itself
at the former period, had completed
and formed itself by the latter.
By that period one would have sup-
posed the ministers began to doubt
the truth of their former specula-
tions. One would think their
spirit of prophecy would have been
a little damped by perverse experi-
ence. Careless, however, of the
lessons of experience, and heedless
of future fame, they boldly state,
on the 23d of February, that the
country is in profound peace, and
that no discussions existed at that
moment between the two countries.
Dates and facts are the witnesses
I call to the veracity of the king’s
ministers. On the 9th of Feb.
lord Hawkesbury directs lord Whit-
worth to remonstrate against the
publication of Sebastiani’s report.
On the 17th that remonstrance is
made. On the 21st of Feb. lord
Whitworth had the famous audi-
ence of Bonaparte, which minis-
ters declare was a decisive proof
of the hostile views of the first
consul ; the measure of the insult
was full; aggressions had followed
ageressions; the views of France
upon Egypt, upon the Turkish
empire, upon Switzerland, upon
Holland, and upon this country,
were known and- avowed, Every
feeling which animates us as Eng~
lishmen, had been insulted ; we
were told by our insolent enemy,
your press must be made subservi-

a * |

q

_—_

ent to my views, you must trans- —

port the nobles and the priesthood
who have sought refuge in your
hospitality, you must import com-
mercial agents, whom, as my right

hon,

HISTORY OF EUROPE,

hon. relative (Mr. Pitt) has justly
observed, you would have been
bound to have hanged as spies in
time of war ; you must stand aloof
whilstI seize,with agiant’s grasp, the
whole of Europe; you must give
up all connexion with the conti-
nent ; the treaty of Amiens provides
for every thing, and settles every
thing. On the 23d Feb. we had
been told all this ; on the 23d Feb.
the minister comes here and tells us
that we are in profound peace, and
that there are no adyerse dis-
cussions existing between the two
countries; and on the 8th of
March, the same minister comes
and tells us to prepare for war !—
We are prepared for war. I trust
there is not a man in this country,
whose breast does not glow with
indignation, at the insults we have
suffered, and with a determination
to support the honor, and avenge
_ the injured cause, of his country.
- Ministers lulled the country into
an unreal, belief of security; they
cherished her by false hopes; they
asked unlimited confidence, and
have reposed none in return ; they
deluded the people with glittering
visions of peace, knowing that
when they awoke, they would
awake to the reality of a war. The
next point is, have ministers done
all that it became them to do, to
avert the calamity which has come
_ upon us? Now, whether they have
submitted enough, God knows the
country has seen enough of sub-
mission! It is not therefore whether
they have sufficiently given way to
_ the views of France. The question
is, whether they remonstrated in
_ suchamanner as became the minis-
ters of a great and powerful nation ;
whether they jpterfered in such
manier as to make their interference

167

effective; whether they mediated in
such a mannerasto aid those in whose
favor they mediated ; whether they
repelled aggressions with firmness,
and opposed dignified moderation to
violent and presuming demands? I
do not hesitate to say,that in all these
points they have completely failed :
when they have conceded nyast, they
have conceded with least dignity ;
when they resisted most, they re-
sisted with least effect. They have
urged in their declaration, as one
of these causes, which in the ag-
gregate, made the great cause of the
war, that France has enforced
ever since the peace, with inex-
cusable strictness and severity, the
prohibitions which had been placed
upon the subjects of his majesty ;
that violence has been offered to
their vessels and their property.
Let us look to the papers before us,
and how stands the fact? Sir, in the
first collection of papers presented
to us, not one word is mentioned
of what constitutes this part of their
declaration; in onesolitary instance
only, is the subject alluded to.»
In the 2d collection of papers, we
see notification after notification
from Mr. Merry, of insult upon
insult offered to our flags and
commerce, but in no one instance
does any remonstrance appear from
his majesty’s government; no in-
struction to Mr. Merry to remon-
strate ; and in the case of the ship
George, to which I before alluded,
no answer of any kind appears ta
have been given to Mr. Merry. The
second cause of war is, the intro-
duction by France, into this coun-
try, of her privileged spies, the
commercial agents, To this in-
sulting act of aggression, no re-
monstrance is made by spinisters,
and, except in the one case, ng steps

M 4 appear

168

appear to have been taken for send-
ing them out of the country.—
Once, indeed, lord Hawkesbury in-
formed the French minister, that
the agents would not be acknow-
ledged as such, and that if any
attempts were made to send them
to their place of destination, they
would receive orders to quit the
country. In London, however, the
whole corps d’ espionage were per-
mitted to remain unmolested.—
The agents were not sent to their
destinations, but in London they
remained till general Andreossi lett
the country! The next cause of war
is, the occupationof Holland by the
French troops, To this violent act
of aggression, to this breach of the
letter ‘of three solemn treaties,’
not only no remonstrance appears
to have been made; but we have
the assurance of the noble secretary
of state, that in fact, no written re-
monstrance was made by the minis-
ters; and though, in consequence
of Mr. Liston’s dispatch of the 13th
of October, orders were sent out en
the 17th to retain the Cape and the
West India islands, on the receipt
of his dispatch of the 20th, stating
the seizure by the French troops of
the frontier towns of Holland, or-
ders are sent out on the 16th of
Noveinber to evacuate the Cape and
the West India islands, which we
had before ordered to be retained,
notwithstanding the cause of that
order remained the same. . The
4th cause of war is the seizure of
Switzerland by France. I will not
here inquire, whether it was fitting
that this country should have inter-
fered in its fate. Upon that sub-
ject I entertain a decided opinion,
which it is not now necessary to
avow. We have interfered: and

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

it is enough for me to ascertain,
whether that interference was made
in the manner most likely to answer
the purpose for which it was in-
tended; how stands the fact? and
how is that fact supported by dates ?
As early as the 13th of July, 1802,
the deputies of almost all the Swiss
cantons remonstrated publicly
against the constitution forced upon
them by Bonaparte. From that.
time it was evident, that the Swiss
only waited for the moment most
propitious to make another struggle
for their liberties, France saw the
blow that was impending, and dur-
ing the whole summer made prepa=
parations for maintaining the sei-
zure of Switzerland. At length,
on the 21st of September, the flame
burst forth; all Switzerland ap-
peared in arms against her task-
masters. During this whole inter-
val, did this country stir one step to
aid the rising spirit of the Swiss, or
assist their daring efforts? Of their
interference, we hear nothing till
the 3d of October. On that day,
Mr. Merry writes word, that the
Swiss had an agent in :Paris,, who
was directed to apply to the foreign
ministers there, to interfere with
the first consul in their favour.
After having in vain tried to interest
the feelings of all Europe in his
behalf; after having in vain soli-
cited aie good offices of Austria,
Prussia, Russia, and the king of
Etruria: haying been refused by all
the ministers of those powers; he
comes at last to the English minis-
ter, and tells the piteous story of
his country’s wrongs. On England
he places his last, his firm reliance ; ‘
to England his country looks for
protection and assistance. Mr,
Merry writes for instructions; he

receiyes

HISTORY’ OF EUROPE.

receives none; no answer is ever
given to the Swiss agent, and he is
left to cool his heels in the anti-
chamber of Mr. Merry. In this
instance, however, an English mi-
nister ventures to make a written
remonstrance, and no answer is
given toit. On the 10th of Octo-
ber the remonstrance is sent to M.
Otto; but it appears that no an-
swer was made to it. Rumour in-
_ deed, says, that one was made, but
in such offensivé terms, so broadly
declaring that we had no right to
interfere in the affairs of the con-
tinent, and referring us with such
insolent pedantry to the treaty of
Amiens, as to the book in which
alone we were to read our destinies ;
that it would have justified imme-
diate war, instead of being followed
_ by the pusillanimous surrender of
the Cape and our West India con-
quests. Onthe same day are dated
the instructions to Mr, Moore, di-
tecting him to proceed to Con-
stance, where he arrives Oct. 31st;
and the first news he receives is,
_ that the struggle is over, and the
Diet of Schweitz is dissolved. He
writes home to inquire what he is
todo; on the 25th of November
lord Hawkesbury tells him that he
may return. During all this time,
is any effort made to back our re-
_ monstrance at Paris? Is our mi-
nister there directed to support our
a
rt

r

interference? Is any answer given
_ tothe Swiss agent, which he might

shew to the ministers of other

‘courts, and which would have en-
' couraged those courts to give that
: assistance? ‘The want of which,

ministers urge as the reason for not
§ interfering farther, but which, it
_ appears, we never asked for,—
Mr. Moore’s instructions are to as-

169

certain whether. any Austrians or
other continental troops are ready
to enter Switzerland, in Case it
was found necessary to support, by
force of arms, the pretensions of the
Swiss. From July to November,
ministers could find no other time
proper for their interference, but
that in which no troops could enter,
much less act in Switzerland, in
consequence of the severity of the
season ! he next cause Of war, is
the non-execution on the part of
France, of that part of the treaty
of Amiens, respecting Malta; and
upon this point the negociation
appears to have been conducted
with the same firmness and digsity
which so strongly characterised its
whole course. In May, the Span-
ish revenues of the order were
confiscated. In October,by the an-
nexation of Parma more were confis-
cated ; still the literal execution of
the 10th article is insisted upon by
England. During the whole time
no new arrangement is heard of.—
The 10th article is constantly rung
in our ears, the whole 10th arti-
cle, nothing but the 16th article of
the treaty of Amiens, til at last
the farce can be cazried on no
longer, and the necessity of a new
arrangement begins to be talked
of. How is that negociation sup-
ported by our ministers? On’ the
2istof July, Bonaparte tells lord
Whitworth, thaton Malta depends
the question of peace or war, that
on no terms shall England be per;
mitted to retain Malta; that he had
rather she should have the Faux-
bourg St. Antoine than Malta—
On the 11th of March, Talleyrand
telis lord Whitworth that the first
consul will look upon the non-eva-
cuation of Malta, as the com-

mencement

170 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

mencement of hostilities; not asa
cause of war, but as an act of war.
Here all discussion about Malta
should have ended. Lord Whit-
worth had said, the occupation of
Malta by England, in some shape
or other, was necessary ; and Tal-
leyrand had said such occupation
would be deemed the commence-
ment of hostilities, Ultimatum is
sent after ultimatum ; and at last
you give up the idea of retaining
Malta for ever, on the dignified and
honorable condition, that France
agreed to your reserving it for ten
years only, and secured your pos-
session in full sovereignty of the
island of Lampedosa. Your last
ultimatum,(for however absurd may
be the expression, there is no way
of stating the proceedings of this
negociation, but by taiking of the
Ist, 2d, Sd, and last ultimatum)
by which you, of course, pledge
yourself to abide; and which, if
it had been agreed to, would have
brought the negociation to a favour-
able issue 5 proposed, that in consi-
deration of the immense accessions
of strength obtained by France,
upen the continent, she should
give up Malta for ten years, and steal
Lampedosa for you for ever! You
therefore gravely state, that at the
end of ten years, the vast accession
of force to France, confirmed by
ten years possession ; the immense
increase of her resources, ripened
to ten years maturity ; her posses-
sion of Italy, her influence in Ger-
many, in Spain, and in Portugal,
and her command of Holland, will
be counterbalanced by the enor-
mous acquisition of a barren rock,
of an island without an inhabitant,
of that nursery of gulls, Lampe-
dosa! The next cause of war is

the attack upon the liberty of the
press, and the requisition to trans=
port the qmigrants to Canada or
elsewhere. J call. upon ministers
to point out to me, in any part of
the correspondence, which lays
upon your table, one remonstrance
against the insolent attack upon the
liberty of the press. Lord Hawkes-
bury writes very prettily on the

subject, and lord Whitworth assures:

M. Talleyrand that it is impossible

for lord Hawkesbury to controul

the licence of the press here, be-
cause he could not influence a sin-
gle newspaper for his own objects,
He trusts, therefore, that the first
consul will not be so unreasonable
as to insist upon his controlling the
language of the news writers and
pamphieteers in this country.—
But have we one word of remon-
strance against the insolent lan+
guage, or the insulting tone of the
French government? Can minis-
ters point out one instance in
which they directed lord Whit-
worth to ask satisfaction for the
outrage, and to say, in distinct
terms, that unless interference in
our own concerns, by France, was
distinctly and openly disavowed,
he would leave the country? No;
in proportion as France increased in
insolence, we multiplied concession 5
and the more revolting and violent
became her demands, the weaker
and the more inefficient became
our remonstrances. When we
look to the subject, relating to the
French emigrants, disgraceful in-
deed, is the tale we have to tell, and
disgusting the scene of humiliation
which his majesty’s ministers have
acted. The first attack made by
the French government is a remon-=
strance from Jalleyrand -to Mr,

Merry,

ner =

— 2
wer“ *

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Merry, against the conduct of the
French princes, in publickly wear-
ing the insignia of their orders,
which Talleyrand describessas in-
sulting to his government. The
tame and disgraceful answer which
ministers make to this childish and
impertinent complaint is, that ‘ it
would be more proper if they (the
French princes and nobles) ab-
stained from it. But how could
ministers help it, or prevent it?”
Was that the language for his ma-

" jesty’s minister s to hold in reply to

such aremonstrance? I ask them,
if ever the chastising hand of pro-
vidence were to plunge this country
into the same misfortunes which
have overwhelmed France, if ever
our nobles were sent to seek re-
fuge in a foreign land, how they
would brook theidea of our nobi-
lity surrendering the badges of their
rank, and the insignia of their ho-

_ nors, because they no longer dared

to wear them? Yet this is the con-
duct which ministers think it would

have been more proper if the French

nobles had followed.—The next
demand the French government
makes, is that the French superior
clergy and noblesse, who were emi-
grants in England, should be re-
moved from the kingdom, to Ca-
nada! ‘These august, these vener-
able characters, who, true to their
religion, and faithful to their so-
yerelgn, gave up even the means
of subsistence, and left their
friends, relatives, and dearest con-
nexions, rather than remain in the
land where that sovereign had been
murdered, and that religion pro-

phaned; who, encouraged by the

general voice of England, sought

‘that refuge here, which almost

every other country refused them.

171
We are called upon by the au-
thors of their miseries, who are at
this moment revelling in their
spoils, and exulting in their mis-
fortunes, to remove them from the
refuge we gave them, and thus to
violate that hospitality, on the faith
of which they came. Those gal-
lant men, who so sacrificing every
consideration of personal risque,
made an unavailing, but glorious
attempt, to restore the throne of
their kings, and to establish the
altars of their faith, whose exer-
tions we animated, and whose arms
we assisted; who engaged in this
memorable struggle on the faith
of British promises, and in the
confidence of British assistance ;
we are called upon by the very men
against whom they fought, and
against whom we once made
common cause with them, to ‘ de-
porter’ to Canada. Let gentlemen
recollect the meaning attached to
that word by the present rulers of
France, let them recollect the hor-
rors of the former deportation to
Cayenne, as described by the mi-
serable survivors of it; let them
recollect, that to a deportation of
this kind, the French government
wished to doom the loyal and per-
secuted emigrants of France, and
then let them turn to the answer
which his majesty’s ministers chose
to give to this CRUEL, this INFER-
NAL proposal. ‘His majesty is very
desirous to obviate any cause of
complaint or uneasiness with re-
spect to their persons, and measures
are in’contemplation, and will be
taken, for the purpose of removing
them out of his majesty’s European
dominions.’ J shut the book in
disgust, in horror, and in shame.—
In disgust and in horror at the bar-
barity

172

barity which could dictate this sen-
tence, and inshame and in confusion
at the eternal stain and blot which
it will fix upon this page of our
history, I have thus gone through

the different points which appear -

to me to bear upon the subject
Lefore you, and to justify the
resolutions which are submitted
to the House. From these ex-
tracts, which L have made from the
papers on your table, from the
facts which they avow, and from
the dates which confirm these facts,
thence deductions are to be made,
Tiie first is, that from the moment
the treaty of Amiens was signed,
his majesty’s ministers were aware
of the hostility avowed and ex-
pressed by the government of
France towards this country ; se-
condly, that being so aware of them,
they concealed that conviction
from the country, and encouraged
the people with hopes of per-
manent peace and tranquillity,
knowing at the moment they
held out these hopes, that they were
false and illusory ;, and thirdly,
that on many points, which they now
make, either distinctively er collec-
tively, causes of war, they made
no remonstrance, or such remon-
strances only, as were degrading to
the dignity of the nation; and that
when they interfered or mediated,
they interfered without firmness,
they mediated without honor.”

Mr. Hobhouse defended, at some
jength, the conduct of ministers,
against the accusations which had
been brought against them. He
did not recollect, that ministers had
made -declarations, in the forms
mentioned by lord ‘Temple.

Mr. Charles W. Wynne, con-
demned ministers, for submitting to

ANNUAL REGISTER,

'

1803.

so many insults from France. He
considered, that this submission:to
insult was, whether in a state, or in
an individual, the surest way to
have them repeated.

Mr. Courtenay, compared the
conduct of ministers, in breaking
the peace which they had made, to
the doctrine of Hippocrates, who
advised, in case a limb was broken,
and badly set, that it should be
broken over again, and take the
chance of setting it better.

Mr.’ T. Grenville, re-stated the
various objections, which had be+
fore been made to the conduct of
ministers, during the short interval
of peace. He dwelt particularly on
their interference in Switzerland,
at a time when it was too late for
their interference to do any good,

The chancellor of the exchequer
then rose, in vindication of the con-
duct of ministers, | As to the peace
of Amiens, he now entertained the
same opinion, that he did at the
conclusion ef ‘it; namely, that in
the then existing circumstances, it
was a wise and necessary measure,
As it was deemed right to enter into
that treaty, ministers had, after
the conclusion of it, done every
thing in their power to maintain it,
He was proud to attribute to the
forbearance of ministers, that spi-
rit, which now so universally ani-
mated the nation. Upon the sign-
ing of the peace, ministers did not
calculate upon a very friendly dis-
position, onthe part of the French
government, and therefore they had
prepared considerable establish-
ments, both military and naval. He
admitted, that in perusing the do-
cuments on the table, many acts
of forbeayance might be found, on
the part of ministers ; but nothing

dis-

-

Pa

4

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

dishoriorable or disgraceful would
appear. ‘The house was in pos-
Session of every document that
eould be produced, and all that
ministers now asked, was their de-
cision.

Mr. Pitt then rose, and addressed
the house, in nearly the following
terms: ‘If I possessed a full and
clear opinion, on the merits of the
case, to the extent of either di-
rectly negativing or adopting the
resolutions, which have been pro-
posed, I should, following the un-
biassed dictates of my conscience,
give my vote on that side to which
my judement inclined. If I agreed
with my right hon. friend (Mr.
Grenville), in thinking, that the
first steps we ought to take, in duty
to the public, were, by a retrospec-
tive survey of the conduct of mi-
nisters, to judge of their fitness to
exercise the functions to which they
‘are called; and if, upon that re-
sult, I were forced to conclude,
that the papers, on the table, af-
forded evidence of criminality, of
incapacity, of misconduct; then,
however painful the sacrifice of pri-
vate feelings might be, in taking
such a part in the case of individu-
als, whom I respect, I should
. feel myself bound to concur in an
address to his majesty, for the re-
moval of his ministers. On the
other hand, if I were one of those,

_ who considered the explanation, af-

forded by ministers upon general
points, so clear as to justify a de-
cided negative of the propositions,

_ moved by the hon. gentleman over
the way; a negative which would

imply approbation—for in such a
Matter, to avoid ground of censure,
/may be considered the same as to
have deserved applause —I should

17/8
feel myself happy, in joining in a
decisive negative to the motion;
but to this extent, either of appro-
bation or of censure, I am unable
to go. I cannot concur ia the lat-
ter, or in the extent of charges in-
volved in the propositions, which
have been moyed.- Besides, I am
aware of the inconveniencies that
would result, from supporting any
measure which has the tendency
of the present motion, unless the
clearest necessity exists for it.
Though I do not dispute the right
of this house, to address the king
for the removal of ministers, yet,
nothing is more mischievous than a
parliamentary interference, by de-
clared censure, rendering the con-
tinuance of ministers in office im-
possible, unless that interference is
justified by extraordinary exigency
of affairs. Not disputing the right
of the house, I contend, that the
right is to be governed by a sound
discretion, and by the public inte-
rest: we must look to considera-
tions of public expediency, of pub-
lic safety. There are some ques-
tions, in the discussion of which
gentlemen must feel more than they
can well express ; and this, with
regard to the interference of parlia-
ment for removing ministers, 1s one
of them. Admitting even, that
there were considerable grounds of
dissatisfaction at the conduct of
ministers, would it tend to promote
those exertions, to encourage those
sacrifices, which the difficulty and
danger of our situation required?
Would our means of sustaining the
struggle, in which we are engaged,
and of calling forth those resources
necessary for our defence, by cut-
tingshort the date of administration,
and unsettling the whole system ‘of
governs

ivk ANNUAL REGISTER,

government? To displace one ad-
ministration, and to introduce a
new one, is not the work of a day.
With all the functions of executive
power suspended, with the regular
means of communication between
parliament and the throne inter-
rapted ; weeks, nay months, wast-
ed in doubt, uncertainty, and in-
action; how could the public safety
consist, with a state of things so
violent and unnatural, as would re-
sult from parliament rendering one
administration incapable of exer-
cising any public functions, with-
out any other efficient government
being obtained in its stead? I will
venture to hint also, that after such a
step, any administration that should
succeed, be it what it might, and
what it would be, must still depend
upon the crown; and would there-
fore feel itself placed in a most de-
licate situation. Toputthe matter,
as conscientiously and delicately as
possible; would any set of men feel
their introduction to power, in these
circumstances, to be such as to en-
able them to discharge, in a man-
ner satisfactory to themselves, the
duties which so eventful a period
must impose? These are considera-
tions for the crown and the public ;
and they outweigh all those which
present themselves, on the partial
view of the advantages which could
be hoped, from a prosecution of
that censure and dissolution of ad-
ministration, to which the proposi-
tions tend. I am aware, that the
right hon. gentleman, on the floor,
and my friends on the same bench,
with him, must feel their situation
irksome, under the weight of a
question so important, in which
they are -personally involved, re*
maining undecided, Nevertheless,

1803.

when other sacrifices are demanded;
for the public interest, personal
feelings must be overlooked: Those
who, with me, have not made up
their minds to the extent of cen-
suring ministers, by the adoption
of propositions; or approving their
conduct, by agreeing to a direct
negative, must pursue some middle
course. Those who, on the exa-
mination of the papers, from any
feeling of regret for the steps which
ministers took in the negociation,
must consult their conscience on
the vote they are to give. They
cannot do that which implies appro-
bation, when they do not find, from
the case made out, that approba-
tion has been deserved; neither can
they vote severe censure, leading
to an address for removal, when
they do not consider the charges
made, as
Having stated the opposite lines of
conduct, which present themselves
in deciding upon the propositions,
I do not intend to enter into any
detailed discussion of the papers.
I wish, if good cannot be obtained
by continuing to discuss them, com=
parable to the evil of interrupting
the course of our parliamentary
duty, to suspend them altogether,
Since things more urgent, and more
important, demand our care, let
us keep the parliamentary pledge
we have given. I shall behold,
with much greater satisfaction, as
first proofs of our determination to
support his majesty, with our lives
and fortunes, you, presenting a
strong bill of supply, providing re-
sources, not merely for every de-
mand of public service, but ades
quate to every scale of execution;
a measure that will display and call

forth the means of ‘sustaining the _

struggle,

completely sustained,

Ss. eh ee ee

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

struggle, not merely for one year,
-but till we shall have brought it to
a successful issue; some measure,
by which we shall be enabled to
complete our army; and to call
into action the national strength,
and give activity to all the military
skill, discipline, and experience we
possess. I do not know if gentle-
amen feel, as I do, upon this occa-
sion, or if I have been successful in
making my feelings understood. Im-
pressed, as I am, with those feel-
ings, and unprepared for the deci-
sive vote, which is offered in the
direct negative or affirmative, of the
propositions before the house, I
move that the other orders of the
day be now read.”

Lord Hawkesbury said,that never
before, had he risen in parliament,
with such feelings as those that now
oppressed him. With every wish
to do justice to the feelings of his
right hon. friend, in making the
motion with which he had con-
cluded his speech; he and his col-
leagues should be shrinking from
their duty to themselves, if they
could accept the compromise of-
fered between a direct censure, and
a total acquittal A charge of
crimination, founded upon papers
daid upon the table, had been
brought forward. He asked, if
there was an instance, in which
propositions, founded on such do-
-cuments, and involving the con-
_ duct of ministers, had not been met

either with a direct negative or af-
-firmative? A motion of inquiry
might be got rid of, by a previous
question ; but, when a direct charge
was made, grounded on facts, ris-
' ing out of public documents, a pre-
vious question was not the fit way
@f disposing of the subject. No

175

fan was more ready than he was,
to acknowledge the prerogative of
the crown to choose its own mi-
nisters ; but, on the other hand,
ministers were responsible to par-
liament for the exercise of their
functions; and when parliament
saw sufficient grounds of censure,
they ought to state it; and then
ministers, no longer able usefully
to serve the public, ought to retire:
Independently of private considera-
tions, he must contend, that the
credit of the government ought to
be maintained, particularly at such
a crisis as the present. But he had
no difficulty in saying, that those
who wished to destroy the admini-
stration, ought to vote for the reso-
lutions, because that was their ob-
vious tendency, while the vote,
which his right hon. friend had pro-
posed, would have the effect to dis-
credit government, to leave them
discredited, in possession of func-
tions, which they could not exer-
cise with honor to themselves, or
advantage to the public. His right
hon. friend (Mr. Pitt) had declined
going into details. He wished,
however, that he had afforded some
details ; that he had pointed out
those parts of the conduct of minis-
ters, which he could not approve,
that they might have an opportu-
nity of meeting any charge, or ex-
plaining what was deemed excep-
tionable. It was possible, that in
a long and arduous course of cou-
duct, some points might be liable
to objection. In a country like
this, however, he always considered
it to be the fair principle, both of
support and of opposition to minis~-
ters, that those who agreed or dis-
agreed with them, should do so on
a general system. It was not to be

expected

176
expected, that all should approve
every particular point. They were
to overlook minor differences, for
the sake of giving effect to the gene-
ral scheme of measures and conduct
which they approved. These, he
had always understood, were the
general principles, and he regretted
that Mr. Pitt had not made up his
mind to act upon them. He asked
whether, after surveying the con-
duct of ministers, during a period
of unexampled difficulty, he was
not now prepared to say yes,
or no, directly to a motion of cen-
sure ?—On the Russian armament,
he well remembered, that his right
hon. friend, and himself, had) not
thought it sufficient to get rid of a
motion of censure, by a previous
question; but, in circumstances,
when the government in one point
had given up, yet the charges were
met boldly, and directly negatived.
He wished, that on the present oc-
casion, ministers might either be
acquitted or condemned. He was
sure, from what he knew of his right
hen. friend, that his motives, in
bringing forward a previous ques-
tion, were pure and upright; but
ministers could not acquiesce in the
discredit of a suspended censure,
If it were the desire of ministers to
retain their places, at all hazards,
they might accept the compromise
which had been offered; but he
could not say for himself and his
colleagues, that they had no desire
to remain in office, longer than
they could be useful to their coun-
try. If he felt himself reduced to
that situation, in which he could
not serve it with advantage, he
would carry the seals to the feet
of his gracious sovereign, and in-
treat him to appoint a successor

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

more worthy. ~ It was that they
might not remain in office distredit-
ed and useless, that he must op-
pose the previous question ; for he

could not think of remaining an ~

hour in office, after having forfeited
the confidence of the house, and
the good opinion of the country.
Mr. Canning rose, with equal
difficulty of expressing his feelings,
to vote, for the first time in his life,
against the opinion of his right hon.
friend (Mr. Pitt); he had, how-
ever, no doubt, upon this subject;
his mind had been long made up,

and as he perfectly agreed in the

resolutions brought forward to-
night, he should vote for them,
whatever censure they might imply
against his majesty’s ministers.

The debate, upon Mr. Pitt’s mo-
tion of adjournment, continued till
half past three in the morning;
when the question was put, and
there appeared for it 56, against it
333; being a majority of 277
against Mr. Pitt! The original
question was then put upon the re-
solutions, and negatived by a great
majority.

Mr. Fox, and several of his
friends, retired without voting.

On the 6th of June, earl Fitz-
william, after a variety of observa-
tions, on the conduct of ministers,
since the treaty of Amiens, con-
cluded by moying several resolu-
tions expressive of censure on mi-
nisters.

The duke of Clarence, in an
animated speech, vindicated the
conduct of the present ministers,
and imputed to the late adminis-
tration the embarrassments under
which the present had acted. It
was from the war having been badly
conducted, that it became neces-

.

sary

\

“HISTORY OF EUROPE.

sary to sign a peace to the advan-
tage of France.

Lord Minto, supported the re-
solutions, with considerable force ;
lord Grenville thought ministers
might have avoided the war alto-
gether, by accepting the proffered
mediation of Russia; on the other
hand, the lord chancellor and lord
Hobart defended the conduct of
ministers.

_. The house divided upon the first
resolution, there being 17 peers for
it, and 86 against it, leaving a ma-

“jority of 69 in favour of Govern-
ment.

- We have seen, in the course of
the highly interesting debates, in
both houses of parliament, on the
question of attaching censure to
the conduct of administration, that
it was, by great majorities, acquitted
of all blame, .in the progress of its
hostile discussions, on various sub-
jects with France, since the period

of the treaty of Amiens, Whether

‘this solemn acquittal was asufficient

‘testimony to, and proof of, their

impeccability, we shall hereafter
take occasion to discuss at length ;
yet, even in this moment of triumph

and exultation, was it apparent to
the acute and wary observer of

“political attachments and combina-

tions, that, at the moment, when the

conduct of ministers, seemed to
ve received the most ample coun-
ance and support from the legis-
tion; their credit and character,
th eeiin and without the walls
parliament, were shaken to the
ntre, and that what appeared to
the flush of health and vigour,
but conceal the rapid progress

, vital dissolution.

pat had already been rumoured,
‘Val. XLy.

177

and indeed engaged universal belief»
that Mr. Addington, justly aware
of the critical situation of - the
country at large, and of his own
as minister, unsupported as he
was, by any of the talent and pub-
lic virtue of the empire, (which
were exclusively found, either rang~
ed in the phalanx of decided hos-
tility to his measures, or hovered
around in inauspicious neutrality, ¥
had endeavoured to attach to him-
self, in this moment of pressure, the
great name and abilities of his pre-
decessor in office,as the securest prop
to the tottering reputation of the
existing government. It was also
known, that in this negociation, he
had totally failed. "Fhe origin, the
progress, and the termination of
this important affair, involving cir-
cumstances both of present and fu-
ture interest, of too momentous a
nature, not to afford matter of se-
parate consideration, we shall here-
after fully develop; suffice it at
present to state, that from the
period of this transaction, the sup-
port of Mr. Pitt, feverish as it had
of late been, was no longer looked
to as the shield and safeguard of
the present administration; and
that even decided opposition, on the
part of that gentleman and his ad-
herents towards it, might be fully
expected.

In these opinions were the pub-
lic fully confirmed, when the ac-
ceptation, by Mr. Tierney, of the
high and hicrative office of trea-
surer of the navy, with the rank of
privy counsellor, was announced
in the Gazette, within the short
space of two months, from the pe-
riod of that abortive attempt to
strengthen the hands of government,

N ta

178

to which we have already alluded.
Conscious of the reception overtures
from him, to detach any of the
members of the ‘* new opposition”
from those principles which had
led them so repeatedly to express
their decided contempt for the cha-
racter and conduct of administra-
tion, would meet; and alarmed at
the prospect of supporting, by
«numbers alone, those unpalatable,
though perhaps necessary measures,
inevitable hostilities had rendered
necessary ; in an evil hour, for the
reputation of his public and private
character, he turned towards the
** old opposition,” as the only quar-
ter whence he cou!d derive that as-
sistance, his irresolution and feeble-
ness in the conduct of public affairs,
had rendered indispensible: to
the astonishment of all, and grief
of those few who still continued to
think highly of Mr. Addington’s
administration, he chose from its
ranks that person as his colleague,
with whom, from every motive that
might be supposed to operate on
his mind or feelings. a connexion
was utterly impracticable, if not
impossible,

Of all those individuals, who,
during the long period of Mr. Pitt's
ardent struggle to preserve the
British government and constitution
free and unpolluted from the con-
tamination of French principles,
opposed, with scarcely an excep-

- tion, the whole of those salutary
measures, to which we, at this
moment owe our name and ex-
istence as a free people; the most
zealous, active, and pertinacious,
was'the gentleman now adyanced
by the minister to high rank in of-
ace, and a place in the councils of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1 $05.

his sovereign. During the period
of the government of his predeces= —
sor, in which Mr, Addington was dis-
tinguished, not only by dignity of |
situation, but by the personal and —
unlimited confidence of Mr. Pitt, —
it was the object of its adherents, —
with what justice it does not now
become us to investigate, to hold
up to public notice and animadver- 7
sion, the character and conduct of |
this active partizan of opposition, —
as dangerous in the extreme; as
the decided foe to the principles
on which monarchy and the British
constitution were founded, and as
the champion and bulwark of Eny —
glish republicanism.
It is not to be questioned, but |
that, under all the advantages
which Mr, Pitt's administration pos-
sessed; the popularity of the cause
it upheld, and its long continuance; ~
impressions should have been made
much to the prejudice of any indi-_
vidual, against whom its unceasing
efforts had been urged, to produce
such effect, The surprize, theres”
fore, of those who knew that the-
present chancellor of the exchequer ~
must have been a party, doubtles: 7g
a conscientious one, to this species”
of proscription, and who, howeve "|
slightly they might appreciate his
abilities, thought highly of the
purity and goodness of his inten |
tions, exceeded all bounds, at finding”

this very individual, to one of th
most lucrative and honourable si;
tuations in the patronage of the
crown !

But however strongly this deri+
liction of public principle might
operate to the prejudice of the
minister, some considerations of @

-

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

more private nature, mixed them-
selves with the general reflections on
his conduct, in This instance, which,
in their effect on the feelings of
Englishmen, tended still more to its
depreciation, If it were matter of
universal notoriety, that to the he-
‘reditary friendship of Mr. Pitt, to
his powerful protection, and un-
wearied solicitude for his interest,
that the present minister owed his
‘existence as a statesman, and even
‘his present elevation ; it was equal-
ly so, that in the course of that
opposition, we “have already de-
scribed, the personal rancour of
Mr. Tierney to the late minister,
was,.on all occasions, perceptible,
3nd a species of opposition to the
" man was as apparent as that to his

‘ see which on one occasion

now recalled most forcibly to re-
- collection) had proceeded to such
ngths, as toinduce Mr. Pitt to
e the consideration of his great
aeronsibility to his country, and
the dignity of hissituation, in his per-
sonal feelings; and reduced him to
‘the necessity of challenging the eg-
‘gressor to the field. (The friend,
whom he chose on that occasion, as
gin most worthy to be the ouard-
jan of his life and honor, was Mr.
Ryder.) * Whether this appoint-
ment therefore was considered as
galling and repugnant to Mr. Pitt,

ce, thrown down by Mr. Ad-

i as the gage of contempt and de-

-_ dington, it was equally considered by

* the world, as conduct at once un-

», “grateful and unwise, and became the

gpareme of universal re eprobation,
oe all events unwise, for supposing,
or’ a moment, that the minister

hed. ‘not been swayed by any other

td

179

motives than the necessity of the
case, it was such an admission
of the great weakness and dispa-
rity of talent in the existing ad-
ministration, as must have been
the most convincing mode, by
which its real character could be
impressed upon the mind of the
public,

Such was the situation of party,
when the discussions, on ear! Fitz-
william’s motion, in the house of
lords, and that of colonel Patten,
in the commons, gave a decided.
tone to the hitherto unsettled and
wavering politics, of the late:‘minis-
ter and his friends. It is true,-that
on both occasions, Mr. Pitt, and
the majority of his adherents, chose
a middle course, and refused to join
in the censure, loudly and loftily
demanded by the new opposition,
on the conduct of ministers; but it
was evident, that it was not from
motives of personal consideration
for Mr, Addington, that the late
minister thought proper to adopt.
this line of conduct; in fact, his
moving the previous question, was

‘in him, equivalent to the severest

expression of disapprobation (and
assuch it was considered by the
minister), but arose from anxiety
to preserve that consistency, which
he would otherwise have forfeited,
had he voted for resolutions, which
in strong and unqualified terms,
discredited the treaty of Amiens, 2
measure which had heretofore met
with his’ strenuous support. In |
both houses this species of half

measure, placed him in, for the
first time of his life, a mortifying
minority. Still, however, his
conduct tended to discredit Mr.

* Now Lord Harrowby.

N2. Addington’s

Se

180

Addington’s administration with
those who only valued it in propor-
tion, as they considered it possessing
his countenance, as it clearly evin-
ced incipient, ifnot confirmed hosti-
lity; while the masterly display’ of
éloquence, on the part of those
who attacked, contrasted with the
feeble defence made by ministers,
clearly proyed the latter depended
Jess on argument than on numbers, |
and awakened the country to a sense
of the dangers to which it was expo-
sed, by having the perilous condition
of warfare entrusted to the hands of
those, who had found, even in this
short interval of peace, too frequent
opportunitiés to expose their inca-
pacity.

As specimens of the mode of ar-
gument made use of on those im-
portant debates, we have selected
and given, at more than our usual
length, the masterly speech of earl
Temple, and those of Mr. Pitt and
lord Hawkesbury, as indicative of
the expression of the feelings of the
different interests, and the parts
which each took upon the subject ;
and it is but justice to say, that the
manly and spirited manner in which
the latter rejected the species of
compromise, recommended by Mr.
Pitt, heretofore his great friend
and patron; and his calling on the
senate for either direct acquittal or
condemnation, gained, as it desery-

_ed, considerable respect and ap-

plause. The friends of Mr, Fox,
in both houses, declined giving any
opinion, or dividing on this occa-
sion, with the exception of the per-
son, we have already mentioned,
now a minister; and of Mr. Hob-
house, heretofore held up, as equal-
ly obnoxious but with infinitely
inferior abilities to that gentleman,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

and who from speaking, as well as
voting with administration in this
hour of trial, was supposed to
be, as indeed it afterwards ap-
peared, a convert, upon the same

‘principles, and by proportionate

means, to the antigallican opi-
nions and measures of Mr, Ad-
dington,

Yet, although the old opposition
stood aloof, in the present instance,
from the new, as the latter had
from co-operation with the former,
on the motions severally made,
by lord King and Mr. Fox, in their
respective houses, tending to the
disapprobation of the conduct of
ministers, (the fate of which we
have already seen) there was a
similarity of feeling, a spontaneous.
concurrence of sentiment, which
approximated towards a perfect co-~
incidence of public conduct. Mr.
Pitt, and his friends, hadalso taken ~
their ground, if not in declared
hostility, at least in the most threat-
ening position. Here then were
three parties, confessedly including
a vast proportion of the property,
the abilities, and the patriotism of ©
the nation, who required but one
common principle of action, and a
mutual understanding to bear down
every thing which could oppose —
them, and establish such a go-
vernmeat as the most enlightened
statesman and sanguine politician
could hardly, in any contingency,
dare to have hoped for, or even
imagine. ;

What was here wanting, proved
the safety of administration. In
this disunion, Mr. Addington tri-
umphed. And though, as we shave
already stated, the credit of his.
administration, and its future ex-
istence, were points on which the
. . mindg

i~ ’

aa a ok

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

minds of all, both within and with-
out the walls of parliament, were
very generally decided; yet the

‘actual period of its termination,

was completely suspended, and he
proceeded, in confidence and se-
curity, to proyide for the exi-

N&

18}

gencies of the war, on systems of
defence and finance, sufficiently no-
vel, at least, to cause the strongest
difference of opinion in, and a
very unusual protraction of, the ses-
sion of parliament,

CHAP.

189 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

CHAP. XIV.

Secretary at War brings forward the Army Estimates for the year.—De-
bate.—Opinions of Mr. Windham—Pitt—Addington.— Budget brought
forward by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.—New Taxes,—Objections by —
Lord Folkestone.—King’s message, announcing the commencement of —
hostilities against the Batavian republic.—Another on the augmentation
of the Means of Defence of the Country.—Thanks voted for both.—Army
of Reserve Act, brought into the House of Lords, by Lord Hobart.—
Speeches of the Duke of Clarence— Earl of Caernarvon—Suffolk— —
Moira—Lord Mulgrave—Grenville.—Address of Thanks coted unani-
mously. The same Measure moved in the Commons, by the Secretary at —
War.—Debate.—Mr. Windham—Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Ad- —
dress carried.—Clergy Bill read a second time in the Lords.—Army of
Reserve Bill read a second time in the Commons.—Debate——Mr. Cal-
craft—Sheridan—Elliot—-Y orke—-Pitt—-W indham—- Addington.—
Bill: re-committed.— Debate.—Colonel Crawford—Mr. M‘Naughton—~
Windham—Chancellor of the Exchequer—Mr. Johnston—Hutchinson— —
Archdall—Lord de Blaquiere.—Bill finally passes the Commons, and —
after a debate, the@Lords.—Remarks, 4

N the 6th day of June, in the .

house of commons, the se-
cretary at war (Mr. Yorke) brought
forward some of the estimates of
the army for the year; and stated,
that but a small augmentation was
intended to be made in the regular
force.

Mr. Windham disapproved of an
idea, which had been held out, of
augmenting the army by men raised
for rank ; he also dwelt with con-
siderable force, on the advantages
of employing regular troops in pre-
ference to militia: he thought as
the French employed regular troops
alone, we must employ an army
composed of the same materials ;
it must be ‘diamond cut diamond.”

While the militia system was kept —
up in its present extent, the regular —
army could not be kept up; as it —
was not to be expected men would ©
enlist for life at a small bounty, ©
when they could get a greater one
for enlisting for a short term of ©
years: if a stronger force was re-
quired for the defence of the coun-
try, he should prefer something like ©
an arming en masse, to the militia, —
because that would less interfere |
with the regular army.—He also ©
disapproved still more of the militia —
force, as being merely defensive,
an not at all disposeable for offen-—
sive measures against the enemy.
_ Mr. Pitt seemed to consider the
number of militia to bear too great

@ pro-

Has TORY

2 proportion to the whole of our
force. A war that should be com-
pletely defensive, would, in his opi-
nion, be both dishonorable and ru-
-inous. He wished to establish it as
a principle, that ‘‘ whatever is ne-
cessary for the defence or the ho-
nour of the country, either in men
or money, must be obtained,”
__ The chancellor of the exche-
quer, agreed in this sentiment, and

_ said, that a considerable defensive

iW

force was at present necessary, on
account of the extensive prepara-
tions of the enemy : the time might
come when circumstances would
point out the necessity of giving the
war a more offensive character,
and in such a case, he had no doubt,
but the population and spirit of
the country would furnish the
Means of supporting it with honor,
For the present, he thought it best
to direct the attention of the coun-
‘try, principally to the means of de-
“fence against the vast preparations
of the enemy ; for this purpose, he
relied, not only on the militia, but
on the yeomanry and volunteers.
also, as a subsidiary force, in aid
ef-the regular army.
The resolutions were then agreed
to.
On the 13th of June, the chan-

cellor of the exchequer brought

"i

i
fs

forward the budget: he considered
it unnecessary to make many pre-
liminary observations, as the house
had already pledged itself to sup-
port his majesty in the present
war. There were certain war-taxes,
which he should propose, that
would expire six months after the
definitive treaty. He proposed to
raise by an increase on the customs,

_ duties on sugar, exports, cotton, and

‘tonnage, above two millions annu-

OF EUROPE.

18$

ally, and by new duties on the ex-
cise of tea, wine, spirits, and malt,
he calculated on six millions more
He then presented a plan of a
tax upon property and income ;
the nett produce of which he es-
timated at 4,700,000/. making in the
whole twelve millions,seven hundred
thousand. pounds annually for war
taxes, to expire six months after a
peace. Congratulating the country
on the terms of the loan, and the
steady operation of the sinking
fund, he declared the intention of
government to carry on the present
war with considerable exertions ;
but with all possible economy.—
He concluded, by expressing his
hope, that the exertions of the pre-
sent war, would secure the com}
plete salvation of this country.

When the report was brought up
the next day, lord Folkestone took
the opportunity of objecting, not
to the taxes themselves, but to the
proposed application of them, which,
to him, appeared to be for carry-
ing on merely a defensive war,

Nothing farther occurred in ei-
ther house worthy our notice, until
the 17th, when a message from his
majesty was brought up by lord
Hawkesbury, to the house, inform-
ing them of his majesty having ear-
nestly wished, to respect the neu-
trality of the Batavian republic;
but that he felt himself compelled
by the’ conduct of France (who re-
fused to acknowledge its neutrality)
to order letters of marque and re-
prisal to issue against that power
and its subjects.

On the 18th, the chancellor of
the exchequer, communicated a
message from his majesty, acquaint-
ing the commons, that for the de-
fence and security of the country,

N 4 against

134 ANNUAL REGISTER,

against the avowed designs of the
enemy, bis majesty conceived it
necessary, that a large additional
force should be forthwith raised
andassembled. Addresses of thanks
were voted to his majesty for both
these messages.

On the 20th, lord Hobart, in the
house of lords, stated the outline
of the plan, which ministers had con-
ceived necessary for increasing the
military defence_of the country ;
which was by raising 40,000 men
for England, and 10,000 for Ive-
land, to be oflicered from the half-
pay list, and from the fencible ofti-
cers, and which was to serve as an
army of reserve, to assist the regu-
lars and militia. The men were to
be raised by ballot.

The duke of Clarence could not
approve of the ‘outline which had
been so sketched out; he warmly
approved of the militia system, but
wislied that any new force to be
raised, should be not merely for de-
fensive operations, but general ser-
vice: he expressed the “fullest con-
fidence in the resources of the
country, being sufficient to repel
invasion. After making these ob-
servations, he concluded by sup-
porting the address.

The earl of Caernarvon, coin-
cided with his royal highness, that it
would be extreme folly to make a
war, which we ourselves had rushed
into, a mere defensive war. He
condemned the system of ballot,
as being, in his opinion, more a
species of tax for raising money,
than a measure for raising men ;
and the money levied under it,
was raised in a manner more op-
pressive and objectionable than

any other tax, and by no means.

eumparable to the system of rai-

18053, .

sing men by bounty. Having .
dwelt at considerable length upon
this topic, his lordship concluded
by declaring, that he saw more dan-
ger to the country from the hands
in-which its government was placed,
than from the malice and rancour
of its avowed enemies.

The earl of Suffolk recommended,
as the wisest measure for the mili-
tary defence of the country, a cen-
tral army of reserve, under one
of our best generals, which should
be at all times ready to proceed
rapidly to whatever district should
be attacked.

The earl of Moira declared, that
in the defence of the country he
should draw his sword with equal
pleasure, as a private yeoman, as if
he had been honored with the com-
mand of an. army. He did not
wish to oppose any plan that minis-
ters might think necessary for the
defence of the country, on the
contrary, he thought no time should
be lost for discussing and adopting
measures for increasing the military
force of the country. He must,
however, agree with the noble
lords, who had already spoken, in
recommending offensive rather than
defensive war. He lamented much
the present state of Europe, when the
nations who were formerly friendly
and disposed to an alliance with us,
were now crushed by the power of
France, and compelled to become
our enemies. A mere defensive
war, he must repeat, was absolute
defeat and ruin, and the greatest
bungler that ever handled a foil
would certainly, at some time or
another hit the best swordsman
who should stand entirely on the
defensive, His Lordship then in a
strain of most animated and im-
pressive

impressive eloquence, called upon
the spirit of the British nation to
rise, superior to the dangers which
await it; and concluded, by cor-
dially supporting the address.
~ Lord Mulgrave complimented,
in the highest terms, the patriotic,
the manly, the soldier-like speech
‘ofthe noble earl. He appeared to
think the plan proposed by mi-
nisters, likely to be efficacious, and
expressed -the highest confidence in
the strength and resources of the
country.
Lord Grenville declared, that it
was not his intention to give any
opposition to the plan proposed,
being fully convinced that some
plan was absolutely necessary. He
was astonished, however, that mi-
‘nisters had not sooner thought of
‘some such expedient. The enemy
had taken an advantage of our re-
‘Missness, and had already, by the
“conquest of Hanover, struck a blow,
which this country must feel most
severely. Ministers ought to have
foreseen that blow, and guarded
against it. He was of opinion,
that a mere defensive war, hardly
deserved either the name of de-
fence, or of war; but was as dan-
“gerous and degrading a condition,
as any country could be placed in.
As to the odium of recommending
/compulgory measures, should they

which he was content and proud to
‘share.

» After some observations from
ther noble lords, the address was
‘voted unanimously.

' On the 20th of June, in the
house of commons,

“The secretary at war, presented
eplan of government, for raising
am additional force, both for the

, ‘

_be necessary, that was an odium~

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

-

iss
defence of the country and for of-
fensive operations. Our prepara-
tions, he said, must not only be
referred to the strength and re-
sources, possessed by the enemy
for our annoyance ; but to the sin-
gular character of that man, who
wields, despotically, the immense
power of France. The implacable
animosity of the first consul to this
country, had been so clearly evinc-
ed, and his threats of sacrificing
fleet after fleet, and army after
army, to accomplish the ruin of
this country, were so recent, that
it was undoubtedly necessary for
us to make preparations suitable to
the power and the maligiity of our
enemy. The force that govern-
ment proposed to raise as an army
of reserve, was 50,000 men, 34,000
of which were for England, 10,000
for Ireland, and 6000 for Scotland.
Those men, though raised by bal-
lot, as were the militia, would dif
fer from them in this: that their
services were, during the war, to
extend to Great Britain, Ireland,
and the islands in the channel,
They would have another adyantage
of the militia, in being commanded
by efficers of experience from the
line, from the half-pay list, and
those who had already served, either
in the East Indies, or as fencible
officers. After stating that the
ballot was to fall on those men be-
tween eighteen and forty-five, he
proposed his first resolution, which
was, that an army of reserve of
50,000 men, should be forthwith
raised,

Mr, Windham, opposed the mea-
sure, as tending, inhis opinion, to cut
up by the roots the present system
of recruiting for the regular army,
He then expressed his disapprobation
of

186 -ANNUAL RE

of the militia, and of every system
which went to shut up, merely for
self-defence, the greatest part of
our force, and to let Europe know
that we were not able to detach any
succour to its relief, He then expa-
tiated, with great ability, on the
_ decided advantage of regular troops,

for attacking an enemy, and on the
necessity of our becoming an armed
nation for our own defence.

The chancellor of the exchequer,
defended the plan proposed, and
said, that until we convincéd the
enemy that we were impregnable at
home, no peace was to be ex-
pected.

‘The report was then brought up,
and the address agreed to, without
opposition.

On the 22d, the report of the
clergy bill having been brought up,
in the hotise of lords,

Lord Grenville, opposed the prin-
ciple of the bill, as being deficient in
one of the mosi important points,\ 12s
by not making such a provision for
the poorer clergy, as would enable
them to reside on their livings. He
considered this, as by far the most
important point that could be esta-
blished for the inferior clergy ; and
disapproved of the exemptions, the
discretionary power vested in bi-
shops, and, in short, of almost all
the clauses of the bill.

After a few observations however,
from the lord chantellor, in reply,
the report was received,

The next day there was a debate
in the house of commons, upon the
second reading of the-army of re-
serve bill.

Mr. Calcraft objected to the plan,
and thought Government would do
better, were they to complete the
regular regiments, by ballot. How-

GISTER,

1805.

ever highly he respected the supe« —
riority of the regular troops, he —
could by no means think so lightly —
of the militia, as Mr. Windham did, —
as he recollected their gallant a-
chievements in Egypt and Holland,
He also bore ample testimony to
the good discipline of the British
army in general,

Mr. Sheridan declared, that the
idea thrown out by the last speaker,
of a compulsory levy of men for
the regular regiments, was altoge-
ther unconstitutional ; but to repel
invasion, the constitution required
every man to come forward, in the
defence of his country.

Mr. Elliot objected, both to the
composition of the force proposed,
and to those who were to have the
direction of it. As to the first
point, he thought regular troops
decidedly more adyantageous than
those who were levied, merely for
defensive operations, He consi-
dered, that the system of recruit-
ing the regular army by bounties,
had never been fairly tried in this
country; as it had always been
counteracted, by bounties given to -
persons recruiting for a more limit-
ted service. He recommended an
augmentation of the bounty-money,
as he thought it the most desireable
thing to augment, as speedily as pos-
sible, that force,which was not only
the best fitted for encountéring the
enemy at their landing, but for of-
fensive operations. After pressing
strongly the superior advantages to
be derived from regular troops, he
concluded, by expressing his disap-
probation at the slowness with which
ministers brought forward their mea-
sures, at the present critical pe-
riod.

The secretary at war, in reply

te

HISTORY: OF «EUROPE.

the last speaker, observed, that
there were many reasons evidently
flowing from our insular situation,
ur commercial prosperity, and
our great naval force, which pre-
yented this country from having as
Jarge a regular establishment as
‘many others. He agreed with Mr.
Sheridan, that it would be uncon-
_Stitutional to raise men by ballot
‘for the regular army, it was there-
fore impossible, by bounties, to
_faise, in a short time, as great a
number of troops of that descrip-
‘tion, as the exigency of the times
might require.
Mr. Pitt, in a very long and able

speech, defended the principle of

the bill, which he considered the
“most proper expedient, to obtain
the purposes intended by it. He
. did not consider this as merely a
‘defensive measure, but that by en-
_ abling us to spare a greater number
of our regulars, it would forward
the ultimate objects of the war, by
‘increasing ovr disposeable force.
‘He declared, however, that, at
_ the present moment, the defence of
the country appeared the first and
Most important operation; when
_ that should be accomplished, then
‘it must be considered how we’should
_ best direct the spirit of the country
‘ against its implacable enemy. He
" yet would not say, that a mere de-
tensive war was to be altogether
despised ; it was something to be
_-safe from a power, which had con-
quered most of the powers of the
- continent, and there was no reason
’ to fear, but that a considerable re-
inforcement might be obtained for
the regular army, by means of the
) force now to be raised. ' It appear-
~ ed to him to be essentially neces-
sary, that a large force should be

ae

187

raised, as speedily as possible; and
he did not know any other measure,
that would be likely to be more et-
fectual for this purpose.

Mr. Windham said, that not-
withstanding the clear statement of
his friend (Mr. Pitt), he was still
unconvinced of the propriety of the
measure. He did not deny, that
the present measure would procure
a greater number of men, in a
shorter period than perhaps any
other; but he would by no means
allow, that the value of the men so
raised, would be in proportion to
their number. He neither thought
the men would be equal to soldiers
raised in the common way, nor
would they be as well officered. If
the invasion was to take place at all,
it would probably take place before
this force was halfraised, or in any~
degree efficient. He thought the
name of ‘“ Army of Reserve,” was
ill applied to such a force as
this, and recommended a Vendean
rising en masse, as a better mode of
repelling invasion, than the means
which the present bill held forth.

Mr. Pitt, in explanation, said, he
considered the present plan, merely
as a foundation for recruiting ; and
a part of a general system from
which the most important results
might hearafter flow.

Lord Castlereagh, replied to Mr.
Windham, and defended both the
militia system, and the measure now
proposed. He thought it strange,
that that right hon. gentleman, who
generally preferred regular troops,
so decidedly to any others, should
now recommend a peasantry, arm-
ed and disciplined, like those in La
Vendee.

‘The chancellor of the exchequer
also, defended the measure. He

said

188

Said it was from a similar one, the
calling out the supplementary mi-
Uitia, that the country was able to
make those exertions last war,which
decided the campaign in Egypt.
He condemned the idea which had
been thrown out, of fitting up our

regular regimeuts, by a sort of con-
scription, which would be entirely
contrary to the liberty of the sub-
ject, and the feelings of the na-
tien,

The 27th, the secretary at war,
moved the recommittal of the bill,
for the purpose of introducing some
amendments. He wished to have
a separate bill for Scotland. The
appointment of the men to be raised,
would be about 84, out of every
10,000. He wished that the a AL;
liable to the ballot, should be froin
16 to 45. We then detailed the
Variety of circumstances, under
which exemptions ought to be given
from service, particularly to the
volunteers, who should have en-
tered before the 22d of June, and
those who, in the large towns, were
ready to do garrison duty. He con-
cluded, by entering most minutely
into the details of the plan to be
brought forward.

Mr. Sheridan, wished the ballot
should extend to 50 years of age,
instead of 45. He thought, indeed,
it would be no hardship to a man
of 70 years old, if drawn, to put
his hand in his pocket, like younger
men, and draw out the price of a
substitute. He examined, with
that humour, peculiar to himself,
the foundation of the different causes
of exemption, which he wished
rather to be narrowed than in-
creased.

Colonel Crawford, made many

webservations, on the menacing force

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1808.

of the enemy, whose object ute

doubtedly was to push up to Lone

don, and subdue the empire in its —

metropolis.
Mr. Macnaghten, with consider-

‘able warmth, replied, that he could

never endure to hear it said, that
the conquest of London was the
conquest of the empire. He would
have both the hon. gentleman and
Bonaparte know, that the people of
Great Britain, and the people of
Ireland; would contest every inch
of ground with an invader; and
would be driven into thé sea, before
they would yield to the proudest
armies of France. He was con-
vinced, that an invasion of this
country, would give the enemy @
lesson, which would settle that spe-
culation for ever.

[This speech was received with
the most enthusiastic applause. ]

Mr. Windham, expressed surs
prize, that, from Colonel Crawford,
the suggestion of the possibility of
the French getting up to London,
was heard with patience, and that
the argument of the last speaker,
had been received with such un-
common approbation,whena similar
hint from him was heard the other
day, with the most marked dissatis-
faction.

The chancellor of the exchequer
said, the last speaker flattered him-
self too much, if he supposed there
was any similarity between the de
sponding language he had held, and
the animating speech of the hon.
gentleman, w vhich had excited so
powerfully, the feelings and appro-
bation of the house.

The fusther consideration of the
report was then postponed, till
Wednesday the 30th of June, when,
on the motion for the third reading

of

—

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

of the army of reserve bill, being
put, in the commons,

Mr. Johnstone rose, and took a
general review of the conduct of
ministers, in beginning the present
war with France. He considered
the cause of the war, which, by
their own allowance, was only for
‘the possession of Malta, for ten
years, as one altogether inadequate
to so serious an evil. Franee had
even offered to allow Malta to be
added to Russia, which was, in his
Opinion, the best thing that could
be done with it? as it would con-
nect Russia more with the interests
of the southern nations of Europe.
France had also offered to evacuate
Holland, and yet, we rejected

those proposals ; notwithstanding

a)

ne

4

against wars

all that some gentlemen had said
merely defensive,
yet no body had pointed out any

“means by which our power could
be directad to the annoyance of

France. He then, in a very long

speech, endeavoured to prove, that

we had no chance of co-operation,

from the continental nations; that

the resources of France were

not likely to be much affected by

the war; while we had no other

means to support it, but by con-

stantly raising fresh loans,
Mr. Hutchinson, bore testimony

| to the good disposition of the peo-

ple of Ireland, for resisting the
commonenemy. ‘The only contest
that could arise between the two
countries, was, which would stand

_ most forward in the day of battle.

Mr. Archdale, thought that Mr,
Johnstone had wandered far from
the question before the house, when
he discussed, at such length, the
conduct of ministers, respecting
Malta; a point that had been pre-

189

viously disposed of by the house,
The mode proposed for raising the
additional force, which was want-
ed, appeared to him to be the
best for the attainment of the oby
ject.

Lord de Blaquiere thought it im-
possible, that France could make
any serious impression on this coun=
try ; on the contrary, he thought,
that the state of affairs on the con-
tinent, where so many nations bore
reluctantly the French yoke, was
favourable to any attack which
should be made by this country
against France.

Colonel Crawford rose, but pros
ceeding on a very detailed state-
ment of the military force aad situ-
ation of the country,

The secretary at war, consider+
ing that such discussions should not
be public, moved that the gallery
should be cleared.

This motion was, of course, a-
ereed to, and for the rest of the
debate, strangers were excluded.

- The bill was, at length, passed,
without farther opposition.

On being brought into the house
of lords, on the 4th of July,

The duke of Cumberland, ap-
proved highly of the principle of the
bill, and thought, that if ministers
had judged it expedient to propose
100,000 men, instead of 50,000,
it would have equally been assented
to. He concluded, by proposing,
as an amendment, “ that every sub-
stitute, enrolled by virtue of this
act, should- be liable to be called
ypon for general service.”

Lord Hobart, opposed the a-
mendment ; which, he thought,
would impose a great burden and

_hardship indeed upon the substi-

tutes, and entirely destroy the
; good

199 ANNUAL REG

good effects to be expected from
the bill.

Lord Moira, regretted that the
description of men to be raised un-
der this system, would be much in-
ferior to that of the regulars. He
considered this as a mere contin-
gent force, inadequate to answer
the purposes or the expectations of
the country, at the present crisis.
A large disposeable force was the
only one which would enable us to
contend manfully with the enemy.
He seemed to prefer the regular
force so decidedly to all others, as
to agree in the amendment, pro-
posed by his royal highness. His
iordship concluded, by a very ani-
mated appeal to the spirit of the
British nation, to come forward
and make such exertions for the
public defence, as would preserve
this country from ages of slavery.

Aftera long and desultory conver-
sation, the report was received, and
the bill ordered to be read a third
time the next day, the 5th of July,
when, upon the question being put
for the third reading,

Tord Suffolk, expressed an ap-
_ prehension, that the present bill
did not go far enough for the object
for which it was intended, “He
complained of our best officers be-
ing unemployed. Ile paid the
highest compliments to earl Moira’s
character, both private, political,
and military ; and regretted his be-
ing without situation, He also
regretted that the hero of Egypt
(lord Ttutchinson), should have
only a subordinate post assigned to
him. He thought the system of
granting commissions, entirely ac-
cording to routine, was, in fact,
risking the safety of the country,
for the sake of forms. His lordship

_

ISTER, ‘1803.

expressed a strong partiality for the’
marines, and considered this coun-
try as not favorable to the opera-
tions of cavalry ; and added, that
our troops should be more prac-
tised to firing with ball; that we
should set less value on German

tactics, which brought such josses —

on Austria ; and concluded by re-
commending a military council; #
measure, to which, more than to
any other cause, he attributed the
successes of France.

Lord Darnley, in delivering 2
speech full of confidence in the
strength of the country, and the
spirit of the nation, reprobated se-
verely some speeches of a contrary
tendency, which had been made
both in that house, and in nu
place.

The bill was then read a third
time, and passed.

Thus, without a division in either
house of parliament, was carried the
first measure of government, which
seemed in the slightest degree cal-+
culaied to retrieye the errors, into
which it had fallen. Whether its
eflects were commensurate to the
necessity which was now allowed on
all hands to exist; or whether it
were not an ill-judged and inade-
quate mode of replacing the coun-
try on that footing, w hich the hour

of approaching peril, rendered in-’

dispensible; it shall be our task
hereafter, in the detail of the pro-
gress of the war, during the period
which our annual limits embrace,
to investigate. Certain it is, that
its enaction fully established to the
conviction even of the most preju-
diced and partial admirers of the
peace of Amiens, that the fabric of
that gallant and triumphant army,

whose prowess and march of yictory
had,

=

a ee

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

had, during the late contest with
France, swelled the note of Bri-
tish glory, to the highest pitch ;
and which had resounded from the
capital of the Mysoreto the western
limits of Europe, was completely
dismantled ; and of whose wreck it
seemed hopeless even to attempt
the reparation. As however the
_ @Xigency of some mode of national
' defence, was not disputed by any,
neither was there any decided op-
| position to the present measure,

4

‘

191

As the live hedge, which had inclosed
in verdure, strength, and beauty,
the public domain, had been pluck-
ed up improvidently, by the un-
skilful hands, in whose guardian-
ship it had been placed; so, when
the spoiler threatened to break in,
and rayage its fertile plains, brush-
wood and faggots were despairingly
resorted to, as the only, though
confessedly inadequate, substityx
tion,

192 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803, ©

@HA'P, XV.

Proceedings of Parliament on the Property Tax Bill.—Chancellor of the
Exchequer moves for a Committee thereon —Debate.—Opposed by Al-
derman Combe—Mr, W. Smith.—Supported by Mr. Addington-— —
Lord Hawkesbury—Mr. Erskine.—Re-committed.— Debate on the Irish
Army of Reserve Bill.--Speeches of General Gascoygne--Loftus.—House —
cleared.— Renewal of Debates on the Property Tax Bill—Mr. W. Smith. |
—Addington.—Unexpected Motion of Mr. Pitt.—Diwwvision—Debate
resumed next day.—Desultory Conversation.—Bill passed —Additional —
Proceedings on the Defence of the Counéry.—Secretary at War proposes
a Levy en Masse,—Speech— Debate.—Mr. Windham—Lord Hawkes-
bury—Sir Francis Burdett—Mr, Pitt—Lord Castlereagh—Mr, For—
Addington.— Bill read a first and second time.—Debate resumed.—Mr, ~
Sheridan—K innaird.—Last Debate thereon.—Colonel Crawford—Mr, —
Pitt—General Tarleton.— Bill passes the Commons.— Debates thereon
an the Lords, —Passes with little opposition —Kemarks.—Proceedings —

on the Affairs of the Prince of Orange.—Observations,

} AVING thus proceeded one
4 step in the preparation for
the defence of the country, by a
species of armament, for which, by
some fatality, as if foreign from the
feelings and inclinations of Britons,
the founders had been obliged to
seek from the continent a name;
the next measure to which minis-
ters naturally had recourse to, was
that pecuniary aid from the country,
which a war esttblishment imperi-
ously demanded, Accordingly on
the 5th day of July, in the house of
commons,

The chancellor of the exchequer
moved that the house should gointo
a committee on the property tax bill.

Mr. alderman Combe said, he
conceived himself bound to oppose
this bill by the instructions he had.

received from his constituents; who
considered it a measure so unjust
in its principle, and partial in its
operation, that no modification of
it could remove their objections.
He eonsidered this tax as merely
an income tax,which he had always
opposed, because it raised an equal
sum upon incomes of unequal dura-
tion; upon the precarious produce
of industry; and upon permanent
income.

The lord mayor and sir John An-
derson had also been instructed to.
oppose it, but considered themselves
at liberty to act according to the
dictates of their own conscience.
They should however, watch the
progress of the bill with great at-
tention.

The chancellor of the San aT

su

MiS TOR Y

said; that he never considered the
old income tax as any thing but a
war tax: there was this diflerence,
however, betw¢en that tax and the
preseni, nameiy, that the propor-
tion now demanded was not so large,
and that in incomes from land or
interest of money, no particular
disclosure was required: As there
had been already such considerable
gums raised upon consumption, it
was but fair that property itself
should be taxed, or otherwise it
wouid be impossible to carry into
execution the resolution of the
house, for raising within the year,
a considerable part of the expences
of the year: he wished at present
to have the bill re-printed, and re-
comimnitted for future consideration,

Mer. W. Smith objected to the
tax, principally on the ground, that

_it was in reality an income tax, and
not a tax.upon property ; consi-
dering itin that light, he thought
it unjust, that a precarious income,
derived from great mental or bodily
Jabour, should pay an equal tax
with an income which was perma-
nent, and obtained without exer-
tion.

Lord Hawksbury replied to Mr,
Smith, by stating, that the income
tax was not more unequal than
every other speciés of tax. As to
the principle that had been sug-
gested, of making a distinction be-
tween incomes of a precarious and of
more permanent nature; this was a
‘distinction which the legislature had
ever recognized inany case. The
Jana tax, poors rates, &c, had been
“always raised irom the produce of

“the jand, without considering the
tenure.

_ Mr. Erskine, was ready to sup-
port ihe present tax, not that he

Vol. XLY.

OF EUROPE.

193

approved of it in principle, but be-
cause he was convinced of the ne-
cessity of making great exertions,
at so perilous a moment as the preé
sent. He felt it necessary, thaf
great sacrifices should be made; ang
although he felt that hisown profes-
sional income was not worth above
two years purchase, he would glad-
ly give up any part of it that could
be asked, for the general service of
the country.

After some farther conversation,
the bill was ordered to be recome
mitted.

On the next day; the secretary
at war (Mr. Yorke) haying moved
that the house of commons should
go into a committee; on the Irish
army of reserve act,

General Gascoygne, though he
approved of the measure, depreci-
ated a system of operations, purely
defensive. le thought that an of-
fensive war should be carried on
upon a gram scale, Our garrisons
at Malta and Gibraltar were, in his
opinion, much stronger than was
hecessury for mere defence. He
ridiculed the idea of invading this
country in open boats, while out
fieets had the command of the sea,
and our shores were in a strong po-
sition of defence. He thought such
an attempt so improbabic, that.
we would be justified in turning the
principal part of our attention to fo-
rcign objects. He then replied to
some argyments which had been
advanced by Colonel Crawford, on
a former night, and which sup-
posed a possibility of the enemy
succeeding.

General Loftus, defended the:
conduct of ininisters, in having
taken all necessary precautions ior
the defence of the country. He

r@) thea

ig9t ANNUAL RB

then was beginning to enter into a
detailed military view of the means
of repelling the enemy, when

Sir Robert Buxton moved, that
the gallery should be cleared, and
strangers were accordingly excluded
for the remainder of the debate.

There was no other discussion of
much consequence, in either house,
from that day to the 13th, when,
on the question for the further
consideration of the property tax
bill,

Mr. W. Smith, objected much
to the inquisitorial means, made
use of to come at the amount of
the incomes of tradesmen.

Mr. Pitt, defended the old in-
come tax, during the continuance
of which, the credit of the country
had increased in an unexampled
manner. He objected however to
several of the details of the bill.
The tax upon funded property, ap-
peared to him altogether a breach
of public faith, and he considered
that the bill, in other instances,
favoured capital, and oppressed po-
verty.

The chancellor of the exchequer
said, that however hard it might
‘appear, that this tax should bear
linequally in its operation; it would
be still harder to make any tax per-
feetly equal. He detended, the
justice of taxing incomes from
tunded property, and again said,
that equality of taxation was ailing
ot to be brought about by human
wisdom,

_ Mr. Elliston censured Mr. Pitt,
for attacking ministers,

expressed astonishment at the ac-

¢usation, as ministers had been
dn. possession of his sentiments
for tivee weeks Lie concluded,

EGISTER,

1803.

by moving an instruction to the
committee, that ‘the like ex-
emptions and abatements be ex-
tended to those who have income
arising from money in the funds, or
Jand, or money at interest, as aré
or may be allowed to other per-
sons.”

A long conversation ensued, in
which Ministers did not conceal
their surprize at Mr. Pitt’s unex -
pected motion.

The house divided, and the num-
bers on the divison were 50, for
Mr. Pitt’s motion, 150 against it!

The next day however, the house
having proceeded in the further cons
sideration of the bill,

The chancellor of the exchequer
rose, and although he declared that
he viewed with awe, the deficiency
which the adoption of Mr. Pitt's,
motion of yesterday would cause
in the produce of the tax, yet, as
he thought the exemption demand-
ed, was expected, by a great num-
ber of people, and as he was con-
vinced of the necessity of recon-
ciling even the most necessary mca-
sures, to the feelings of the public,
he should, to avoid differences of
opinion, when unanimity was want-
ing, give up that point. He was |
€ lad, “however, that the description”
of persons, who were to be bene-
fited by this concession, then pos-
sesing small incomes from land, had
already deserved much of their
country ; ; and that this exemption
would extend to the greater part of
the constitutional yeomanry of the

. kingdom,
Mr. Pitt, on the other hand,

Mr. Pitt beard, with great satis-
faction, what had fallen from the
right hon, Gentleman, Although
their arcuments were on grounds
totally diférent, he was perfectly

satisfied

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

satisfied at his conclusion being
adopted.

Mr. Rose, then suggested a de-
duction for allowances to curates,
but

Lord Hawksbury said, the house
would not be paid for the trouble
of passing the bill, if it was to be
frittered away in such a manner,
by numerous exemptions ; some in-
equalities and hardships must re-
sult from this, as well as from
every measure of a general nature,

After Mr. Addington had con-
ceded, in this manner to the sug-
gestion of Mr. Pitt, the latter gen-
tleman made no farther serious op-
position to the remaining parts of the
bill, which, although they occupied
a great deal of time, produced no
important debate.

The rest of the session was prin-

‘cipally taken up with considering

the state of the country as to its
defence.

On the 18th of July, the secre-
tary at war, moved for leave to
bring in a bill, for amending the
defence bill, and for enabling his
majesty to raise a levy en masse, in
case of invasion. This, he con-
tended, was an ancient and indis-
pensible prerogative of the crown,
and the object of the present bill,
was only to facilitate the exercise of
it, in case of need. By the laws of
the Anglo-Saxons, this prerogative
was claimed; by the assize of
Henry Id, and statute of Henry
the IId; it was legally recognized,
and there could not bea doubt,
but that every liege subject was
bound, at the call of his sovereign,
to take up arms, in case of an in-
vasion of the realm. The most
insolent of all enemies, who had
now subdued the greater part of the

193

continent, threatened us with in-
vasion and slavery. There never
was a time, therefore, that it be-
came more necessary to assert this
ancient and undoubted prerogative
of the crown. After detailing the
different classes, under which the
population of the country should
be enrolled, for the purposes of
the bill; he stated, that so late as
in the reign of Henry the VUIth,
all persons, under the age of 60
years, were required to exercise
themselves at shooting with the
bow. The same principle required s
that the Englishmen of the present
day, should exercise themselves at
those arms which are now in use.
In case of inyasion, every man
should be bound to march ; but the
volunteers would not be required
to march, except in their own
corps. After mentioning the con=
duct of the English at Toulon, Acre;
Lincelles, and Egypt, he said there
was no reason to suppose the En-
glishmen, of the present day, un-
equal to those of Cressy and Agin-
court. After many other observa-
tions of a similar nature, he cor-
cluded, by moving for leave to
bring in that bill, generally called,
the levy en masse bill.

Mr. Windham observed, that till
very lately, ministers considered it
the language of despondency, to
speak of the possibility of an inva-
sion. They were however, pleased,
at present, to admit that possibility,
and to take measures to repel it. He
must, however; compare what was
called despondency, on the part of
himself and his friends, with what
was called magnanimiity, on the part
of ministers. The magnanimity of
ininisters, consisted merely in tel-
ling the people, that there was no

QO2 danger

166 ANNUAL RE

‘danger, and therefore, that they
must not be alermed. ‘The despon-
dency of his friends, consisted in
pointing out the.danger, and endea-
vouring to rouze all the energies of
the nation, to mect it, The prin-
cipal fault he found with ministers
was, not for bringing forward those
measures now, but for not having
brought them forward some months
aco; he therefore considered them
highly blameable, for having brought
the country into danger, by their
negligence and supineness. Go-
vefnment were also blameable, in
not having given the country suffici-
ent information of its danger; but
came forward at once, with compul-
‘sory measures, before it had made a
trial of the voluntary exertion of
the country. After discussing these
topics, in the ablest manner, and
indulging pretty freely his brilliant
imagination, and peculiar strain
of wit; he said, he should not op-
pose this, or any other measure, for
the defence of the country.

Lord Hawksbury said, the pre-
sent bill, united as much as possi-
-ble, the encouragement duv to the
volunteer system, with those strong
Measures of compulsion, which the
hon. gentleman was an advocate
for. As Jong as a sufficient number
of volunteers could be found in any
district, the bill ceased to operate.
He concluded, by warmly detend-
ing the ¢onduct of ministers, from
the charges brought against them,
and declared their fixed determi-
nation to defend, to the last
extremity, every acre of Bnitish
soil,

Sir Prancis Burdett recommend-
ed, as the best measure of detence,
to repeal all the oppressive and un-
comstigtionsl acw of parliament,

" J

=

GISTER, 1903.-

and conciliate the affections of the
people!

Mr, Pitt, spproved of the prin-
cipal of thé measure proposed, and
thought that something similar was
necessary, to place the country on
a footitig of perfect security. He
considered it as adequate to any
danger which might threaten us,
as strictly constitutional, and agree-
able to the ancient prerogative of
the crown, and therefore it was
necessary that the country should
know its danger. Tle was convinc+
ed his hon. friend (Mr. Windhant),
had no other view, than to shew
it its real situation, in using that
language, which many considered
as despondent. If the British na-
-tion was once completely rouzed,
any force that the enemy could
send, would operate only as a de-
tachment acting against a nation in
arms. He expressed, however, sur-
prize and concern, that this mea-
sure was not sooner brought for-
4vard 3 he now wished that no time
should be lost in the putting it into
execution; but, at the same time,
he wished to try how far the volun-
tary exertions of the people would
go, betore compulsory measures
were resorted to. Ue concluded,
by declaring his full confidence,
thet the people of this empire
united for common defence, must
be invincible, and by giving his
cordial support to the bill.

Ford Castlereagh said, it. wap
difficult for ministers to answer the
charges of every individual member ;
but, as to the present measure, he
must state, that it was impossible
that it could have been brought for-
ward with prepriety, until the other
measures, the calling out of the
supplementary mifitia, and theanwy

of

HISTORY

of reserve, had been organized and
in forwardness. These measures
could only follow each other in
succession, Government, in the
mean time had availed themselves
of as many offers of voluntary ser-
vice, as they could accept of

without crippling the army of re-

serve. THis lordship spoke in very
high terms of those volunteers, w ith
whom he was best acquainted, the
Trish volunteers. He then stated
the object of the present bill, which
was to give effect to the undoubted
prerogative of the crown, The
crown had now the right to call
upon every liege subject, in case
of invasion. The present bill was
to impose a duty on the people, to
Teceive such previous instruction
in the use of arms, as alone could
render that prerogative of any a-
yail,

Mr. Fox, gave his hearty con-
currence to the measure. Ile had
hot approved of the present war,
but being engaged in it, he could
not oppose those measures which
the state of war made necessary.
He could conscientiously support
this measure, because it was for the

defence of the country, more than.

for any project of offensive war.
Me relied principally on the armed
mass of the people, to resist inva-
sion. As to our regular force, he
wished it to be as great and as good
as possible ; yet he would no more

think of placing his entire depen-
dance on regular forces than on
our navy ; both might be excellent,

but yet subject to events; whereas,

the mass of a great people, instruct-
ed inthe use of arms, was a solid

and permanentsecurity, that did not

“depend on the event of one buat-

OF EUROPE.

197
tle ; nor would, by any untoward
cjrcumstance, be rendcred ineflica~
cious. The invaders might have

regular armies, as numerous and
as wall disciplined as our own, but
they could not bring over that which
we could command, an armed pea-
santry, Mr. Fox then expressed,
very strongly, his opinion, that the
best mode would be to try whether
a general armament of this nature,
might not be obtained voluntarily,
and without any compulsion what-
eyer. He allowed notwithstanding,
that if compulsion was necessary,
it should be resorted to,

The chancellor of the exchequer,
felt the greatest satisfaction, at
finding there was no opposition to
the motion. Ile denied, however,
that ministers had been tardy in
their preparations, but, on the
contrary, many most important
steps had been taken, between the
the Sth of March, the date of the
message, and that day. First, the
militia had been called out; Se-
condly, the supplementary militia
was ordered to be embodied; then
followed the army of reserve; and,
in addition to those acts, upwards of
60,000 volunteers had already of-
feyed ; and it was, after all those
additions to the public force, that
the present measure was brought
forward. He considered this mea-
sure as singularly adapted to the
genius ‘and character of the people,
as it was making a common cause
with them, in ‘the defence of our
common country.

The bill was then read a first and
second time, committed pro forma,
and the report was brought up, oa
the 20th, when
* Mr. Sheridan ce

0 3

spreciated any
discussion,

198

discussion on the general principle
of the bill, until the question on
the third reading.

Mr. Kinnaird, however, object-
ed to the principle of the bill, as
tending to repress the voluntary
excrtions of the country, and as a
sy stem too complicated to be effica-
clous.

After a few observations, from
some other gentlemen, the house
went into a committee, when the
bill received some amendments,
which produced Jittle or unimpor-
tant discussion.

On the 22d, upon the question
being put, that the bill should

ass,

Colonel Crawford rose, and said,
no man could feel more highly than
himself, the advantages of an arm-
ed people, actingin co-operation and
support of the regular army; be-
sides, the physical strength that
would be gained by this measure, he
considered, that this additional ad-

vantage would result, that govern-
ment and the parliament pr oclaimed
to the people; that the country was
in danger, and thereby called upon
them to rouze in its defence. The
conduct, however, of ministers in
pie this measure, proved, that

is right hon, friend (Mr.Windham),
had not spoken the language of de-
spondency, when he first ‘declared
the dange# of the country. He had
spoken ‘but the language of truth,
with a view, not of depressing the
spirits of the people, but, on the
contrary, to rais¢ them ‘propof-
tionately to the exigency. When
he himself had, a few weeks ago,
supposed the possibility of the ene-
my’s landing 70,000 men, near the
metropolis ; ‘the supposition was
asserted to be extrayagant; but

ANNUAL REGISTER,

18038.

now the secretary at war himsel:

was disposed to allow that 50,000
might land, which was not rey
short of his calculation. He ob-
jected to the idea of arming only
the first class, under the enrolment.
--He thought that all ought
to be armed, and that those who
could not have musquets, should
be supplied with pikes, of which
weapon he gave a very high charac-
ter, having himself Beein’ witness of:
the effect of it, at the battle of
New Ross, in Ireland. He then
dwelt, at very considerable length,
on the details of what he conceived
the country deficient in, both as to
regular troops, and fortifications.
As to the increase of the regular
ariny, he scemed to rely princi-
pally on volunteers from the militia;
as to the fortifications, he thought
it possible, in the first place, to
fortify the coast from Yarmouth
Roads to the South Foreland ; se-
condly, he thought defences should
be thrown up, on the different roads,
from thé coast to London, and that
London itself should be. fortified.
All these topics he pressed at con-
siderable length, and with great
ability and “military knowledge,
He also strongly recommended
the appointment of a military
council.

The secretary at war, replied to
Colonel Crawford. As to the un-
certainty in all human affairs, Old
England had, in spite of that un-
certainty, long borne up against
all chances, and probably would
continue so to do. He was decid-
edly averse from fortifying London.
He thought, with such a fleet and
army, as we now possess, it would
be disgraceful to think of that
measure, it would be time enough

te

‘

\

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

to throw up works, when the enemy
were at the mouthsof our harbours.
He defended the conduct of minis-
ters generally, and concluded, by
saying, that whether the hon.
gentleman was satisfied or not with
our preparations, he was conyinced
the enemy were satistied.

Mr. Pitt asserted, from his own
Knowledge, that the military de-
partment of the country, was pos-
sesed of a great fund of information,
on the points suggested by the han.
gentleman. Lis majesty’s minis-
ters, during the late war, had
given every possible attention to
that subject. The most minute
sketches had been obtained, of
every important position for re-
-sistance, between the sea coast and
the metropolis. They, had also
considered the defence of the dif-
ferent detached positions, such as
Newcastle, the mouth of the Hum-
ber, &c, ; and of our principal ports
-and arsenals. He agreed with the
secretary at war, that, at some fu-

-ture period, the military system of
_the country should be revised and
improved, Although he considered
success certain, yet he agreed with
Colonel Crawford, that, in order
that the victory should be pur-
chased with as small a loss of lives
as possible, fortifications, were very
adviseable, After dwelling upon

_ the strength and spirit of the coun-

try, in a strain of the most ani-

_ mated eloquence, he concluded, by
. giving it, as his opinion, that the

fate of the invasion, if attempted,

would lay a firm foundation of

eternal glory, happiness, and in-
dependence to the country; that

» the wreck of the conquered and’
\ fugitive army, would shake the
» tyrant’s usurped throne; that the

r

10g

news would revive the spirit of
the other nations of Europe, and
teach them to re-assert their rank
and their independence.

General Tarleton, objected to the
extensive system of fortification, re-
commended by Colonel Crawford;
and was replied to by Mr.Windham
and Dr. Lawrence.

The bill was then passed in the
commons; and, on the 25th fol-
lowing, was brought up to the lords,

The duke of Cumberland, ex-
pressed his decided approbation of
the measure, as did

Lord Mulgrave, who, however,
blamed ministers extremely, for not
bringing it forward sooner.

The earl of Westmorland, warmly
defended government, and said, it
was impossible for human exertion
todo more in the same time,

Lord Hobart, also expressed suy-
prize at the accusations thrown oug
by his noble friend (lord Mulgrave),
against ministers, who had made
every possible exertion.

The bill went through the house
of lords, without any farther oppo-
sition worth detailing.

On the 25th, a message, which
had been sent by his majesty, relar
tive to the prince of Orange, was
taken into consideration, in the
committee of supply.

Lord Hawksbury represented,
that the proposition he was to make
in favour of the hcuse of Orange,
was a claim binding in gratitude
and generosity. This country had,’
for the last century, found no more
faithtul ally than the illustrious, but
now unfortunate house of Orange ;
norcould theimportant services, ren-
dered by William the IId, in bring-
ing about our glorious, revolution,
be ever forgotten by Englishmen,

O + After

660

After’ the peace of Amiens, the
Dutch offered indemnities to the
prince of Orange, only on condi-
tion, that we should restore the
ships taken in hisname. ‘That was
refused by this country; some in-
demnity was therefore due from
us. What he proposed was, that
a sum of 60,000/. should be granted
for the benefit of his family, and a
pension of 16,000/. per annum,
during the pleasure of his ma-
jesty.

Mr. Canning, disapproved highly
of the conduct of ministers, in the
negociation. He thought they ought
to have remonstrated directly with
France, and to have retained in
their own hands sufliciént pledges
for the fulfilment of this part of the
treaty.

Sir Francis Burdett, severely re-
probated the proposition, which he
considered one of the most indecor-
ous that could possibly be brought
forward. If the prince of Orange
betrayed his own country to the
interests of our government, he de-
served no compensation ; if, on the
contrary, it was for her own inte-
rests that Holland went to war, it
was England that should claim com-
pensation from Holland, and: not
Holland from England. If the
prince 6f Orange wag now to ob-
tain indemnity, for his losses; per-
laps the elector of Hanover would
next demand compensation for the
loss of that country.

The chancellor of the exchequer
said, that the value of* the ships
taken; in the name of the prince of
Orange, was 150,000/. As we re-
fused to restore those ships to Hol-
land, who offered, on that condi-
tion, to give indemnity to the prince,
that 9 ae certainly gave

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

him something of a claim, if not
upon the justice, at least upon the
generosity of the British nation.

Mr. W. Smith, wished to post- >
pone the motion, thinking it was
too late in the season, to propose
measures of such importance.

The resolutions of lord Hawkes-
bury, for the sum of 60,0002, and
the annuity of 16,000/. were then -
agreed to,

On that part of the sybject mat-
ter of the present chapter, which
relates to the ‘* Army of Reserye
act,” and its operation, we shall
have abundant room for remark,
when we come to treat of the mode
in which the war was carried on,
from its commencement to the con-
clusion of the year. But we can-
not avoid here noticing, the deep,
though silent indignation which per-
vaded all ranks of people, on the
passing the bill for'the renumera-
tion of the losses in dominion and
property, incurred by the house of
Orange, in the progress of the strict
and faithful performance of its du-
ties, as the ally of Great Britain,
during the late war. In order to
secure the concurrence of parlia-
ment, in the approval of the terms
of the treaty of Amiens, its 18th
article, professes the obtainment of
‘*a full and adequate compensation
for all the losses, of whatever na-
ture, sustained by the prince of
Orange, and his house.” Yn the
only light in which this article
could fairly be considered, namely,
that such compensation should be,
not only adequate, but provided by
that power, who had plunged it in
misery and ruin, the king’s first
minister; the lord chancellor, wha
must have officially penned the
treaty; and the Bs Say)

Wha

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

tvho had negociated and signed it,
formally and publicly agreed. To
the indignation, therefore, we re-
peat, of “the public, did this iden-
tical government call upon the
British nation, for a sum of 69,000/.
and an annuity of 16, 000/. as a
compensation for terr itorial domain,
and personal property, confiscated
er seized on, by the tools of gallic
tyranny, without its being able to
shew that the consummation of this
article, so often vaunted of by
ministers, in both houses of parlia-
ment, had ever been pressed, dur-
ing ten months of peace, by a single
femonstrance respecting its non-

gol

performance, on the part of his
majesty, ta any of the contracting
parties!!! The inference, therefore,
was obvious, that the article in
question, was a deceptive and frau-
dulent maneuvre ; and that though
the appeal now made to the justice
and generosity of the country, was
admitted, on the part of the house of
Nassau, to its fullest extent; yet
that, as coming through those to
whose want of precaution, timi-
dity, or supineness, its necessity
originated, it was universally allow=
ed to be a most baretaced and
shameful transaction,

@UAP.

202 ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

CHAP. XVL

King's Message on the Irish Insurrection—Speeches ef Lord Hobart—<
Lord Limerick.— Address of Thanks unanimously carried.—Proceed=
ings in the House of Commons thereon.— Bills brought into both Houses,
for the Trial of Rebels and for the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act.
“Discussion in the Commons.—Mr. Ad: lington—W indham—Sheridan
Hutchinson— Lord Hawkesbury —Dr. Lawrence—Lord Castlereagh—
Debate closed by the Chancellar of the Exchequer and Mx, Windham.—
Bills passed in both Houses on the same Night.—India Budget.—De-
bates on the Defence Act.—Mr. Sheridan's Motion of Thanks to. the
Volunteers. —And Mr, Iutchinson’s on the Affairs of Lreland.—Session
closed by a Speech from the Throne.—Observations.

N the 28th day of July a mes-
sage from his majesty was
brought down to both houses, stat-
ing ‘that a treasonable and rebelli-
ous spirit of insurrection had mani-
fested itself in Ireland, which had
been marked by circumstances of
peculiaratrocity in the city of Dub-
lin; bis majesty there fore recom-
mended'to the wisdom of parlia-
ment to adopt the nee essary mea-
sures for its suppression.’

This message having been read
in the houge of lords, by the lord
Chancellor,

Lord Hobart, said it was with
feelings of the utmost regret that

“he called the attention of their lord-
shipsto the violent and disgraceful
outrages lately committed in Ire-
Jand, and particularly to the most
atrocious and barbarous murder of

hat blameless and illustrious cha-
racter, lord Kilwarden, His lord-
ship then drew a most amiable pic-
ture of that great personage, who
united every private to every pub-

sy

lic virtue; after stating the bills
that he thought would probably be
sent to that house by the commons,
he concluded by moving an address
to his majesty, thanking him for his.
gyacious communication.

Lord Limerick expressed, with
great animation, bis sorrew for the
outrages which disgraced that part ~
of the united kingdom tor which he
came; heapproy cd ofthestr ong mea-~
sures which were suggested for quel-
ling the rebellion, and said thathe
was ready to share any odjum that
might have been incurred by those
who.advised similar measures in the
last war.

The address was carried unani-
mously, and the house adjourned
to eight o’clock, for the purpose of
passing the bills which were ex-
pected to be brought up from the
commons upon this subject. Be-
tween nine and ten, the chancellor _
of the exchequer brought up two,
bills; one for trying rebels in Ire-
land, by martial law, the second for

suspending

HISTORY

suspending the habeas corpus bill
in Ireland.

The lord chancellor and lord
Rosslyn agreed in opinion, that in

cases of great emergency the stand-

ing orders of the house might be
departed from, and instanced the
bills passed at the time of the mu-
tiny of the Nore.

The two bills were read through
all their steps, and passed the same
day.

In the house of commons, how-
ever, these bills occasioned some
very animated discussion.
~ The chancellor of the exche-
quer moved the address? after expa-

-tiating much on the aggravated
crime of treason in Ireland, at a
time when that country had been so
long governed with the utmost mild-
hess, and aiter every effort had been
made to conciliate, he still declared,
that from the best information he
could receive, he believed the ma-
jority of the people of Ireland were
‘decidedly loyal.

Mr. Windham observed that it
was extremely unusual to vote an
address the same night that the
Inessage had been received. To
give a proper attention to the ob-
jects of the message, it was a to
take at least a day to consider it,
and in the present instance a
thought a great deal more inform-
ation was necessary than the house
was at present possessed of ; he could
not reconcile this burst of rebellion

with those conciliatory accounts

of the loyalty and tranquillity of

reland, which the house had heard
somuch of from ministers, It ap-
ared as if the government of Ire-

d might be destroyed and its
metropolis taken, before parliament
was to have the slightgst warning

OF EUROPE.

203
of the state of that country: he
wished therefore for the delay of a
day for further information.

Mr. Sheridan s said, he rose not
to answer any argument, for he had
heard none, but merely to express
his astonishment, that any member
in the house could start an objection-
to a measure of so much urgency,
He concluded by describing elo
quently, the sufferings which a de-
lay of twenty-four hours might oc-
casion to the loyal inhabitants of
Ireland.

Mr. Hutchinson cordially sup-
ported the address, and expressed
the greatest sorrow for the outrages
that had disgraced the part of the
united kingdom from which he
came. Whatever were his feelings
towards his country, he shouid vote
for strong measures upon the pre-
sent occasion.

Lord Hawkesbury replied with
great warmth to Mr. Windham, he
said that righthon. gentleman had
formerly fg troubled with no
such qualins or delicate sc ruples as
he was at prese ai he had fre-
quently before voted fur addresses
the same day the message had been
delivered. ‘The proposition of de-
lay was perfectly absurd in such aa
emergency as the present, the only
tendency of his objection was to
shew, that there did not exist
perfect unanimity in that house.

Dr. Lawrence, insisted that the
whole system of ministers, site
sisted in blinding of the people
and preventing them from seeing
the real sti ite of affairs. They had
constantly withheld infornigioan:
and now demanded a hasty vote
from passion, and not from deli-
beration.

Lord Casilereagh replied; and
atter

204

after some observations from Mr.
Alexander and Mr, Archdall, the

uestion on the address was put,
and earried unanimously.

The chancellor of the exchequer
then laid before the house, a copy
ef the proclamation, issued by the
lord lieutenant and council of Ire-
land, relative to this business. He
then professed, that although he
felt the deepest reluctance at bring-
ing forward any measure of rigor-
‘ous severity, yet, in the present
circumstances, he found it neces-
gary. The measures he then pro-
posed were, the empowering the
executive of Ireland, to bring toa
summary trial before coyrts martial
all persons taken in rebellion; 2Qdly,
to suspend the Aubeas corpus act ya
Ireland. In thecourse of his speech,
he took occasion to pay the highest
compliment to the disinterested pa-
triotism of Mr, Sheridan, who, in
every critical situation of the coun-
try, gave all hjs great talents to its
support,

Mr. Windham shortly explained,
and ironically noticed ‘the compli-
ments which were passing between
the chancellor of the exchequer and
Mr. Sheridan.

Mr. Sheridan, in reply to some
tsinuation of Mr. Windham, said,
that he had never in his life desert-
ed his political principles, or his
political attachments; while, on the
ether hand, that hon. gentleman
bad sat on every side of the house,
till at last he came, by a diagonal
progression, from the treasury-
bench to his present seat.

After a variety of explanations,
both bills svere brought in, went
through all their diticrent stages,
and carried to the lords; where they
were passed the saine night,

—

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

On the 29th, lord Castlereagh
opened the India budget: after stat-
ing the revenues and expenditure of
the company, for the year 1802,
which he compared with those of the
the preceeding year, he remarked,
with much triumph, the augmenting
prosperity of our East india posses-
sions. Alter stating the aflairsof the
company much indetail, he mention-
ed the change inthe Carnatic,and 1s
treaty with the nabob of Oude,
among the principal causes of the
rise in the company’s income, the
last year. IIe concluded, by movy-
ing g string of resolutions, conform-
able to his statements.

Mr. Francis lamented, that on a
business of such national impor-
tauce, as the affairs of India, there
should be such a thin attendance of
members. He considered the great
prineiple of the act of parliament,
tor confining the limits of our terri-
torjal possessions in India, had beey
entirely departed from, in the rey
cent conduct of our government in
that country. Notwithstanding the
increase of our territories and reve-
nues in India, the India debt has
considerably increased, and the an-
nual surplus is Rot more than when
our territories were smaller.

Mr. Prinsep, entered at large inta .
the commercial situation of the
company’s affairs, which he con-
tended did not warrant the state-
ment which had been made, that
the company were trading on capi-
tal borrowed on India. ‘That their
assumed profits were fallacious, and
formed upon false principles. He
concluded, by expressing a doubt,
that a colony which had ten times
the extent and population of the
mother country, could be well go-
yerned by a privileged corporation.

1G

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

The resolutions were then agreed
¢o in the committee; but upon the
report being brought up, on the 2
of August,

Mr. Prinsep again rose, and re=
peated his former arguments, prin-
vipally labouring to prove, that the
surplus revenue should be applied
to the reduction of Indian debt, and
hot to increased investments. He
contended that it was to the oppo-
site system we owed the present
debt of India.

After some explanations from
Lord Castlereagh, the resolutions of
the committee were agreed to by
the hous¢, and the report received.

The defence bill afforded another
very animated discussion in the
house of commons; as did Mr.
Sheridan’s motion of thanks to the

‘volunteers, on the 10th; and Mr.
Tutchinson’s motion, on the affairs
of Ireland, on the 11th.

The debate, on the defence act,
was begun by Mr. Wilberforce, dis-
approving of the distinction made
between those who served in volun-
teer corps, and those who should
serve in the levy ex masse.

The secretary at war explained,
that when the number of volunteers
should be sutflicient for the detence
of the country, it kad been the in-
tention of the legislature, to em-
power his majesty to suspend the
operation of the act.

Mr. Windham disapproved: of
the volunteer corps, as forming
bodies of aristocracy, for the de-
fence of the country, from which
some were excluded from not be-
ing able to purchase uniforms; and
others from that kind of modesty,
that declined the distinction of a
red coat, and prevented men froin
Mssuciating with thos superior t)

203

themselves in rank. His opinion
on that subject, was much streng-
thened, by observations hé had met
in the public prints, in which he
but seldom found any thing worthy
attention.

Mr. Sheridati ridiculed this at-
tack on the public prints, and said,
that although the daily papers pre-
sented nothing worthy that gentle-
man’s notice, yet there was a cers
tain weekly paper (Cobbet’s Re-
gister), to which he appeared more
partial. For his part, he was can-
did enough to allow, that there was
some merit in that print [Mr. W.
bowed]. The lon. gentleman cn-
swered with a condescending bow,
he should therefore go no farther,
for fear of hurting the feelings and
blushing modesty of an author ;
perhaps the right hon. gentleman
wrote a little for that weckly
register. He hked the present
bill, because it went to increase
the number of volunteers. Every
body must allow, that the volun-
teers of the metropolis were much
superior in discipline and efficiency
to what could be expected from as
equal number of men, raised by the
levy en masse. It was, however,
a very good hint to men to turm
volunteers to know, that if they did
not; they might, in the course of
a single month, find themselves in
the ranks cf common soldiers ; sub-
ject to be tied up to the halberis,
if they were to give a saucy answer
to the serjeant.

Mr. Windham said, that the hon.
gentleman, who spoke last, had
shewn ail the zeal of a new convert,
in supyorting administration, and,
Jike a raw recruit, had tired cff his
musquet, without ascertaining where
was the enemy. Ile contended,

thag

206

that all this complicated machinery,
brought forward by government, for
the defence of the country, was not
likely to add a single man to its
effective or disposeable force. In
speaking of the press, he allowed,
that it now shewed same ardor and
energy, but it acted like the hon,
gentleman : first, it did all the mis-
chief it could, and set the world on
fire, and now it comes with its
bucket of water to extinguish it,
He then panegyrized Mr. “Cobbet,
who merited @ statue of gold for his
conduct in America, before he came
to this country. That writer had

resolutely opposed all the bad prin-
ciples which had been propagated
for these ten years, on politics, in
cluding those which Mr. Sheridan
had so ‘forcibly inculcated.

Mr. Sheridan was happy the
forms of a committee allowed him a
second shot, which he did not mean
to fire in the air. He was neither
convert nor recruit. He had always,
when the country was in a critical
situation, lent his support to govern-
ment, to extricate it from its dan-
ger: in this support, however, he
was no recruit; he would accept
neither rank nor pay, but should
gerve as a volunteer. He wished
the right hon. gentleman would
publish a book called ‘ The art of
gaising the spirit of a country
by a late secretary at war;’ for
certainly the means taken by that
gentlemap in parliament, were the
most whimsical that had ever been
thought of. First, he endeavoured
to perstade the people, that the
country was lost, unless one speci-
fic individual was made the minis-
ter; and that all their resources
‘must be mismanaged and ill direcs-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

ed by the present government: sé-
condly that our honor is irrecovera=
bly gone, and that our militia and
volunteers are good for nothing
such are the topics which that gen-
tleman loved to discuss in parlia-
ment. Mr. Sheridan concluded
by again expressing his approlation
of the Bill.

Mr. Archdall defended the bill,
and replied to the observations of
Mr. Windham: he said that he for
one could not vote a statue of gold
to Mr.Cobbet, as he had inserted in
his Register, an attempt to prove
that the French might send four
ships of the line,which would carry
over troops enough to subdue all
Treland.

The chancellor of the Eee aS
defended government from the
charge which had been made against
it oF unnecessary delay. This
measure could not with any pro-
priety have been adopted, until the
foundation of the army of reserve
had been first laid. He considered
that there never was a man who
more completely misconceived the
means of raising the spirit of 2
country, than Mr. Windham ap-
peared to have done, in endea-
vouring to lead the people te
their duty, by instilling ground-
less fears and alarms. ‘He would
have acted more regularly, by
bringing forward a distinct accusa~
tion against ministers, and submit-
ting it to parliament, whether they
are deserving of their cdnfidence,

Dr. Lawrence vindicated the
consistency of his friend Mr. Wind-
ham. He had condemned the treaty

Amiens, because he foresaw no
good effects that were hkely to
follow frem it, The event justified

» his

plans as he judged right;

HISTORY

his opinion, as it became evident
in the course of one year, that that
peace which ministers prided them-
selves so much in making, was inse-
cure, and most disadvantageous to
this country.

Mr.Sheridan asked Mr. Windham
if he agreed in opinion with that au-
thor whom he so much praised (Mr.
Cobbet) that the existence of the
funds was incompatible with the
existence of the monarchy ?

Mr. Windham did not consider
himself bound to answer such @
question.

The bill then went throuch the
committee, and the report was or-
dered to be received next. day,
when, upon the question that the
bill should pass,

Dr. Lawrence said he saw with
regret that the recruiting service for
the regular army was declining,
from the discouragement which the
measures proposed held forth ; and
seemed to consider that it would be
of great importance to have a so-
lemn form of prayer appointed, on
the occasion of the present arma-
‘ment.

The chancellor of the exchequer
thought the country was sufticiently
_ of the awful situation of af-

airs, and ready to implore the di-

vine assistance. He could not help

_ remarking, that in the last war the
- fearned eentleman’s friend

(Mr,
Windham)was a cabinet minister,as

_well as secretary at war; it Was

~ therefore then his bounden duty to
have brought forward such military
and if he
Was resisted in so doing, he might
‘have resigned his place. He did
not make these observations from
any hostility to the right hou. gen-
theman, Ue regretted the line of

OF EUROPE 9207

politics he had lately adopted, but.
he was convinced of the purity of
his principles.

After a few observations from
other gentlemen, the bill was passed.

On the 10th, Mr. Sheridan
brought foward his motion of
thanks to the volunteers of the
united kingdom. He said that what-
eyer difference of opinion there
might be upon the volunteer system,
as a measure recommended by go
vernment, he hoped there could be
no difference of opinion, as to the
merit due tothose who came forward
with such alacrity and spirit, when
they were called upon, Besore the
session closed, he wished to direct
the attention of government to some
circumstances that prevented many
from becoming volunteers. First,
there was a confusion about the ex-
emptions, and it was not clearly un-
derstocd, whether the volunteers
might not also be called into the
Jevy en masse: secondly, the ex-
pence of the volunteer cloathing de-
igrred many. ‘The plainer and
cheaper the dress was, the better:
the finery of the uniform was of ne
importence; but.the stuif of which
the wearer’s heart was made, was
the only serious consideration. He
would not go at large into the mi-
litary state “ef the country, but he
should observe, that wveabier mili- .
tia or volunteers could be supposed
equal to regulars or not, yet they
were the best costitational support
we could have inthis country. The
very division of our forces was an
additional security. We hate seen
in other countries t6 what bad uses
a large regular army may’ be ap-
plied, and we have scenin France 4
large regular army desert its soves
reign in the couse of a few days.

After

£08

After strongly recommending to
gentlemen in that house to lay aside
all party feelings for the summer,
gnd to setan example of unanimity,

he concluded by moving a vote of

thanks, which he intended to follow
by a motion for a return of the names
and descriptions of all the volunteer
corps, that they might be entered
on the journals of the house.
General Gascoygne hoped that
the motion would be unanimously
adopted; he thought now that our
regular army was so powerfully
supported by the militia and three
hundred thousand volunteers, we

should remove the seat of war out of

eur own dominions, and Jearn to
threaten the threatener: we ought no
longer to confine ourselves merely
to defensive operations.

Mr. Windham declared he had
never said a word, reflecting on the
spirit of the individuals, composing
the volunteer army ; he had merely
prefered another deseription of force
which could be turned to the ser-
vice of the country more efliciently.
He had spoken his real sentiments
upon that occasion, as he had done
of the present administration. | He
must repeat, that he considered our
administration a weak one, that
merely courted popularity, and
consulted more what the people at
Lloyd’s, the holders of omnium and
the merchants would say, than

what was for the real interests of

the empire. As to the volunteer
service, he considered it, at present,
as a mere refuge from the compul-
sory service, and therefore did not
think there was so much merit in
entering into it, as there was fast
war. If he was to speak, as a vo-
dunteer, he should say, for God’s
sake, don't thank me, merely for

ANNUAL'REGISTER,

1803.

being a volunteer.
performed any meritorious services
to deserve it, then I shall gladly
receive them.
the arguments he had often before
urged against the volunteer forces
as now organized. He should mach

prefer an armed peasantry; the’

system that he recommended was,
that the regular force should be in-
creased to the utmost possible ex-

tent, and that the auxiliary force.

should be completely irregular, and
consist of the armed population of
the country,

The seerctary at war, thought it
strange, that the right hon. gentle~
man, who was such an advocate for
a regular army, should preter a
much more imperfect training, to
that which the volunteers would re-
ceive. He could not help wonder-
ing, that in the last war, the public
should have heard none of the right
hon, gentleman’s objections to the
militia, and the volunteers. He
was then secretary at war, and a
cabinet minister; and it was his
duty to have proposed those means

of defence, that in his judgment,

appeared the best. In answer to
the question, Why the thanks. of
parliament had not been given to
those volunteers, who* preserved
Dublin from falling into the hands
of the rebels? he should answer,
Dublin never was in that dangbr-
ous situation, described by the right
hon. gentleman, nor wasit so much
the volunteer force, as the regular
army, that defeated the insurgents.

Mr. Wilberforce thought it a litle
premature to vote the thanks of the

When I hate:

He then repeated -

house to men, for merely doing what .

must be expected from Englishmen.
lie thought they ought to wait for
solid services and more splendid

achipvements,

HISTORY OF EUROPE 209

gchievements. In giving his opinion
of the volunteer force in general,
he appeared to coincide with Mr.
Windham’s idea, that the peasantry
of the country, armed and acting as
anirregular force, would be more
efficacious: He thought it would
give more room for the exercise
and display of individual energy and
courage. He instanced the won-
derful and gallant exploits of sir
Sidney Smith at Acre, and stated

_ that that officer had declared that
if he had had any regular officers
of engineers with him, he must have
teported the place untenable and
quitted it. He took occasion to pay
a high compliment to the extraor-
dinary achievements of that gallant
officer, who; in his opinion had
been but ill-requited for his services.
He concluded by expressing a con-
fidence that the country was equal

_to the situation it was placed in,

_ and would finally triumph over all
its difficulties.

Mr. Francis said he hoped that
_the hon, mover, Mr. Sheridan, had,
_ before he pledged himself so warmly
tothe support of government, re-
_Ceived sufficient satisfaction on two

points about which he had been
much interested. First, as to the
@ppoinment of a military council,
secondly, as to the offer of service
on the part of an illustrious per-
sonage (the prince of Wales.)
_ Colonel Crawford thought that it
would be time enough to réturn
_ thanks to the volunteers, when they
+ had repelled the invasion with which
this country is threatened, He
‘did not much approve of the intro-
-duction of Gernian tactics among
our volunteers, he thought there
_ was too much of it among the re-
gulars, and that it was mot well
Vou. XLY.

suited to such a country as this ; he
agreed with Mr. Windham, in pre-
ferring the people raised en masse,
and acting as an irregular force, to
our volunteers; in the way they
aré trained and disciplined.

Lord Hawkesbury maintained,
that after the treaty of Campo For-
mio; in 1797, the country was in
greater danger of invasion than at
present. He cordially approved of
the vote proposed, as he thought
the record of it on the Journals,
would be an encouragement to fu-
ture exertions,

Mr, Sheridan made a very bril
liant reply to the arguments against
his motion, which he had supposed.
would have past unanimously, and
without much discussion, As to
the questions put to him by Mr.
Francis, he said, that neither the
non-appointmient of a military
council, nor even the rejection of
the offer of the prince of Wales, to
whom he was so much attached,
were sufficient to prevent him giving
hissupport to the government, ata
time so critical as the present. He
believed the prince’s feelings might
be expressed in the language of lord
Moira, who said he should rather
serve as a private in the ranks, than
divide the public opinion about his
claims, when unanimity was so es-
sentially necessary: he then ani-

-madverted, with the most pointed

severity, on the tendency of the
speeches which had been so often
delivered in that house, by Mr.
Windham and his friends.

After a short explanation from
colone! Crawford, both the propo-
sitions of Mr, Sheridan were agreed ~

‘to without any dissenting voice.

The next day, on the 11th of
August, the Jast debate in the
P sessi0B

210

- session took place on colonel Hutch-
inson’s motion respecting the affairs
of Ireland. “He began by stating,
how material it was, especially at

\ the present time, for his majesty to
be enabled to avail himself of all
the resources of every part of the
united kingdom, and therefore ‘it
was most desirable to put Ireland
‘into'such a situation, as to make
her natural 'strensth, wealth, and
population, as conducive as possi-

ble to the general security ‘of the
empire. He, therefore, called upon
ministers to attend to the state of
Treland, and to’ reform, radically,
the system by which it had been

30 long governed; asthat appeared
to him, the only means to place
that country beyond the reach of
foreign attack, or domestic treason.
He did not mean to charge any set
of men with a deliberate breach of
promise, but he must say, gener-
ally, that respecting Irish affairs in
general, he saw more negligence and
supineness than he had ever wit-
nessed respecting the smallest Eng-
lish interest. The revolution of
1688, which gave liberty to Eng-
land, brought no benefit to Ireland,
but, on the contrary, laid the ifs

‘dation of all those unhappy differ-
ences which had so long distracted
that country. Although many of
the penal statutes against the Irish

‘catholics had’ been done away, yet
he thought the whole vicious sys-
tem should be removed. It would
be vain to look for harmony in a
country where the minority is to
lord it overthe majority, and where
the meanest and basest of those
professing the religion of the’ mi-
nority, is to have more political
power than the richest and most
exalted ef those whose religious be-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

lief is different. He wished that
a deputation would go from that
house, to examine the miserable
state of the Irish peasantry, and to
report from what it saw.

From the time that the union had
been past nothing had been done to
improve the system of government

in that country, and render its ins —

habitants more happy -and con-
tented. No enlightened statesman
could suppose, that merely passing
the act of union, was sufficient to
unite the people of both countries
in affection.
commended to government, in case
any commotion should happen in
Ireland, during the recess, to meet
it with vigour, but not to suffer such

He very strongly re- —

cruelties to be practised, as were -

done in the last rebellion. He con- —

eluded by moving an address to his
majesty, for information respecting
the late rebellious outrage in Ire-

land, and the present state of that —

country.
Lord Hawkesbury thought the

motion highly inexpedient at the ©

very conclusion of the session when

there was no time to discuss the —

affairs of Ireland fully and fairly.
He objected to the motion also as

not likely to be productive of any —

good effect in the present crisis.
Mr. Elliot thought the motion

proper and necessary. He thought —
there had been manifestly a great —
in the government of —
Treland, and that parliament ought —
not to separate without having suf-_

remissness

ficient information of the state of

that country.
ligence which had been. received

from private channels, it most :evi- —
dently appeared that the Irish go-_
vernment had suffered itself to “bell
Under suck —

completely surprised.

From all the intel-—

circumstances —

‘sHIS TORY .OF EUROPE.

circumstances, he thought, Ireland
could never suppose itself fairly
dealt by, if the legislature refused
to make any inquiry into the cir-
cumstances of an affair so alarming
to the tranquillity of that country.

Lord Castlereagh insisted, that
the Irish government were not sur-

prized ; that Dublin was sufficiently

_ garrisoned; and thatif it was not for

pletely surprised.

the murder of lord, Kilwarden, the
insurrection in Dublin was not im-
portant enough to be called rebellion.

Mr. Windham thought the motion,
theinformationif sought, and the ob-
servations, made by the hon. mover,
were not of a nature to do any mis-
chief; but that, on the contrary,
much good must result from it. The
government of Ireland appeared to
him, in spite of repeated warnings,
to have suffered itself to be com-
He denied that
the merit of putting down the re-
bellion, belonged principally to the
regulars; it was the volunteers, as-
sisted only by the 21st regiment,
who put down the rebellion. The
plot of the rebels, was as extensive
in its confederacy, as sudden in its
execution; and if it had not hap-
pened, that some of the insurgents
were intoxicated, and that lord
Kilwarden passed that way before
the time fixed for their acting, he
thought it probable, that the insur-
gents would bave carried the castle
of Dublin. He then defended ge-

_ nerally the tenor of his speeches,

during the session. He was accus-
ed of alarming and frightening the
people of this country; but it was
in vain to attempt to rouze people

- to defend themselves, without point-

v

‘ing out the danger.

The chancellor of the exchequer,

. aceused the right hon. gentleman,

241

of himself shewing that tardiness
and indecision; — an _ indecisicr
which he imputed to others, when
he hesitated immediately to vote
the customary address of thanks to
his majesty, for the communication
respecting Ireland. On such an oc-
casion as that, delay would have
been ruinous, and yet the right hon.
gentleman was for delay. As to the
general state of Ireland, it would be
foolish to suppose, that that spirit
which had before manifested itself
in rebellion so widely extended,
should now be completely extin-
guished; yet he would say, that he
believed it had abated considerably
of its violence, and that numbers of
persons, in that country, who were
formerly disaffected, had now entire-
ly quitted the cause of rebellion, and
would be ready to join in the de-
fence of the country, against any
invader.

Dr. Lawrence, in a long and able
speech, recapitulated the charges
which had been so often made

‘against ministers, for want of due

vigilance and system.

The attorney general replied.

Lord Temple supported the mo-
tion, as considering that the con-
duct of the Irish government, upon
the late occasion, ought to be fully
inquired into. He denied that the
rebellion in Ireland was.a catholic
one, as some gentlemen had sup-
posed. Persons of every religion
were equally exposed to its ra-
vages.

Colonel Crawford said, that for
the sake of Ireland, he almost re-
gretted the act of union, if, on
such” an occasion as this, partia-
meut were not to demand informa-
tion.

Mr. Hutchinson, made a very

Pg able

aig ANNUAL REGISTER,

able reply, to the different objec-
tions that had been made to his
motion, and dwelt particularly on
the cruelties which, during the last
rebellion, had been committed,
under the mask of law, and coyered
by the act of indemnity.

The motion was then put and ne-
gatived without a division.

The next day, August the 12th,
parliament was prorogued by a
speech from the throne.*

Thus terminated a session of par-
liament, which had been protracted
to the very unusual period of nine
months; and which, for the im-
portance of the subjects brought
before it ;—the extent and variety
of the pressure of public business ;
—and the vigour and ability dis-
played in debate, yielded to none,
the proceedings of which have hi-
therto appeared in the annals of
British history.

To the surprize, and perhaps to
the disappointment of the country,
’ the minister was left, at the proro-
gation, upheld by nearly the same
‘numbers, in both houses, engaged

1803.

to the support of his administratioy,
which he could have counted upon
at the meeting of parliament. Some
defections, and those individually
of the utmost weight and conse-
quence, there certainly were ; nor
was there to be found that union of
character and ability, conjoined to
numbers in the ministerial phalanx,
which would have, in ‘all events,
rendered it irresistable. Still, how-
ever, a want of connecting princi-
ple prevailed among the leaders of
the hostile ranks ; and though, at
the period to which we advert,
every circumstance seemed favour-
able to such a coalescence of ta-
lent and character, in the country,
as must, so united, have borne
down every opposition; the season
for political activity closed, as we
have seen, without any visible de-
crease of the influence of the pre-
sent government, or of established
co-operation and harmony among
those parties, who seperately pro-
fessed themselves adverse’ from its
measures

* Vide State Papefs.

CHAP

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

CHAP.

XVII.

Negociation of the Minister with Mr. Pitt.—Conditions on which the latter
agrees to come into office—Unpalatable—and why.— Rejected—and
total failure thereof.—Subsequent changes in Administration—No Ac-
quisition in strength thereto,—Observations.

N the course of the month of

April, in this year, some steps
were taken towards eflecting a
change in “the administration of
public affairs, Of these, although
they proved at the time wholly inef-
fectual, it naturally falls within our
plan to give some account; and
this the rather, as the history of
such transactions is always useful,
by affording some insight into the
characters and views of our public
men ; and by developing the occa-
sions ‘and principles of those yaria-
tions, which all free governments
so frequently exhibit in the state
and relation of their political par-
ties. The frequent and unreserved
discussions, which have since taken
place on the subject of this parti-
cular transaction, the publications
respecting it, which were supposed
to be authorized by some of the
parties most concerned; and the
private letters of others of them,
intercepted and published by the
enemy, have brought the detail of
this negociation, much more for-
ward to the public view, than is
‘usual insimilarcases, The follow-
ing narrative, compiled from all
‘these various sources of information,
“will, we trust, be found both fuller

-

Ww

and more accurate than any other
that has yet appeared.

The stability of the administra-
tion, which had concluded the trea-
ty of Amiens, was understood to
depend on the experience which
the country might have of the rea}
merits of that memorable transace
tion. The extent ef the sacrifices,
by which peace had been purchas-
ed, began indeed to be more gene-
rally regretted, in proportion, as
it was more fully understood ; but
credit was, for the most part, giver
to the assurances of its permanence,
which were continually repeated
from authority; and the country
indulged itself in the most sanguing
expectations of its beneficial effects
on our situation, both at home and
abroad. In this state of the public
mind, the ministers found little
difficulty in discrediting the opini-
ons of that small body in parlia~
ment, which had, from the begin-
ning, openly condemned the system
on which that negociation had been
conducted; and had always pre-
dicted from it, the inevitable and
speedy renewal of the war. An
opinion began to be received, by
some men, that mediocrity rather
than preeminence in talent or in

PS knowledge

214

knowledge, was the qualification
most to be desired in the ministers
of a great country. And even
among many who had not yet
adopted this sentiment, the conti-
nuance of the existing administra-
tion, was ardently wished for, as
the best pledge for the duration of
the peace; an object for which
every possible effort might be ex-
pected from men, whose charac-
ters and situations were so closely
connected with it.

But when it became manifest,
even to the ministers themselves,
that the war must immediately re-
commence, their own situation was
as much changed as that of the
country, They found that they
would have to encounter the re-
proaches of many whom their as-
surances had misled into a course
of public conduct, or into projects
of private speculation, neither of
which had been justified by the
¢vent—they would he called upon
to publish the detail of negocia-
tions, singularly defective in point
of ability and knowledge: and the
submissive tone of which could not
but prove galling, to a great and
high-spirited people —they would
be required to justify the orders
given for putting into the hands of
the enemy, on the very eve of hos-

tilities, those possessions, whose.

chief value is found in war—and,
above all, they would be obliged
to account to parliament for a long
session, actively employed under
such circumstances, not in proposing
new measures of defence, but in dis-
charging, disemhodying, and de-
stroying the already inadequate force
which before existed! In addition to
these embarrassments, they would

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

have to encounter the usual difficul-
ties of a burthensome aud expensive
war.—Difficulties much increased
to them, by the continual reference
which they must occasion to the
errors of their past policy.

In this situation of things, it was
natural that the administration
should look to some means of
strengthening themselves in parlia-
ment, and of retrieving the ground
they had lost in the estimation of
the public; among whom a sense of
their insufficiency had, for some
time past, been rapidly, though
silently growing up. _There were,
in parliament, three leading de-
scriptions of public men, uncon-
nected with the existing ministry 5 ;
from each of whom separately, n mi-
nisters had much to apprehend 5
and whose union, even if it could
be eflected for that single object,
would manifestly be, at any mo-
ment sufficient to overthrow the
whole system of Mr, Addington’s
government, Of these it was ge- —
nerally understood that the party,
at the head of which Mr. Pitt was
placed, though much dissatisfied
with the conduct of ministers, was
however less alienated from them
than those with whom either Mr.
Fox or lord Grenyille acted.—To
Mr. Pitt, therefore, their overtures
were made.

It appears not improbable, that,
in a transaction of this nature, car-
ried on in a great degree by verbal
discussion, and embracing the per-
sonal situations and interests of all
those persons who were parties to
it, some misapprehension may, even
in the very outset, have prevailed:
—the actual ministers may, per-
haps, haye conceived themselves

engaged

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

engaged only in a negociation for an
accession of strength to the govern-,
ment, which already existed; while
the person, with whom they treated,
might believe that they had both
the desire and the authority to pro-
pose to him, that he should under-
take to form a new administration.
The subsequent transactions ren-
der it evident, that no such de-
sire did, in fact, exist, on their
part; and it has been generally
believed, that they had received no
such authority from that quarter,
from whence alone it could regu-
larly have-been given! Yet it ap-
pears certain, that the proposal
was listened to, in that sense alone,
by the person to whom it was made.
Mr. Pitt’s answer, as stated to the
public by one of his confidential
friends, was conceived in the fol-
lowing terms: That “ he would
not enter upon the question of ar-
rangements, until he was distinctly
informed, by a message from the
highest authority, that his services

were thought essential; that if so

called upon, in spite of the preca-
rious state of his health, he should
not decline the offer of his best ad-
vice and assistance; that he was
fully aware of the great and in-
creasing difficulties of the country,
and that he saw the necessity of a
STRONG, VIGOROUS, and EFFI-
CIENT GOVERNMENT.” To this
he is said, from the same authority,
to have added, that, as one im-

_ portant step towards the formation
of such a government, he should,

if called upon by his majesty, pro-
pose to include, in a new admini-

‘stration, lord Grenville and lord
Spencer, if, on being consulted by

him, they should agree to be so in-

eluded; but that he showd not

915°

make their admission, or that of
any other person whatever, a sive
gué non condition of his own ac-
ceptance, only reserving to himself
the power of declining the under-
taking altogether, if he could not
form such a government as might
afford to the country a fair proba-
bility of success.

In this state the transaction is
said to have been communicated
to these two noble persons, and
through them to some of their
friends. The answer of lord Gren-
ville and lord Spencer is ‘said to
have been, that they could form no
final judgment of the propriety of
their acceding to such an arrange-
ment, until they were informed,
both with what persons it might be
proposed to them to act, and on what
principles the government was to be
conducted; that they entirely con-
curred in the opinion expressed by
Mr. Pitt, astothe necessity of form-
ing aSTRUNG, VIGOROUS, and EF-
FICIENT GOVERNMENT, and wish-
ed to carry that principle to the full
extent, of including in the new ad-
ministration, whatever was most
eminent in the country for talent,
influence and character; that they
should, under all circumstances
openly and invariably. adhere t«
those principles, respecting the stats
and government of Ireland, to whic!
they had been pledged, on the dis-
solution of the former government
that this point must be distinctly ex-
plained by themselves in that quar
ter, where it was most material, thet
it should be clearly understood ; and
that if, on this account, or from any:
other cause, new difficulties should
arise, they earnestly intreated that
no consideration personal to them-
selves should, for a single moment,

P4 retard

#16 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

retard the formation of a strong
and efficient government, capable
of retrieving the errors of the last
two years, to which alone they
ascribed those dangers.and distresses
of the country, which had been so
strongly stated by Mr, Pitt.

After this communication, it re-
mained only that Mr, Pitt should re-
ceive the reply of the ministers to
the answer, which had, as is above
stated, been made by him to their
proposals.—~ Their embarrassment
upon this occasion, appears to have
been extreme.--The measure, which
they had reluctantly adopted, in the
hope of strengthening their own
hands, and of enabling them to re-
tain, if not their actual situations, at
least such ashare of weight and influ-
ence in the government, as would
abundantly satisfy their highest
claims, appeared now to have taken
a shape, tending certainly to the to-
tal subversion of their system, and
probably to the dismission of almost
all the members of the cabinet.—
No. time was, therefore, to be lost,
in putting an end to a transaction,
which began to wear so unfavour-
able an aspect. ‘The step, which
was taken for this purpose, was no
less unusual than extraordinary, in
such a case. <A regular meeting of
the king’s confidential servants was
summoned, in order to lay before
them, for their opinion and advice,
@ proposal which, if necessary or
proper to be made at all, could
have become so only, from the ne-
cessity or propriety of substituting
in the place of the persons so as-
sembled, others of more sufficiency
foy the situations which they there
eccupied !|~-The result of such a

leliberation was not difficult to be
geseen,—The liberty which Mr,

co

Pitt claimed of submitting directly
to his majesty such suggestions as
he thought most conducive to the
success of the government, at the
head of which he was to be placed,
was at once determined to be whol-
ly inadmissible, He was immedi-
ately informed, that the sentiments
of the ministers, as to his proposed
arrangements, differed too widely
from his, to admit of their advising
that any steps should be taken for
such a purpose. And here the
whole affair is said to have drop-
ped. It-had, as is believed, never
been authorized in the quarter
from whence alone it should natu~
rally have originated ; it was there~
fore not followed up in that quar-
ter; and some displeasure is even
understood to have been expressed
against the persons, who had treat~
ed on matters of such high moment,
without obtaining such previous
warrant for it, as duty and respect
were supposed to require.

The ministers in the mean while
rejoiced at having for a time es-
caped the rock on which they had
so nearly split, and forgot in the joy
of this escape the danger of the
storm to which they remained ex
posed, They applied themselves
with unremitted industry to impress
on the public as favorable an opini-
onof this transaction, as its circum=
stances could possibly admit, They
hoped to derive from it this advane
tage, that in proportion as the diffi.
culties which the state of parties
presented to the formation of an
efficient and comprehensive govern-
ment were more distinctly brought
under the public view, the anxious
wishes of the country for the com-
pletion of this great object, would
be, if not diminished, at least in some

degeee

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

@epree repressed and restrained.—
The session of parliament was far
advanced; and the character and
opinions of Mr. Pitt on ‘the one
hand, and of Lord Grenville, Lord
Spencer, and their friends on the
Other, were too well known to ad-
mit of any apprehension, that by

them the spirit of the country

would be checked, or that any en-

deavours would be omitted on their
part, to animate and rouse the peo-

ple to effectual measures of defence
Against the aggressions of an ambi-
tious and implacable enemy. The
event justified this expectation.—
The two parties, of whom there had
been question in this negotiation,

_ those whom the ministers had been

feady to admit, only as accessaries
to their own power, and_ those
whom they professed themselves
_ determined wholly to exclude,vied
with each other during the remain-
der of the session, not in obstruct-

“Ing the measures proposed by go-

oh

\

ve |

'
+e

5

efficiency,

yernment for national defence, but
in endeavouring to give to them a
degree of vigour, consistency, and
which these measures
were from their own nature incapa-
_ ble of receiving. ‘And it was not
until experience had demonstrated
the impossibility of producing any
public benefit by this course, that
those steps were taken which led
to the overthrow of the administra-
tion; and of which it will be our
duty to give an account among the
transactions of the ensuing year,
Having thus thought it necessary
_ before we entered upon the detail
of the causes of the renewal of war,
(that great and prominent feature

217

of the transactions of the year) te
discuss, as minutely as consisted
with our means of information,
and the necessary limits of our
work, the political transaction, the
weight and moment of which, none
of our readers will estimate at a
lower rate than ourselves; we shall
here proceed to narrate the farther
changes which took place in admi-
nistration, subsequently to, and
doubtless in consequence of, the
failure of the negotiation, to induce
Mr. Pitv’s acceptation of office,
which took plas before the con-
clusion of the year.

We have already adverted to the
appearance of Mr. Tierney and
Mr. Hobhouse in the ranks of go-
vernment,’ on ‘the evening of the
memorable contest of the 3d of
June, when colonel Patten’s motion
gave rise to the animated and im-
portant discussion, on the issue of
which the very existence of the
present administration depended :*
and have also noticed the appoint-
ment of the former to high official
situation, with the probability of a
similar meed being extended te
the latter, for thé courteous and cris
tical. suecour afforded on that
threatening occasion, And we
have also there given our opinion
at length as to the probable advan-
tages which ininisters might derive
from these acquisitions. We shall
therefore here only add, that the

how treasurer of the navy, indivi-
dually considered, was rated high

as a parliamentary speaker—of
perspicuous and manly powers im
debate—of convincing if not splen-
did eloquence—as a financier in«

‘ * Vide page 177.

dustridus

218

austrious and well informed—And
as he had shewn himself on many
occasions a bitter and powerful
enemy; so, from his friendship,
(were his efforts on the side of go-
yernment at all proportioned to his
zeal when hitherto opposed to it)
much valuable assistance might he
expected by the minister, Of Mr.
Hobhouse, it need only to be re-
marked, that with many, it seemed
merit to have converted to the sup-
port of government, on any terms,
one of those, who had hitherto in
his public conduct, on all occasi-
ons, appeared as its most active
and implacable opponent.

But however important this re-
crult (and important to a certain
degree it might have proven) in the
lower house of parliament; in that
of the lords, where the weakness of
government was eminently conspi-
cuous, some stand it was necessary
to make against the individuals of
that order, who, almost without
exception, included in their oppo-
sition to Mr. Addington and _ his
measures, whatever of rank, weight
in the country, (arising either from
birth or fortune) or of talent, were
to be found in that assembly. In
yain were impression and convic-
tion expected by ministers to be
produced by the legal sophistry or
imperious dicta of the lord chancel-
lor and the lord chief justice of the
king’s Bench in defence of their
measures. In vain did the lords
Pelham, Hobart, and Westmore-
land, aided occasionally by the fi-
nancial experience of lord Auk-
land, expend themselves in mea-
sured, florid, and official harangues:
the brilliancy and imagination of
lord Moira; the experience and
weight of character of earls Fitz-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

william, Carlisle, Porchester, Carys-
fort, and Radnor; and the solid and
perspicuous eloquence of earl Spen-
cer and Jord Minto, reduced them
to absolute insignificance. Or if
their whole strength were put forth
on any signal occasion, and even
when combating with the mighty aid
of popular prejudice on their side,
the single opposition of lord Gren-
ville in some splendid exertion of his
his oratorical powers, at once com-
manding the assent of all who heard
him, and the conviction of those
who were not so fortunate, like the
day-spring gaining on the shades of
night, chased away or dissipated
their arguments into nothingness or,

merited oblivion. ;
In order therefore to establish
some sort of equipose in the upper
house of parliament, the calling up
thither of lord Hawkesbury was re-
sorted to, as the only remedy within
the reach of administration. The
minister doubtless was assured to
find in the abilities of his new asso-
ciates, an adequate substitution for
the powers of the former in the
house of commons. Some other
changes also took place about the
same period in the government,
which, at the moment that they
evinced its unsteadines, marked also
its feebleness in a striking degree.
Lord Pelham, a nobleman who
was more distinguished for his cha-~
racter of integrity and uprightness
of principle, than his talents,
resigned the situation of one of the
principal secretaries of state, and
was succeeded by Mr. C. Yorke,
late secretary at war: the place of
the latter was filled up by Mr,
Bragge, the member for ‘Bristol,
who had already resigned one situ-
ation to make room for Mr. Tierney ;
and

HISTORY OF EUROPE

and some of the inferior seats at
the Treasury and other public
boards, were allotted to Messrs.
Golding, Bond, and general Mait-
land; the latter a seceder from the
“old opposition.” In this multi-
plicity of appointments it was gene-
rally remarked, that by the change
the hands of the government were
not strengthened, no acquisition of
talent, rank, or character, accruing
thereto; and secondly, that most
of the lucrative offices thus dis-
posed of, fell to the share of the
personal connexions of the minis-
ter.

We do not pretend to enter into
any investigation of the merits of
administration as it now stood;

219°

indeed, like those chiefs the com-
panions of AEneas, no discriminat-
ing epithet could attach to them
individually: but we can safely as-
sert, that towards the end of the
year, the nation seemed heartily
sick and tired of an experimen-
tal government, composed of ‘‘ mo-
derate men,” of moderate abilities,
raised from the middling classes of
society; and ‘who, as they were
avowédly without any other claim
to public favor, save that of ‘‘ good
intentions,” so did it seem, that they
were determined to confine them-
selves to that line of conduct,
which could be exactly bounded by
such pretensions,

CHAP.

99 ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

CHAP. XVIIT:

Recapitulation of the relative circumstances of England and France. prevt-
ously to, and immediately after, the Treaty of ”“Amiens.—Course of the
Aggressions of France, under the heads of Commerce, the Press, Malta,
Switzerland.—Report of Sebastiani.—General Insolence and Injustice.
—King’s Message.—Declaration of War.

ITE subject which we propose

& totreat of in this portion of
the work, is of itself so complicated,
involves so much of the history of
Europe, and requires such accurate
minuteness of detail, that were we
to give it that scope which properly
belongs to it, the whole volume
wouid not be more than commen-
surate with its interest and impor-
tance.

Confined as we and_ every
periodical writer must be, to cer-
tain limits, we necessarily claim
from the indulgence of our readers,
their acquiescence in the cursory
mode, with which we are obliged to
treat objects of apparently the
greatest concern: and we beg to
assure them that in tracing the
causes of that great feature in the
events of the present year, namely,
the renewal of the war, to its source,
that however brief we may be, no-
thing of consequence shall be omit-
ted ; ; and that while we endeavour to
account for the causes of this aweful
and momentous event with impar-
tiality, we shall not lose sight of
perspicuity and lucid arrangement.

In order that the whole of the
circumstances whic form that sys-

tem of aggression on the. part of
France, which either insidiously
proceeding by lowering our na-
tional credit and consequence on.
the continent of Europe, or by
avowed menace and the most un-
disguised hostility, had made the
peace in the opinion of the world
as hollow and precarious, as its
most determined opposers had pre-
dicted, should be laid before our
readers, we will here recapitulate
some of the leading events which
preceded the definitive treaty, and
a short review of the state of the
powers of France and England,’ as
they remained at its conclusion.
On the 10th of October, 1801,
general Lauriston, arrived in Lon-
don, amid the acclamations of the
multitude, with the ratification of
the preliminary articles of peace
between the then belligerent powers.
In our volume for that year we have
recounted the mode of reception,
which the rapture of the public at
the welcome tidings, induced it in
a manner sufficiently novel, to be-
stow upon the messenger: and in
our succeeding one, we had the less
grateful task of detailing the in-
solent and indecent impediments
which

HISTORY OF EUROPE. 291

which were thrown in the way of annexation of Parma to his domi-
the definitive treaty by the ruler nions; the-promulgation of his pri-
of the French people, and the qui- vate treaty with Spain, by whick
escence of, the British government, Louisiana was ceded to France,
in this painful interval, not only and his acquisition of Porto Fer-
with such undisguised and contemp- raio and the island of Elba* in the
tuous arrogance, but under the ex- Mediterranean, secured. Yet an-
_ traordinary and unprecedented cir- der all these circumstances, each
eumstance of his having dispatched or any of which were sufficient to
an immense armament to the West have induced. a vigorous government
Indies; hisassumptionoftheItalian to break off a negotiation | con-
republic in his own person; the ducted under so many degrading

* The following account of Porto Ferraio, and the island of Elba, may be acceptae
Ble to our readers. It was drawn up at the period of the possession of it by the
French, by an able and accurate observer :—

Porto Ferraio, in the island of Elba, was little known and little considered, while
the island belonged to Tuscany, and before the French republic had become se
formidable.

The British sent a handful of troops to reinforce the garrison of natives, and under
the command of lieut. col. Airey, they effectually resisted the great efforts the French
made to take it. At the peace of Amiens it was stipulated, that the British troops
should evacuate the island, and restore it to the king of Etruria. In consequence of
the treaty, the English did evacuate it, but ina few days afterwards it was occupied
’ by the French, Bonaparte having exchanged it for a small and insignificant consider-
ation. Certainly this was not in the terms, nor in the spirit of the treaty. A place
ef such vast importance it was understood was to be placed neither in the hands of
Great Britain nor France, but in those of a state whose power in the Mediterranear
“was of no weight.

The port is capable of containing the largest fleets; and it has an advantage over

tof Malta, as ships can get out more easily. It is impossible to get out of Malta
with a N.E. wind, if it blow fresh.

The grand fleet of Mediterranean France might be stationed here, itis thought. ~ It
" perfectly commands the coast of Italy. Its position is central in the Mediterranean,
and is well situated for enibarking troops for Caudia, or an invasion of Turkey.
Candia is always made by ships sailing for Egypt.

__ The French being possessed of Elba, have no occasion to occupy Malta, which wilk
be placed in hands so as to exclude the British from the Mediterranean, By this step
ef the French, Malta becomes absolutely necessary to Great Britain, or we can have
“mo communication with any country east of Sicily.
Elba is so near the coast of Italy, that its garrison can, in spite of a blockading
ect, he always supplied with provisions, and the garrison with reinforcements.
It was esteemed impregnable, and is now becoming more strong by the works the
; Sp are erecting: indeed a fort was necessary to be erected on the land opposite
* the town, to secure the fleet at anchor in the port
~The number of inhabitants is so smali, that the garrison will be in no danger frou
_ @n insurrection, as was the case at Malta.
i'n In fine, it is a port in every respect possessing the greatest advantages to the French,

“and in time of war, of the most alarming nature to her eneinies.

__ ft is conveniently situated to be a magazine of naval stores, which may be obtained
* from the Adriatic, the Archipelago, the Black Sea, &c. It will be a most dangerous
' atation for privateers, as well asa ficet. The British trade to Italy and ta the Levant,
“wail be wholly at the mercy of Frause, f

~

marks”

922
marks of superiority on the part of
the enemy, was the memorable
treaty of Amiens at length conclu-
ded, without a single remonstrance
on, or effort to impede, the im-
mense aggrandizement of France
consummated within the short pe-
riod of five months, and which pla-
ced that power on a footing widely
diflerent from that in which she was
at the signing the preliminary arti-
cles. And thus, by an infatuation
without example, did the British
governmentcontract relations of am-
ity with a power whose every step
had marked, even pending the nego-
ciation, its contempt of all principles
of national faith; by the terms of
which we sacrificed our conquests,
our allies, our rank among the na-
tions of Europe; and, by our un-
bounded submission to his en-
croachments, even of the right
hereafter to complain, of any fresh
infraction of its spirit, or new at-
tempt of his on the liberties of
Europe !

The succeeding pages of our last
years volume have dwelt on the en-
croachments of France in Switzer-
land, Germany, the Pais de Vaud,
Portugal, &c ; on the contemptuous
tone which she ‘assumed when
speaking of this country: on her
implacable hostility manifested by
_ her attacks upon our commerce,
both with her own states and those
parts of Europe over whom she had
gained unbounded influence: but
in so treating them we have not
brought them into that one point of
view, namely of settled and marked

* The whole of the official correspondence laid before parliament respecting the ne
gocialions with France, will be found in the state papers.
extent, our duty tothe public would not allow of our garbling such a body of eyi-
dence, so material to the inv estigation of the views of our enemy, and the conduct of
those, in whose hands the government of this country was entrusted.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

‘ment.

1803.

aggression to this country, but bares
ly as historical facts, under their
several heads of our usual arrange-
It will be now our duty
from the official papers laid before
parliament, * to recapitulate some,
to reconsider the effects of others,
and to add many new facts, which
rendered war inevitable. Happy
would it have been for the reputa-
tion, the honour, the dignity, and
perhaps the ultimate safety.of Bri-
tain, had she availed herself of the
first insult she had received; to
have awakened the antient spirit of
her sons, and have hurled contempt
and defiance in the teeth of her in-
solent foe, rather than have delay-
ed the period of resentment to that,
when a series of affronts had cheap-
ened her worth in the eyes of Eu-
rope, and when she was obliged to
have recourse to simulated causes
for the renewal of hostilities. hav-
ing unwisely, weakly, and unadyi-
sedly passed over the hour for legi-
timate vengeance !

It certainly could not be presu-
med that the temper or the princi-
ple, (which had led to such manifest
breaches of the spirit of the preli-
minary articles of peace,) of the
first consul of France, during the
space which intervened previouty
to the definitive treaty, was likely
to become more moderate, or mark-
ed with less of pretension, ‘at find-
ing that “ the British ministry had
contented themselves solely with
watching the progress of these
transactions, not chusing to inter-
fere in arrangements, which they

Notwithstanding their great

+

treaty of Amiens, and nothing but
the treaty of Amiens.”

HISTORY OF EV-ROPE.

»could not controul, and awaiting
without dismay, though not without
solicitude, the result of those com-
plicated and unexpected changes :”*
accordingly we find that he ex-

ecuted the treaty of Amiens, with-
out the slightest wish of renewing

‘those relations of amity and mutu-
al good understanding, which on

-similar occasions had taken place

__» between the two countries.
- ing nothing to fear or to hope from
+a nation which had without a single

Hay-

-remonstrance on the various mea-
sures of aggrandizement he had
pursued from the cessation of hos-
tilities; which had manifested
such anxiety for peace, as to in-
duce it to conclude the definitive
treaty on worse terms, than those
which had been formally agreed
upon as its basis; which had suf-
fered his armaments during the
same period to stem the Atlantic
im triumph, unquestioned and un-
‘controuled; and which had not
by that instrument provided for
the security or indemnity of any
ally, or conditioned for the revival
or renewal of any commercial ar-
‘rangement whatever; Bonaparte

considered Britain in the light of
_ aconquered country; the treaty,
“as a system of terms conceded to

the vanquished, and which it was
‘too much the interest of France,
and too gratifying to his own lust
of power not strictly to enforce!
In short to use a well authenticated

he of his, he was determined

“that England should have the

293

With a disposition thus hostile,
it may easily be conceived that
matter of fretful discussion would
speedily arise between the govern-
ments of Britain and France; and
we shall request the patience and
attention of our readers, while we
endeavour to arrange the different
subjects under their distinct heads,
which we shall for the sake of pers-
picuity, seperately consider; la-
menting as we must do as Britons
and as men, that the recital is one
tissue of violence, aggression, and
injustice on the part of France: on
that of the English government, of
solicitation, temporizing, and sub-
mission.

During the most envenomed pe-
riod of the malignity of the French
nation towards Great Britain, and
while governed by Robespierre, it
was enacted that all vessels under
one hundred tons burthen carrying
British merchandize, and approach-
ing within four leagues of France,
should be forfeited. Nearly three
months after the preliminary arti-
cles of peace were signed, was this
cruel and highly penal law, pro-

-jected during the avowed reign of

terror and barbarity, put in force
against an English vessel which
had sailed from Southampton on
the 19th of Dec. 1801; the day,
ever memorable on which the
French squadrons with an im-
mense force, had been permitted
by the British administration, to sail
to the West Indies, for the purpose
of reconquering and relieving her
colonies! In a tremendous gale,
this vessel arrived in the road of

; : o We quote from an avowed defence of Mr. Addington and his collcuedaua in

| meay other respects a valuable and well timed work.

Cherbourg,

224

Cherbourg the following night; and
in the belief that the pending ne-
gociation would have allowed of
his entering the place in safety,
having many passengers, much in-
commoded and extremely ill on
board, her captain entered the port.
On presenting himself at the custom
house, his declaration was refused,
himself cited before an inferior
court at Cherbourg, and all the rig-
our of the above mentioned law
decreed, by which his ship was
seized, his cargo confiscated, and
himself adjudged to six months
imprisonment! Before we proceed
to state the farther circumstances
attending this case, some obvious
questions present themselves. Was
not this instance of hostile conduct
of sufficient notoriety and conse-
quence, deeply to affect the negocia-
tion at Amiens? Was it not alone
sufficient to engage the English go-
vernmentto demand satisfaction for,
er at least the repeal of, a law unjust
in its principle, arbitrary in its exe-
cution, originating in tyranny, and
certainly inconsistent with the du-
ties of good neighbourhood sub-
sisting between countries so situ-
ated as France and England must
bein time of Peace? Was it not
sufficiently alarming to have turned
the thoughts of ministers towards
the necessity of some stipulations
for commercial arrangement? But
no, the treaty goes on, is conclu-
ded, and the property and com-
merce of British subjects left ex-
posed to the capricious tyranny
and narrow policy of a despot
without a single protecting condi-
tion! The consequence was as
might have been foreseen; so early

* Custgm honse..

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1804.

as the 20th. of May 1802, not twa
months after the signing the defini+
tive treaty; a dispatch from Lord
Hawkesbury the minister for fo-
reign affairs, to Mr. Merry, the
English minister at Paris, requires
oi him the most detailed and accus
rate statement of the ‘ rigorous
restrictions” and. * striet prohibi-
tions” which were universally re-
ported to be attached to British
vessels entering the ports of France,
and to the admission of British
commodities and manufactures in-
to that country. On the 15th of
June following Mr. Merry presents
an able statement to M. Talley-
rand, the French minister, respect
ing the ‘* Fame Packet,” Captain
Gruchy, (the case abovemention-
ed) detained at Cherbourg, in
which he urges “ that Mr. Jack
son, his predecessor at Paris, had
urged repeated representations on
the same subject in the month of
January preceding: the hardship
of extending the execution of a law
made in the fury of war, toa case
so peculiarly distressful as the pre-
sent, at a time when hostilities had
ceased: that the vessel was bound
to an English port in Jersey with
provisions and other merchandize
for the use of the island; that she
was forced into Cherbourg by stress-
of weather; that the Douane* in
deciding on this law would in case-
of confiscation be entitled to half
the value, and that therefore there
might be reason to doubt the equi-
ty of the decision; and he concludes
by stating that there remained no
hope to the proprietors. of the ship
and. cargo, save in the interposi-
tion of the government, which they

begged

ed

HISTORY OF EUWROPE. 993

beeged and prayed would take up-
on itself the farther cognizance of
the affair.” After some delay M.
Talleyrand, previously to the 4th
of August, acquaints Mr. Merry
* that the case having been reported
to the first consul, and it having
appeared, that the cargo in question
Was composed of prohibited goods,
he had decided TuatT JuSTICE
SHOULD TAKE ITS CoURSE!”
Thus after an interval of eight
months, was an arbitrary decree of
Robespierre, confirmed by the first
consul, the object of which was in
both reigns, to impede, if it could
not annihilate the maritime conse-
quence of Britain. But this is not
the only case of aggressive violence
which occurred of the same nature !
onthe 20th of September follow-
ing, Mr. Merry has again to im-
portune M. Talleyrand to inter-
pose the hand of power between
the effects of a law of the French
republic (which he acknowledges is
in full force) and the owners of the
brig “ Jennies,” Capt. Muckle,
freighted in England with coals for
Charente, and othet merchandize
for Spain. On arriving at Roche-

- fort, his ship was scized as convey-

ing prohibited goods (under which
comprehensive head every article
of English goods or manufacture
was comprized,) and with the cargo
confiscated. In this application
he was equally unsuccessful; in-
deed in his dispatch to Lord
Hawkesbury he-says, there is not
the smailest ground for expecting
any mitigation of the law, (in this
or any other instance) which de-
clared every vessel and cere con-
fiscated, where British manufacture
should be found! Another extra-
erdinary instance, however, of im-
Vou. XLY,

placable and bitter hostility to Bri-
tish commerce again occurs in the
following detail. In the middle of
the month of the July after the
peace, an English vessel named
the Nancy, sailed from England for
Rotterdam, with a cargo composed
of foreign goods, which had been
made prize of during the war, and
had been sold with the usual cau-
tion, and condition to the purchas-
ers, that they were to be exported.
Tn urgent distress from hard wea-
ther, and not being able to make
her port, she was obliged to bear
away for Flessingues, to scek that
shelter and protection, which by
the law of nations she was entitled
to inthe harbour of a power, with
whom her country was not then at
war. On her arrival she was
boarded bya party of French sol-
diery, who possessed themselves of
the ship and cargo! This detention
was still continued on the 14th of
October, when Mr. Merry made
another useless representation on
the subject to M.Talleyrand. And
on the 25th of the same month he
takes occasion to state “a new
case” to the French government,
with which we shall close this hu-
miliating recital. Itis that of the
brig George, which arrived at
Charente, in ballast, having only
the necessary previsions on board,
for the parpose of taking in a cargo
of brandy for London. ‘The cus=
tom-house officers, however, were
not to be disappointed in their
prey: some plates, glasses, knives,
and forks, the property and uten~
sils of the captain, of the original
value of four pounds sterling, were
declared contraband; and the ship
(for there was no cargo) seized by
those worthy and conscientious

ministers

096

Ininisters of justice.—On this sub-
ject Mr. Merry’s abilities are once
‘more exerted; mingling the ergt-
mentum ad hominem with the loftier
themes of the violation of all exist-
ing usages among civilized nations;
he. pathetically demands of the
apostate minister; whether, for the
future; English captains in ap-
proaching the shores of France,
must not contrive to furnish them-
selves previously with knives, forks,
glasses, and plates of that country?
and if that precaution was impos-
sible, must they eat off the ships’
decks with their fingers? To this
pleading, animated and affecting as
it might be, an evasive answer was
yeturned, and it no where appears,
that in this case; or in any of the
former, was there redress or satis-
faction ever afforded! Will it be
credited hereafter, that thus was the
British flag insulted for a twelve-
month with impunity, without any
other remonstrance during — that
period; on the part of the British
government? Will posterity eredit
the fact, that no reprisal of any
nature whatever was ordered by
the English gorernment—no coun-
ter-ordc rsissued to those which car-
ried out the mandate for the resto-
ration of the conquered colonies to
France—no armaments Set on foot,
in contemplation of what should na-
turally have been expected, as the
result of such insolent aggression?
No, all was submission, with the ex-
ception of the imeffectual plaints
already related: nor was the subject
yenewed on the part of Britain, till
other accumulated tsults of various
natures, had made it necessary to
assume somewhat of a decided and
vigorous tone with France: ‘Then
indeed, lord Whitworth revives it

ANNUAL REGISTER,

‘dgainst Francé—but it was too late.

1805.

in the month of February of the
present year, evidently in contem-
plation of war, and when it was’
necessary to make as strong a case
as possible in the eyes of Europe

honor had been
wounded in its most vulnerable
part. The moment for urging
those insults, which were (unre-
dressed) abundantly a eause of
war, had gone by; and after sub-
miiting to them without a writhe or
a groan, for so long a period; it
was weuk and futile to pretend to
find in them ground for renewed
hostilities: —It must here also be
mentioned, that so far were these
injuries from being merited by
any conduct of a similar nature on
ihe part of Kngland, that the Mo-—
niteur itself, the French — official
journal, bore honorable testimony
to the conduct of the British officer
commanding at Porto Ferrajo, who
withdrew all protection from vessels
calling themselves English priva-
teers,committing v tolence on French
ships; and delivered up the perpe-
trators of such acts to justice.

By a reference to the articles of
the treaty of Amiens; it will be
seen, the 14th provides, that all
sequestrations imposed in France
and England, on the property of
their respective subjects, at the
commencement of the war, should
cease and be done away, on the ras
tification of the peace. —In the spi-
ritof good faith, and of the anxious
wish of the English goverument, to
prove their desire of living on re-
newed terms of open and xmicable
intercourse with France, and of re-=
viving a mutually goed understand
ing between the two countries, punc-
tually performed their part of the
stipwlation,

Vhe national

i

HISTORY OF EUROPE

stipulation. So early as the 95th
of May, 1802, Mr. Merry notified
to the French minister, that ‘* His
majesty had, in conformity to the
14th article of the definitive treaty
of peace, taken off the sequestra-
tions upon the property of Frerich
_ citizens in his dominions; ard ex-
_ pressing that he did not doubt but
that the French government would

be equally teady to render the same
justice to such of his majesty’s sub-
jects as have property in France.”

_ The very reasonable request con-
tained in the latter part of this no-
tification, was reiterated twice or
thrice by the same person; with
what effect;we shall best learn from
an extract of lord Whitworth’s dis-
patch from Paris to lord Hawkes-
bury, dated Paris, 10th May, 1803.

_ * With regard to the numerous me-
_ morials and representations, which
_ Thave had to make to this govern-
ment, in behalf of those of his ma-
jesty’s subjects; who have suffered
by the detention and confiscation
of their vessels and property in
French ports; and by the seques-
trations which took place during
the war; I have only to observe

- that they have; with the exception
_ of one ‘or two instances, remained
unanswered !”’ Under circumstan-
ces at once so injurious and insult-
ing did the British government still
persist in a pacific and submissive
demeanour; far from resenting
such conduct, or requiring a speci-

fic satisfaction for those multiplied
wrongs, it contented itself with
making new elforts to conciliate ;
and by removing all prohibitions
on the trade of France, which had
been imposed during the war, and

_ placing her people in every respect

_ 0 the same footing, with regard to

°

227
commerce and intercourse, 4s the
inhabitants of any other state in
amity with his majesty, shewed a
disposition which could not be mis-
taken, of preserving inviolable the
peace it had made, under every
circumstance the most humiliating !

But while evety step of the
French republic manifested the
intention of embarrassing and
straightening the commerce of
England; under the pretext of
a retewal of the arftangements
which formetly subsisted between
both countries; she devised a
project, fraught with equal artifice
atid malignity, the object of wltich
was to establish in. every port of
the united kingdom a privileged
spy, undet the name of a com-
mercial agent, whose ostensible
business it was to watch over the
interests of her trade and naviga-
tion, but whose toncéaledand more
important commission extended to
the making inquiries into the state
of the commerce of each port; the
number of vessels entered and.
cleared out thereof; the course of
exchange; the state of the neigh=
bouring manufactures and fairs;
with a variety of similar inquiries,
manifestly tending towards that mi-
nute species of information so re-
quisite to the establishment of arivas
lity in commercial importance, now
become the avowéd object of the first
consul. This however was not all:
each agent was farther required to
“* furnish a plan of the ports of his
district, with a specification of the
soundings for mooring vessels;” and
if no such plan could be procured;
then “‘ to point out with what wind
vessels could come in and go out,
and what the greatest draught of
water, with which they could enter

Q2 thereip,

228
therein deeply laden?” On such
missions, although no commer-
cial treaty existed between the
two countries ;, notwithstanding the
severity with which confiscations
issued against every British vessel
and cargo which approached the
coasts of France; with the tacit
permission of the British govern-
ment, were military men and en-
gineers selected, and dispatched
from France, to their several places
of destination; two of the most
active, Chepy and Fauvelet, actu-
ally commenced their functions in
Guernsey and Dublin, and the
remainder had proceeded to Lon-
don, to obtain their respective pow-
ers and instructions from M.Coque-
bert Montbret, who had been
already named by M. Otto, the
French resident in England, to
lord Hawkesbury, on the 24th
May, 1802, and who was recog-
nized by him, as commissary gene-
ral of the commercial relations of
the French republic at London:
when, by, a providential accident,
the private instructions of M. Tal-
leyrand to Fauvelet at Dublin,
(whence we have extracted the de-
tail above given) fell into the hands
of government, and at once revealed
tle views and ohjects of these pre-
tended commercial agents. The
minister for foreign affairs, lord
Hawkesbury, immediately made a
verbal representation to the French
ainbassador of this circumstance,
to whicn he was authorized by his
court to give a most flimsy and un-
satisfactory reply. No farther re-
monstrance, or demand of explana-

* The facts upon which our observations are founded, respecting the confiseation of
British vessels, sequestrations, and the conmercial agents, are to be found in the * ad-
ditioval papers” laid before partiamens 20 May, 1803, but which we had not room

to insert in the “ state papers,”

ANNUAL REGISTER, 180% .

tion, was made on the part of the
British government. The remain«
der of the agents in London were
informed, that if they proceeded to
their places of destination, they
should receive orders to quit the
country; but the whole train of
those functionaries remained in the
capital, till the subsequent depar-
ture of general Andreossi; and
strange as it may seem, from an
official memorandum, dated June
Ist, in the present year, it appears
that no order to quit his majesty’s
dominions, was sent to any of the
persons styling themselves ‘‘ com-
missaries of commercial relations,”
except to M. Chepy at Guernsey !! *

In the progress of our last vo-
lume we detailed at length the dif-
ferent steps by which Bonaparte
achieved the sovereignty of the
Italian republic, the acquisitions of
Parma, Piedmont, and Louisiana 3
the establishment of the first consu-
late in his own person for life; and
subsequently the making that office
hereditary in his family: we have
also enumerated at large the differ-
ent instances of his arbitrary inter-
ference in the aflairs of Europe, as
well with respect to the German
indemnities, as to the affairs of
Switzerland; to all these subjects,
as connected with those upon which
we are about to treat, we must re«
quest permission to refer our read
ers to the volume itself. Some
general recapitulation will however
be occasionally necessary to shew,
what effect these changes in the
posture of the European states had
upon the feelings of the British go-

ernment, “

%
*

%,

a

#

E

}

4
4
;

+

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

érnment, and what the nature and
extent of the various discussions
they produced, and which at last
terminated in that most awful and
i important event, the renewal of war
_ between the British and French
‘empires.

Whether it were, that swelled
with inordinate vanity at the un-
interrupted train of success, which,
while it gave him the greatest indi-
vidual elevation, at the same time
shad enlarged to an enormous ex-
* tent the boundaries of the country
~ he governed; or that: conceiving

the most contemptible opinion of

the degraded state of Gieat Bri-
"tain, of her total renunciation of
] the principles of honor, and her

inability to resist in the slight-
‘est degree his sovereign will, Bo-
naparte (not three months after the
_ peace, and at the moment when he
_ either passed over in contemptuous
silence, or confirmed the arbitrary
decisions of his courts, upon the
_ complaints of British subjects of
the infraction of its articles) com-
menced a series of remonstrances
to the court of London, expressed
in terms of the most measured inso-
_ Tence, complaining of the princes
of the house of Bourbon, and
3 others their adherents, continu-
me ing still to decorate themselves with
B “the insignia of the French orders ;
of the countenance and support
which continued to be given in
_ England to the French bishops and
emigrants who were inimical to the

_ present government of France; and

Po) — dastly of the liberty of the British
_ press,* which had presumed to
question the justice or policy of
me of the public acts of his go-

vernment. Onthese several grounds,

repeated representations were made

at Paris from M. Talleyrand, aud

‘at London by M. Otto, between

the periods of the 4th of June and
17th of August, 1802; at which
latter date an official note to lord
Hawkesbury, distinctly reduces the
causes of the dissatisfaction of the
French government to their differs
ent heads; and after a preamble
couched in the most dictatorial and
contemptuous terms, requires by
the especial direction of the first
consul, that his majesty’s govern-
ment shall adopt the most effectual
measures to put an end to the un-
becoming and. seditious publica-
tions, with which the newspapers
and other writings printed in Eng-
land, were filled. 2dly, That cer-
tain individuals, obnoxious to the
French government, should be sent
out of the island of Jersey. ' Sdly.
That the former bishops of Arras,
St. Pol de Leon, and all those who
like them under the pretext of reli-
gion, sought to raise disturbances
in the interior of France, should
likewise be sent away. 4thly, That
the Vendean chief Georges and his
followers should be transported t to
Canada according to the intention
which M. Otto had been directed
to transmit to his government at
the request of lord Hawkesbury,
5thly, That the princes of the house,
of Bourbon at present in Great
Britain be recommended to repair
to Warsaw, the residence of the
head of their family; and lastly,
that such of the French emigrants
as still thought proper to wear the
orders and decorations belonging
to the ancient government of

7 te € Vide “ State Papers,” Nos. 1 to 13, inclusive of the “ Official Correspondence.”
t Deporjer is Uae word ane !

3 France

230 ANNUAL RE

France, should be required to quit
the territory of the British empire!

It cannot be supposed that these
requisitions, the aggregate of every
thing that could insult or lower the
country to whom they were made,
could haye been urged with such
amplitude and confidence, had not
the negociations which had al-
ready taken place, upon their seve-
ral subjects in detail, sufficiently
evinced the timid and wavering
spirit which swayed the British
councils, When Mr, Merry com-
municated on the 4th of June M,
Talleyrand’s conference with him,
in which the latter urges the dis-

gust M. Otto (late commissary of.

prisoners, but whom Bonapaxte, in
the prosecution of his system of hu-
miliating as much as pogsible,Great
Britain, elevated to the situation of
resident at the court of St. James’s)
could not but feel and experience,
gt meeting at his majesty’s court,
and at other places, the French

rinces decorated with the insignia
of the French orders; and that it
was incumbent on the British go-
yernment to remove those princes,
their adherents, the French bishops,
and other individuals, whose princi-
ples were adyerse from the present
state of things in France; Lord
Hawkesbury in reply expresses
no surprize or dissatisfaction at the
novelty or insolence of such a
demand, waives the subject of
the insignia altogether, and con-
tents himself with classing those
illustrious indiyjduals, the objects of
the tyrant’s hatred and fear, with
other foreigners who might be resi-
dent in the kingdom, and who, so
jong as they should conduct them-

€ The editor of The Political Registers

GISTER,. 1803.

selves agreeably to the laws of the
country, could not be thence dis-
missed !

On the 25th of the following
month, M.Otto once more disturbs
the tranquillity which ministers
had so dearly purchased; and
charges distinctly an emigrant of
the name of Peltier with having
published a libel abounding with
the grossest calumnies against the
Frencl government and nation:
nor does he confine himself to Pel-
tier alone, but implicates the editor
of the Courier Francois de Lon-

-dres, Cobbet,* and other writers,
who resemble them, in the charge,
and to-whom he desires to direct
the attention of his majesty’s go-
yernment; adding the threat, ‘ that
writers would doubtless be found in
France, willing to avenge their
countrymen, by filling their pages
with odious reflections on the most
respectable persons, aud on the
dearest interests of Great Britain.”

* To this direct attack on the li- ~

berty of the British press, and to a
notification as vulgar as insolent,
the secretary of state in the foreign
department, in reply, eagerly ex-
presses the displeasure of himself
and his colleagues at the particu-

lar article complained of; their. -

anxious desire to have the writer of’
it punisheg, as he so justly deserves 5
then laménts in common with M.
Otto, the license he complains of,
and deplores the difficulty there is
in proving the guilt of an individual
so satisfactorily as to obtain the
judgment of a court of law; and
concludes by promising to refer the
number of Peltier complained of
to the king’s attorney general, to

know

ft oes Bere ee

ogh

a said with truth that he was tried in England, but Ramen in France.

‘

MIST ORY OF EUROPE:

know whether or not it were a
libel, and the proper object of a
prosecution !*

It can hardly be supposed that
this species of forbearance and sub-
mission to insult, would tend to
moderate the temper, or soften
the tone of the first consul or. his
representative at the British court:
accordingly that series of demand.

which we have already: given in

detail, was presented by: ftlie latter
on the 17th of August, and which

231

we do not hesitate to pronounce
the climax of diplomatic insolence,
the most insulting and degrading
body of requisition that was ever
made toa free people; and the very
tender of which will be an eternal
stain on the honor and character of
the Biitish nation, In vain do
we, coutemplating these proposi-
tions, attempt to recognize the rela-
tive situation of France and Eng-
land, at the period of the prelimi~
nary conditions of peace ; when the
t

* Mr. Peltier who was thus proscribed, and whom the noble secretary ofstate, ex-
presses his determination to punish as he deserves, was a person of great literary.
talents, acknowledged integrity, and the avowed enemy of republicanism; and had.

roved himself the most ssteady zealous, attached adherent and defender of the
illustrious house of Bourbon, for fifteen’snccessive years. In the earliest period of
the French revolution he had distinguished himselt by a periodical work called the
Actes des Apotres, a production whi ch Brissot declared had done more harm to the
democratic cause, than all the armies of the ailjes. During the remainder of the
war he was the editor of a journal under the jitle of Panis, in which he was the
“unwearied and indefativrablé advocate of royalty, social order and religion, in oppo-
sition to repablicanism, anaychy and infidelity. Hopeless of any farther benefit to be
derived from his efforts, his labours ceased with the definitive treaty: hut in the thrée
subsequent months the aggressive violence of Bonaparte in every part of Europe; the

; Pcueny g good means of acquiring information of his projects with respect to Great
titain, from a_persenal knowledge of the commercial agents, police spies, and
septembrizers who were on mission in every part of the united kingdom, and the
actual publication ofa series of Letters on Engtand in the Mercure de “France the pro-
ductions of a jacobin named Fievée, the object ot which was to vilify and degrade the:
British government and nation} character, all induced Mr, Peltier once more to com-
wence journalist, with the intention, as the event abundantly proved, of laying bare
the character of Bonaparte, and awakening the suspicions of this country, and the
world to his designs. Accordingly a eekly prodaction appeared under the appella-
fion of L’Ambigu, the first number of which bgeume the gabject of the complaint of the
Erench government.

Such was the person and such his merits, against whom the governments of both coun-
tries united inthe prosecution: on the “ist of February of the present year, was he
brought fo trial at the suit*of the king, ou the information of the attorney general, for a
libelious publication with intent to vilify and defame Napoleon Bonaparte. (on the
very day of Despard’s ex egution) and was found guilty, The king’s Message was
‘delivered to parliament on the 8th day of March following, and judgment not being
called for by the attorney gencral at the usual time, all farther proceedings ceased,
and Mr. Peltier was restored to his place in society, with the reputation and the
“feélings of a martyr to his-canse and principles. “it is painful ta add, that the news of

is trial brought his aged father, and a beloved sister to the grave, the gnly remains.

ofhis family, within a few days ofeach other at Nantes; and that his patrimony was,
geized upon by the consular agents. Phus,’? to nse hi is own words, ‘ anight it be.

»

A

Q4

former,

232,

former, despoiled of her colonies,
blocked up in her ports, her com-
‘merce destroyed, and her discom-
fited arinies obliged to relinquish
their Egyptian conquest, had be-
come the captives of an inferior
force, and evinced an inferiority to
the latter in the eyes of all Eu-
rope. Instead of this brilliant and
proud statement, we can only find
the haughty dictation of a superior
power compelling a conquered
country to pass under the yoke, aS
the just punishment of her yolun-
tary debasement, the sacrifices of
her character and reputation among
the nations of Europe,her desertion
of her allies, her surrender of her
conquests, and her abandonment of
the preeminence she had gained
throughout the world by the wis-
dom of her statesmen and the valor
of hersons, Such were the first
but bitter fruits of the peace of
Amiens.

It is not to be doubted, but that
the first consul, in causing those
propositions to be made, had esti-
mated the submission of the peace-
makers, in a descending ratio, to
the extravagance of his own de-
mands; and expected nothing less
than their complete acquiescence
thereto. The elevation he had
attained, by his intrigues with the
Italian republic; the certainty of
being equally successful in France,
and probably the contemplation of
imperial dignity, superadded to the
power, in his own person and family,
at the same time that they gratified
his ambition, alarmed the habitual
jealousy of despotism, and led
him to consider protection ta the
Bourbons and their adherents, in a
country where they were yet out

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

of the reach of his power, and the
freedom of the press, in the hands
of a still unenslaved people, as im-
pediments to the consummation of
his views, which no time should be
lost in removing,
‘When the caprice of the emperor
Paul, established once more the re~
lations of amity, between Russia
and France; in the treaty which
formed their basis, the subject of the
emigrant princes, made of course
no inconsiderable part of the difli-
culties attending its negociation ;
it however underwent a species of
compromise 3 during which the first
consul himself, acknowledged, that
to demand from the emperor the
dismission of the count de Lille °
(Louis the XVIII,) and hjs family,
from his dominions, and the pro-
tection he had hitherto conspicu-
ously bestowed upon them, would
be derogatory to his character, and
inconsistent with the honor and
frankness which distinguished that
potentate.—How differently he esti-
mates the honor and _ frankness of
George the iIfd, a monarch, whose
whole life exhibits but one series of
benevolence and magnanimity, the
propositions we have detailed, suf+
ficiently evince,
How far, however, the French
government is to be justitied, by
the degree of aquiescence they ex-
pected, and indeed actually met
with, our readers will be best able
to decide, from the specific an-
swers made to M, Otto’s demands,
by the secretary of state for foreign
affairs, on the 28th day of the
August following, To the requisi-
tion, that certain emigrants in Jer-
sey should be sent out of that island,
lord Hawkesbury replied, that iene
Q

HISTORY

M, Otto’s representation, and others
of them were removing.—With re-
spect to the venerable bishops of
St. Pol de Leon, Arras, and others,

accused of distributing papers on-

the coast of France, with a view of

disturbing the government of the

republic, his lordship calls for a
substantiation of the facts, in which

ease, they should be obliged to

quit the country.—The direct de-

mand for the transportation ef the

Vendean royalists to Canada, agree-
ably to previous arrangement, next
follows. Those unfortunate, but

gallant men, who had, under the_

faith of British assurances, made a
glorious, though unsuccessful strug-
gle, to re-astablish their monarch
and their religion; with whom Eng-
land had, for those objects, madea
common cause; and who, on the
failure of their efforts, sheltered
themselves under her protection,

sacrificing their homes, their for-

tunes, their families, to their prin-
ciples. — This honorable body of

men, to whom Great Britain was

pledged, by every tie, the most
sacred, and in every event bound
to protect—she was now peremp-
torily called upon to deporter, to
the bleak and ungenial soil of
‘Canada! To “this CRUEL, this
INFERNAL” proposal*, his ma-
jesty’s minister (repelling, how-
ever, the ground of previous ar-
rangement) malenparely concedes

_ the point, and declares, that the
Be

__ king is very desirous to obviate
pe. cause of complaint or uneasi-
hess, with respect to these persons ;
and that measures are in contem-

‘plation, aud will be taken for the

We

4

OF EUROPE.

_of them had removed, previously to

933

purpose of removing them out of his
£ uappann dominions H!—The next
object of complaint, and conse-
quent requ sition, which presents
itself in M. Oito’s note, is, the pros
tection afforded to the princes of the
house of Bourbon, resident in Eng-
land. That august house, which had
for ages and geaerations swayed the
sceptre of the most powerful mo-
narehy in the world, and which,
outlivinig the storm that had be-
reaved its chief, his consort, sister,
and son ot «their fives; and. the
wretched survivers, of empire and
of a Country, saw itself reduced
to seck, wandering and exiled, a
home in the protecting kindness of
the diferent countries in Europe,
hot yet su a Alec 1 to the dominion
of France: that portion of the wreck
which was cast upon England’s
hospitable shore, had excited the
jealousy of the French ruler, and
he now required, that its governs
ment should recommend to these il-
lustrious personages, a removal to
Warsaw, then the residence of the
chiefof the family. ‘To thisdeimand,
less peremptory indeed, but assure
edly the most degrading of the
whole, the kia2’s minister discli ums
on the part of his royr tL master,
all pratechon and hospit ality tos
wards the royal family France 5
declaring, in bis name, that he has
no desire that the princes of the
hotse of Bourbon should continge
to reside in his couatry, if they are
disposed, or can be induced, to quit
but that otherwise, so long as
they conducted themselves peacea=
bly and quietly, the rights ef hos-
pitality could not be withdrawn
trom them, or, in other words, that

of

¥ Vide Lord Temple’s Speech, page 171,

they

234
they were equally within the pro-
tection of the law, with every other
foreigner !— But the next article,
distinctly and peremptorily de-
mands, the expulsion of all emi-
grants, from the British dominions,
who should continue to wear the
decorations of the orders belonging
_ tothe ancient government of France.
To this it was replied, on the part
of the English government, in sub-
stance, that it would be incon-
sistent with the laws of the country,
to comply with this demand, though
his Jordship acknowledges, that “ it
might be more proper if the emigrant
praaces and nobles abstained from
wearing the INSIGNIta complained
of Le"

Such was the stile of demand, and
such the answers of the respective go-
vernments, in the propositions made
to Great Britain by France, so far
as they relate to the subject of the
emisrants from the latter country,
residingin England. From this por-
tion of the discussion, we turn suf-
ficiently mortified and disgusted at
the alternate arrogance and humility
which it has been our painful task
to display; to the more satisfac-
tory contemplation of its only re-
maining part, namely, the press,

which, although it form the first of

the objects of M. Otto’s demand,
we have reserved, as unconnected
with the other five, for our sepa-
rate consideration,

There never probably had oecur-
ed a period, when the English press
was more devotedly attached to the
support of an administration, than
at the precise moment, when its
freedom of discussion became the
object of the resentment of the first
consul, ‘To the minister, under
whose auspices the treaty of Amiens

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

had been concluded, it was com-
pletely subservient: every act of
his and his colleagues, was diurnally
advocated, with a zeal and persever-
ance almost unexampled; while the
conduct, the views, and even the per-
sonal character of the little band,
which was stiled ‘ the new opposi-
tion,” and whose hostility to that
treaty, and to the measures of the
government, were well knowh, met
with the grossest, most illiberal, and
(occ asionally) the most wanton scur~
rility. It wasalso sufticiently ascer-
tained, that it was the ardent desire
of government, in all events and un--
der every circumstance, to keep well
with the first consul. From these
premises, it might be concluded,
that the influence of the ministry
would have had weight enough (as
the inclination certainly was not
wanting) to have made use of this
great lever of public opinion, as a
powerful engine, to second their
views of keeping Bonaparte in
good humour; or, in all events,
that they could have prevented
those alarming and tyrannical cir-
cumstances in his conduct, with re-
spect to his own country, or the
states of Europe, from being can-
vassed too curiously, and discussed
with that openness and candor which
naturally belong to the free press of
a free people. If such were the
hopes of government, it was egre-
giously disappointed ; however nar-
rowed in its views of party at home;
on the great scale of universal policy,
the British press was found in the
able and impartial exercise of its
functions; the palladium of the li-
berties, not only of Eugland, but of
all Europe; the steady asserter of
the rights and freedom of mankind,
and the bane and obstacle to the
despotic

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

despotic designs of insatiable and
encroaching tyranny.

So early as the month of De-
cember 1801, when the sailing of
the armament from Brest, during
the interval between the prelimi-
nary articles of peace, and the
definitive treaty, had, under such

circumstances, by its novelty and
the actual aspect of affairs at the
moment, alarmed every English bo-

som, save those who had made them-
selves parties to the transaction ; the
sentiments and opinions of the pub-
lic prints of England, freely express-
ed upon the subject, seems to have
given great offence to the French
government. When the personal
ambition of Bonaparte placed him
A at the head of the Italian republic;
his lust of power; the dangers to
the liberties of Europe, likely to ac-
crue therefrom; and the intrigues
become public, by which Parma,
Louisiana, and the island of Elba,
___-were annexed to his dominion;
u when the assumption of Piedmont
K and the Milanese, and the general
tenor of his conduct, equally aggres-
sive and arrogant towardsall Europe,
became sufficiently matter of notori-
€ty, the columns of the British jour-
nals successively detailed the facts,

_ and elaborated the necessary conse-
quences: nor were ticy silent, when

Sy the confiscations of English proper-
se ty, and other acts of violence and
: injustice, took place in the ports of
France, both immediately before
and after the treaty of Amiens. In-
dividual instances of the first con-
_ $ul’s tyranny, by his interference in

,

@f the war,

239

his courts of justice, to procure ar-
bitrary sentence against those per-
sonally obnoxious to him, were ex-
posed to general animadversion.
In fine, that public career of con-
duct, which itwas the ¢heice of Bo-
naparte to run, and which not only
aimed at the despotic sway of
France, but to the enslaving and
subjugating the rest of Hurcpe, was,
but with truth, with temper, and
with impartiality, exposed by the
English press, to the alarming con-
sideration and reflectious or a peo-
ple, to whom freedom was yet
more than an empty name.

Successful, to the height of his
wishes, over the press of every part
of the continent, cither by public or
private means, by menaces or by
bribes*, it may be easily conceived,
that it was to the last degree gailing
to the despot, to find there ex-
isted, in the British capital, a power
which he could not controul ; which,
although in the hands of a few ob-
scure individuals, could yet inter-
pose the most serious obstraction
to his views, and thwart, perhaps
defeat, the best devised and most
promising of his schemes, Under
the impulse of feelings, which no
respect for the government of Eng-
land could induce him to check, he
made through his minister VW. Otto,
those requisitions respecting the
licence of the British press, in con-
junction with those on the subject
of the emigrants, the fate of which
latter we haye already laid before
our readers,

But however willing the English

__* Nor were the latter means neglected in London, but, to the immortal honor of
those who were the proprictors of the public prints, but one individual, the obscure

editor of an obscure weekly Journal, could be found venal or base enough to eugage
“an the defence of the conduct of Bonaparje, from the treaty of Amiens to the renewal

government

236

government might be to concede to
the imperious dictates of that part
wf the representation, which aimed
fat the proscription of the French
princes, and had even, as we have
seen, expressed the most anxious
desire (when urged on this subject
on a former occasion) to sacrifice
M,. Peltier (a foreigner) to the
offended majesty of Bonaparte,
the direct demand upon it, * to
take eflectual measures for the sup-
pression of publications obnoxious
to France, with which the newspapers
and other writings, printed in En-
gland, were filled,” gave it pause—
and the tone of direct submission,
was for a season suspended.

To acquiesce under the repeated
insults offered to our flag and com-
merce; to allow of the iniraction
of that article of the treaty of peace,
by which the sequestrations on
British property in France, were to
be taken off; to permit the most
insulting demands on their govern-
ment, respecting the unfortunate
emigrants; and to have hitherto
multipled concession with eager fa-
cility, had marked progressively the
line of conduct adopted by minis-
ters, trom the period of the treaty
of Amicus; and it is possible they
might have expected, that so
much submission would have se-
cured them from farther eneroach-
ments; but here, as in other in-
stances, they grossly miscalculated.
—And this direct measure of the
ruier of France, to interfere with,
and overawe Great Britain in the
administration of her domestic
concerns, must have been to them

a galling proof, that no concession:

ANNUAL REGISTER, | 1803.

could appease, no submission avert
his insulting rapacity. But how-
ever well disposed they might have
been to level this last bulwark of
british liberty at his feet, it was a
task far beyond their power to ac-
complish ; they well knew, that but
to touch this shrine of freedom, to
violate this sacred ark, was death ;
and they accordingly gave a tardy
and reluctant negative to the im-
perious demand,

In a separate division of out
work, the whole of the original do-
cuments respecting this part of the
negociation, may be found*, and on
which it would be superfluous and.
impertinent in us here to ofier any
farther comment. Jt may however
be observed, that no remonstrance
was made by the English govern-
ment to the French court, on this
unprecedented, unauthorized, and
insolent spirit of dictation. — No
positive requisition of the discon-
tinuance of such degrading demands,
—No specific declaration of the in-
violability ef the English law and
constitution, and no menace held
out of avenging the insult, if again
offered or repeated, At thismoment,
such a tone and such a remon-
strance, must have had its effect, ,
for the conquests from France and
her allies were yet in the hands of
Great Britain. It is, however, but
justice to add, that lord Hawkes-
bury reasons the matter very ably
and excursively, in his reply of the
28th of August; and that he al-
lows that ‘t M. Otto’s note is by ne
means conciliatory.”

Hitherto it must have appeared,
in the view which we have taken of

* Vide State Papers, from No, 7 to No. 13, inclusive, of The Official Corres

dence.

thie

;

'

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

this discussion, that aggression, if
there were any, was to be found
solely, or at least primarily, in the
conduct of the British press; and
that France, reserving to herself,
as she had threatened, the right and
the power of retaliation, had sus-
pended that species of attack or de-
fence, till acquiescence or refusal
to her demand, had authorized her
to put her Journalists in activity.
We anticipate the surprize of our
teaders, when they shall be told,
that in this war of words, the pre-
lude to one of a more serious na-
ture, the total reverse was the case:
and that, at the moment when the
freedom of the English press was
stated by M. Otto, to have given
the most serious offence tu the
first consul, the French Journals
teemed with the foulest, most ran-
_ corous, and unqualified abuse,
ef the constitution, the people,
and even the person of the beloved
monarch of Great Britain—and here
it must be recollected, that the press
of Paris, was as notoriously en-
slaved, and under the controul and
direction of the government, as that

ef London was unshackled and out

of the power of administration:
and consequently, while the lucru-
bations of the former might be con-
sidered as a species of authorized
State Paper, the latter were merely

937

the effusions of independent prin-
ciple.

Previously to the first representas
tion, made by M. Otto, on the sub-
ject of the press, and since the
signature of the preliminaries, ne
less than thirteen articles had ap-
peared in the French official print,
The Moniteur, directly levelled at
the freedom of debate in the British
parliament, denouncing those mem-
bers of it, who presumed to ques-
tion or comment on the actions of
the first consul; and abounding in
the grossest personal abuse of lord
Grenville, Mr. Windham, and those,
who acting with them*, had mani-
fested their hostility to the prevail-
ing system, and who were therefore
odious in the eyes of Bonaparte.
In the vast varicty of the other Pa-
risian Journals, those topics were
insisted upen, with equal or in-
creased virulence. But, about the
period of the beginning of June, also
that of M. Otto’s first note, this
species of warlare was organized,
with all the precision of regular
system. An English newspaper,
named ‘The Argus,” was set up at
Paris, under the auspices of the
French> government, «which com-
menced a recular series of personal
attacks upon the king of Great
Britain, his ministry, and his coun-
try. The constitution of England,

- ™ It has been urged, by a very able and respectable advocate of tie conduct of

Ministers, that the abuse bestowed on those personages, in the French papers, wis

doubtless beheld by government, with indignation; we should have thougiit so ton,

had we not witnessed in the columns of those prints, notoriously attached to Mr. Aa-

dington’s administration, amongst a profusion of other epithets, that littie band of pa-
_ frivts, of whom lord Grenville aad Mr. Windham were considered the leaders, stis-
‘matized by the appellation of “ sanguinary bloodhounds !!!" [f ought were wanting wo
— embalm the character of these patriots, in the memory of a grateful posterity, to whuse
_ @fforts it was owing, that the vital spark of British freedym was kept alive, till subse-
uent events biew it into a flame; it would be, that at the same moment they were the
objects of the vituperative scurrility of Bonaparte’s Journalists, aud of the Engi.sh
Rewspapers, devoted ty the mpterests of Ke peacemakers of Amiens

Gg > both

238
both in church and state; its no-
bility, and the loyal of every de-
scription, weré indiscriminately at-
tacked; and the persons (worthy
indeed of their office), who were
_ chosen for this filthy task, were
the outcasts of the Irish rebellion,
and some apostate English, who
were found but too willing to en-
gage in the parricide. About this
time also, appeared a series of let-
ters, in some of the daily French
papers, and aiterwards collected
and republished, as ** A Collection
of Letters on the English Nation;”
in which the national character, its
laws, institutions, society, customs
and manners; weye systematically
decried and villified: and whose
author, on his return from his mis-
sion (for it was well known that he
was employed and paid tor the ex-
press purpose), was rewarded by
Benapaite, with honors and emo-
lumeat.—Thus much, to shew the
species of re¢alation, meditated by
France.

On the 7th of August, however,
ten days before M. Otto’s proposi-
tions were made to the English
minister, and three weeks nearly,be-
fore lord Hawkesbury’s reply, when
the publication must have been suf-
ficiently notorious, the Moniteur,
which we have already described as
the vehicle of the official communi-
cations of the French government,
amid a variety of the grossest ca-
lumnies, asserted that the Vendean
chief, Georges, was openly caressed
in London, and wore his red rib-
bon (that of the Bath), as a reward
for having constructed the infernal
machine*, which destroyed part of
Paris, and put to death thirty

* Machine Infernale,

ANNUAL REGISTER, - 1803.

women, children, and peaceablé
citizens ; and that, doubtless, had

he succeeded (in destroying the first *

consul), he would have received the
order of the garter. Thus asserting;
in laneuage riot to be misunder-
stood, that the King of England
had bestowed the highest reward of
military merit, and one of the most
distinguished badges of honor; on an
assassin.

It doubtless became the prudence
or the magnanimity of the English
government, not to take any formal
notice of those repeated acts of un-
disguised hostility, on the part of
France, and to return, under all
the circumstances we have de-
tailed, that reply which we have
already noticed at sufficient length
in its place; and thus was this im-
portant subject of discussion left;
in a state of much greater irritation
than at its commencement; both
parties sullenly withdrew; from 2
contest in which the not having en-
tirely succeeded, and the having
conceded too much, left each dis-
satisfied, As the subject, hence-
forward, becomes of minor consi-
deration (though renewed upon two
subsequent occasionst), we shall
here dismiss it, with remarking;
that however mortifying to a British
reader, the tone of submission on
the part of the English government;
it should be more than balanced,
by the reflection, that he can sa-
tisfactorily deduce, from the cir-
cumstances attending it, that the
freedom of the British press was
thereby acknowledged to be inviol-
able, and worthy of all the eulo=
gies that have been bestowed upon
it by successive ages. The disgrace

+ Vide Official Correspondence, Nos 85 and 23,

ak,

!

a ae

ot

3

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

in the first instance may be attended
with temporary disadvantage, the
good resulting from the latter must
be eternal.

In the view which we have taken
ip our last volume of the definitive

reaty of peace,* we have endea-
vont to point out the utter impos-
sibility of carrying into effect its
10th article, which relates to the
future situation of Malta, under a
circumstance, at its conclusion, of
sufficient notoriety; namely, the
contiscation of the property of the
order of St. John of Jerusalem; (to
whose dontinion the island was to
be restored) in Spain, in Lombardy,
in Piedmont, and in France; a
measure undoubtedly originating
in the policy of the first consul,
who, by thus destroying the only
means by which the old govern-

~ ment could protect itself, placed it

under the necessity of receiving a
Neapolitan garrison—a species of
protection, which he well knew he
could, in his new situation of chief
of the Italian republic, sufliciently
eontroul, to suit his future views
on the island. “Other obstacles
however, existed, in the disposition
of the Maltese themselves, of which
we had not at that moment a sus-
picion, but of which subsequent
means of information have put us
in possession, that would, if no
other existed, have imposed an in-
superable barricr to the execution
of this part of the treaty.

No sooner were the preliminary
articles of peace, by which the con-
tracting parties agreed, among other
‘things, to restore the island of
Malta to the knights of St. John,
become known to the inhabitants,

239

than they immediately determined
to resist the stipulation respecting
them, to the uttermost. Accord-
ingly they dispatched a deputation,
consisting of some of the most po-
pular and respectable of their num-
ber, to England, for the purpose of
presenting a most forcible, but re-
spectful and temperate remon-
strance to the English government,
against the injustice and cruelty of
disposing of their rights and privi-
leges, as well as of themselves and
country, without their previous
knowledge and consent; and by
which means they should be thrown
hack, atter their glorious struggles
for liberty, upon ‘the good faith of
a body, whose “ insufferable op=
pression” and “ sacrilegious ty-
ranny” had rendered them odious
and insupportable to their subjects,
They grounded their right to bes
come a party in whatever concerned
their future destiny, on their hav-
ing by force of arms conquered
their island from France, as that
power had previously done from
the knights of the order; that the
base desertion and treachery of the
latter, in surrendering the island
without a blow to Bonaparte, was an
actual dissolution of the ties which
should reciprocally bind prince and
subject; that the king of Great
Britain having repeatedly refused,
what they had as pene iy ten-
dered, the sovereignty of their state,
no right did exist in him, or in any
other power on earth, to make an
arbitrary transfer of’ their alle-
giance: and they concluded by
declaring their resolution firmly to
maintain these principles to the last
extremity; and that in the event of

* Anaual Re iter for 1802, vid, page 164,

the

240

the stipulation they complained of,
being confirmed, they would rather
receive a garrison from Frances and
become the subjects of that nation,
than again crouch to the despotism
of their former masters,

A copy of this manly and spirit-
ed remonstrance, with ‘which every
British heart must beat in unison,
was forwarded to the English go-
vernment on the 22d of October,
1801, having been sanctioned by
the signature of the representatives
of every description of inhabitant in
the island; and the deputation al-
ready mentioned, speedily followed,
in order to give it every possible
weight, and any ben vay which
might be required.
February of the following year, they
communicated oflicially with the
proper minister, anncuncing their
arrival in London, their mission and
its objects; requesting at the same
time an interview. The eagerness
with which every topic, that might
delay cr impede the conclusion of
peace, was put aside 2 administra-
tion, occasioned barely a verbal
message to be returned, by which
the de puties were informed, that
* their residence in London would
give cause of jealousy to France,”
aud “ that the ‘y would do well to
expedite their departure from Lon-
don;” refusing at the same to ac-
credit theny officially, but allowing
of their being presented at bis pri-
vate house! Not deterred by the
eoldness of this reception, they
waited on the secretary of state
agreeably tothe mode prescribed,on
the Sth of February, and then in
the’ most ammmated and strenuous
manner, re-urged their claims and
expectations. Onthe Istof March
“they sent ina fresh meiworial, re-

3

ANNUAL REGISTER,

on the 4th of

1803,

stating the grounds 6n which the¥
prepared the former; adducing
new motives for their conduct;
appealing to the policy as well aé
justice of the king’s government,
for a compliance with their de-
mands ; and again earnestly pray-
ing, in the name of their fellow
citizens, to be taken under the pros
tection of Great Britain, as the
liege subjects of its monarch.

‘The verbal assurances of the mi-
nister ‘* that the happiness of Malta
should be taken care of,” was the
only satisfaction they cotld obtain
for their constituents; but person-
ally, they were well received, their
expences paid, and were permitted,
as if by chance, to see his majesty,
whose kind reception ofsthem, con-
curring with the other marks of
attention which they met with, ins
duced less of perseverance in the
pursuit of their objects; and on
the definitive treaty being signed,
having had a frigate prepared to
carry ‘them home, they signified to
the English government a species
of acquiescence with the provisions
of the 10th article, which respects
ed their future government. When
they arrived at the island, however,
and had made known the detail of
their negotiation, with the substance
of what had been cenciuded upon,
the resentment of the Maltese ex-
ceeded all bounds, they tore down
the public notifications of the 10th
article, which had been publicly
posted up; protested against the
conduct of Great Britain in the
most violent terms, and finally
avreed, that rather than submit to
the arrangement which had been im-=
posed upon them, to surrender
their country to France!

Although ‘subsequent events have
happily

HISTORY: OF: EUROPE.

happily prevented the determina-
tion of this gallant people from
being brought to issue, we have
thought it our duty to detail a
transaction so honorable to the
Maltese, who in all probability may
hereafter be identified with the other
parts of the British monarchy; and
because it affords one more proof of
the instiperable objections to that

article of ‘the treaty of Amiens,"

which gave rise to it: and the dif-
ficulties attending on which,(as had

been foreseen, and foretold by the
members of the ‘‘ new opposition,”
and doubtless equally well known
to government) would produce un-
satisfactory negociation, and ulti-
mately a renewal of hostilities be-
tween England and France,

The definitive treaty being how-
-ever concluded, notwithstanding
all the dangers which its execution

held forth to Britain; or those,

which the’ utter impossibility of

_ executing some of its terms, must
_ have equally involved the country ;

it is here necessary to recapitulate
; somuch of its tenth article, as re-
lates to Malta; the fulfillment of
_ which became matter of serious and
z angry discussion, towards the close
- of the year 1802, between the con-
tracting powers; and which was ul-
timately the ostensible cause of that
great change and convulsion in the
state of affairs, which form the promi-
nent feature of our present labours.
' The principal provisions of the
article in question, and which ap-
ly immediately to our purpose,
are those which declare, That a
grand master was to be elected in
il chapter, by the knights of St.
ohn of Jerusalem; that a Maltese
ngue should be established, in the
foo of the’ French and English

241

for ever abolished ; thatthe British
troops were to evacuate the island
in ‘three months, proyided there
were. a grand ‘master or commis-
sioners fully: empowered to receive’
the possession, and that a force,
consisting of 20600, Neapolitan’
troops, to be furnished by his Sici- |
lian \majesty, were arrived in they
island as a garrison ; ;that Great)
Britain, , petunia; Arwntrish, Russiay)
Spain, and Prussia, should guaran-!
ty this arrangement, and the inde-»
pendence of the) \islands;'. that.
those powers should. be. inyited to;
accede to it: And that the Neapo4,
litan troops were to remain, till
the knights had raised a sufficient
force to protect the island. io!
It mustassuredly be to all future
times matter of wonder and indig-
nation, that a peace which involved »
in it almost every consideration in-
teresting and) dear to mankind,
which closed. a destructive and
bloody. warfare of twelve years, and
on which the future tranquillity of
the civilized world depended, should
have been left exposed to infrac-
tion from any contingency what-
ever; much less, be concluded upon
terms, which were either impracti-

-cable from. circumstances’ suffici-

ently known at the time to the con-
tracting parties, or which depended
not on the will of those parties them-
selves, but were subject to the elec
tion or caprice of a third power.
These observations directly apply
to the subject of Malta, one cere
tainly not of minor consideration
and upon which alone, a future
difference must produce the most-
fatal consequences,

To restore the island to the
knights, unless they could eventually
be supposed sufficiently powerful to

R protect

AWS ANNUAL REGISTER,

protect it, was doubtless not in the
contemplation of the English govern-
ment, at the moment when the
treaty was concluded ; yet, on the
27th of April, previously to its
signature, it was publicly announced

in the Madrid Gazette, that the”

king of Spain had annexed the
property of the order within his
dominions, to the royal domain:
its revenues in France and Lom-
bardy, had ‘already been confis-
cated, and those in Portugal, as
belonging to the Spanish langue,
might reasonably be expected to
share the same fate. ‘Those means,
therefore, by which alone its inde-
pendence could be secured, no
longer existed ;
insuperable obstacle to its execu-
tion (if the English government seri-
ously meant to fulfil the condition
to its letter) was the treaty con-
cluded. With respect to the gua-
ranty of the four great continental
powers, it became evident, from
subsequent events, that they had
not been made parties to an agree-
ment, in which their consent was
of so much consequence, and the
dissent of any one of them to which,
must have rendered it insecure and
invalid. To this dissent it would not
have been unnatural to have looked
forward ; few political arrange-
ments have ever occurred, which
have been so well calculated, as
to secure, on motives of common
interest, the concurrence of all the
great powers of Europe; still fewer,
where, totally uninterested, they
ceuld be brought within. a- limited
time, to unite in perfecting a nego-
ciation, by which the views: and
objects of other states: were alone
to. be accomplished ; and least of all,
where, to delay, or. totally refuse

and.thtis, with this.

1803.

their consent, might be more com~
sonant to the secret principles whicly
directed their councils. Under some
or other of these predicaments, may
be ranked the powers whom France
and England chose to fix upon as
the pledges for the independence
and security of the order of St. Joha

and the island of Malta.
On what principle, or by what
rule of conduct, the individuals
who composed the British govern-
ment were directed, in thus sign-
ing to the article in question, doubt-
less one of the most important of
the whole treaty, it is certainly:
matter of difficulty to decide;
independently of their knowledge
of the absolute destruction of the
revenues of the order, which
alone could render it respecta-
ble; of the doubts which they
might reasonably have, of attain-
ing the guaranty of the great.
continental powers to an arrange-
ment, which they knew could not
be carried into effect; they were
also well aware, that the Maltese
themselves would never consent to-
the re-establishment of their for-
mer government, and had deter-:
mined to perish, to. the last man,
rather than acknowledge the sove-
reignty of the knights of St. John.
Are we then to suppose, that with:
an infatuation, the most extraor-
dinary and unprecedented, they left
the dearest interests of their coun-:
try; the fate of all Europe; and
their own reputation, as’ honest
and conscientious statesmen, to be.
determined upon by the combined
operations of time and chance 3 and
looked forward solely to good for-
tune (hitherto-their tutelary genius),
for extricaticn from the impending
difficulties and dangers? Or must
we

‘HISTORY OF EUROPE,

we believe that catching at a mo-
mentary popularity, and eager to
secure their situations in office, that
knowingly, and with their eyes
open, they thus hazarded the deep-
est stake ever played for, by con-
tending nations ?

But for the conduct of the French
government, in its part of this
transaction, far other motives ‘must
be sought, in the bold, yet wary
policy of Bonaparte. Equally ap-
prized of the difficulties of execut-
ing the 10th article of the definitive
treaty ; he concluded it with the
Same eagerness, and appearance of
good faith, as had been manifested
on the part of England; at the mo-
ment too, when his ordinances and
influence had destroyed the sources
of the independence which he afiect-
ed tosecure. In the appointment of
the ‘powers, whose guaranty was
deemed essential to the arrange-
ment, he was doubtless influenced
by the consideration, that posses-
sing almost absolute power over
Spain, and the greatest influence
at the court of Berlin; he could
accelerate or retard their accepta-
tion of the trust, as best suited
liis purposes. Creating, therefore,
all that could obstruct the fulfil-
ment of this most important part of
that system, on which the general
pacification was founded ; it will be
Necessary to consider retrospective-
ly what were the leading principles
Which were known to govern his
conduct, and from thence deduce
the most probable causes fer his

rmal ratification of an article, the
entire execution of which he had
taken the most effectual means of
| ebstructing.

We shall not here enter into the

Variety of political considerations,

243
which had reudered the possession
of Egypt desirable to France, for
nearly a century back; it is suf-
ficieut to observe, that indepen-
dently of every other, the great and
increasing empire of England in
Asia, had stimulated the wish to
action: and that Bonaparte, sated
with the plunder of Italy, and pants
ing for fresh conquest, planned and
undertook the conquest of that
country. Our preceding volumes
have recounted the termination of
that extraordinary attempt, which
evolved in its progress the desertion
of their leader, the captivity of his
army, and the glorious and never
fading laurels, acquired by British
valour, During the temporary suc
cess, however, which marked the
commencement of the expedition,
Malta had been basely and treacher-
ously surrendered to the French, by
the kuights of the order, and which,
in the hands of the former, from its
strength and means of defence, resist-
ed, for two years and two days, the
united efforts of the Maltese, the Ne-
apolitan, and the British force. Re-
conquered however, it admitted an
English garrison and government,
in whose possession it remained, at
the period of the peace of Amiens.
Heavily as these calamities affected
France, they mustthave been pecu-
liarly mortifying to Bonaparte,whese
retreat from Acre, and precipitate
flight to Europe, had exhibited him
to the gaze of all the world, as the
baffled and discomfited deserter of
his troops, By the dispensation of
providence, however it was decreed,
(doubtless for the humihation cf
those republicans, whose impious
excesses had filled the nations of
the earth with woe and misery) that
this stranger, the meanest and most

R 2 unworthy

244 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1863.

unworthy of the subjects of France,
should be placed in the imperial
seat of the illustrious family she
had cast out:, and he. found him-
self, atthe moment, when disgrace
and infamy should have been his
bitter portion, in the government
of a mighty kingdom, and the
arbiter of the destinies of Eu-
rope!
, In _ this elevation it would
not be consistent with his char-
acter, to suppose, that the scene
of his late disasters, and the humi-
liation of his army, were forgotten,
Every motive that might be sup-
posed to influence the man, were
now superadded to the thirst of do-
minion in the monarch; and the
reconquest of Eeypt, and its annexa-
tion to his empire, became one of the
greatest objects of his ambition.
Malta, in the possession of the Eng-
lish, opposed however an impassable
barrier to his designs; and it was
therefore the whole scope and ten-
dency of the article of the treaty of
peace, which provided for the fu-
ture government of that island, to
dispossess Great Britain thereof, and
place it in such a situation as might
render itan easy or certain acquisi-
tion, whenever a proper opportuni-
ty presented. ;
Ilaving this clue to his conduct,
on an examination of the stipula-
tions of the 10th article of the
treaty of Amiens, it will be found,
that the posztive provisions of it are,
that Great Britain shall evacuate the
island in three months; and shall
restore it to the order, represent-
ed by the grand master, or a proper
commissioncr, appointed for the
purpose, provided that a garrison
of 2000 Neapolitan troops should
have arrived to garrison the island,

Thus much of the treaty, it wag
the object, as it was the interest of
Bonaparte, to fulfil; but that por-
tion of it, on which so much of its
future security depended, namely,
the guaranty of, Austria, Prussia,
Russia, and Spain, was.expressed
conditionally, it being proposed by
the last stipulation, of the article, —
that those powers should be invited
to accede to the arrangement ; and
this, it certainly was not, for the
reason above given, the intention of
France to accelerate; depending,
therefore, on the difficulties which
she had either caused by the alien-
ation of the property of the order,
or those she could create by her
influence to protract the guarant
of Prussia and Spain; she trusted
to the pacific dispositions of the
English government, under all the
circumstances of the case, for the
execution of the former part of
the treaty, which we have distin-
guished as positive ; and for the
deferring -to . future. discussion,
all that was conditional and se-
condary. How far the French go-
vernment were warranted in thei
expectations, will appear from th
negotiations which took place upon
the subject, previously to the ré-
newal of war: anda_ perusal of
the following pages will. enable ou
readers to decide whether it were
owing to the vigour and firmness 0
the British councils, or to the provi
dential coincidence of wnforeseen fo:
reignand domestic occurrences, tha
the French flag is not at this mo
ment flown in triumph over th
towers of Valetta. \
On the 23d and 24th of Ma
nearly two months subsequent t
the signature of the treaty of peac
the governments of France an
Englan

England, interchanged the notifica-
tion of the respective appointments
of general Vial and sir Alexander
Ball, to be their ministers to the
order of St. John, for the purpose
of seeing the provisions of the 10th
article of the treaty of Amiens, car-
tied into execution; and theirinten-
tion of dispatching these persons to
Malta without delay, to fulfil the
object of their mission. The ap-
pointment of a grand master, was,
however, an indispensible requisite
to the proposed evacuation. The
first stipulation of the article, re-
specting Malta, proposes, that the
knights of the order, whose /gngues
continue to exist, shall pro-
ceed to the election of a grand
master, in Malta, to be chosen from
among those nations which have pre-
served the property of the arder.—
paragraph, not extremely respect~
i to the emperor of Russia, as it
does not mention the proclamation
issued by Alexander, on his ac-
cession to that dignity, calling the
| knights of the order to assemble,
| and proceed to the election of a
grand master, at. St. Petersburg.
Sothatever were the private views of
... latter’ potentate, on the island
of Malta, his avowed intention and
- determination were, to restore the
_ order in its pure integrity, to which
_ the introduction of a Maltese langue
(consequently a democratic one),
3 was an obstacle, and against which
~ stipulation, he had constantly ma-
¥ ig the most marked repug-
On the 23d of April, one

ae at St. Pein in a

a.

*
_ Conespondate

HISTORY OF EUROPE

hia to his court, expresses his *

O45.

belief, that the emperor will decline
taking any share in the proposed
guaranty.

This communication, in all pro- ,
bability, rendered the English go-
vernment more conciliating in her
conduct,and procured her formal as-
sent to the election which had taken
place in St.Petersburgh,of a number
of persons of the order,from whence
a grand master was to be selected
by the pope. Of this consent,
the French minjster for foreign af-
fairs, was duly apprized, on the
16th of June, and that opportuni-
ty taken by the English govern-
ment, of requiring the concert of
France, in soliciting by the joint
application of their ambassadors,
the guaranty of the continental
powers, named in the treaty. ‘To
this notification, after a short de-
lay, M. Talleyrand replied, that
his court was equally anxious with
that of England, to remove every
obstacle to the execution of the
10th article of the treaty ; in con-
sequence of which, he announced
its assent to the election, and the
pope’s nomination of a grand mas-
ter; promising also, the desired co-
operation for the purposes already
mentioned, of its ambassadors or
ministers, at Berlin, Petersburg,
and Vienna*. No farther corre-
spondence took place upon the sub-
ject, till the 21st of August follow-
ing, when M. Otto (four days after
the angry and insolent representa-
tion we have already adverted to),
in an official note to the English
government, stated, that the time
allowed for the purpose of eva-
cuating Malta had expired, and that

State Papers, Nos. 5 and 6, with the inclosures referred to, in the Official

R3 the

246

the English minister, at Naples,
had not been authorized by his go-
vernment to facilitate the transport
of the Neapolitan troops, who were
by the treaty to compose the future
garrison; and concluding, by a hope
that the latter part of the stipula-
tion, as well as the evacuation of
the island, should meet with no
farther delay, hut that the respec-
tive plenipotentiaries migzht imme-
diately execute the conditions of
the article respecting Malta, with-
outfarther reference to their govern-
ments, as the evacuation would not
ai all prevent the subsequent concert
on other points of the treaty. ‘Yo
this it was replied, by lord Hawkes-
bury, that the Neapolitan troops
were now, most probably, on their
passage for the island, or, if not,
should be forwarded with all possi-
ble dispatch; and desires the French
government, without delay, to give
fresh jnstructions to its ministers at
the continental courts, for the ob-
tainment of the concluded on gua-
ranty ; but takes no notice of that
part of M. Otto’s note, which claims
the immediate evacuation, as es-
sential to the conditions of the
treaty; the other points being to
be referred to future negocia-
tion*, :

A considerable pause again en-
sued, in the affairs of Malta, and
the discussion was not renewed be-
tween England and France, till the
commencement of the present year.
Jn order to preserve the chain of
narrative unintangled, we have not
dwelt upon the extraordinary cir-
cumstances of the consent of the
English government to the election
of a grand master of the order of

J State Papers,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

St. John, in Petersburgh, at once
illegal and unconstitutional, as well
with respect to its own ordinances,
as in being directly contrary to
the letter and spint of the 10th
article of the treaty, so often al-
luded to; or, its still more surpris-
ing concurrence in the permitting
the individual choice to rest with
the pope.—The idea of an election,
at the court of Petersburgh, origi-
nated in one of the chivalrous pro-
jects of the late empercr Paul, who
wished to be considered the re-
storer, as he was the self-appointed
protector, of the order; and to
such a height did he carry this de-
sign, that the arms of the tsland
were emblazoned, during the ‘lat-
ter part of his reign, with those of
Russia.—The proceeding which we
advert to, was not, however, car-
ried into effect, till the reign of his
successor, when, it may be, that
political views encouraged the pro-
secution of the design. The exe-
cution of it was, however, highly
indecorous, if not ridiculous. A
few refugees, from Malta, were
alone present: none of the great
langues of the order voted: and
even the resignation of the existing
grand master (baron Hompesch),
had not been legally ascertained,
Under these circumstances, a list
of persons, decreed by this body
eligible to the situation, were de-
clared, and the final nomination
yested in the Pope. To this ar-
rangement, the courts of London
and Paris, gave their consent, with
the qualification, that it should be
for the present appointment alone,
and not serve as a precedent in fu-
ture, Whether this proceeding

Nos, 26 and 27. ay
originated

HISTORY’ OF EUROPE. 247

eriginated in concert and good
understanding between France and
Russia, is a point upon which it is
now difficult to determine ; certain
it is, that none could have taken
place, more prejudicial to the real
interests of Great Britain. If
the object were the delay of re-
storing the order, or of appointing
such a chief as might hereafter ma-
terially advance .the views of the
first consul, it was exactly that
he could have wished, as his in-
fluence with the court of Rome was
such, as to promise him complete
Success, on which ever mode he
determined. Nor could the na-
tional character of Great Britain
be raised, by thus submitting to a
mode of election, unworthy the
dignity of the order, and repugnant
to every principle of the justice and
=i faith, which had been expres-
ed towards it, in the stipulations
of that article, which provided for
its restoration.

During this period, every exer-
tion seems to have been made by
the English ministers at the courts
of Vienna, Berlin, and St. Peters-
burgh, to obtain the long protracted
guarantee: at Vienna these efforts
were successful; but no solicitation
or entreaty could prevail on the
Emperor of Russiato declare his ac-
cession; and at Berlin, the French
minister not having joined in the
request with that of England, that
pretext was made for delay. It
was now also found out, that Spain
was so totally influenced by France,
that no mention of her name oc-
curs in any future portion of the
discussion on this subject.

While the English government
was thus employed in useless and
degrading sylicitation, the gigantic

views of that of France began
rapidly to develope themselves.
Bonaparte had acquired, in his own
person, the sovereignty of theFrench
empire, with the right of nominating
his successor, and had established
his legion of honour. His legalizing
the Roman Catholic religion in his
dominions, and his act of amnesty
towards the emigrants, had quieted,
in a great measure, the popular
uneasiness on the former subject,
and broke up the councils, and re-
called vast numbers of the indivi-
duals of the latter body to their na-
tive homes. Chief of the Italian
republic, his influence was unbound-
edly powerful throughout every part
of that devoted country, in which
he had seized, as appendages to his
empire, the states of the king of
Sardinia, and of the duchy of Par-
ma; foundedamonarchy; new mo-
delled its republics; established one
totally new; robbed and insulted
the king of Naples, and finally dispo-
sed of its various provinces, as with
the spoils of a conquered country.
Unchecked and unquestioned in this
career, he had already commenced
his measures for dictating to, and
dividing, under the name of indem-
nification, the empire of Germany ;
overturning its constitution; and for
despoiling those states of it whom he
considered his enemies, and reward-
ing those, at their expence, on whose
subserviency le could depend: his
armaments were now also preparing
to take possession in the West, of
Louisiana, that source of future
wealth and commerce, which he
had wrested from his unfortunate
ally, the king of Spain.

If the continental powers beheld,
with dismay and apprehension, those
strides towards universal empire, and

R4 without

us ANNUAL REGISTER,

without one contending effort, it
could not be supposed that the En-
glish government, which, in con-
cluding the peace of Amiens, had
voluntarily conselidated this enorm-
ous mass of power, and had thereby
even supplied fresh means and vi-
gour to the ambition of the first con-
sul, would now interpose any. ob-
stacle to his enormous aggrandize-
ment; accordingly we find, that
nearly six months after the defini-
tive treaty of peace, it had quietly
submitted not only to. his arbitrary
interference on the continent of Eu-
rope, but to the series of aggression
and insult, which he had poured,
with an unsparing hand, on Great
Britain, during the whole of that
period. We.have already gone into
the particulars, in sufficient detail ;
but it now became known, in addi-
tion to -these hostile measures,
scarcely attempted to be concealed ;
that Bonaparte had dispatched, or
was about to dispatch, a species of
military commissioner to Egypt;who,
returning through, the Ionian isles,
was to ascertain the actual state
of those countries; the practi-
cability of reducing the former, once
ore to the dominion of France ;
and to sow the seeds of revolutionary
principles in the republic of the
Seven Islands, under the assurance
of the future protection and assist-
ance of his government.

Hitherto, the intervention of Bo-
naparte, since the preliminaries, in
the affairs of Europe, had not been
accompanied by force or violence,
but were effected peaceably and in
tranquillity, through the medium
of his acknowledged influence, and
the mandates of his cabinet. In

* Vide Annual Register, for 1802, page 224 to page 2-42.

1803.

the subjugation, however, of Swit-
zerland to his power, he was
obliged to have recourse to violence,
and absolutely dictated his will to
this brave, but unfortunate nation,
at the point of the bayonet.

By a recurrence to our former
volume™, it will be found that we
have given no inconsiderable por-
tion of our labours to the narrative
of the unsuccessful, but gallant
struggle, made by this virtuous and
war-like people, for their liberties.
It will be here, therefcre, only ne-
cessary to recur to certain datcs,
which belong immediately to the
elucidation of the conduct of the
British government on this occa-
sion, when, for the first time, it
attempted to interpose in checking
the inordinate ambition, and un-
justifiable violence of the first con-
sul, and to which the most moment-
ous and important events owed
their origin.

The disputes in Switzerland, be-
tween the [elvetic government, as
it was called, (which was entire-
ly. in the French interests) and
the democratic states, who in-
sisted on having their ancient laws
and constitution restored, commenc-
ed as early as the month of April
1802, and assumed a serious aspect
on-the 13th of the following July ;
when the great majority’ of the
cantons formally protested against
Trench interference, and claimed
their rights and privileges, as a free
people, to restore to their country
their pristine form of government.
From this period till the 3d of Oc-
tober, open warfare subsisted be-
tween the people and the Helvetic
government, when, in a general

action

pe

5 HISTORY OF EUROPE.

action, the insurgents totally de-
feated the troops of the latter, who
were obliged precipitately to retreat;
to abandon their functions; and they
were hesitating whether to retire to
Geneva or the territory of Savoy,
when the arrival of a French gene-
ya] reassured them, suspended their
flight, and promised them, in the
name of his government, instant re-
establishment. A French army, un-
der general Ney, immediately ad-
yanced intothe heart of the country,
restored the revolutionary .govern-
ment, and dispersed the represen-
tatives of the Swiss nation, who
found themselves, singly, unable to
oppose, with their handful of troops,
and unsupported by any of the
powers of Europe, the arms of the
mighty empire of France.

It may be supposed that the pow-
ers of Europe surveyed this violation
of the laws of nations, and most
unjustifiable interference, with in-
dignation and abhorrence ; unfor-
tunately, however, for the liberties
of this oppressed people, the want of
union and co-operation among the
greater states and the subserviency
of the remainder to the will of Bo-
naparte, rendered these sentiments
ineffectual and fruitless, which might,
if called into action, have stopped
the despotic career of the tyrant,
and established the rights and liber-
ties of Europe, on a firm and im-
mutable basis. During the whole
season, therefore, when assistance
might have been given with effect, no
interference of any kind took place
on the part of the continental pow-
ers in behalf of the Swiss; notwith-
siending that a French force had

een, during that period, assembling
on the frontiers of the country, evi-
dently with the intention of com-

249

pelling them to accept such a con-
stiuution and government as it should
dictate.. On the 10th of October,
however, the. English government
presented a remonstrance, at Paris,
on the interference of that court,
in the internal regulations adopted
by a free and independent.country,
and referring to the treaty of Lune-
ville, for an explicit declaration
to that effect. On the same day,
Mr. Moore .was dispatched by the
English government, on a confiden-
tial mission to Switzerland, to prof-
fer to the Swiss confederacy, assis-
tance in money, to procure for
their exigencies arms, ammunition,
and provisions ; provided they were
determined to resist the system of
coercion, adopted by France, to
compel them to accept a form of
government contrary to their incli-
nation; and, if their means of re-
sistance, were so calculated as to
promise reasonable hopes of final
success. To the former of these
measures, namely, the remon-
strance to the French court, it does
not appear that any answer was ever
given, or any notice whatever taken
of it; as there certainly was not
any farther remonstrance made, nor
any effort, on the part of the En-
glish government, to enforce that
which had already been presented.
Contemptuous sileuce alone marked
the sense in which Bonaparte con-
sidered this presumptuous interfer-
ence with hissovereign will. Nor was
the Jatter measure more fortunate.
On the 31st of October, 4fr.Moore
arrived at Constance, where he
found the French force in posses-
sion of Switzerland, and not a trace
of resistance existing in the country.
Thus terminated this only instance of
the appearance of vigour, which the

existing

230 ANNUAL REGISTER,

existing government of England had
manifested, but which effert only
exposed it to the bitter resent-
ment of the first consul, without
the possibility of its having the
slightest operation in favour of the
cause it espoused. It was as ill-
yadged, as ill-timed ; no ¢o-opera-
tion of the continental powers had
been solicited ; no national dignity
exhibited in resenting the unanswer-
ed and ineffectual remonstrance, at
Paris; and the hour of interference
was delayed, until the time and sea-
son had elapsed, when assistance
coulé have been at all effectual !
Consequences, however, the most
important, resulted from this abor-
tive attempt. In contemplation of
the effects which this encouragement
to the resistance of Switzerland might
produce ; and as it was more likely
that Bonaparte would persist in his
violent measures, than recede: the
English government thought it pru-
dent, in the event of a war, to have
some of those conquests in its hands,
which had been so prodigally dis-
posed of by the peace of Amiens.
Orders were therefore dispatched to
the English governors, or commian-
ders in chiei, at the Cape of Good
Hope, on the 17th of October, and
also of the islands of Martinique,
St. Lucie, Pebago, and Curacoa,
and the Dutch settlements at Suri-+
nam, Demerara, Berbice, and Isse-
quibo, to delay the restitution of
those colonies, till farther orders.
Though the general formulary of
those instructions was addressed to
the governors of all the above-named
conquests, yet they are to be con-
sidered as levelled principally at
those of the Batavian republic ; as
most of the islands, belonging to
‘Fraijece, must have been in conse=

1805.

quence of orders sent out for that
purpose at an earlier period, alrea-
dy restored; or which event must
have taken place before the latter
orders could be received. Jt was
otherwise, however, with respect to
those of Holland, whose colonies
would certainly be objects of the ut-
most consequence in our possession,
in the event of a rupture with France.
Te wil) surely remain a paradox
to all future time, and beyond the
power of the most sagacious of our
posterity to solve, how it came to
pass that the idea of a restitution of
those colonies, whose chief impor-
tance was to be found in time of
war, should have oceurred to the
British government, under the mul-
tiplied instances of bad faith, in-
jury, and insult, constantly mani-
fested by France, since the signa-
ture of the definitive treaty ; and
when the impossibility of executing
some of its terms, rendered a ré-
newal of hostilities more than pro-
blematical. It will be nearly as dif-
ficult to account for the having
taken such a step, as that of en-
couraging ahd promising to support
the resistance, by force of arms,
of the inhabitants of Switzerland,
to the despotic will of France;
after having passed over in silence
and submission, those manifold
causes of rupture, which the con-
duct of the latter, towards Great
Britain, taken even separately, had
abundantly afforded. It may, how-
ever, be presimed, that having suc-
cessively acquiesced in the aggressive
acts of the French government, yet
not without some portion of mortifi-
cation and resentmetit, that ministers
were eager to interfere on an occa-
sion, in which, connected as it was
with the general feclings & it
t)

HISTORY: GE BUROPE

of Europe, they might reasonably
hope for the co-operation of
some of its greater powers: and a
representation which was, at this
period, made by the English minis-
ter, at the Hague, to his govern-
ment, of the dissatisfaction and
anxiety manifested by the inhabi-
tants of the united provinces, at the
conduct of France, with respect to
Switzerland, and on the delay of the
former power in removing her troops
fiom the Dutch territories, not-
withstanding its being an infraction
of the most solemn treaties, and the
most forma! and positive assurances
that they shouldinmediately be re+
moved, might possibly have had due
weight in this determination.—
If the administration of the
Batavian republic were deter-
mined to oppose, to the utmost of
their power, this arbitrary and op-
“pressive species of exaction,™ it cer-
tainly gave a peculiar propricty to
the rescinding those orders sent out
for the restoration of the Cape and
the other Dutch colonies, which,
in the hands of their present posses-
sors, might prove the best pledge
for the independence of the parent
country, or afford the means of
formidably annoying France, did she
continue still to refuse it. However
sound the policy which dictated this
fine of conduct, the want of firm-
ness and vigour, which prevailed in
the British councils, prevented that
prompt execution which alone could
give it effect.— Accordingly, we
have seen the fruitless mission to
Switzerland, and the equally inef-
fectual remonstrance to the French
“gourt, (the united effect of delay

251

and indecision), afford only cause.
of fresh triumph to the first consul
matter of pity, perhaps not un-
mixed with contempt to the rest of
Europe: and thus wasan opportunity
lost, of restoring the credit and cha-
racter of the British name, which
the events of the last nine months
had tarnished, and despoiled of its
native lustre.

In the interim, without once ad-
verting to the inevitable consequen-
ces of protracted interference; to
the inaction of every foreign power;
the lateness and severity of the sea-
son, and the proximity of a powers
ful French army, the united effects
of which must have reduced Switz-
erland to subjugation beyond the
hope of deliverance; the English
government had taken the decided
step of retaining her conquests,
which under circumstances not at
allimprobable, might prove an act
of the most serious ageression; and
had also commenced military pre-
parations (for the third time since
the preliminaries of London) ona
scale and extent proportioned to an
approaching contest. The receipt -
ot Mr. Moore’s dispatch, however,
from Constance, cooled all this ar-
dour; and the system of submission
and acquiescence under insult,
when solely directed towards Bri-
tain, was reverted to with an eager-
ness calculated to make atonement
for the short period of its suspension,

This transient gleam of spirit, had
notwithstanding, the effect of dispos-
ing the first consul to treatGreat Bri-
tain with some portion of that diplo-
matic respect, hitherto most unac-
countably delayed; & which greatly

.* Dated 29th October, 1202, “Vide State Papers, No, 22, Official Correspon-

. ace,
| :

tended

952 ANNUAL

tended to restore the confidence
ef the people in the permanence
of the peace, which, obscurely as
the majority could have been ac-
quainted with the events which
had occurred, had nevertheless been
considerably shaken, by so much
ofthem as had transpired. The arri-
val therefore of general Andreossi in
London, on the Gth of November,
and the departure of lord Whitworth
the following day for Paris on their
respective embassies, were hailed by
the natives of both countries as the
omen and assurance of returning
harmony.
* The unexpected termination of
the insurrection in Switzerland
had, as we have already stated, dis-
posed the British ministry to return
upon their steps, and endeavour to
counteract the dreaded effects of
this momentary resolution. Ac-
cordingly on the 15th of November,
counter-orders were dispatched to
the giving up the Cape, and the re-
mainder of the Dutch colonies, al-
though the day before, the instruc-
tions given by his court to lord
Whitworth, were, that he should
remonstrate with the French go-
vernment on the. occupation of
Holland by its troops, contrary to
all treaty and solemn engagement;
a suflicient proof that every cause
which could be urged with propri-
ety for the detention of the Cape of
Good Hope, still existed in its ut-
“most force. And here it may be
perhaps worth while to recapitulate
under what circumstances those
counter-orders were given, (which
were decisive on the possession of
the conquests,) and what the value
and consequence of’ the colonies so
restored,

Without specifying the enormous

REGISTER,

1803.

acquisition of power and territory
to France since the peried of the
preliminaries, which we have had
occasion so often to advertto, both
in this and our preceding volume,
(and which alone would have been
ground for the claim of an equiva-
lent on the part of Great Britain,
of which the conquests yet in her
power should have been the pledge,)
her assumption of dominion through-
out every part of Europe was tothe
highest degree alarming to its
liberties and repose. In Spain
she governed with absolute autho-
rity; Portugal had been obliged
humbly to receive back an embas-
sador whose gross ill conduct had
necessitated his return to France;
Gérmany she had new modelled and
divided with the most iniquitous
partiality; Naples had been plun-
dered by her ;, Switzerland invested
and reduced by an armed force;
Holland a prey to military occupa-
tion and exaction; the Pope a sub-
servient vassal; andthewhole north
of Italy an appendage! In the
Mediterranean, tle island of Elba,
(with its harbour and impregnable
fortress,) was the fruit of her in-
trigues; and her miiitary commis-
sioner Sebastiani was known to be
on his tour through Egypt, and the
Tonian islands to pave the way for
future conquest and accession. With
respect. to Great Britain, the only
country France had not succeeded
by force or intrigue in despoiling,
her every action since the cessation
of hostilities was marked with the
most menacing rancour, and the
most determined disposition to re-
duce to an equal degree of subju- ©
gation. To the complaints of the
former power on the injuries and in-
sults her commerce and flag had

received,

HISTORY OFF EDROPE.

received, and were daily receiving,
in the French ports, no redress was
afforded, no aggression disavowed ;
the sequestrations on British pro-
perty were pertinaciously conti-
nued; arbitrary imprisonment and
personal indignity offered to her
subjects in Paris;* the insolent in-
terference with respect to her inter-
nal laws and regulations imperiously
persisted in; the requisition to dis-
miss the emigrants urged with inde-
corous clamour ; France commercial

253
agents had commenced their func-
tions as spies, in activity throughout
widely divided portions of the Bri-
tish empire; the guaranty of Malta
was industriously protracted, and no
prospect of its ever being obtained;
refugees and outcasts of Irish rebel-
lion and English republicanism
cherished and -protected at Paris;
whilst the spirit of the most blast-
ing malignity was hourly displayed
in its public prints, under the pre-
text of retaliation, in depreciating

* We advert particularly to the case of captain D’ Auvergne (Duke de Bouillon,) of
the British navy, who, accompanied by a friend, and having procured the necessary
passports, proceeded to Paris onthe 28th of the August after the definitive treaty, on
business of importance, connected with his claims for the estates of his family in
France, solemnly entailed upon him.

- dis deportment at that capital was marked by the utmost propriety and decorum.
Having a desire to see the military parade of Quintidi, he visited the Thuilleries as au
English officer in his uniform; but from motives of feeling and sentiment, had not
made one of the numerous English who were, during his stay at Paris, presented to
the first consul. On the morning of the 7th of September he was arrested in bed at bis
hotel by the police, with every mark of indigaity and insolence; thence he was con-
ducted to the office of the general police, where he was thrust into a common waiting
room, and detained the whole day, without refreshment, among the vilest runners and
Spies of the office. The minister Fouche, though repeatedly in the bureau, never
deigned to give him an audience: but certain inferior’ instruments were employed to
prevail upon him to calumniate and briig charges of the most odious nature against
Mr. Pitt and Mr. Windham; in which having met with the success they merited, in
revenge they conducted him ina wretched vehicle, at 14 o’clock at night, to the Tem-
Prk, the scene of the sufferings of the late royal family, whose apartments there he
occupied, and where a straw bag and a filthy blanket were the only conveniences al-
lowed him. Every means were here made use of to terrify or betray him into confes-
sions of the nature we have already described. On the Sd day of his confiaement his
prison gates were unlocked, to admit the friend (also of the royal navy) who had been
the companion of his journey, and who with himself was equally ignorant of the causes
of the outraze they had endured. It now appeared that the representation of Mr.
Merry (the English resident at Paris) to the minister of foreign afairs, on’ the subject
of this unjustifiable measure, (of which the former was early informed and had of course
lost no time in taking the proper steps toremedy,) was yet unanswered ! The following
morning (the 12th) fresh attempts were made to induce the duke de Bouillon to wrile
to the minister, and state that Mr. Pitt and Mr. Windham had employed tia to tabri-
cate plots against, and make use of the most unjustifiable means to destroy, the repub-
lic. This proposition was of course indignautly spumed at: the next day, however, the:
sixth of his imprisonment, captain D’ Auvergne with his friend were furnished with
Passports at the police office, very equivocally worded, tending to expose them to ein-
barrassments in their progiess through the country, which they were ordered to
depart from and quit the territory of the republic in twenty-four hours!
- Thus terminated this shameful transaction, by which two men of rank, bonor, and
eharacter, were insulted, imprisoned, degradingly used, and finally compelled to quit
@ country as outcasts, whom business bad called imperiously thither, aud where they
were entitled by every right to remain in security and protection.
a To

:

ro

254

the British nation, its monarch, its
constitution, its laws, and its inha-
bitants.+

To France then, on the 15th of
November, when every circum-
stance above-mentioned was in ex-
istence or activity, did we surren-
der Pondicherry in the East, Mar-
tinico, St. Lucia, and Tobago in
the West Indies; the right of fish-
ery in Newfoundland; and to her
ally (or rather so long as she held
it in military subjugation, to her-
self,) the Cape of Good Hope, Co-
chin, Demerara, Berbice, Issequibo,
and Surinam; all flourishing by the
aid, and enriched by the fruits, of
British protection and commerce.
Alexandria too was ordered to be
evacuated by the English troops, on
the 30th following, with a multipli-
city of apologies for the delay, and
an implied censure on the com-
manding officer, for having, contrary
to his orders, protracted that mea-
sure to so late a period! a circum-
stance the more extraordinary, as
on the preceding 13th, a dispatch
from St. Petersburgh announced,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

that the French minister at that
court had at last agreed to make,
conjointly with that of England, @
formal invite tion to the emperor of
Russia, for his guaranty of the sti-
pulations respecting Malta. A few
days therefore, would have, in all
probability, determined upon what
conditions his imperial majesty was
willing to accede to the proposition,
and consequently whether Alexan-
dria (on which head the Ottoman
Porte was perfectly quieseent) un
der the circumstances of an un-
favorable answer, might not in per-
fect prudence and propriety be
retained till some other arrange-
ment were agreed upon.

In effect, on the 25th of Novem-
ber, 1802, the answer of the em-
peror Alexander was delivered to
the English minister at his court,
and thence transmitted to London.
On a perusal of this instrument it
is extremely difficult to see, in what »
its terms differ from those of the
10th article of the treaty of Ami-
ens, of which it indeed seems an
abstract: all the material points,

+ Though the first consul thought proper to clear up his brow, and send an embassa-
dor to England a few days after the remonstrance on the affairs of Switzerland was
presented to him; in order to make himself amends for this moderation and self com-
mand, the deep thunder of his resentment growled in awful menace throughout the
laboured and angry columns of his Monitewr. The presumption of Great Britain in
daring to interfere in the concerns of continental Europe, was a theme for its daily
abuse ; and on its particular interference in the Swiss insurrection, it was outrageous.
“ What right had an insular power to intermeddle with the affairs of Germany?’ And
«* How dare it in any case refer to the treaty of Luneville, when the relations of France
and England were alone to be found in the treaty of Amiens, the whole treaty of Ami-
ens, and nothing but the treaty of Amiens?” were some of the demands which this
official journal querulously urged ; and which were echoed back, through innumerable
reverberators of the same nature. About this period too, the Argus, the English news-
paper printed in Paris, had nearly reached the climax of its insolence and absurdity. An
Rvitation appeared in it in the shape of an advertisement, to English sailors, to desert, -
and repair to Paris, where they would be received with open arms, and experience
better food, better raiment, and better pay, than in the service of their own country.
It also printed a challenge from the pardoned traiter Napper Tandy, to lord Pelham,
in which the dotard insulted the minister of that sovereign to whose clemency he owed
his lite, with the grossest abuse, and im terms of the most affected bombast.

such

-° HISTORY OF EUROPE. 55

such as the surrender of the island
to the order of St, John; the suze-
rain rights thereto of the king of the
' two Sicilies; the guaranty ‘of its
independence; and the provision
for the future garrison of its forts,
: were ddeiitified with its) nay,, the
admission of native Maltese into the
. civil government of the order, a
point on which some difficulty and
cause of delay might have arisen,
was conceded. It might for a mo-
; ment be supposed, that the E nelish
government, after a per tinacious so-
licitation of six months, would have
received this notification with joy,
and eagerly have embraced its con-
ditions: but,its situation was now
widely different; and to procrastinate
was become as much its object, as be-
fore it had been to manifest expedi-
tion in concluding this negociation,
Although the British ministers
had submitted to the contemptuous
silence with which Bonaparte had

zerland; © notwithstanding — their
counter orders to those which had
commanded the detention of the
conquered colonies, and ‘their post-
tive direction, issued for the evacu-
ation of Alexandria, had evinced
“their cagerness to extinguish the
spark of vigour in their resolvés,
which the affairs of Switzerland had
enkindled. Notwithstanding their
-solemn assurances to parliament, on
the 23d of November, that ho hos-
tile discussions whatever existed be-
tween England and France, were
the strongest pledges and manifesta-
tion of their intentions to preserve
ake speace of Amiens; yet was there
one point which it was not possible
to guard against, and which might,
th, notwithstanding every submission
e ane fort tothec contrary, place Eng-

SE eS
4 a +

'

ee
&

>

treated their remonstrance on Swit-

land in an actual state of warfare.
We allude to the detention of the
Cape, and the other Dutch, colonies;
if, unfortunately for the wishes of
ministers, the counter orders had not
reached their destination, time e-

‘nough to prevent the operation of

the first; in which case, the recap-
ture of those places, (for such might
have been the consequence from
the nature of the last dispatches)
would place Great Britain in de-
cidedly an hostile point of view,
and as the aggressor, in the event
of afresh rupture. It may also be
supposed, that the deep indignation
which obtained throughout all ranks
of the people; the undisguised ambi-
tion, and intolerable arrogance of
Bonaparte, had theiy werglit,in mak-
ing still more wavering and unde-
cided, the measures. of the English
government; and, above all, the
sense of parliament, which, since
its meeting. had exhibited a species
of opposition, composed of the real
weight, talent, and property of the
country, not to be resisted even by
ministerial influence, had produced
some hesitation in their agreeing
to propositions, which would have
thrown away thelast pledge of peace
or security in the hands of their
country. “Under these circum-
stances, and wishing to have in the
event of a war (which either their
own indiscretfon, rashness, or the
‘all“of an incensed and outraged
nation might give rise to,) one
at least of the lunumerable .con-
quests achieved by British va-
lour during the late contest, in
their ands. at its commence-
ment; and that too, one of such
consequence, as might blind the
country to the dreadiul inconsisten-
cy of their having given up, at the

RS same

256,
same moment that they hesitated
to evacuate Malta, the most valua-
ble acquisitions in every other por-
tion of the globe. In excuse for
this part of ‘their conduct however,
it may be urged, that having passed
ever without resentment or remon-
strance, the different grounds of war,
which the first consul had afforded
since the peace, no pretence re-
mained for not executing the condi-

tions of the treaty of Amiens, which °

related to the restoration of the con-
quered colonies; but that France
herself having delayed by her con-
duct with respect to the guaranty,
the evacuation of Malta, she could
not now complain, if diplomatic in-
genuity protracted it a little longer:
while (did the dreaded events come
toa favorable issue) the surrender of
the keys ofthe East and West Indies
and the other conquests, evinced suf-
ficiently the disposition of giving up
every object, to the desire of concili-
ating, and Ofremaining in all events,
on good terms with Bonaparte.

No farther discussion or event of
consequence occurred, during the
remainder of the last years. We
have carefully detailed, in their natu-

ral arrangement, the circumstances
which connect them with the actual
situation of France and England,
during the period’ of the present;
and shall now commence our ac-
count of the transactions of / 1803,
to the moment of the king’s decla-
ration of war; which producing very
few events, will occupy but a small
poruon of our labour; every ground
thereof, with the exception of one’
or two being to be found in the pre-
ceding part of this chapter. It may
however be observed, that independ-

* Vide State Papers, aad page 38.

5 '

- evening, to

ANNUAL REGISTER, » 803.

ently of sie solemn de-laration in,
parliament, of the chancellor of the
exchequer; 0: on the opening of the
session, that no hostile discussion
existed between the two countries:
he thought proper, on the same
state, that in no
one instance, since their appoint-
ment to office, had his majesty’s
ministers committed the honour or
credit of their country.

A year of irritation and painful
solicitude had now passed over, and
disposed the majority of the English
nation to consider that which was
about to commence, with fearful
apprehension. However silent mi-
nisters had been, on the actual
state of the discussions with France ;
whatever confidence might have
been placed in their assertions, of
there existing no grounds to appre-
hend a speedy rupture; _ still, the
alarm, which the speech from the
throne, at the opening of the ses-
sion, with the military force demand-
ed by the secretary at war,on the 8th
of December*, had spread, greatly
predominated : and the general
gloom manilested itselfin the stagnas
tionof commerce, and the low price
of the public funds. A speedy war,
undercircumstances the most inaus-=
picious, was universally looked for,
and dejection and dissatisfaction
were marked on every countenance ;
a striking reverse to the state of
public ORIN, at the beginning of
the last year!

As it was on the detention of
Malta, that (for the reasens we
have already given), the government
of England determined to take
itsstand, till it should be. ascer-
tained whether it had not actually

invotred

~~

is TORY

involved the country in an act of
aggression and violence, with re-
spect to the Cape; it may be suppos-
ed, that it was on that subject alone
which all disagreement and_ final
rupture could arise between it and
that of France; and that all possi-
ble means would be resorted to, to
protract, till then, its evacuation.—
Accordingly, although not till two
months after the date of the projet
of the emperor of Russia, the secre-
tary of state for the foreign de-
partment instructed the English mi-
nister at St. Petersburgh, to decline
the Imperial proposition, unless
‘some additional stipulations were
introduced ; an official answer to
the Russian Court, was also includ-
ed inthis dispatch. It will be doubt-
less matter of some curiosity to our
Teaders, to know what grounds were
chosen in these instruments, for the
rejection of that guaranty which they
had urged, with such vehement so-
-licitation, from the hour of-the
signature of the definitive treaty ;
the terms of which were in all es-
sentials the same with those of the
10th article of the peace of Amiens;

_ and which article, without any new
_ stipulation or modification whatever,
had, till the latter part of Novem-
Be formed the sole basis of the
English requisition to Russia. It is
"possible that ministers themselves
miglit have been at some Joss for
the ere of this curious spe-
_cimen of dilatory pleading, had not
the forgotten, trampled-upon me-
-morial of the unacknowledged, unac-
peredited | Maltese deputies present-
Si itself to their recollection, and af-
forded an abundant fund of mate-
: rials. On asudden, therefore, the

OF EUROPE.

957

claims of this insulted, despised peo-
ple,, (claims which had_ been steep-
ed in oblivion, from the first mo-
ment of their being urged,) became
of mighty consequence, and the
English government state the im
possibility of fulfilling the treaty, so
far as respects them, ~ without intro-
ducing such farther stipulations, as
may amply satisfy the Maltese : but
what they should be, or how modi-
fied, it would be necessary to con
sult the principal inhabitants them-
selves ; for which purpose sir Alex-
ander Ball should receive the ne-
cessary instructions ! Sir JohnWar-
ren* was likewise ordered to state
the services of the natives to the
common Cause, during a two years
blockade and seige;—the loss of
tnany thousands of their number ;
their being unassisted by any other
foreign power, save the English ;

that, independently of the good
faith which should be preserved t0e
wards them, in the event of
their not approving of the proposed
government, they were equal to the
defence of their island ; theretore it
might be as politic as just, to con-
sult their inclinations.—it wiil be
recollected that this is the sum
and substance of the memorial we
have already adverted to! Scme
new ground was, Raweyer, taken

by the ministers, for the farther de-

lay of the evacuation: count Wo-
ronzoff is informed, that the pro-
perty of the Spanish priories having
been sequestered, it was indispens-
ably necessary that they should be
restored to the order, as well as
that of the Portuguese, which had
either met, or was threatened with,
the same fate !—It does not appear

* The English minister, at St. Petersburgh,

Vor. XLV. S

that

8.99:

that any specific answer was made
to this extraordinary notification,
of itsclf indeed unanswerable.

It may be necessary here to ad-
vert to what had occurred in con-
sequence of the election of persons
eligible for the dignity of grand
master of the order of St. John, at
Petersburgh. From the knights
there chosen, the pope determined
on the nomination of prince Rus-
poli, who, after some months of
hesitation, at last formally rejected
the honor; and.his holiness had
again to chuse from the remaining
number. In the month of Febr uary,
his election fell on the grand bailly,
Tomasi, which was formally no-
tified to the different courts. of
Europe.

- On the 25th of January, an in-
terview took place at Paris, between
the minister for foreign affairs, M.
Talleyrand, and the English ambas-
sador, lord Whitworth, in which
the former, with great solemnity,
{after a prefatory discourse, em-
pioyed in bitterly complaining of
the licence of the British press,
which he insisted the government
could restrain or suppress.) re-
quired to know what were theinten-
tions of his Britannic majesty, with
respect to the evacuation of Malta?
adding, that a new grand master
would be shortly elected; that ‘he
difficulties, with respect to the em-
peror of Russia, might be easily re-
moved, and that even without him,
the guaranty would be equally com-
plete.

It is not easy to conjecture, un-
der all the circumstances of the
case, what could have been the
reply of the English government to

* On the 30th of January.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

this formal requisition, had not the
vaunting ambition, and absurd te-
merity of the first consul, induced
him, at this critical period, to pub-
lish to the world the report of his
itinerant missionary, Sebastiani, who
had now returned from his tour of
observation, throughout Egypt and
the Levant.

This most extraordinary mani-
festation of deep laid design, con-
tempt, and arrogance, which was
given to the world in The Moniteur,*
at once extricated ministers from all
embarrassment, and furnished them
not only cause of direct complaint,
with respect to itself; but also the
opportunity of reyerting to grounds
of dissatisfaction, never breathed or
heard of before, in the long course
of the correspondence which had
occurred since the conclusion of
the peace.

The report, W hich will be found
at length in another part of this
work, deserves an attentive peru-
sal, and seems to be the produc-
tion of a person every way worthy
of the task imposed upon him,
Throughout his extensive journey,
he will be unceasingly found, the
lofty representative of his all-grasp-
ing master: and the deference he
every where mects with, the state
he assumes, and the protection
which he condescends, either to
nations or individuals, mark the de-
sire of his country to be considered
what Rome was of old, among the
powers of the carth. At Tripoli
he offers bis mediation between the’
dey and the king of Sweden, which
is accepted, and a treaty concluded
under his auspices; and he pro-
cures from the former power an

Vide State Papers.
‘ acknow-

>... «ieee

HISTORY -~OF EUROPE.

~acknowledgment of the Italian re-

“ment towards the French:

even to incur personal dang
‘Rosetta, Damietta, the present state

public. At Alexandria he peremp-
torily requires in the name oi the
French government the Bpeetnte
evacuation of that city by the Eng

lish force: proceeds to ex: amine

the state of the fortresses, and the

disposition of the Turkish govern-
anpoun-
ces the assembling of the French
commercial agents in Egypt, and
commences a series of intrigues
with the beys. At Grand Cairo
he takes nearly the same course,
every where endeavouring to revive
an interest in the French nation
and. Bonaparte; insomuch as to
distribute among the chiels of the
country the portrait of the latter!
To so great a pitch was his inquisi-

‘tive research carried on in this lat-

ter capital, as to excite the mur-
murs of the Turkish garrison, and
er.—

of every post of consequence, are
the objects of his inquiry. After

_ quitting Evypt he proceeds to Acre,

where he informs himself of the
state of Syria, and the fortifications
of the former place, which however
Dgezzar Pacha was too wise, and
had too just a view of his purposes,
to let him visit. (He next arrives
at Zante, one of the members of

the newly formed republic of the

seven isles.
undisguised ;

Here his intrigues are
he assembles the

people, harangues them in public,

exhorts them to unanimity and

concord, and promises them the

future support and protection of
Bonapatte. This is the last stage
of his active career of inspection.
Next follows, in his report, @ sum-
mary of the number and condition
of the English army at Alexandria,

259
of the Turkish army in Egypt, and
of thatot the b¢ys. And he con-
cludes with a view of the military
state of Syria. ;

But the essence of this laboured
performance may be found in the
two distinct and unqualified asser-
tions, ‘¢ that the islands of the Ionian
sea will declare themselves French
as soonasan opportunity shall offer,”
and “that 6000Prench troops would
suffice at the present moment for
the conquest of Egypt.”

It is possible that in warranting
the publication of this extraordinary
production, Bonaparte had at once
in view the exposure and humilia-
tion of the British nation in the eyes
of all Europe, as well as the desire
of flattering the national thirst of
dominion and conquest, which un-
der every species of government,
has uniformly characterized the
French nation. His arrangements
were somewhat advanced in pre-
paration; he had made for the first
ume his formal demand of the eva-
cuation of Malta; nor had he the
slightest idea that the insults te
Great Britain, blazoned in every
line of Sebastiani’s s report, should
excite more sensation in the minds,
or more of vigour in the conduct,
of those who now swayed the coun-
cils of the British empire, than had
been evinced by them under the se-
ries of harrassing and injurious ag-
gression,which, trom the moment of
the signature of the definitive treaty
had marked his conduct towards
that country. Our readers are al-
ready apprized of the circumstances
to which the first consul was to owe
a tone and a language from the
English government, which he had
little reason to expect, and which
in the event was the source of his

$2 bitter

260

bitter mortification, and the com-
plete frustration of his ambitious
projects.

While the cabinet of Great Bri-
tain yet hesitated on the answer to
be made. to M. Talleyrand’s solemn

. ¢ demand of the fulfilment of that
part of the treaty of Amiens which
related to Malta; the report of 5e-
bastiani’s progress and achievements
was made public, and had even
reached London. , The explicit and
unclouded view which it afforded of
the machinations and projects of
the first consul, gave the English
government an opportunity in per-
fect unison with the popular feeling,
to assume some portion of vigour
and firmness; no time was there-
tore lost in instructing lord Whit-
worth at Paris, to demand satisfac-
tion from the French government
for the publication of colonel Sebas-
tiani’s report, which contained * the
most unjustifiable charges against
the officer who commanded his ma-
jesty’s forces in Eeypt, and against
the British army in that quarter.”
He was farther instructed to state,
that the whcle report developed a
system so injurious to the interests
of his majesty’s dominions, and so
entirely repugnant to, and utterly
Inconsistent with, the spirit and
letter of the treaty of Amiens, that
it would be impossible for bis go-
vernment to enter into any future
discussion on the subject of Malta,
until satisfactory explanation should
be given relative to that publica-
tion.

In these instructions* will be
found, for the first time, the attempt
on the part of Great Britain to
establish as a principle, the right of

) aS

ANNUAL REGISTER, '1803.

either power to obtain an equiva-~
lent compensation for any advan-
tages gained by the other, since the
period of the treaty of peace,which
affected the nature of that com-
pact; not only from the justice of
the thing itself, but 4s being ground-
ed on the express 2 adinissian pend-
ing the negociation of the treaty of
Amiens, contained in a French offi-
cial note, namely that his majest
should keep a compensation out of
his conquests, for the important
acquisitions of terrjtory made by
France upon the contineat: and
that consequently Great. Britain
would be now warranted in claim-
ing equivalents for the vast augmen-
tation of the’ power of France, by
her acquisitions in Italy, and her
occupation of Switzerland and
Tolland.

It is not easy to conceive for
what purpose the aforegoing matter
was introduced; first, because it
was an acknowledgment in the
most unqualified manner, of the
total abandonment of the just
claims of the country for so long a
period, by which means alone the
monstrous encroachments of France
might have been checked, and the
future liberty and consequence of
Great Britain effectually secured ;
and to which the Jatter was entitled
not only on general principles of jus-
tice and policy, but even (as it ap-
pears)from the spontaneous acknow-
ledgment of the French government ;
and secondly, because in the same
breath the instructions declare, that
the king of England was willing to
wajve all claims and _ pretensions,
which he could advance on these
accounts, and ‘‘ as the other arti,

* Dafed 9th Feb. 1805. Vide State Papers No. 36, Official Correspondence.

cles

HISTORY
thés of thé definitive treaty were in
a course Of execution, so should
that of the 10th have been put in
a similar train, had not the appeat-
ance of the report in question, im-
oe his majesty’s intentions.”

éerhaps however, as the présent
object of the British cabinet was to
procrastinate; such subjects were
now first broached, in order that
should thé demanded explanation
be given, those causes might then
with a better grace be adduced as
greund of farther discmsion and
delay.

On the Sbinninteation of the
subject matter of these instructions
to the French minister of foreign
affairs’ at Paris, M. Talleyrand de-
manded of ‘lord Whitworth what
were the nature and degree of the
Satisfaction which his Britannic
Majesty required for the alleged
offence (which however the former

disclaimed on the part of his go-
vernment all intention of giving,
and declared that the mission of
Sebastiani was purély commercial !)
on this head the English ambassa-
dor was totally unprepared to give
any categorical answer, and the
conference was suspended: but on
the same day* lord Whitworth was
invited to a personal interview. with
the first consul, which took place
at the Thuilleries three days after-
ward. In the course of this impor-
: tant conversation, (the minute par-
b ticulars of which will be found in an-
_ other portion of this work) the first
f- consul deported himself with temper,
and anapparent wish to preserve cor-
“tliality and a good understanding on
his own terms, between the two
countries. He spoke more than two

OF EUROPE.

hours, diffusely upon every subject
connected with the object in dis+
pute, and the rélative positions of
France aad England, Tle depre-
cated the idea of a te-comimence-

ment of war, but added, that if it ~
were inevitable, He Would put the |

only means of offence he had in ex-

261

ecution, this was'a descent upon

England ; a project, the danger and
dificuity attendant on, he was
well aware of, yet ‘which he was
determined to aitei inpt ; and that
‘the means of executiog it were to
be found in an army of four hun-
dred and eighty thousand men,
which should be immediately com-
pleted. He again reiterated the
causes of Compleat which had been
furnished by the court cf England,
§ 5 given by us at length in. Mi
tto’s angry FemOOLTE EE) and in-
sisted that to preserve the usual re-
lations of peaceand amity between
the countries, they must all be
done away. On the subject of
Malta, his expressions were - as
strong as can weil be conceived:
he said he would never in any event
allow it to remain in the possession
of England, in whosé hands he
would rather seé the principal su-
burb of Paris! Upon lord
worth’s allusion to the aggrandize~
ment of, and influence guined by,
France since the treaty of Amiens,
the first consul abruptly pet an end
to this part of the discourse, by
saying, ‘“€ I ‘suppose you mean
Piedmont and Switzerland —those
were triiles, which must hace been
foreseen whilst the negotiation was
pending,” atid on which at THAT
HouR LorD WuirwortTH HAD
Not THE RIGHT TO QUESTION

7

© The 18thwf Feb, Vide Official Correspondence, 37 and 38,“ State Papers.”

$3 Aim!

*

Whit- |

26%

nim! Some overtures were dis-
tantly thrown out by him, that
France and England in strict union
“night dictate the law to the rest of
the world. In fine, he concluded
a various and incoherent harangue,
the language of which was evidently
that of menace and intimidation, in
apparent good humour, and by as-
surances of an anxious desire to pre-
serve inviolably the conditions of the
peace of Amiens. A few days after
this conversation, the French mi-
nister, by way of obviating any dif-
ficulty respecting the evacuation of
Malta, which might arise from the
first consul’s views on Egypt, noti-
tified to lord Whitworth that ‘a
project was in contemplation, by
which the integrity of the Turkish
empire would be effectually se-
cured.” Sosoon had the first con-
sul forgotten the indiscretion which
had prompted him in his memora-
ble conversation with lord Whit-
worth, to state, that Egypt must
sooner or later belong to Trance,
either by the dissolution of the
grand segnior’s dominion, or by
some ar rangement with that power:
or so anxious was he to obliterate
its eflects from the mind of the
English ambassador.

If the intention of the English

government was, at the period of

the receipt of lord Whitworth’s
dispatch containing the above par-
ticulars, already decided, then
would have been the moment for
breaking off all farther discussion
upon the subject: the first consul’s
tone was decisive, and could not be
mistaken. To protract, but not to
come toa final issue, washowever the
principal object at this moment of
the English minister. Lord Hawkes-
bury’s farther instructions to the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1863.

*
ambassador, were, again to state |
that complete satisfaction is still
required on the part of the British
government for the publication of
Sebastiani’s report; that none had
been offered in explanation thereof
by the first consul, in the course
of his interview with lord Whit-
worth, but, that on the contrary,
many points of uneasiness and
suspicions had been therein con-
firmed, With respect to the eva-
cuation of Malta, lord Whitworth
was instructed to state, and for the
Jirst time, that’ the difficulties at-
tending the guaranty; the abolition
of the priories in Spain and else-
where; and the non-election of a
grand master, would of themselves,
without other special grounds, besuf-
ficient to warrant its detention, until
‘some new arrangement were adjust-
ed for its security and protection:
but that under the circumstances of
the vast increase of power and influ-
ence to France, his Britannic ma-
jesty was incontestably entitled to
demand additional securities for any
arrangement which it might be ne-
cessary to make, with a view of
effecting the real objects of the
treaty of Amiens: and that after
all that had passed, his majesty
would not consent to evacuate
Malta, until substantial security
was provided for those objects,
which might be materially endan-_
gered by the removal ot his troops,
The contents of this dispatch were
not communicated to the French
government till the 4th of March.
Hitherto the conduct of Bona-
parte had atiorded ample cause,
first by his publication of the report
of Sebastiani, and next by the tenor
of his conversation with lord
Whitworth, for the most exaspe-
rated

moron y. OF EUROPE:

rated language which could be em-
ployed by the English government;
and it must be confessed, that if its
tone were not exactly that which
marked the decision that should
ever be found in the resolves of a
great nation, it was yet sufficiently
firm to disappoint and mortify the
first consul to an extreme degree.
Being ‘however committed in his
temerity, he evinced the weakness
ofa little mind ; his determination
was therefore Palen, rather to, per-
severe in the course he had com-
menced, than to adopt that which
would certainly have far better
suited the existing state of his af-
fairs, and the successful prosecution
of his extensive views on the liber-
_ tiesof Europe and projects of univer-
sal empire; namely, the conciliation
of Britain by retractation, or tempo-
rary compromise. Accordingly on
the 22d of Februagy, he caused an
exposition of the state of the French
republic to be published in his oiii-
cial journal, as laid before the le-
gislative body; and which was at
once minute in its detail, and ela-
borate in its conclusions, This 'state
paper, acknowledged to be such,
displays such a picture of strength,
acquisiiion, and greatness united
in the present French government,
as must of itself haye opened the
eyes of the rest of Europe, to the
comparative insignificance of the
"greatest of its component states,
_ when brought to the test of impar-
tial comparison, All the past po-
_liey of France, all her future views
might be traced in this ostentatious
instrument. It shews the other
_ powers of the continent how impos-
sible it would be for any of them
in future to obstruct or interfere in
the prosecution of her projects ;

263
and reminds those over whom she
has secured her supremacy, of the
advantages to be derived from her
protection, or the destructive con-
sequences of her enmity., It can-
not be supposed that England was
undistinguished in this modern sys-,
tem of statistics.

After dwelling with rancour up-
on the political efforts of those in
the British legislative body, who
were notorious for their eternal
hatred of France: it adds, that
while they persist in their declama-
tions, five hundred thousand men
ought and should -be kept in
readiness to avenge her injuries!
That whatever success intrigues
night have in London, other powers
would not be involved; and “ The
government savs. with conscious
pride, THAT ENGLAND ALONE
CANNOT MAINTAIN A STRUG-
GLE AGAINST FRANCE.”

The indignation cf every class of
society inthe British empire, pre-

‘pared as they had been by the public

conduct of France, as well with
respect to England as to all
Europe, from the period of the
preliminaries of London to the
present moment, had been excited
to a great degree of resentinent, at
the insolent promulgation of Sebas-
tiani’s mission; but the publication
of the “ Acts of the Republic,”
which contained the above detailed
exposition, was the signal of uni-

-versal ferment; which not the love

of peace, nor ihe inertness of a
commercial people, nor the dread
of fresh burthens, nor even the
worst consequences that could be
apprehended from unsuccessful
warfare, could allay. The press
of London had, since the abhorred
interference of France in Switzer-

$4 land,

264

land, ceaselessly, with the excep-
tien of the journals directly within
the influence of administration,
poured forth the ebullitions of the
public indignation against the am-
bition and violence of the French
despot. On the publication of Se-
bastiani’s report, even those prints
which had hitherto supported, im
unison with the prevailing dispo-
sitions of the English government,
the pacific’ sy stem, had changed
their tone; and as the language of
their principals assumed vigour and
firmness, they also essayed to im-
press a similar effect on the mindsof
the public; and had ventured even
to canvass the probability of a spee-
dy renewal of hostilities, and the
absolute necessity of such a mea-
sure, ;

It was at this period that minis-
ters, coinciding with the universal
sentiment of the public mind ; influ-
enced by the rumours which obtain-
ed-im the beginning days of March,
that the event they so much appre-
hhended, namely, that an act of di-
rect hostility, had occurred in conse-
quence of the orders for the deten-

tion of the Cape of Good Hope,*
(by which they would incur the
odium of a direct breach of the ar-
ticle of the treaty of peace which
provided for its restoration to the
Jatavian republic within a limited
time,) and far above the rest, by
the apprelicnsion they could not
but entertain of an opposition to
their measures in parliament, from

ARN UAL REGISTER,

1805.

the late minister and his friends,
which, united with that already on
foot would be far tooformidable for
even their numbers to resist, and
which would certainly, on the de-
velopement of the existing negocia-
tions; which the untoward event of
the recapture (for such-it must be
considered) of the cape would occa-
sion, be arrayed a against them ; de-
termined on publicly announcing
the probability of the renewal of
hostilities with France, and the
necessity of arming the people.—
In consequence of this resolution, a
a message from his majesty was
brought down to parliament, which
stated that on the ground of con+
siderable military preparations be-
ing carried on in the ports of France
and Holland, he had thought it pro-
per to adopt additional measures
of precaution for the security of his
dominions; and praying aid to en-
able him to adapt such farther
measures, (in the event of certain
negociations then pending between
England and France, not terminat-
ing favourably,) for strengthening
the country, as circumstances might
require,

To some or all of the causes,
which we have agcribed as those
which probably determined the
English government on this mea~
sure, it ‘surely may be fairly at-
tributed; at least none adequate to
ils importance, can be found in
those alleged. Of these mighty
preparations in the French and

* At the moment when the orders arrived, the greater part of the English garrison

wwere embarked on bourd the ships destined to convey them trom the
formal surrender of some of the forts had taken place, to the Datch government :

ape, and a
with

considerable adroitness however the English commander in chief repossessed himself
of the places given up, relanded his troops, and remained in possession of the settle-

ment till the Counter- orders arrived,
vi March,

‘This fact was well known in London by the 6th

Dutch

HISTORY

Dutch ports, nothing had hitherto
been heard; no expostulation had
been made respecting them at the
court of Paris, nor explanation de-
manded. It was notorious that
France had it in contemplation to
advantage herself of the recent ac-
quisition of Louisana; and the trou-
bles of St. Domingo had revived,
with tenfold fury. For colonial pur-
poses, the equipment of armaments
mizht certainly be expected, on the
part of France. A few days after
the message was presented, one of
the lords commissioners of the ad-
miralty, declared in parliament,
in the course of debate, that there
did not exist in these ports but a
few miserable fishing-boats! And
the subsequent declaration of France
upon the subject, must be consi-
dered satisfactory. Nor can the
reasons be found in the conduct of
the government of France, since the
angry negociations had commenced
on the subject of Malta. It is true
that no satisfaction had been offered
by that power for the circumstance
(certainly one of aggression) of the

* publication of colonel Sebastiani’s
report: but then none had been re-
fused; on the contrary, the nature
and measure of the satisfaction re-
quired, had been demanded by M.
Talleyrand ; but which had not been
explicitly replied to, On the sub-
_ ject of Malta, France had certainly
_ demanded the fulfilment of the
treaty, respecting its evacuation by
_ the English, but had by no means
" rejected the principle, or the terms
3 of a new arrangement, which lat-
ter, in fact, had not been as yet
P specifically proposed. And that
¥ the English adiiipioceeniOn did not

A

+ ,

OF EUROPE.

265

think the conduct of France, in this
point, afforded ground of hostility, ©
may be deduced from the assertion
of the prime-minister, on the 25d
of February, who then, in his place
in parliament, on the subject of the
affairs of the prince of Wales, de-
clared, that the, country was in a
state of profound peace! The die
was, however, now cast, of which
the English government were to
stand the hazard:

Some uninteresting chicane, on
the’ part of the French minister,
took place at Paris, on the 41h of
March, when lord Whitworth pres-
sed for an explanation as to the na-
ture of the projected arrangement
for the security of the Turkish em-
pire.; to which no satisfactory an
swer was piven*. On the 10th gene-
ral Andreossi, tae French ambas-
sador to the court of London, in a
note to lord Hawkesbury, again
presses for the execution of the 10th
article of the treaty of Amiens. He
makes the distinction of the positive
and conditional clauses of that arti-
cle, and insists that the guaranty
was not essential to the evacyation,
which was to take place in three
months, provided the Neapolitaa
troops were arrived in the island,
who were to compose its future gar-:
rison.—T hat these troops, being ac-
tually now at Malta, no farther pre-
text for delay existed.—That Aus-
tria, having ecceeded to become a
guarantee, aggyRu-sia being equally
accordant withthe exception of one
point only, which mi: alt easily be
modified, the complete cxrecu-
tion of ie article must now be
locked for. The reply to this note
by the English government, was in

* Vide Official Correspondence, No. 40,

substance

266 ANNUAL REGISTER,

substance what we have already
detailed in lord Whitworth’s answers
to M. Talleyrand, on the same
subject; also a reiteration of
the demand for satisfaction, in
the affair of Sebastiani; and fresh
security for the fulfilment of any
new arrangement that should be
made on the subject of Malta, be-
tween the two countries,

In a few days after the king’s
message to parliament was deliver-
ed, it became public at Paris: the
consternation and anxiety it BLO,
duced in the mind of the first con-’
sul, may be best conceived, from
the minute detail of his conduct to
the English ambassador, when the
latter made his appearance at the
court of the Thuilleries, on the first
day of ceremony, subsequent 2 the
promulgation of the message*, A
memorandum or outline of. the de-
termination of the French govern-
ment, in consequence of the pre-
parations announced in Great Bri-
taint, had been previously com-
municated to the ambassador, and
by him transmitted to his court;
which instrument gives such a view
of the despotic power attained
by France throughout Europe, as
must afford matter of lasting appre-
hension and alarm to every state on
the continent, which has not de-
termined quictly to submit to the
approaching subjugation destined
for it by Bonaparte. It begins by
disclaiming the having any arma-
ment on foot, save that at Helvoet-
sluys, evidently destined for coloni-
al purposes, and now ready for sea ;
but which, in consequence of the
message of the king of Great Bri-

¥ Vide Official Correspondence, No, 43.
t Ibid.

Note Verbale reterred to in No. 42

1803.
tain to his parliament, should be
countermanded. Butif the French

gvovernment did not receive satis-
factory explanations on that mea-
sure, and if the arming of England
actually took place, that it would
then be natural that the first con-
sul should move 20,000 men into
Holland—form an encampent on
the frontiers of [anover—conti-
nue the military occupation of Swit-

zerland — advance a fresh force

upon Italy—and seize upon ‘Taren-
tum ;—with many other offensive
and defensive measures of prepara-
tion, which would be in that eveat
immediately adopted by France.
We have selected the above, how-
ever, to shew with what ease, and
how naturally the French ruler
could determine on inflicting all the
distresses and horrors attendant on
military occupation and exaction,
(for who shall separate their effects,
even in idea?) on so vast a portion
of neutral Europe, which took no
part orinterest in the quarrel of the
two countries of France and Eng-
land ; and who were or should be
protected in their rights, not only
by the universally ‘acknowledged
public law of Europe, but by re-
peated treaties with the very power
whose menace now iImpended oyer
them, and to all of which some or
other of the greater continental
powers were parties! Thus expli-
citly did Bonaparte avow, that
Holland, Switzerland, and Italy,
were subject to his power, when-
ever he was disposed to exert it;
and he speaks with the same ease
and confidence of his violating, with
impunity, the rights of the German

19
wt

empire.

a

HLS TORY ‘OF EUROPE:

empire. It is indeed natural
that unlimited power should be ex-
erted, when vested in the hands of
a tyrant: if was once considered
natural in the sovereigns of Europe,
to unite in ‘setting bounds to such,
wherever and whenever it should be
found. Itis also necessary here to
state, thatin the course of the conver-
sation which preceded the delivery
of this exposition of the intentions
of the first consul, in the event of
the equipment of armaments in
England, that M. Tallyrand declar-
ed, that the French government
would always consider the refusal
to evacuate Malta, as ‘the com-
mencement of hostilities.
The exasperation and fury of Bo-
‘naparte, which had already mani-
fested itself in the note, of which
we have above given the substance,
broke out into ungovernable rage at
his own court, on his public day,
and in the presence of the diploma-
tic body of Europe there assem-
bled. Thus violating every princi-
‘ple of hospitality—of decoruam—
of politeness (once, alas! the dis-
tinguishing trait of the court of
France) and the privileges of am bas
sadors, ever before held sacred.
theappearance of lord Whitworth in
the circle, he approacted him with
equal agitation and ferocity —pro-
ceeded to descant in the bitterest
“terms, on the conduct of the En-
‘glish government—summoned the
Sministers of some of the foreign
courts, to be the witnesses to ths
‘Yituperative harangue— and con-
eluded, by expressions of the most
“angry and menacing hostility. The
English ambassador did‘ not think
it diviseable to make any answer to
this brutal and ‘ungentlemanly at-
tack — and it terminated by the

Sad “

ed,

267

first consul retiring to his apart-
ments, repeating lis last phrases,
till he had shut himself in; leaving
nearly two hundred spectators of
this wanton display of arrogant im- ~
propriety, in amazement and. cone
sternation !

We are confident that every Bri-
tish bosom niust beat high with in-
dignation, at the recital of the par-
ticulars of this insult to their coun-
try, in the person of the represen-
tative of its monarch. It will cer-

tainly not lessen their emotion, to

be told, that so satisfaction was
claimed, and none afforded for this
outrage. The English ambassador
contented himself with taking the
first opportunity of declaring to M.
Talleyrand (thereby anticipating the
contents of a dispatch from the En-
glish government, authorizing him
so to do.) that he must discontinue
his visits to the Thuilleries, if he
were again to be exposed to this spe-
cies of insult; and by receiving the
assurances oF the French minister,
that nothing of the kind would again
occur. The latter however stat-,
that it was incumbent on the
first consul, who considered himseli
as personally insulted, by the charges
brought against hi by the Enelish
government, to exculpate himself ,
in the presence of the ministers of
the different powers of Europe !—
We must ever be of opinion, that
to rescue the national honor and
dignity from the disgrace which at-
tached upon both, trom the sevies
of insult and aggression eudured
from France, for nearly a tweiye
month without a murmur or re-
monstrance, the hour was now
come; and that an instantaneous
termination of the negociation, and
the ‘departure of the English am-

bassador

868

bassador from Paris, should have
been the result of this impertinent
and unprovoked attack. We have
still before us to detail the abortive
proceedings of nearly two months
ineffectual discussion ; which, while
it left the dignity antl credit of the
English nation impeached, neither

forwarded its interests, or termi-

nated to its honor.

In consequence of the first con-
sul’s instruction to general An-
dreossi, in London, on the subject
of the king’s message, an elaborate
official note. was presented to the
English minister in the foreign de-
partment, and is the next impor-
tant step in this extraordinarily pro-
tracted negociation. It is the more
worthy of remark, as tts tone and
language was of the most imperious
an insulting nature*, It states,

that the assertions on which his ma-.

jesty’s message was grounded, were
all without foundation in fact.—
That the king was deceived—that
’ there were, at that moment, but
two frigates in the roads of Holland,
and three corvettes in that of Dun-
kirk—that every other information
was false—that his Britannic ma-
jesty’s message mentions discussions,
the success of which was doubtful
—that no such discussions existed,
there being no point to be discussed
—the treaty of Amiens-had pro-
vided for every thing—had foreseen
every thing — lord Hawkesbury’s
note, which asserts that the power
of the French republic was increas-
ed since the peace of Amiens, was
a decided error—in fine, that if his
Britannic majesty was determined
to go to war, he might allege what
pretexts he pleases. It then en-

* No. 49, Official Correspondence,

ANNUAL; RE

GIS TER, 1803.

deavours to affix on the English So
vernment, the charges of falsehood,
and ignorance, and credulity,—;
This insolent. notification next de+
clares, with the most confident as-
sertion, that the peace of, Furope
was disturbed, by the shameless
licence of the British press, ;and by
the speeches of some of the leading
members of parliament, scarcely
exceeded by the news-writers them-
selyes! And that France in parti-
cular had a right to complain of the
toleration, protection, and even
establishment afforded in London,
to villains covered with crimes, plot-
ting assassinators, and French cri-
minals, the sworn enemies of the
republic and the person of the first
consul, It concludes by stating,
that there remains but one object
worthy of fixing the attention ef the
two nations—the execution of the
treaty of Amiens, as far as con-
cerns Malta; on which point his
majesty should reject all sophistry,
distinction, and mental reserva-
tion; and that there remains no
farther subject for discussion on that
point. '

Neither the insolence of the man-
ner, ner the peremptory tone and
decision, on the subject of Malta,
(the only point in debate of this no-
tification) could rouse the English
government to decide on termi¢
nating the negociation. The date
of general Andreossi’s note, is the
29th of March; on the 4th of the
follewing month, lord Hawkesbury,
in a dispatch to lord Whitworth,
authorizes the latter. not only to
continue it, but dictates different
modes of arrangement, which might
be proposed, if the French govern-

. ment

HISTORY: OF EUROPE. 460

‘ment evinced a disposition to treat.
A step surely extraordinary, as the
latest advices from lord Whitworth,

- announced that the object of Bona-

' parte was to delay the event of a

rupture, because not prepared to
cominence hostilities ; and that, on

_ the subject of Malta, he would not
hear of any compromise. By pro-
posing, therefore, fresh terms of
_ treaty to France, it afforded to that
power, the delay which was so es-
sential to its views, without the’least
~ probability of being successful on
any essential point connected with
the views of Great Britain. The
proposition to the French govern-
ment, for a perfect accommoda-
tion of all existing differences, was
as follows :—Malta to remain in
perpetuity in the possession ot his
Britannic majesty, by whom the
knights of St. John were to be in-
demnified; Holland and Switzer-
_ land to be evacuated by the French
forces; the island of Elba to be
confirmed to France by bis majesty ;
and the king of Etruria was to be
~acknowledged ; as were the repub-
lics of Italy and Liguria, provided
an arrangement were made tn Italy
for the king of Sardinia. But this
proposition was not to be offered, if
the French government persisted in
its requisition of the evacuation of

Malta by the English troops, and

that it professed a disinclination to

afiord adequate satisfaction, on the
points of complaint, so often urged
_ by the government of England.
_ After a considerable degree of

x

stipulation not perfectly consistent
with the independence of the island
of Malta, could be entertained for
amoment; but that the first con-
sul had no objection to make a par-
ticular convention, for the~ doing
away the remaining causes of dis-
satisfaction, existing between the
two governments.
While France thus strongly mark-
ed her decision and firmness, the
indecided and wavering spirit of the
“nglish couneils became still more
apparent. On the 13th of April,
fresh instructions were given to lord
Whitworth, that “ by way of saving
the point of honor to France, the
civil government: of the island of
Malta, should be given to the order
of St.John, the Maltese enjoying
therein the privileges which were re+
served to them by the treaty of
Amiens; and that the fortifications
of the island should be garrisoned in
perpetuity, by the troops of his ma-
jesty. But if neither of the two
propositions, already detailed, were
agreed to on the part of France,
that then his lordship might propose
the occupation of the island fora
term of not less than ten years, pro-
vided that his Sicilian majesty could
be induced to cede the island of
Lampedosa, for a valuable censi-
deration. At the end of that pe-
riod, Malta was to be surrendered
to the mhahitants, and'’declared an
independent state ; and an arrange-
ment was to be made in the interim,
for the establishment of ‘the order
of St. John, in some other part of

_ discussion, in which the precrasti-

er

_ hating disposition of the French go-

- vernment was strongly manifested,

and which lasted until the 9th of

- April; on the part of the latter it
was formally declared, that uo

Europe.”

On the same dav, a strong rer
monstrance and demand of satislac-
sion, was forwarded to Paris, in’a
separate. dispatch, on the extra-
ordinary and unprecedented con-

i Mrs
auc

270

.duct of the French minister, at
Hamburgh, who being refused by
the senate, in the first ins-
tance, permission to insert a most

_ gross and scandalous libel upon the
government of the king of Great
Britain, claimed of it in his official

_¢apacity, the privilege of so do-
ing; with which, under this species

_of compulsion, the senate of Ham-
burgh thought it prudent tocomply.

The publication in question, af-
fected to take a review of the con-
duct of England and France since
the peace; in which the bad faith,
ambition and violence of the former
was contrasted on every occasion
with the opposite qualities in that of
the latter: It entered into an ela-
borate vindication of the French
government, during the period of
the present negotiation; dwelt with
the bitterest rancour on the aggres-
sive measure, of the message to par-
liament from the king of Great
Britam; and concluded by detailing
in terms of satisfaction and com-
placency, the particulars of the
outrage committed at the Thuille-
ries by Bonaparte, in his paroxym of
tury directed through the medium
ot lord Whitworth, against the Eng-
lsh government.

There is little doubt of this libel
having originated in the same source
whence had issued so many of its
brethren of the Moniteur, to which
its family resemblaice in matterand
manner, bear too great a resem-
blance to be mistaken. Nor is it
likely that the French minister
would venture to use the authority,
and act in the name of his govern-
ment, had he not good reason to
Know his conduct would not prove

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

displeasing at the Thuillerics. It
will be found on perusal* to be an
able and artful manifesto, calculat-
ed to lessen, and depreciate the
English government in the eyes of
all ‘Europe ; and which could notin
the moment of negociation appear
in the Moniteur.

From a similar motive Bonaparte
thought proper, to disclaim the con-
duct of the French minister, and to
promise every satisfaction that the
nature of the case would afford, in
reply to the notification of the dis-
pleasure of the English government.
His end had been, completely an-
swered by the circulation of the li-
bel throughout the continent, and
the pretended or real sacrifice of

chis'agent, would have been matter

to him of very slight consideration.

From the date of the final propo-
sitions of the English government to
the second of May, no effort was
spared to make them successively
acceptable to the court of France :
to the first and second, no sort of
probability of accession was ever
held out, and they were therefore
akendoned’s but on the third, when
strengthened by a declaration tnat
if not agreed to, lord Whitworth
would leave Paris immediately, some
pause ensued. It is to be remarked
that during this whole yes of
diplomatic dexterity, the language
of Bonaparte himself never varied
on the subject of the evacuation of
Malta by the English, on which
measure he constantly and peremp-
torily insisted. His minister Tal-
leyrand, and his brother, Joseph
Bonaparte, occasionally listened to
the project for the occupation of the
island for a limitted time, and the

* Vide State Papers.

fatter

“question originated.

HLS TORY OF: cE UR OPE.

latter had even saved lord Whit-
worth the mortification of descending
all at once, from the condition of
a perpetuity to that of a term of ten
years (agreeably to his instructions)
by a hint ofa similar nature, which
he dropped i in the course of a conver-
sation with his lordship: but when
any of the proposed modifications
were submitied to the first consul,

his answer was undeviatingly, the
absolute necessity there existed of
the English evacuating the island in
every event or contigency.

On the last mentioned date (May
the 2d) however, a specific answer
from the French government was
given to all the articles of the final
propositions of the English court.

_ With respect to Lampedosa, the first

consul alleged that as it did not
belong to Rearice, he could neither
eechde to, nor refuse the desire of
the acquisition of that island by his
Britannic majesty. That as the

_ demand made respecting Malta by

the court of England would materi-
ally alter a formal disposition of the
treaty of Amiens, it should previ-
ously be communicated to the king
of Spain and the Batavian republic,
who were contracting partics to that
treaty—anud that by a parity of
reasoning all the contracting parties
were bound to submit it to the em-
perors of Germany and Russia, and
the king of Prussia, as the guaran-
teeing powers to the 10th article of
the peace.—That this concert, the
first consul was willing to admit,
but certainly would not propose, as

it was not from him the objections

to the execution of the article in
And finally
that so soon as the stipulations of
the treaty of Amiens were executed
in every quarter of the globe, that

271

then, Holland should be evacuated
by the French forces.

As the project to which this reply
was given,\was, to use the diplomatic
phrase, communicated tothe French
minister as the ultimatum of the
English government, the complete
rejection of its terms, should certain-
ly have been decisive on lord
Whitworth’s farther residence’ in
Paris; on its receipt therefore in
the form of an. official note, his
lordship, with many expressions of
regret at the unhappy termination
of the negociation, applied for the
necessary passports to accclarate
his departure from France. Bona-
parte, whose object it certainly was
not to come to an immediate rup-
ture, or who was inclined in good
faith to obviate as much as in him
lay any. difficulty respecting the
principal cause of the discussion ;
announced to the English ambassa-
dor on the evening of the same day
on which the latter had demanded
his passporis, that the French go-
vernment had a communication. of
the greatest importance to make to
him, on the following morning. The
proposition so made was certainly
one of considerable moment, norcan
in this instance any blame be rea-
sonably imputed to lord Whitworth,
that he still farther delayed his de-
parture from the French capital un-
til he should have obtained upon it
the sentiments of his government.

The first consul, after deprecating
in the strongest terms the conse-
quences of a renewed warfare be-
tween England and and France, pro-
fessing his own inclination to preserve
the terms of that peace inviolably,
which had restored the tranquillity
of Europe; accuses the English go-
vernment of the having pursued a

course

oo ANNUAL REGISTER,

course calculated in every respect, —

on the subject of Malta, to militate
against the spirit and letter of the
treaty of Amiens, That notwith-
standing the manifest injustice of
the English government, his dispo-
sition towards peace was such as to
induce him not to reject an inter-
mediate mode of terminating the
difficulties respecting Malta; and
that he would consent to the Is-
Jand bemg place in the hands of
one of the three powers who had
guaranteed its independence, cither
Austria, Russia, or Prussia; pro-
vided that some other arrangements
respecting its guaranty of secon-
dary importance were established.

On this proposition (dated the
4th of May) the obvious intention
of which was to give Malta to the
emperor of Russia; the Enelish
government, without a moment’s de-
lay, puta decided negative. ‘The
dispatch however, announcing this
refusal, contained vet another ulti-
matum, which, if not aeceded to by
the French government, lord Whit-
worth was instructed to quit Paris
mm thirty-six hours. This new pro-
ject ditiered only from the last, in
its placing the island of Malta
in the hands of Great Britain for
an indefinite term, upon the footing
wi the present state of Lampedosa ; ;
and which, as soon as the latter
could be occupied as a naval sta-
tion, should be restored to the in-
inhabitants, and acknowledged an
medependent state. And, ina secret
article, which provided that his
majesty should not be required to
surrender Malta by the French go-
vernment until after the expiration
ef ten years. Those articles which

related to the acknowledgment of

the kingof Etruria, and the Italian

1805.

and Ligurian republics; the eva-
cuation of Switzerland; and to tie
assigning a suitable territorial pro-
vision to the king of Sardinia in
Italy, wert made to dépend upon
each other. All were to be o.nit-
ted, or all inserted.

On the 4th of May this, last last
project, was communicated by the
English ambassador to M. Talley=
rand. In the personal conference
which took place upon this subject,
lord Whitworth expressed it as
a reason why his government
refused to accede to the placing the
island of Malta in the hands ef one
of the guaranteeing powers, ‘ that
the emperor of Russia had refused
to take charge of Malta.” ‘This
latter argument, which certainly
does not display a flattering spe-
cinen of diplomatic ingenuity, af-
forded but too favourable an oppor-
tunity for animadversion to the
French government, which on the

12th in a note to lord Whitworth,
(totally waiving the subject of the
last proposition of the English
government) confines itselfto Lord
Whitworth’s cause of rejection of
the project of the 4th of May; the
ground of which the French minis-
ter asserts to be totally untounded ;
as even should the court of St.
Petersburgh persist in its refusal
of accepting Malta, the intentions
of the emperor of Germany and
the king of Prussia, named” in
the French project, were yet
to be ascertained: but ‘Mz 'Tal-
leyrand takes still stonger ground,
and asserts most positi in
his note, that the assertion. of,
Lord Whitworth is in absolute con-.
tradiction to the assurances which
the first consul had received from
Russia, since his majesty’s Inessage

had

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

had been there made public, and
which were again renewed to him
by an authentic communication of
the ambassador from that court,
made but the day before. And that
therefore as it was impossible to
reconcile the last communication
made by his lordship, with the fresh
confirmation which had just been
aequired, from the court of Russia,
the first consul could not but be-
lieve, that on farther investigation,
his Britannic majesty would give
his ambassador different instruc-
tions from those, which were last
communicated by him to the French
government.
Lord Whitworth in reply con-
tented himself with promising ‘to
transmit this notification to his go-
vernment, and again demanded the

necessary passports; with wi

being furnished, he departed from
Paris, and arrived in London on the
night of the 19th of May. His
majesty’s declaration of war against
France had issued on the day pre-
ceding.*

Thus after a peace of barely one
year and sixteen days, did Lurope
again see her quiet disturbed, and her
tranquillity threatened, by the re-
newal of acontest between her great-
est continental, and her greatest ma-
ritime power; and in which, sooner
or later, he: otherstates must most
probably be embarked: a contest,
in which neither of the belligerent
countries had any definite object ;
whose means of mutual annoyance
were as limited as their rancour
_ and enmity were boundless; and to
which, of consequence, no period
eeuld be affixed, even in idea!

i‘

273
In the course of our narrative
of the progress and termination of
the negociation at Paris, we have
necessarily limited ourselves to its
outline, without breaking in upon
it with remark or comment; the
documents respecting the negocia
tion itself, will be found in the ap-
propriated part of this work to such
subjects,* whence may be gathered
every minute particular connected
with it, that has yet come forward to
public view. It will probably ap-
pear difficult, even on a careful pe-
rusal of them, to account for the rup-
ture not having earlier taken place,
when every assigned cause of aggres-
sion on the part of France, in his
majesty’s declaration to the period
of the publication of Sebastiani’s
report, (which occurred in January)
fully existed: nor less so, that so
late as the middle of May following,
hostilities should then ensue, when
France seemed disposed to make
every concession and atrangement
that could be demanded, short of
allowing the actual possession of
Malta to remain with England; a
point on which the decision of
Bonaparte had been taken from
the first moment, and from which
he never once varied in the slight-
est degree. Or there will still be
difficulty in determining upon the
motives which induced the go-
vernment of England, if it re-
solved to keep possession of Malta,
either in perpetuity, or for a term
of years, to protract the negociation
from the 29th of February, (on
which day the first consul declared
he would rather see the English in
possession of the Fauxbourg St.

* State Papers. Vide Official Correspondence.

Antoine,
¢ |

074 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Antoine+ than remain in that of
Malta; and that its detention
would be considered as a com-
mencement of hostilities) to the
date of his majesty’s declaration,
full three months after that period!

We have already hazarded an opi-
nion, that it has been owing toa pro-
vidential coincidence of foreign and
domestic events, unlooked for and
uncaleulated by ministers, that
Malta yet remains under the pro-
tection of the British arms; to jus-
tify which, it will be necessary
briefly to recapitulate and place in
their immediate connection, some
matter already separately detailed
in the foregoing pages.

We have in the course of this
chapter recounted the circumstan-
ces which led to the orders for the
detention of theDutch colonies; and
forthe counter-orders thereto,which
issued one month subsequent to the
former. Wehave also stated, that
doubtful as to the event of the com-
manding officer at the Cape detain-
ing or recapturing that settlement,
as the circumstance might prove,
the ministers of England were anx-
ious to defer the evacuation of Mal-
ta until they should be ascertained
in the important fact, whether their
counter-orders had overtaken and
prevented the execution of those
first dispatched to theCape, of which
there was a possibility; or in case
that the first had arrived, and
that the detention either by force
or otherwise had taken place; that
then the yet holding possession of the
only remaining acquisition to Great
Britain, of her vast conquests dur-
ing the war, might shield them from
the odium and hostility, to which

such an act, a direct violation of

the treaty of Amiens, would have

inevitably exposed them.

In this critical posture were af-
fairs, when the formal demand of
the surrender of Malta was made
by the French government; to
which, on the 9th of February, that
of England, in reply, assures the
former, that the difficulties respect-
ing the guaranty, had made it ne-
cessary for some fresh arrangement
respecting that island, a communi-
cation for which purpose had been
prepared, and should have been
made, had not the publication of
colonel Sebastiani’s report imposed
the necessity of demanding satisfac-
tory explanation upon that head.

It was natural that the nature and
degree of the satisfaction so de-
manded should be ascertained. On
these however lord Whitworth had
no instructions !

As the only subject worthy the
consideration of the English govern
ment in the offensive report, was,
the designs it developed, of Bona-
parte upon Egypt: the latter seem-
ed anxious to wipe away every im-
pression of that nature; and in his
long conference with lord Whitworth
on the 2ist of Feb. positively dis-
claimed any hostile intentions with
respect to that country, and imme-
diately afterwards M. Talleyrand
assured the English ambassador,
that a project was on foot to secure
the integrity of the Turkish empire,
so as to obylate any cause of doubt
or uneasiness with respect to Egypt,
or any other part of the Turkish do-
minions. The ensuing dispatch trom.
London, which immediately notices
this communication, professes to be

® One of the principal suburbs of Paris

muck.

HISTORY OF EVROPE

much pleased at the indication it
manifests of the disposition of
France to afford the explanation
and satisfaction demanded on the
subject of the report; but also ex-
pressed a determination on the part
of the English government to retain
Malta, till substantial security had
been provided for objects which
might be materially endangered by
the removal of the troops from thence
‘Here for the first time are “ other
objects” glanced at; and satisfac-
tion and explanation are accompa-
nied by the phrase “ substantial se-
curity.” The language however, of
lord Hawkesbury must be consi-
dered conciliatory, and although
of a nature which manifested a dis-
position to delay the execution of
the 10th article of the treaty of
Amiens, and probably may be
considered as looking prospectively
to some advantages to be derived to
England from the negotiation which
might thence arise; it certainly
did not indicate the decisive mea-
sure which so rapidly followed ;
and which almost precluded the

possibility of a reply from Paris,

The dispatch is dated on the 28th
of February ; on the 7th of March,
the king’s message to parliament,
announcing the existence of arma-
ments in the ports of France and
Holland, and of important discus-
sions in Paris, the result of which
was uncertain; and the calling for
the arming of the British empire,was

_ delivered. On the state of the French
armament we have already spoken;

with respect to discussions, they sure-
ly could not with propriety be said to
exist, when the last dispatch of lord
Hawkesbury gave to the French go-
vernment for the first time the sub-
ject on which discussion might indeed

275

most probably arise, but which cer™
tainly had not yet taken place.

On the insults offered to the com-
merce and the flag of Great Britain;
on the sequestration of the proper-
ty of English individuals in France,
complaints had indeed more than
once been made at Paris; they
were unattended to, but there exist-
ed no discussion upon their merits,
On the interference in the affairs of
Switzerland, the unanswered remon=
strance thereon of the English go-
vernment so far back as the Octo-
ber of the last year, afforded at the
present moment no matter of dis-
cussion. The occupation of Hol-
land was, notwithstanding the in-
structions to lord Whitworth by. his
government, never, except in the
course of desultory conversation
with M. Talleyrand, mentioned by -
him; as had he remonstrated, both
his lordship and the Batavian minis-
ter agreed in opinion, that it would
do no good! There, therefore was
no subject of discussion. On the
aggrandizement of France since the
peace of Amiens, no complaint or
notice had ever been taken by the
British government; no discussion
on that ground could therefore ex-
ist.—The same reasoning applies to
the affair of the imprisonment of the
British subjectsin Paris; the inso-
lent interference respecting the in-
ternal government and the liberty of
the press of Great Britain: all these
points had long since passed over,
unnoticed and unredressed: how
then could they be the subjects of
discussion ?—T'wo points there cer=
tainly did exist, and both most
barefaced infractions of the treaty
of Amiens, on which if there had
been discussion, it might have af-
forded some slight degree of satis-

T2 faction

a76 ANNUAL: REGISTER, _ 1803.

faction to the British nation, which
has dearly paid for the omission;
the first was, thatof the article
which provided for a full and com-
plete indemnification of the illustri-
ous house of Orange, for their losses
in Holland. By a secret article of
the treaty, Holland had shifted off
this indemnification from herself;
and France who was to give nothing,
procured for that purpose some mi-
serable districts in Germany totally
disproportioned to the extent of its
claims; and for which England was
called upon by government on the
commencement of hostilities, to
burthen herself with an annuity of
60,000/. to supply the deficiency.
The other, that part of the second
article, which stipulated for the
payment of the sums due by France
‘for the maintenance of prisoners
of that nation in England during the
‘war, which amounted to more than
two millions sterling. On these sub-
jects however, as there do not appear
to have been either demand or re-
monstrance at any moment, from the
period of the signature of the peace
of Amiens to that of the renewal
of hostilities, no discussion did, nor
gould exist. We are therefore ob-
jiged unwillingly to state, that the
grounds for arming, as declared in
the act of the English government,
which issued for that purpose, are
not, from any documents that ap-
pear, sufficiently established; and
that some motive, not judged pru-
dent to be brought forward, influ-
enced the ministers in their deter-
mination on that important and
eventful measure.

‘That motive can alone be found
in the news of the detention of the
Cape having reached (though not
through the officia ¢hanpel, bat

from sources equally to be depend-
ed upon) the ears of government,
on the 6th of March; the message
was determined on the 7th, as ap-
pears by lord Hawkesbury’s dis-
patch of that date; and on the 8th
was brought down to parliament, in
order that the country might be
placed in a warlike attitude, previ=
ously to the act of hostility, which
had been committed at the Cape of
Good Hope by their authority, be-
ing made public at Paris; and which
in the mind and temper Bo-
naparte was known to possess,
would probably produce such @
ferment, as might occasion con-
sequences the most to be dreaded,
in the then unprepared and reduced
state of the military and marine
force of Great Britain.

As the ill-judged precipitation of
ministers had induced this act of
infraction of the treaty of Amiens,
at the Cape; so did they commit
themselves in the affair of the mes-
sage, with equal temerity.—Arma-
ments were now set on foot—the
militia called out — contracts of
every nature, incidental to warfare,
entered upon—and even the mes-
sage, independently of every other
cause, was likely, from its convey-
ing a direct challenge to Bonaparte,
at the express moment when nego-
ciation was proffered, to excite in
him a degree of resentment, which
would plunge both countries into
irretrievable hostility.

A very few days convinced the
English government of its too great
precipitation; the official account of
the detention of the Cape, was ra-
pidly followed by another of the
surrender of the colony, under the
instruction contained in the coun-
ter-orders, which, from circum-

stances

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

stances not unusual in such. lati-
tudes, though not dispatched till
after the intervention of a month,
arrived on the heels of the former,
The message and its effects would
now have been gladly withdrawn, but
it was too late; ministers were pledg-
ed to prove the existence of arma-
ments, to an alarming extent, and of
*‘ important discussions,” at Paris, as
the cause of the message. which by
arming the country had disturbed its

tranquillity, encreased its expendi-

ture, and had given the most serious
cause of offence and complaint to
France.

Tocffect this, was however, a task,
which even the confidence of num-
bers could not inspire ministers with
the hope of effecting, to the satisfac-
tion of parliament and the country.
In this dilemma, they directed their
utmost efforts to induce the late min-
ister to take an active share in the
administration. Under the protee-
tion of his great name, with the assis-
tance of his pre-eminent talents and
abilities, whatever were the issue
of the present negociation, whe-
ther it'were peace or war, behind
his shield they would have conceived
themselves invulnerabie.

For a considerable period of time,
it was well known that the ‘concert
and good understanding which bad
originally subsisted between the late
and present ministers, had gradu-
ally lessened, and had, at length,
totally ceased: the moment of ne-
cessity, however, now approached,
and overtures were made to regain
that co-operation and_ assistance
which, in the hour of boastful con-
fidence, was either neglected or
unsalicited. The origin, progress,

277

and termination of the negociation
for this purpose, we have already
detailed.* During its continua-
tion, repeated adjournments of par-
liament at home, kept discussion at
a distance; whilst, at Paris, the
different modifications of the ori-
ginal proposition of retaining Malta
in perpetuity, were successively and
anxiously tendered for the accepta-
tion of the French government.

We have seen, that although the
firmness of the first consul never
gave way on the point of Malta
remaining in British hands, yet his
wish to avoid war, in his present
unprepared state, induced him to
make every concession that could be
considered as demanded or evenim-
posed by the English government,
in consequence of Sebastiani’s re-
port. The integrity of the Turkish
empire was to be secured; Malta,

the great object of dispute and jea- ;

lousy, Bonaparte offered to place
in the hands of Russia, Austria, or
Prussia; even the doctrine of the
right of compensation and equiva-
lent to Great Britain, for the acqui-
sitions of France, was not attempted
to be denied or evaded ; and a con-
vention, for that express purpose,
wouid, if demanded, have doubtless
beenconeeded. From the disposi-
tion manifested by the court of Rus-
sla, its mediation might have been
confidently looked to, at the moment
when the negociation abruptly con-
cluded; and which if accepted, in
all human probability, had averted
the scourge and evils of war

The entire failure however of the
attempt to induce Mr. Pit to return
to office, was decisive upo. the con-
duct of ministers. —As the treaty

* Vide page 213.
de

e78 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

with him had been broken off, un-
der circumstances by no means of
a conciliating nature, they had to
dread the full weight of his opposi-
tion, when they were called upon
in parliament to furnish those docu-
ments, by which they were to prove
the existence of “ hostile arma-
ments,” ‘‘important discussions,”
and the necessity of arming the
country. |

One mode alone remained, by
which they could hope to obviate the
dreaded effects of such au investiga-
tion; and the peremptory /as¢ ulti-
matum was consequently dispatched
to Paris.
the important acquisition of Malta,
combining with the natural wish for
peace, would give government a
degree of popularity, sufficient to
carry them through the inquiry,
with some degree of credit ; on the
contrary, should he remain firm,
then, in the event of war, (which
must inevitably ensue, from the
tenor of their last communication
to the French government,) they
might hope, that the apprehension in
many, of lessening the energies of
the country, or of distracting its
councils by political acrimony at
@ moment when unanimity and vi-
gour was become so essential from
the nature and importance of the
contest, would shield them from
that censure in which they well
knew enguiry into their conduct
since the period of the treaty of
Amiens, would lead the new oppo-
sition to endeavour to involve them.
This reasoning of the administration
was fully borne out by the event.

If Bonaparte gave way,

Popular indignation and resent-
ment were too strongly excited,
by the series of aggression, insult,
and hostility, which appeared to
have marked the conduct of Bona-
parte since the peace, and which
were elaborately and connectedly
detailed in his majesty’s declaration,
not to call eagerly for war, without
dwelling upon the weakness, incon-
sistency, and irresolution of those
counsels, which had suffered them
to attain to such an height, as left
no alternative save hostile measures.
And in parliament Mr. Pitt and
those who acted with him, not only
supported the principles on which
the war had commenced; but when
investigation of the conduct of mi-
nisters had produced the dreaded
motion of censure, they opposed
going into their merits or demerits,
as tending to promote disunion, at
a crisis so momentous.

For the opinions of the best in-
formed and mostenlightened of the
statesmen of Great Britain, on all
the subjects connected with this
chapter, we beg to refer our readers
to the proceedings in parliament,
detailed at sufficient length in the
early. part of our “ History of
Europe ;” some of which our limits
would not here allow of a more mi-
nute relation; such, were the im-
provident reduction of our fleet and
army, during a period, when France
was straining every nerve to put
both those establishments upon the
most extensive footing.—The refa-
tive insignificance of Lampedesa*—
the ihconsistency and folly of clog-
ging the negociation at Paris, with

* Lampedosa is a small uninhabited island, between Malta and the coast of Tunis,

belonging to the crown of Sicily.
with tolerable security anchor mits roads.

It feeds a few sheep and goats; and a frigate way

conditions

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

esnditions for the king of Sardinia;
of whom no mention had been made
in the treaty of Amiens, and in
whose cause ministers had, more
than once since that period, for-
mally disclaimed any interest.—
The alarming deficit in the public
revenue—the unconstitutional and
dangerous conduct of concealing
from parliament the real state of
the country—and the delusive as-
surances of peace, constantly held
out to the public, at a time when
the continuation of tranquillity was,
if not morally impossible, at least
extremely problematical. — The
** Official Correspondence*” ap-
pended hereto, will afford every
requisite deoree of supplemental in-
formation, on the subject of the
causes of renewed hostility.

From the manner in which we have
descanted on the conduct of the Eng-
lish government, during a short and
feverish interval of peace, it must
not be supposed that we do not think
the war commenced with France,
abstractedly considered, as just and
necessary. If ever there existed one
to which both those epithets could be
applied with scrupulous propriety,
the presentisthatone. The series of
ainprovoked insults and injuries of-
fered by France to Great Britain ;
and her alarming and despotic in-
terference in the affairs of the rest of
Europe; however they might have
been passed over by a too timid or
too conciliating administration; are
not the less the legitimate objects of
British resentment and British ven-
‘geance. Our end and aim have
been (and in which we beg not to
be mistaken) independently of the
narrative of the Jeading events which
fall within the limits of our volume,

278

to point out the evils which must.
ever arise toa great nation, from hav-
ing its concerns entrusted, in times
of danger and difficulty, to the gul-
dance of weak and wavering coun-
cils—from the abandonment of
those principles of sound policy
which have come down to posterity,
sanctioned by the practice of the
wisest nations—from the adoption
of a temporizing system, and doc
trines founded on momentary expe-
diency—from the ceding the minut-
est point in debate to a powerful and
ambitious rival, by which alone na-
tional honer could be compromised,
without providing for national secu-
rity—in fine, from that pusillamimity
which, become apparent in trivial
concessions, must merely tend to
produce farther and more important
requisitions. Had the determina-

«tions of the existing government of
Great Britain, since the peace, been
governed by principles such as
these; we are confident that either
Bonaparte would have been forced
to recede, long since, from his unjust
and tyrannical projects; or that
England would have recommenced
the contest, with a veteran and
numerous military establishment;——
a well-equipped and increasing ma-
rine;—the conquests of the last glo-
rious war in her possession ;—stead-
fast and powerful allies: altogether
forming an aggregate of natural and
acquired strength, with which,(under
providence) well directed, she might
reasonably have hoped to secure the
liberties, and avenge the injuries of
Europe. From the consequences
to be apprehended from the very op-
opsite line of conduct pursued,
may that providence be her protec-
tion!

* That no document on this most important subject may be wanting to our readers,

the * additiowal papers” shal} be insested in the following volume,

CHAE:

230 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. |

CHAP. XIX.

Declaration of War—Different Opinions thereon—State of both Countries
at its Commencement—Mode of Warfare which each naturally resolves
upon.—Attack of the lesser French West India Islands by England
—lI'rance prepares to extend her conquests on the continent.—.
Attack of Hanover by the army of General Mortier—Operations there
—Entirely reduced, and occupicd by the armies of the French repubhc.—
Navigation of English vessels in the Elbe and Weser impeded—Blockade
by anEnglish squadron of the mouths of those rvvers.—Farther violation
of the German empire by the French.—Preparations of Denmark sus-
pended.—French armies invade Naples and the territories of the Pope.
—Ancona and Tarentum occupied by them at the same time.—French
project of invading Great Britain—Preparations therefor—Means of
defence of the latter power —Holland and the Italian republic compelled
by France to engage in the war.—Unjustifiable detention of all the
English subjects residing ins France-—Great national exertion and
spirit of the British nation—V olunteers.—¥rench and Dutch colonial
possessions attacked.—St. Domingo lost to the French.—St. Lucie and
Tobago taken.—Gallantry of the British force——Demerara and Isse-
quibo taken.—Present views of Bonaparte.—Situation of France and
England at the conclusion of the year.

N the 18th day of May his ma-
jesty’s declaration against
France was laid before both houses ot

thought attributed that accumula-
tion of injury, which rendered the
war inevitable on the part of Great

parliament; thereasons therein as-
signed were very universally allowed
to be suflicient grounds of war, had
the ministers of Great Britain done
their duty : there were many how-
ever, who asserted, that if, instead
of a feeble and inefficient adminis-
tration, the country had possessed
ene every way worthy to direct the
energies and resources of a great
empire, and support its national
character, the aggressions of France
might have been early prevented by
timely remonstrances, and _hos-
tilities averted. Those who thus

Britain, at Jeast as much to the in-
eapacity of the existing government,
as to the encroaching spirit of
France, and the restless ambition
of her ruler, In whatever causes
it might have originated, or in what
manner it might have been avoided,
were questions however, which re-
spected more the responsibility of
the English ministers, than the ne-
cessity of commencing war: and
it was universally allowed, that the
uniform system of hostility, aggres-
sion, and insult, exercised by the
French government for the last
twelve

ie

; HEPSTORY OF) EUROPE

4welye months, had been carried to
such an extent, that England was
degraded, and her honor for ever
lost, if she did not again appeal to
the decision of the sword; to the
spirit of the British nation; to the
energies that form the proud cha-
‘racteristic of a free people; and
above all, to that over-ruling Pro-
vidence, under whose guidance she
had so often asserted triumphantly
- her own cause, and that of the op-
pressed, in defiance of the power,
ov the most formidable efforts, of
her enemies. In etiect, his majes-
‘ty’s declaration conveyed that so-
_lemn appeal; the treaty of Amiens
was now atan end, and the second
war actually commenced between

this country and revolutionary
* France.
Notwithstanding the declara-

tion took place late in the month
of May; yet on the date of
his majesty’s message in March, it
may be said the signal of war was
given, ‘There was indeed a negoti-
ution opened at Paris, as we have
seen, which lasted more than six
weeks, but of a nature from which
nothing finally amicable could be
- hoped, and from that day, war ap-
peared inevitable. In writing the
history of our own times, we may
fairly appeal to the recollection of
every person in the country, as to
the impression which that message
made: it was felt in parliament;
it was felt at court; it was felt in
the city; it was felt every where,
and by every person of common
sense, as the sure precursor of a
rupture. [t may be supposed then

that it was considered in the
same light at Paris and at the
_ Thuilleries. 3onaparte himself

“was so convinced of its decision,

%,
.

281

that on meeting the assembled
diplomacy of Europe, at hisdrawing-
room, he could not restrain his
motions within the common limits
of court etiquette and ascertained
decorum, but advanced directly to
Lord Whitworth, the British ambas-
sador, and addressed to him that in-
sulting and unprecedented species of
remonstrance so inconsistent with
the respect due to an ambassador:
and of which we have given a detail-
ed account in our last chapter.
The message therefore was not
only the prelude to the declaration
of war, but from its nature induced
the French as well as the British go-
vernment tomake every possible pre-
paration for carrying on hostilities
with efect, should the negociation
terminate unfavourably. In consid-
“ering the events aud progress of the
rupture, it will be materially im-
portant to consider its Commence-
ment, as from the date of that
message ; both nations then begin-
ning to develope their respective
means of attack and annoyance,
The island of Malta, which was the
immediate cause of the war, was so
strong, from its fortifications, aid
ao well ghrrisened, that France
could not entertain the slightest
hope of its conquest by force, and
yet the possession of it was of the
utmost importance in the eyes of
Bonaparte. It was that object witich
had caused the greatest difficulty in
the negociations at Amiens; and we
have scen that the first consul ex-
pressly told lord Whitworth, that
he would rather of, the two give up
one of the suburbs of Paris to Lng-
land, than allow her to retain that
island! Although this expres:ion
cannot be taken literally, it shews:
he wever, the strong sense he had of
the

282

the importance of its position, with
respect to his ultimate views of ag-
grandizement ; be was, therefore,
resolved not to concede this point
to Great Britain, but either to force
her to abandon it, or obtain an
equivalent for France. The English
government, on the other hand,
wearied with the concessions they
had been called upon unceasingly
‘to make, disgusted with the arro-
gance of Bonaparte, and terrified
at the political embarrassments with
which they were threatened, were
equally resolved to try again the
chance of arms, and, in all ev ents,
to retain the possession of Malta.
The line of hostilities, which each
nation intended to pursue, could

easily be foresecn, from their rela-_

tive positions, Great Britain being
mistress of the seas, would natural-
ly direct her precip attack against
tue colonies and the maritime pos-
sessions of herenemy; while France,
being equally powertul at land, was
resolved to obstruct and attack the
commerce of Great Britain, in Italy,
Germany, and every country w here
her armies could penetrate: she
was also strong enough to wrest
from her weaker neighbours a full
equivalent for any colonial loss she
might incur in the approaching con-
test... In pursuance of the ditierent
systems of warfare, which each na-
tion had adopted, the British go-
vernment, soon after the message
of the Sth of March, sent a strong
reinforcement ef troops to the West
Jndies; used every possible diligence
in equipping her fleet; and mereas-
ed considerably the defensive force
of the country, by calling out the
supplementary as well as the esta-
-blished militia, and by accepting
the services of a considerable num-

ANNUAL REGISTER;

1803.

ber of volunteer corps. The exer-
tions of government appeared, how-
ever, to be so entirely confined to
measures of defence, that even the
enemy observed, ‘It was strange
that Great Britain should seek a
war, merely to shew that she could
put herself into a strong position of
resistance.” — The fact, however,
was, that notwithstanding both the
resolutions to break the 10th arti-
cle of the treaty of Amiens, and
the declaration of war proceeded
from the British cabinet, yet it was
not prepared with a plan to com-
mence the contest, by any grand and
efficient operation ; and the taking
of the small islands of St. Lucie and
Tobago,was the utmost that the dis-
posable force of Great Britain, in
its then state of reduction, appear-
ed equal to the achievement of:
for if, in the course of the year, the
colony of St. Demingo should be
rescued from the I'rench armies,
that were an event which could not
well be calculated upon by the
English government, as it depend-
ed “entirely on the courage, disci-
pline, and perseverance of the Black
army.

The conduct of the French go-
vernment evinced a degree of vi-
gour widely different, both in pre-
cautionary and in execitive mea-
sures. A few days after the date of
the message, admiral Linois sailed
from Brest. for the East Indies,
with a strong squadron, having
6000 troops on board, who were
destined not only to strengthen the
garrisons of the French colonies ia
the East, but also to put the Cape
of Good Hope in such a condition
as to resist any attack made upon it
by Great Britain. In Europe the
French armics were immediately

put

Gl

den,

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

put in motion. The army of Italy
was strongly reinforced, and pushed
forward a very large detachment
upon Tarentum, and all the strong
posts in the kingdom of Naples,
which lay on the Adriatic. The
French generals, charged with the
execution of those orders, expres-
sed in their proclamations, that it
was necessary, while England re-
tained Malta, France should occupy
those important positions.

On the side of Germany the French
government was no less active, en-
terprizing, and daring, M. 'Talley-
rand, the minister of foreign affairs,
had already stated, in plain terms,
to lord Whitworth, that in the
event of hostilities, it was natural
that a considerable army should be
assembled in Holland, and on the
frontiers of Hanover; and imme-
diately subsequent tothe king’s mes-
sage, France began to put her threat
in execution. During the pro-
tracted period of the negociation, a
considerable French array was ac-
tually assembled on the threatened
points, and were in perfect readi-
hess to commence the campaign, at
the moment the negociation broke
off. His majesty’s declaration of
war was not laid before parliament,
till the 18th of May, and on the
25th, the French general, Mortier,
from his head quarters at Coever-
summoned the Hanoverian
electorate to surrender to his army.
In the attack of Hanover, Bona-

parte formally professed that he

Wished to occupy that country,
merely as a pledze for the restora-

tion of Malta, “agreeably to the
_ conditions of the treaty of Amiens,
and endeavoured to cover this fla-

grant violation of the independence
and constitution of the German

283

empire, by asserting that it was
merely for the purpose of compel-
ling the king of Engiand to maintain
the peace of Amiens, that he had or-
dered his armies to occupy that por-
tion of Germany, in which the pre-
sent reigning family of England were
peculiarly interested. Under those
weak and flimsy pretences, he was
suffered, without any opposition
from the great continental powers,
or the states of the empire, to pos-
sess himself of that couniry, which
not only yielded him considerable
plunder, but gave him a most com-
manding position in the North of
Lurope, and which must most ma-
terially aflect the politics of the
continent. Notwithstanding that
the attack on Flanover had been so
long threatened, his majesty’s En-
glish ministers had not taken the
slightest step, cither to succour his
German territories, or to secure the
retreat of the Hanoverian army, and
thus procure a most valuable addi-
tion to the disposable force of the
British cimpire | Hanover was com-
pletely abandoned to its own means
of defence, and to the precarious
intervention of the German empire 5
the powers of which, however, hav-
ing suffered most materially, in the
last war with France, were not at
all inclined to begin another for the
suke of a staie negiected and desert-
ed as It was by its natural protector,
Although it was not possible that
the electorate alone could pretend
to oppose itself with effect to the
immense power cf France, lis roy sl
highness the duke of Cambridge was
sent over thither from England, as
commander ‘in chief, and procla-
mations were published in lis name,
and that of the Hanoverian. ge-
vernment, calling upen all the

inhabitants

1*

084

to defend their country to the last
drop of their blood! It was not to
be expected that such proclama-
tions, at such a time, could have
produced any good effect; if in-
deed the inhabitants of the electo-
rate had been previously armed and
organized, they would doubtless
have been able to repulse a much
greater force than general Mortier
commanded ; but to suppose that
citizens and peasants were to form
efiective armies, at a moment’s no-
tice, and when the enemy were Just
entering their country, was altoge-
ther as absurd as it was unreason-
able. The duke of Cambridge, it
is true, pledged himself to share all
their dangers, but his situation dif-
fered very materially from that of
the Hanoverian people. In case of
defeat, a frigate was always ready
to carry his royal highness back to
England ; but for the: army orinha-
bitants of thatstate, there was no re-

treat, after having irritated the pow-
erot France by anopposition, which
must have been fruitless, while they
were unsupported by any auxilary
means whatever, It was therefore not
very surprizing that they paid more
attention to the proclamations of the
French general, than to that of the
English prince. General Mortier
told them, in his address, that ‘‘ he
had heard of proclamations dictat-
ed by the blindest fury, for the
purpose of drawing them into a
contest, to which they ought to be
strangers, and desired them to pre-
serve ‘themselves from an aggression
equally absurd and useless, of which

they alone would be the victims.”

To this advice the Hanoverians
distened, and positively refused to
‘aise in mass, for the purpose of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

“inhabitants capable of bearing arms,

1895.

opposme the French. The opposition —
therefore which that power experi-
enced from the regulararmy of Han-
over, is hardly worth detailing. On
the 26th of May, the invading army
entered the town of Bentheim, —
where the JTanoverian garrison, con-
sisting of an officer and thirty-six
men, surrendered themselves pri-
soners of war. On the 28th, the
French force passed the river Ems,
at Mippen, and the next day a
body of 10,000 entered the princi-
pality of Osnaburgh, which had
been evacuated by the Hanoverians,
The main body of the latter, com-
manded by general Walmoden, and
amounting to near 18,000 regulars,
appeared determined to make a
stand in their positions, on the
Hunte; and general Hammerstein
occupied the town of Dicphoitz,
with a considerable force of infan-
try, cavalry, and artillery. The
French immediately prepared to dis-
Jodee them: a division of their in-
fantry, under the command of
general Schiner, and another of
cavalry, under the orders of gene-
ral Nansouty, forced the passage of
the Hunte, and directed their
march to publinges with a view of
cutting of whatever force might be
stationed between that town and
Diepholtz. General Hammerstein,
finding his right turned by this
manure, was obliged to retreat
in the night, to Borstoen. On the
Ist there was asmart skirmish, be-
tween a Hanoverian rear guard and
the French advanced pickets. On
the 2d, notwithstandinga severe can-
nonade from the Hanoverian army,
general Drouet, who commanded
the French Saeed army, attack-
ed them, and after a charge of
cavalry, obliged them to retire

The

ee reno

ed.

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

The river Weser was now the last
line of defence for the Hanoverian
army; the banks of it were well
planted with artillery, and it ap-
peared as if the passage of it would
be attended with some difficulty.
The town of Nicubourg was the
Hanoverian head quarters, against
which general Mortier was in full
march, when a deputation arrived
from the civil and military autho-

tities of the regency of Hanover, to
-intreat him to suspend his marci ;

which he positively refused, until
they had signed a convention, a-
greeing to put him in possession of
the entire electorate, and all the
strong places dependent upon it,
together with all the artillery, arms,
and ammunition. The Hanoverian
army were, by the conditions of
this convention, to retire behind the
Elbe, and to engaze not to serve

during the war, against France or

her allies, until regularly exchang-
The terms of the convention
were, however, conditional, de-
pending entirely on the ratifieation
of it by the first consul and his
Britannic majesty. It was evident,
however, that his majesty could
not ratify this convention, as king
ef Great Britain; and as elector
of Hanover it would have amount-
ed almost to a renunciation of
his sovereignty, were he to con-
sent to such terms as those,—
On the 5th of June the French

ere in possession of the city of
ae where they found a pro-
digious quantity of artillery and
ammunition. besides the absolute
value of the electorate asa conquest,
which enabled them to remount
their cavalry and recruit their trea-
sury, the French were now masters
ef the navigation of the Elbe and

285°

Weser, and were determined to use
their power there to the injury of
the British commerce in Germany.
Being now in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of the rich commercial
Hanse towns of Hamburgh and
Bremen, they were also enabled,
under the shape of loans, to levy
considerable sums of money upon
them; and were the continental
powers patient, under this outrage-
ous violation of the German ein-
pire, there seemed but little pros-
pect of the possibility of limiting
their future encroachments. Under
all those circumstances, there can
be no doubt but that the conquest
of Hanover was a most important
and advantageous acquisition to
France, which she had been al-
lowed to make without the slightest
opposition from the English govern=
ment. The real value of Hanover
was not generally known or undes-
stood, until France had possessed
herself of it. It had always been
one of the vulgar prejudices 6f the
English nation, (there were occa-
sionally also ministers to be found,
who, in order to court popularity,
gave it their support,) that Hanover
was rather to be considered as a clog
and an incumbrance to Great Bri-
tain than an advantageous posses-
sion: but when it was seen how
eager France was to ease his ma-
jesty of that incumbrance, the tide
of popular opinion ran the contrary
way, and, whether with respect to
the honor or interest of the nation,
the great majority of the people
began to think that it should have
been defended and imaintained.—
The conguest of Hanover was un-
doubtedly of the atmost conse-
quence to France, at the same time
that it limited Ler conquests in the

course

‘

286 ANNUAL REGISTER,

course of the year. Bonaparte
endeavoured to push the effects of
this acquisition to the utmost possi-
ble extent, by aiming at the destruc-
tion of the commercial navigation
of the British merchant vessels on
the rivers Elbe and Weser. <A
measure which his generals excused
by the contemptible sophistry, that
as the fortune of war had given
them the occupation of the king of
England’s dominions in Hanover,
it could not be expected that British
ships would be allowed to pass
within the reach of a French bat-
tery. If this principle were ad-
mitted, it followed that they had
gained on the same principle a right
to prevent British vessels from go-
ing up to Hambureh or Bremen.
The British government however,
with becoming resolution, would
by no means admit of this reason-
ing. They laid it down as a princi-
ple that the conduct of France in
the invasion of Hanover was an
unauthorized and outrageous viola-
tion of the independence of the
German empire; that it would be
an act of hostility in Germany to
permit British vessels to be fired at
or captured, when navigating in the
ports and rivers of Germany ; and
therctore (retaliating in some mea-
sure on the empire, for the not having
defended [anover) took ampie mea-
sures that the mouths of the Elbe
and Weser should be strictly aie
aded by British squadrons, and 1

vessels allowed to pass, so long as
British vessels were excluded trom
their navigation, The Hanse Towns
ef Hamburgh and Bremen were
now placed in a most deplorable
and distressing situation. by the
blockade of their harbours, their
foreign trade was cut off, while the

~ noverian

1803.

neighbourhood of the French armies \
placed them in perpetual danger of
military violence and exaction. Jn
this situation they applied to the
king of Prussia, as guarantee and
protector of the neutrality of the
north of Germany ; but the cabinet
of Berlin, either entering into the
views of France, or under the im~
pression of its vast and irresistible
power, refused to interfere, and thus
were abandoned all the smaller
stetes of the north of Germany to
the mercy and discretion of the
French government!

The terms of the convention at
Subiingen had placed the French
general in possession of the whole
of the electorate of Hanover lying
on the south side of the river Elbe,
the Hanoverian army having retired
across the Elbe te the duchy of
Lauenburgh: but as this conven-
tion was only conditional, and re-
quired to be ratified by the British
and French governments; so soon
as it was known in Paris that the
courier had arrived, announcing
his Britannic majesty’s refusal to
ratify it, Bonaparte sent express or—
ders to his generals to re-commence
the campaign. General Mortier
thereupon sent a letter to field-
marshal count Walmoden, the Ha-
general, informing him
that the refusal of his Britannic ma-

jesty to ratily the convention, had

rendered it null and void. He
therefore now sent him a fresh prow
position to surrender with his army
prisoners of war, to be sent into
France. he field-marshal replied,
that those terms were so very hu-
miliating, that his army preferred
perishing with their arms in their
hands; that the ry had already made
sufficient sacrifices fer their coun-

try ;

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

try; and that they must now de-
fend their own honor. The officer
however, who carried this answer,
was empowered to state, that if any
acceptable terms were offered, they
would probably not be rejected.
General Mortier refused to make
any other propositions, and imme-
diately prepared to cross the Elbe
in the face of the Hanoverian army,
who had taken a strong position on
the banks of the river, which was
well defended with artillery. But
general Walmoden seeing that the
French army was determined to
force its passage, sent new propo-
sitions, which were at length agreed
to, and on the 5th of July a conven-
tion was settled, by which the Ha-
noyerian army was to be disbanded,
and return to their homes upon
their parole, not to serve against
France or her allies until regularly
exchanged; and its artillery,
horses, and military stores, were
to be given up to the French._—
General Mortier in his letter to the
“first consul, said, that “ it was
only from generosity to an enemy
imploring clemency, that he granted
those terins; that general Walmo-
den signed the capitulation with an
afflicted heart; and that it was
difficult to paint the situation of
the fine regiment of the king of
England’s guards at dismounting.”
The French government, in pos-
sessing themselves of Hanover, pro-
fessed in a laboured manifesto, that
‘it was their intention to retain it
"merely as a pledge for the restitu-
tion of Malta, and trusted by that
‘pretence to prevail on the other
_ powers of Germany to look with
‘indifference on this invasive -vio-
lation of the independence and

integrity of the empire, The

23%

zpathy of those powers encouraged
the French to the levying large con-
tributions from the Hanse Pawns:
and to commit farther encroach-
ments on the German territory. The
prince regent of Denmark had indeed
upon the first news ef the march of
the French army, advanced a con-
siderable body of troops into Hol-
stein; but after the conquest of
Hanover, it was intimated to him
that the French government saw
with displeasure,preparations which
appeared hostile and menacing;
in consequence of which he thoug 4.8
it adviseable to withdraw his army,
and Hanover and the adjacent
country remained in the undisputed
possession of France,

The aggressions of Bonaparte
were not, however, confined to
Germany, under the pretext of re-
taining pledges for Malta: not-
withstanding the conditions of the
separate peace with Naples, a con-
siderable French army was in mc-
tion to occupy all the Neapolitan
ports on the Adriatic, and particu-
larly the town and port of ‘Taren~
tum, to which Bonaparte had
always attached vast. importance,
and which in the negociauions with
lord Whitworth, it appeated the
French government considered a
an equivalent for Malta. Ancona
and the principal possessions of the
pope on that sea, were seized on bay
the French army at the same
And now the moment was arrived,
when the avowed system of France
in her war with E ngland night be
developed, atid be put im execu-
tion, namely, first to increase her
strength and reintorce her treasury,
by the possession and plunder cf
the weaker states in her neighbours.
heod ; and pally to apply her

whoie

time.

288

ces to the invasion and conquest of
Great Britain. It was to this dar-
ling object of his ambition that Bo-
naparte applied the large sums which
he had obtained from America for
the sale of Louisiana, those from
Portugal as the price of peace, and
the contributions from Spain, Italy
and the Hanse Towns either in the
shape of military levy or of loan.

’ From the very commencement of
the war, every preparation was made
to carry into effect the menace
which he had thrown out to lord
Whitworth of invading England.
Independently of his grand fleet at
Brest, which was presumed to be
destined for the invasion of Ireland,
an immense number of transports
was ordered to be built and collect-
ed with the greatest expedition.
The success of the Spanish eun-
boats off Algeziras during the last
war, had made the Fiench believe
that it would be possible for some
thousands of similarly constructed
vessels, but built on an improved
plan, to force their way across the
channelin spite of the British navy.
This idea was universally received
fn France, and in the course of the
year such astonishing exertions were
tnade, that a sufficient flotilla was
assembled at Boulogne, to carry over

- any army that France should choose
so toemploy. ‘This menacing disposi-
tion and the mighty preparations for

carrying it into efiect, were perhaps
ultimately advantagcous to Great
Britain, The evident necessity of
defending the country against in-
vasion Obtained a ready consent to
every plan which could be proposed
for increasing its military defence.
Independently of the regular and
stpplementary militia an addition-

ANNUAL‘REGISTER,

whole co!lected strength and resour-'

1803,

al army of 50,000 men was proposed
under the title of an army of reserve, -
and a general levy en masse of alt
persons capable of bearing arms,
was universaliy approved of: this
measure was however rendered un-
necessary by the spirit of the coun-
try, which in a short time presented
above 300,000 effective volunteers,
as anadditional defence to the coun
try. This vast reinforcement to its
military strength, placed it on so
proud a footing of security that the
English natiqn no longer feared the
visit of their invadeis, but felt so
conscious of their strength as rather
to wish the enemy to try that ex-
periment; which should it fail,
would probably determine not only
the reputation, but the dominiomw
and power of Bonaparte.

The French government however
was perfectly competent in the
course of the year, to ascertain, that
an immense flotilla could be assem-
bled at Boulogne, without much in-
terruption from the English crui-
zers; it only remains for France
to try whether their whole collected
naval force can venture across the
channel in the face of those squad-
rons which England can oppose: to
them, and w hether even then, they
can reasonably hope to land a sufh-
cient body of treops to conquer that
country in its present improved
state of defence. Should they prove
unequal to this task the consequence
of the menace will be, that England
will become more a military nation
than she has hitherto exhibited her-
self, and consequently will be enabled
to send larger armies either to the
relief of her allies, or to the conquest
of the colonies of France, and those
of the powers she may have forced
into her alliance In this contest

Great

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Great Britain fairly accepted the chal-
lenge thrown out by Fran¢e, when
her governmentvaingloriously assert-
ed she was no longer able to con-
tend single handed against her. The
British government, in justice it
must be said, wished that the war
“should solely exist between Great
Britain and France.’ The latter,
- (though the challenger) found it ne-
cessary, meanly to force the weaker
powers to engage in her assistayce.
Holland, contrary to her evident in-’
terest and wish, as'well as the Italian
republic, were compelled to become
parties; and consequently while the
commercial interests of the latter
were severely injured in the course
of the year, the former lost ail her
West Indian colonies: Spain and
Portugal were likewise compelled to
furnish pecuniary assistance to
_ France in so open and extensive a
manner, that it rested entirely with
the generosity and magnanimity of
Great Britain, whether they should
not be considered as involved in di-
_ fect acts of hostility. Independent-
dy of these measures, which the
French government embraced as
part of its war system; it took a
step at its commencement which
had never before been heard of
among civilized nations, and which
had always been protested against
as an act of barbarity disgraceful
even at Constantinople or Algiers.
Whader the pretence of making pri-
Soners of war of those Englishmen
‘enrolled in the militia of their coun-
“ry it seized indiscriminately: upon
all the nobility, gentry, andcommer-
‘tial agents who had incautiously put
‘themselves within the reach of Bo-
“Naparte in France, and who were en-
gaged in travelling in any ef those
countries occupied by the French
Re Vox, XLY.

~ »

289

armies, and either shut them up in
prisons, or confined them to particu-
lar places as prisoners of war-upon
their parole, and who were not to
exceed the limits there assigned
them! This wanton outrage on all
the established courtesies of civilized
nations, did not promise any (the
slightest) advantage to France, and
can only be considered as an angry
and capricious display of the, power
and ill humour of the usurper who
had seized upon its government :
this act of wanton cruelty was far-
ther aggravated, by its having been
preceded by a perfidious promise to
the English, that they. should enjoy
the protection of the government
after the departure of the British
ambassador, as extensively as
during his residence. Those were
the principal measures taken by
France in the first year of the war,
On the part of Great Britain, her
first object was to raise the military
strength of the country trcin the de-
plorable state of reduction which we
have already detailed, and lay a
foundation for its permanent defence .
without being obliged to have re-
course to excessive loans ; and se-

condly, to annoy her encmies
as much as_ possible, both in
their colonies and commerce. In

the first object the government were
successful beyond its most sanguine
hopes and expectations.” The Eng-
lish nation was so exasperated at the
haughty tone and menacing language
employed by France, that anunani-
mous disposition pervaded all the
classes of society, to bear any hard-
ship or make every sacrifice, rather
than suffer their country to He at
the proud foot of the tyrant of
France. Every measure proposed
by government for strengthening the

: “country

290 ANNUAL REGISTER,

country was adopted with scarcely
any opposition,and in afew months,
a volunteer army of more than
300,000 effective men appeared to
start from the earth for the defence of
theirnative land, The advantages the
empire has received from this great
display of national spirit, have ‘been
incalculable. _ No territorial acqui-
sition she could have made, would
have so far raised Great Britain in
the estimation of foreign nations, as
the zeal and courage which was ex-
hibited by all ranks to defend the
country from French invaders.
The power of France, for the first
time since the revolution, appeared
to have received the most serious
check; and the British channel
seemed a barrier beyond which it
could not pass. Other powers now
appeared to catch somewhat of the
fire which animated, that country,
and the cause of Great Britain was
feltto be, that of all the independ-
ant nations of the universe,
Although the additional strength
which was gained at liome was by
far the most important of the ad-
vantages which Great Britain deri-
ved from the war, yet the govern-
ment was not altogether inattentive
to the annoyance of the enemy in the
only vulnerable partof his domini-
ons. Expeditions against the Dutch
settlements of Demerara, and
Issequibo, and the French islands of
St. Lucie and Tobago were .dis-
patched in the course of the year,
St, Domingo the most valuable co-
lony that France ever possessed was
wrested from her, by the black popu-
lation assisted by a British squadion;
and in the East Indies our successes
over the native princes were brilliant,
glorious, and decisive. The reduc-
tion of the French army in the

‘the year.

1803.

Island of St. Domingo was beyond
all question the sev erest blow which
France sustained in the course of »
It had been entirely ow-
ing to the facilities which her ship-
ping afforded of passing troops ra~
pidly from one strong post or town
on the cast to another, that France
was at all able to keep down the in-
surrection in that island; those
facilities however being entirely
taken away by the superiority of
eur blockading squadrons, al!
those positions ” fell one after the
other to the insurgent army, and
general Rochambeau and the re-
mains of that great army which had.
been judged fully sufficient to re-
conquer the colony, were necessi~
tated to surrender prisoners of war
to the naval force. of Britain. By
this event the sanguine hopes which
Bonaparte had entertained of restor-
ing to France the most valuable of
her foreign possessions, was com-
pletely frustrated. This was not.
the only loss which France sustain-_
ed in the West Indies. The islands:
of St. Lucie and Tobago were also
wrested from her. ‘the expedi-.
tion which was prepared tor the at«
tack of those SOMMNIEE, sailed. from
Barbadoes onthe 20th of June, and
arrived at day break on the 21st off
St. Lucie; in the course of the day
they effected their landing, drove in
the advanced posts of the enemy,
took the town of Castries, and sums
moned the I'rench general Nogues’
to surrender at discretion, ‘That
officer however refusing to accede to
those terms, lieutenant general Grin-
tield who commanded the expediti-
on resolved upon attacking the Fort
of Morne Fortuiee by assault, as the. .
rainy season was soon expected to
commence. . Thé attack was ered
the

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

_ the’next morning at four o'clock,
and the place «was carried in the
most gallant manner in about half
an hiviur® withodt much loss, if the
boldness of the enterprize be consi-

_ dered. That: on the British side,

+ was about 138 men. killedand

wounded, including some officers,

‘Phe number of the French garrison

made prisoners of war amounted:

to 640. Besides. the © posses-
sion of a valuable sugar Island,
this victory was important in many
points of view. In the first place
the storming so gallantly a fort

-strongly garrisoned by the French,

proved again to the world. that

French troops were not invincible ;

and that the same armies which

beat them in Egypt could conquer
them again in any part of the world.

“Atthesametime that it established

the reputation of the British army

for gallantry.and spirit, it was at-
tended by a circumstance that dis-
played that generosity of national
character, whichis inseparable from
true courage. ‘The French general
had refused a capitulation, he was
determined to abide the assaults;

_and although it might be supposed

that conquering troops, provoked by

: the losses which ‘the obstinacy” of

__ the enemy exposed them to, weuld

_ have, revenged themselves by a

bloody victory, yet to the honour of

the British name, notwithstanding
the extent of the provocation, they

did) not kill or wound a single

Frenchman after the works had

been carried. ‘This was a triumph

> - worthy of a civilized nation, and the

De brilliant display of British gallantry

__ and generosity on this occasion was

ee of infinitely more importance than

even the capture of St. Lacie.

This first success of the British,

“-.
sf

290f

was of a nature to excite’ respect
aud admiration from those great
powers of Europe thatremainedanx-
ious Spectators of the contest bes
tween France and° England; while
the successes of France in Hanover
could euly be. considered by them
as a daring violation of the territories
of an independent and neutral na-
tion;and: analarming:proof of the
disregard .. with which. Bonaparte
viewed his ‘most solemn treaties.
. On the first of July the island of

Tobago surrendered to general
Grinfield, who after the conquest of
St. Lucie directed his force thither.
The garrison were too‘feeble:to op-
pose any resistance, iand therefore
immediately proposed a capitulation,
im virtne of which they were to be
sent over to France at the expence
of Great Britain... Beside the
French islands of St. Lucie and To-
bago, inthe West Indies the Dutch
settlements of Berbice and.Deme-
rara feil into the hands of the
British in the course of the present
year, but without experiencing any
vesistance worth a particular detail:
» When two nations such as France

and England were at war, it might
naturally be expected that each
would have recourse not only to every
measure of serious annoyance, but
also to such as might afford matter
of temporary triumph; of the latter
nature may be reckoned: the succes=
ses of the British arms in the West
Endies, the fruits of which, in con=
fermity to the fatal precedent esta-
blished by the peace of Amiens, will
in all probability be restored when-
eyer hostilities shall cease, in a
vastly more improved state than
when ‘captured. The loss of St;
Domingo to France was however of
moré serious Consequence, as it is
U2 by

292

by no means likely that the French
will ever be able to repossess them~-
selves of it in the event of peace.
And it is certain that should they
even be able entirely to subdue and
exterminate the black army that de-
fends it, the island will be so com-
pletely ruined in the struggle, that
France cannot hope for ages to
place it once more on the footing
of a productive possession.
Previously to the war, Bonaparte
appeared determined to establish a
colonial power in St. Domingo and
Louisiana, which would bid fair not
enly to out-rival the British empire
in the West Indies, but also to
check the rising greatness of the
united states of America. These ob-
jects were entirely deranged and de-
feated by therupture with England--
his plan of possessing himself of
Egypt and the Levant, has been also
ctushed by the constant superiority
of the British fleet in the Mediter-
yanean.- ‘The views of the first con-
sul have therefore necessarily taken
a different direction, and he now
seeks to establish his power on other
grounds. He has made himself the
absolute master of Italy, and shewn
the kings of Naples, Etruria, and the
pope, that notreaties can bind him to
respect their neutrality, or will pre-
yent him from entering and occupy-
ing their territories whensoeyer he
shall please ; and of levying contri-
butions upon them the measure of
which must be determined by a
eompromise between their ability
and his extortive rapacity. Spain
and Portugal have been reduced to
the state of provinces on which he
ean at pleasure levy what sums of
money he may deem necessary, and
atthe same time enjoy all the ad-
vantages of their great possessions in

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

southern America, withoutincurring
the risk or expence of governing
them.

Already master of France, Switzer-
land, Italy, Spain, Portugal, & South
America, Bonaparte appears not far
removed from that universal empire
whichalone cansatisly his ambition.
All the smaller states of Germany
havesunk under the power of France.’
Although Hanover was seized under
the pretence of its appertaining to
the king of Great Britain, yet Ham-
burgh and Bremen have been plun-
dered without the slightest excuse,
save the necessities of the French ar-
my. We have seen that when Bo-
naparte was allowed to conquer Han-
over, the smaller states of the north
of Germany were abandoned to
France, who was already, by con-
quest or intrigue, mistress of the les-
ser powers of the south. The
French official journals had not he-
sitated to state, that if war should
fake place between Austria and
France, Bavaria and Suabia would
certainly be compelled. to join the
latter, Itis evident therefore that the
German nation can no longer consi-
der the Rhine asits boundary. The
power of the first consul is nearly
as well established on the right bank
of that river as on the left, and so
long as the king of Prussia is content’
to bevhis instrument, it is the latter
and net Francis who will really be the
emperor of Germany.

The grand results therefore of
the first year of the war, are
that on the continent of Europe,
France has exercised a more
extended and despotic power than
even she had manifested during the
peace, and that she has reduced Eu-
rope so low, that it is become ex-
twemely problematical whether it be

possible ,

HISTORY: OF .EUROPE.

possible to prevent her from achiev-
ing the absolute sovereignty of the
continent. ;

On the part of Great Britain
her victories in India have been cer-
tainly brilliantjand have added much
to her territory. In the West

. Indies she has completely frustrated

the plans of France; and at home
has raised a very considerable force
to enable herto meet the threat-
ened invasion: her various attacks
however on the flotilla of France

have met with slender success, and

the different bombardments which
were directed against the towns of
Granville, Dieppe, Calais and Bou-
logne, but slightly annoyed the ene-
my. It appears then to be perfect-
ly ascertained that France can as-
semble a flotilla to almost any a~
mount on her immense line of coast,
opposite the shore of England. . The

experiment therefore which Great

Britain has to make is, to try whe-
therinan empire of her population,

“Resources, and national spirit, such @

293

military organization cannot be esta-
blished, as to be permanently ade-
quate to repel any force which
France may send to invade her,
This is the grand and awful hour of
trial which the present generationis
called upon to witness. If Bona-
parte bepermitted to break down al-
together the independence of the
differentnations of Europe, and col-
lect the whole disposeable force of
France and that of her allies in
her ports upon the channel, the des-
tiny of this country appears to be
sealed: and unless heaven shall in
its mercy bless it with such an ad-
ministration, as can unite the confi-
dence and energies ofall parties, all
persuasions, all ranks and conditions
of the people, in checking, resisting,
and controuling so powerful and im-
placable an enemy; the time may
shortly‘come, when patriotism itself
may despair, and say of England
what Hannibal exclaimed of his
devoted country, ‘ Agnosco fate
Carthaginis !”

CHAP.

494 ANNUAL REGISTER. 1863

i]

CHAP. | XX.

Affairs of Ireland.—Retrospect.—Tumults in the South put down. by legal
Authority.—Mildness of Government.—Rumours of War with France
excite uneasiness in the lower Orders. —Their Disaffection—acted upon
by Republican Agents. — New Conspiracy.—Characters of the Leaders—
Emmeti—Dowdall—Quigley—Russel.—Overture of theirs to the Out-
law Dwyer—Rejected.—Profound Secrecy observed in thet Proceed-
wngs.—Provide Arms and Stores in Dublin.—Grand Attempt to be made
on the capital.—Explosion of one of their Gunpowder Magazines.—
Alarm excited.— Attack determined to take place on the 23d of July—
and why.— Folly and Madness of their Scheine.—Enthusiasm of Emmett.
—Forces of the Conspirators assemble in Dublin on the appointed Day.
—Arm themselves without Molestation —Possess themselves of a consi-
derable Quarter of the Town.—Fire at Mr. Clark, and desperately
wound him.—Emmett heads his Party, and the Commencement of the
Attack,—Murder of Col. Browne—and of others, —Tumult and Irregu-
larity of the Insurgents—Totally unmanageable.— Exmett and the other
Chiefs abandon themin Despair.—Completely subdued and dispersed
by a handful of troops.—Particulars of the Massacre of the Lord
Chief Justice—his Death-— and Character.—-Depot of the Rebels disco-
vered, and their Proclamation—Fate of Emmett and Russel,—Execu-
tion. — Tranquillity restored.— General Reflections,

N our former volume we traced

the state and condition of Ire-
land through the events leading to
the union, and the effects of that
measure to the commencement of
the present year. We there ven-
tured to describe some indications
of a turbulent spirit existing in
many parts of the south, and of a
‘design familiarly. talked of among
the common people, although not
called into action, of a meditated
attack upon the city.of Limerick.
We even then suspected that the
active enemy of the British empire,
however pacific his protestations,
was not indifferent to the means of
embarrassing its government, by

feeding and cherishing the discon-
ténts of Ireland, where unfortu-
natelyEngland was most vulnerable.
Subsequent discoveries evince the
conjecture to have been too well
founded.

In the month of January, 1803,
judges were sent by special com-
mission to try the disturbers of the
‘public peace in the counties of Li-
merick, Tipperary, and Waterford ;
in ihe two tormer of which, commo-
tion had been very general; the
latter was only affected irom its
proximity to Tipperary. In the
progress of these trials, nothing of
a treasonable disposition was disco-
yerable jp their uafortunate sub-

jects.

:

: ;
H

"

o
fe

HISTORY OF EUROPE

jects. Those wretched creatures
were deluded to act, not from any
politicalstimulus—for abstract poli-
tics could never have been made a
motive of action with their class,
by the most refined intrigue. The
artifice used to set them in motion,
was more familiar to their business
and bosoms, more adapted to their
powers’ 6f comprehension—they
were invited to fix a rate for, pota-
toes, the almost universal food of
the multitude in those parts; and
‘to join in a system of opposition to
the introduction of strangers (by
whom were meant, persons of any
other vicinity) from becoming the
tenants of farms, and to compel the
land proprietors in their counties
to treat with, exclusively, the an-
cient occupiers—causes which con-
“stituted popular pretexts aid cla-
mours of long standing in Ireland.
Tt also appeared that a forward lead
in these matters was taken, by men
of the disbanded regiments of mi-
litia, who had, during the calami-
tous period of the troubles of
their country, been indulged in so
much licentiousness; and so much
of party, more than of military dis¢i-

205

pline, had been instilled into theit
superiors, that it is not to be won-
dered at that they were, on thei
return to their countics, uttorly
unfitted for the purposes and habits
of sober life. Upon this head we
must ever, refer to the just and
animated cénsure of the illustrious
Abercromby. © .
The sacrifices which were mad®
to public justice on the above oc-
casion, restored at least the appear-
ance of tranquillity. The people
were awed to submission—that they
were reclaimed, we have every
reason to doubt. ‘There have since
manifested themselves repeated in-
dications of an angry unappeased
spirit, and of unsubdued rancour;
but since the period to which we
have alluded, no overt act of con-
siderable extent or moment has oc-
curred in those counties. ‘The ma-
gistrates of Tipperary and Limerick
upon this occasion, earnestly peti-
tioned to be indulged with the pow-

_er of inflicting discretionary punish-
-ment, and transportation, under

what is called in Ireland ‘ the insur-
rection act,’* to which his majes
ty’s government in Ireland refused

* Tt is perhaps necessary here to apprize the English reader, that the Irish parlia-
Is p P iy PI g j

ment, in the last year of its existence, enacted a law, by which the lord lieutenant and
council were authorized, ou the representation of a certain number of its magistrates,
‘to declare a county ma state of insurrection; after this deciaration had been legally
notified, the magistrates were empowered to take up any person, and bring him before
_-a petty session convened at any time or place, by two or three justices of the peace,
who could in a summary manner, and without the intervention of a jury, determine
whether the party accused had contravened the injunction to keep within his dwelling

_-after nine o’clock at night; or had in any manner acted in furtherance of disturbance;

‘if satisfied, they might adjudge the offender, at their discretion, to transportetion, as a
disorderly person! There certainly was aright of appeal to the more general ses-
sions, but when the ignorance and poverty ot the lower classes of the natives of Ire-
dJand be considered, it will appear nearly nugatory: the culprit could scarcely under-
stand the transaction; could seldom command the means by which alone advice could
“be procured; and as but a very few days were allowed whe:ein to lodge the appeal,
the right had generally lapsed, before tie unfortunate individual was aware of that

- mode of redress.

b +

U 4 ts

296

to concede, and chose the mildet

and more authorized mode of re-’

gular legal proceeding. It is more
than probable, tliat under the cir-
cumstances of local irritation, and
inconsiderate intemperance every
‘where abounding, that had the
prayer of the magistrates been ac-
ceded to, the flames of rebellion
would have been rekindled through-
out the entire ofthat fine country, the
south of Ireland—the course wisely
adopted, met with complete success,
and tranquillity was restored.
Some time before his majesty’s
message to parliament had announc-
ed the probability of a rupture with
France, it became obvious to the
wary observer, that there existed a
considerable degree of feverish agita-
tion among those who had favoured
the late conspiracy, and an alarming
resort to Ireland of persons notori-
ously in the interests of the French
government. Undoubtedly the
great majority of the people who had
been deceived and led away by the
intrigues and artifices of the jaco-
' bins; those especially who had.any
property to lose, or stake in the
country, had seen through, and
heartily repented their delusion :
But there were still to be found
some pardoned delinquents, who
had yet to learn prudence from their
escape of punishment, and whose
wickedness had not been put to
flight by the glaring conviction of
its folly. This intractable and rest-
less description of people, hailed
with transport the opportunity of re-
eommencing their machinations,
and while some spread themselves
ever the country In every direction,
ethers fixed themselves in the me-
tropolis—an active correspondence
was set on foot with France—and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803. 7

the organization of a new censpirac
was commenced and prosecuted w ith
unceasing diligence. Nor was Bo-
naparte inattentive or remiss to for=
ward. by every means in his power,
his darling project of revolution.
The chiefs of the last Irish rebellion
were summoned to Paris, from me
insignificance and contempt i
which, since the peace of eng
they had lived in. different states
of the continent; consultations
were held with them; their hopes
and passions stintulated by promises
and flattery ; and they were directed
to communicate similar impulses
to their agents and adherents in thein
native country,

The person who took upon hime
self (or to whom that task was dele-
gated by his confederates) she office
of director and principal mover
of this new plot upon the British
dominion in Ireland, was, Mr. Robert
Emmett, a young man of specious,
and promising talents. He was the
younger brother of that Emmett
who had previously to the rebellion
of 1798, abandoned a respectable
situation at the Irish bar, in order to.
project and carry into execution the
wild schemes of that day—an Irish ©
republic, and seperation from Great
Britain. His father had filled dur-
ing a considerable period the situa-
tion of state physician in Dublin. _

This young man had been suffi-
ciently unguarded in his conduct
while the late disturbances existed,
to become an object of the vigilance,
of government, and had found it
prudent to reside abroad so long as
the habeas corpusact w assuspended;
but had returned to Ireland on the
removal of that obstacle, His mind.
was ardent, his imagination brilli-
ant, and he possessed a flow of elo-

eution,

HISTORY ;OR EUROPE, 297

ution, often rising to the fire, al-
ways consistent with the correctness,
of legitimate oratory. With those
endow ments, which well directed
must have led to fame and wealth
and honours, he does not seem to
have been gifted with one grain of
judgment, or else his slender stock
was swallowed up in the revolution-
ary vortex. His conversation and de-
ortment at all times manifested the
hich degree of phrenzy to whieh his
heated and distempered spirit, na-
turally too prone to such impressi-
ons, had heen wrought up, by the
oe enthusiasm in which he had
cen early formed; by the revoluti-
onary objects which had been in
such rapid succession presented to
his mind;
fanciful projectors, to which from
inclination and habit, he had confin-
ed himself both at home and on the
continent. When his life was for-
feited to the justice of an outraged
but commiserating country, he had
not attained to his twenty fourth
year ; consequently as he had par-
ticipated in the former conspiracy,
he must have been, so early as_ his
“sixteenth, initiated in the bale-
ful acne of treason and conspi-
racy! The death of Dr. Emmett
had placed a sum of two thousand
pounds in ready money within his
teath, and with this fund he pro-
osed to himself the subversion of
an old and well established govern-
ment! It is not however improba-
ble that this sum, miserable as it
was when compared with his ob-
jects, might have tempted the cupi-
dity of a few parasitical adventurers,
(to whose wants it might for a season
administer) to beset and attach
themselves to him; who by the
acts of adulation, by flattering his

and by the society of

hopes, and encouraging ,his designs,
at the same time that they revelled
in the waste of this little patrimony,
nourtshed his chimerical projects
until they had involved him in irre-
trievabie rvia. In this opinion we
are cour enanced by the characters
and description of those persons with
whom, as proved in the sequel, he
seeins to have communicated most
confidentially, His principal associ-
ates were Dowdall, who had formerly
filled a very inferior office under ihe
Irish house of commons; Redmond,
aman of narrow means, who affect-
ed to be engaged in some low species
of commerce; and Allen, a brokea
woollen manulacturer,

A conspirator ofa diferent stamp,
and of a much higher rate of abidj-
ties, than those last mentioned, was
Quigley a mechanic, but of censi-
derable address, who having been
outlawed in 1798, had since that
period resided in F rance ; and who
upon the recommencement. of
hostilities, had returned theuee,
under circumstances which clearly
indicated his agency to the eneiny.
He seemed well furnished with me-
ney, which he certainly could’ not
have derived from his own @ésour-
ces, and of which he was unspar-
ingly liberal. He perambulated
with unceasing activity Kildare, his
native county, tampering with the
people of the lower classes; exbort-
ing them to throw oft the slavery
imposed upon them by the present
form of government; reviving and
recalling 1o their minds, every cause
of dissatisfaction and complaint ;
and by frecly distributing strong
liquors.in many places, and occasi-
onally money, attached the multi-
tude through the medium . of
its prevailing propensities, and cor-

rupted

'

£98

rupted and deluded vast numbers to
hold themselves in readiness for that
attempt, which although complete-
‘ly impracticable, destitute of the
slightest probability of success, and
tending only to the inevitable de-
struction of those miserable instru-
ments, yet answered to a certain
-degree the purpose of their unprin-
cipled employer, as it distracted and
threw some odium on the existing
government, and revived distrusts
and jealousies among the people.
In another part of the country,
a second enthusiast presented him-
self, as a chieftian, and who seemed
¢o confident in the merits of the
mighty boon he had to offer as the
meed of prosperous rebellion ; that
he does not seem to have once sus-
“pected, that it would not be accept-
ed and erasped at with as much avi-
dity, at-least as it was tendered. Mr.
Russel was the son of an officer of
reputation in his majesty’s service,
and who having retired, enjoyed an
honorable retreat in the situation of
master of the royal hospital for ve-
terans at Kilmainham near Dublin.
He was placed carly in the army,
and bad served at Bunker’s Hill
and ‘the subsequent. campaigns
in north America. After the
peace he either retired on half pay,
or his corps was reduced: so far his
situation was suited to the medio-
crity of his talents. He then~fixed
himself, in consequence of accident-
al connection, in a town of Consider-
able trade in the north of Ireland;
but which was not less remarkable
for its encouragement of speculative
theology, metaphysical enquiry, and
the extentand diversity of opinions
both in matters of ehurch and state:
Mr. Russel, eager and ardent, atfirst
acting under military impressions,

ANNUAL REGISTER;

1803.

was remarkable for his zealous .at-
tachment to his Sovereign, and had
thus even rendered himself obnoxi-
ousin a disaffected town, hy a con~
stant display of the most fervent loy~
alty. In this state of seclusion he
addicted himself to the cultivation
of literature, and hazarded some
pieces of criticism which afford no
proofs of superior attainment: he
likewise engaged eagerly in those
religidus investigations which oc~
cupy the leisure or fill the minds of
the more rigid dissenters. Im-
mersed in pursuits of such a nature,
with a scanty income, and a mind
at once gloomy and sanguine, it may
well be supposed, that at the period
when the modern doctrines of poli-
tical reform were broached, they
found in this unfortunate man an,
apt and enthusiastic proselyte. In
justice however to the memory of
this ushappy person, it must be ob-
served, that he was aflectionate and
tender hearted, and possessed more
of the feeling and sentiment of a
gentleman, than are usually found
mm the confirmed democrat.

Such were the conditions and
characters of the principal leaders
of the conspiracy which having been
conducted in security and darkness,
broke out into insurrection on the
23d of the July of the present year.
It has been said, and with great ap-
pearance of probability, that as early
as the April preceding, an assem-
blage of persons from various dis-
tricts of the kingdom, deliberated in
Dublin, on measures hostile to the
existing government. There are in
Treland, as we have already observed
in our preceding volume, a number
of ‘persons above labour, and below

“afiluence, whose habits are dissipated

and adveriturous, and who might
truly

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

truly boast the povver ‘of raising ina
country abounding in such inflam-

mable materials, t the flame. of rebel--

lion. Called together by sae per-
sons as we have described, that a
mock conventivn might eae sat in
the metropolis, and cherished the
incipient projects of Emmett, is sul-
ientlylikely ; ; as well from the ease
and security with which it might be
held, as from his subsequent boast
of his being assured er having 19
counties pledged to his support.
With the creater certainty of war
it might be supposed that the Ivish
government would muitiply their
measures of strength and defence ; it
therefore became the object of the
‘conspirators to accelerate their en-
terprize. Accordingly the persons we
have named dolimenced their ope-
rations with activity, and digeibuted
‘themselves throughout the country
‘agreeably to their several destinati-
ons. Fimmett and Dowdall were
Stationed in Dublin; Quigley in the
‘county of Kildare, and (Cndeed
‘without the slightest gleam of pro-
bable success to cheer him on his
c “‘Mission) . Russeiin the populous dis-

tricts of the north, Down and An=

‘trim: others of less note were sub-
divided throughout various parts
“of the country, with authority
‘from their leaders to forward the
design by every means in their pow-
er. Some important assistance was
likewise hoped for, in the acquisiti-
on of a person of the name of Dwy-
er, whom they treated with, and
urged to levy his utmost force and
-tmake the first attack on the capital,
This man, at the head of a gang
of deserters a handitti, hed re-
mained in arms from the period of

299.
the rebellion of 1798, obstinately
rejecting repeatedly proffered mer-
cy; and who dexterously eluting all
pursuit, had sustained himself un-
der the protection of the almost
inaccessible fastnesses of the Wick-
Jow mountains. His party did not
ostensibly exceed twenty, but he
was supposed to possess unbounded
influence over the peasants of that
district; so that a large body, on
any notable undertaking, was with-
in his means of command,

To the overtures made to him on
the part of Emmett it does not ap-
pear that he assented with cordiali-
ty: on the contrary it is reported,
that this ruffian (who if he was not
gifted with the accomplishments of
some of the leaders we have describ-
ed; seems to have been furnished
with a much larger share of good
sense) is said to have replied, “ that
he would not commit his brave men
upon the faith or good conduct of
therabble of Dublin; ifhowever the
latter could achieve any point of
moment, or that he should behold
from his elevated position, the greer:
flag* flown above the king’s on the
tower of the castle, that he would
be at hand to cover or second the
enterprize.

What is most observable of these
transactions, 18 the impenetrable se-
crecy with which they were con-
ducted.—Undoubtedly many _sur-
mises, obscure reports, aud myste-
rious‘ observations connected with
them, were afloat in Dublin, and
strong symptoms of clandestine
meetings and novel conferences were,
nouced in the more distant counties $
yet the parties to the main design,
continued with inviolablé fidelity

* The colour of the sebclas

true

300

true to each other and their cause.
Mr. Emmett is said at one period to
have counted upon 80 persons with
whom he was in strict contidence,
eminent for zeal, steadiness and re-
solution. All those, though not ac-
quainted with the particulars of the
intended enterprize, must assuredly
have been sufficiently entrusted, to
have made their information of the
utmost value; yet it does not ap-
pear that any such was received by
government through the more obyi-
ous channels. And the latter was
solely apprized of the undertaking
by some intelligent men, conversant
with the manners and habits of the
common Irish, who were conscious
that some unusual bustle prevailed,
and that mischicf was to be appre-
hended from the unusual resort to
the capital of suspicious persons,
Mr, Emmett continued still in
Dublin,. feeding his vanity and his
bapes, with the pompous projects of
afounder of constitutions; and lurk-
ing inall the mysterious varieties of
conspiracy. Ife lodged in several
different houses, passed in various
places by distinct appellations, and
what was of mere consequence to
his grand object, established his
agsenal and magazines in two tene-
ments, hived in the names of other
persons, in obscure parts of the
town, in one of which some small
quantity of gunpowder was manu-
jactured ; in the other, timber was
provided for constructing pikes and
those already made, and his other
_ armsand stores were there deposited,
Here again we must remark that the
depositaries of those secrets, were
the liostler of aninn, and others
of the meanest and most indigent
stamp, whom yet neither levity, nor
the certainty of an ample reward,

ANNUAL REGISTER, | °1803.

nor the wavering instability commom
to men engaged in danger and dan-
gerous designs, could draw the dis-
covery from the impenetrable re-
cesses of their fidelity! To account
for this we must suppose, that the
hearts of the people were with the
project; or perhaps it was, that the
departments of the police of Dublin,
were all filled by men, who had
been deeply engaged in the severities
of the late rebellion, and who being
on that account stigmatised and
detested by the people, even those
who had secretly returned to reason,
were not willing to unbosom them-
selves to men, whom they regarded
with so much horror !

By the month of June however,
government had seen or heard suffi-
cient to induce it to quicken its dili-
yonce, and the officers of the police
appeared thenceforward more alert
and vigilant; notwithstanding which
it was difficult to bring the public to
believe, that the project of insurrec=)__
tion was on foot; especially as the
chief governor of the island, lord
Hardwicke, and his family, had ex-
erted themselves with uncommon
condescension to acquire the publie
approbation, ‘This state of delusion
continued, until the 14th of July the
anniversary of the French revolution,
opened the eyes of many, and excit-
ed a considerable degree of alarm.
Bonfires were publicly made in
commemoration of that event, and
collections of people, though not
numerous, yet apparently strenuous
and decided, formed and partook in
the festivity. A day ortwo after, an
explosion took place in the house
where, as we have already stated,
gunpowder was stored or manufac-
tured. This circumstance tended
to create an universal sensation of

distrust

_ press forward the execution of their”

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

distrust and uneasiness, although it
does not appear to have particularly
stimulated the suspicions or the
efforts of government : and as the
leaders of the conspiracy apprehend-
ed that under such general impressi-
ons it would not be much longer in
their powerto machinate in security,
they immediately determined to

projected treason.

The interval of the ten days next
ensuing after the explosion, was em-
ployed by the malecontents, either
in deliberating on the propriety of
immediately flying to arms, or in
concerting the most practicable
mode of commencing their operati-
ons. It was considered that the
discontent, the’ levity, and the
ignorance of the multitude would
afford an abundant supply of
men: but to arm them was essential,
and in arms they were deficient, It
was then proposed to seize upon the
Several depOts and arsenals in the
vicinity of Dublin ; and above all it
was universally determined to gain
possession of the castle, as in that
case it was supposed they could
more decidedly influence the public
mind by having the seat of govern-
ment in their power,

Iv is difficult to conceive, that a
more absurd and impracticable pro-
ject ever fascinated the mind of an
heated and frantic visionary, than,
that such a forceas wasat that mo-
ment actually disposeable in Ireland,
backed by the armed property of the
kingdom, was to be subdued by 80
adventurers at the head of a tumul-
tuous, half armed,and undisciplined
rabble! Iacoherently indeed did
those deluded wretches calculate
upon their means of success, when

they flattered themselves with the

-

‘ tion.

’

3014

expectation of governing the mostin-
tractable of all mobs, or of compel-
ling it to any principle of subordina-
Ifthey had even succeeded
in carrying the castle, the booty it
presented, would have unnerved
their force, and dissipated their fol-
lowers. How could they have im-
peded or prevented immediate suc-
cours from veing thrown in by Eng-
land? nor would their success a-
gainst the castle have supplied them
with a single ship of war,—or with
one defensible position upon the
sea coast.

As they approached the precipice,
the greater part of the conspirators
clearly contemplated their danger,
and wished to defer the attempt.
These were either the needy and the
profligate who had fastened them-
selves on the spoils of Emmett; the
agents of the French government,
whose object it rather was to agitate
and predispose the country to fer-
ment, than to embark themselves ig
immediate action; or lastly thosé
busy and depraved simpletons, who
cherishinga morbid vanity and thirst
of self importance, had imagined,
that contrary to the obvious’ desti-
nation of their rank jn life and en=.
dowments, they were called uper
to act 2 part on the great theatre of
public affairs; but who, startled at
the near view of da.ger,were willins
(although now too fate) to shrink
back and shelter ibeinselves in their
own insignificance. Mr. Emmett
however was peremptory in the op-
posite way of thinking, and those
who had assisted in feeding his ilka-
sions, were now urged forwaré in
their tum. He represented with
an impetuosity not to be resisted
that the militia was ahout.to be
embodied: that the country would

he

302

be placed every day in a more.un-,
assailable.posture ; and by its maul-,
tiplied measures of defence, be-
come impregnable,

Afterthis conference, many of his.
partizans slunk away, and declined
all farther participationin his .de-
sigis ; others however, and those the.
majority, resolutely determined to
foliow the fortunes of their beloved
leader, and declared, that they would)
not desert him, aithough they ad-
vanced with he certainty of utter des-,
truction to themselves and to their
cause. ‘The die was nowcast, and all
farther reflection was repelled, by the
ardour and firmness of resolution.

Fortune, on this occasion not to
be accused of fickleness, seems
never, from their first embarking on’
this desperate adventure, to have
been for a single moment auspicious
to the devoted conspirators, Their
negociation with Dwyer had failed
“Send a plan, even more specious,
and on which they now grounded
the most sanguine hopes of success,
proved equally failaciuus. A part
of the plan of general attack deter-
mined upon, was to force the -bat-
teries and stores at the mouths of
the harbour of Dublin, by the as-
sistance of those working people
from the counties of Wicklow and
Wexford, who, in the months of
June and July, repair in consi-
derable numbers, for, the purpose
_ of hay-making, to the neighbour-

hood of Dublin. The minds of this
class of men, appeared by no-means
more softened, nor their passions
less alive to every motive of discon~
‘tent, whether real or imaginary,
than they were at the period of the
rebellion of 1798; which they had
piincipally sepported, and the dar-
ing conduct of which had . pre-

NNUALSRE

GIST ER; + 1803.

pared, and. habituated) them fo,
similar encounters; their enmities,
were figree and vehement--their cou-,
rage apd resolution, undoubted, it,
was therefore, natural that.they;
should. be selected, as. most useful,
and valuable .quxiliaries. It) aps,
pears that for, sometime they had.
maniiested.ihe most cordial concur-,
*rence; but on the 22d of July, the
day before that appointed for action,
for some cause of which we profess
our ignorance, they formally de-
clared their abandonment of the
design. They did not, however, ac-
company their refusal with any dis-
covery of theplot.. —_

For some days prior to the 23d
of July, Emmett passed his time en-
tirely in his depdt, reposing at,night
upon a mattress thrown upon the.
ground, amid the implements. of
death, which he had there collected.
Here, with pikes and gunpowder
strewed promiscuously around, did
this poor zealot indulge the wildesg,
workings of his imagination, In such:
a scene as this, did, this lawgiver of
four and tw enty, superior in his own
opinion to the Plaios, the Mores,
and the Hasrapehonss (because he
conceived himself, superadded to his
own, in the full possession of theig
experience,) meditate a digest, of
their several principles, for the be-
nefit of the future Hibernian re-
public; or perhaps, he meditated
whether it might not be better and
more consonant to the will of the
sovereign. people, to divide the
country into separate independent
states, and connect them on some
just and broad principle of alliance,
of which the Achaian league, or
some of the more modern tederative
unions of Europe, might afford, the
archety pe.—How did hheyin this den

0

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

ef treason and of massacre, elevate
himself above the tribe of modern
legislators, and look to posterity
- for that palm which his better ge-
nius had wrested from Penn, and
Mounier, and Sieyes.—But who
shall attempt to paint the enthusi-
astic reveries of this devoted young
man,who for objects chimerical and
‘impracticable, such as his were, had
quitted his station in.life, to asso-
ciate with the vilest of the vile—to
court danger, degradation, death ?
Some papers found in a desk,
which he had-usedin this ferlorn

residence, and which wereseized on °

the suppression of the insurrection,
give that insight into his peculiar
cast of character, which .we have
despaired of doiag: one of, them,
the contents of which we shall here
adduce, in corroboration of our
opinions repecting this unhappy
wretch, and which appears, to. be
the careless effusion of an unoccu-
pied moment, contains the foliowing
rhapsody: ‘‘1 have little time: to
*“ Jook at the thousand difficulties
“ which still lie between me. and
the completion of my wishes;
** that these difficulties will disap-
pear, I have ardent, and I trust

* yational hopes; but if it is not to
*° be ‘the’ case, I thank God for

having giitted me with a sanguine
** disposition, To that disposition
I run from reflection, and if my
hopes are without foundation; if
a precipice is opening under my
feet, from which duty will not
suffer me to run batk-—I am grate-
ful for that sanguine disposition
© which leads me to the brink, and
throws mé down, while my eyes

* are still raised to the vision of
* happiness that my fancy tormed
“é a haa

* in the beavens!

“

303

‘We have already stated that the,
23d of July was fixed upon by thisen-
thusiast to form the eraof Irish liber-
ty--on this day the capture of the
castle of Dublin, and the subversion
of the government and constitution
of Ireland, were to take place. ‘The
date was determined by its coinci-
dence with Saturday, when the re-,
sort of people from all parts of the
country would be less liable to no-
tice, upon the general, business of
the markets: it was also that on
which the streets would naturally
be filled with labourers and handy-
craitsmen, after tueir dismissal from
work, and having been paid. theis
weekly stipend, by. tueir employers.
Another circuinstance too would
serye to cloak the extraordinary as~
semblage of people, or bustle of
active preparation, om that particu;
lar day. It was the eve of the tes~
tival of St.James,on which occasion
an ancient custom prevailed among
the common ranks, of collecting
in great numbers, in a considerable
suburb of Dublin,.for the purpose
vf vepairing to the church-yard de;
dicated to that saint, and. there
dressing the burial places of their
deceased relatives with flowers and
other decorations, the evening being
alterwards devoted, to merriment.

[t docs not appear that the posic
tive determination toact wascommuy
nicated to the insurgeits until the |
very previous day; even some whd
were considered the most resolute;
and most to be depended on, were
not admitted. earlier into this great
resolve. The failure of the former
colispiracy was attributed to a mir
nuteness of preparation — the actors
in it were too eager to convince the,
entire public, that they were then-
sclyes the fittest persons to govern,

and

x,

$04 ANNUAL REGISTER,

and their proposed form of constitu-
tion was the most eligible; the pre-
sent on the contrary, chose.to prove
their title to be obeyed, by their au-
dacity. They hoped to gain on the
side of concealment, more than they
should lose by too anxiously be-
speaking approbation, and storing
up good will; and that at all events,
by this latter mode they would ad-

- vance with more security to the

completion of their wishes. S

On the morning of the appointed
day for this momentous enterprize,
the 23d of July, unusual crowds of
peasants were observed on the great
southern road to Dublin, directing
their hurried steps towards the ca-
pital from all parts of the county of
Kildare,which lies in that direction.
Our readers will recollect that it
was in the latter district that Quig-
ley had succeeded in agitating the
minds of the lower orders, and had
disposed them, with very few excep-
tions, once more to try the fortune
of rebellion. The city was filled
at an early hour, and continued so
during the whole day; indeed it
was obsétved by travellers and
others, that many par ts of Kildare
avere completely eloptied of their
male inhabitants; women, and chil-
dren, and feeble men, alone remain-
ing in the tenements, deserted of

_ their male population.

Yowards evening the populace
Bevan to assemble in vast numbers,
in St. James’s-strect® and its neigh-
bourhood, without, however, any

visible arrangement or discipline:

these were, however, the materials
on which Mr. Emmett proposed to
construct the edifice of repub-

18063.
licanism. The next object was tv
arm the body thus collected: for
this purpose, pikes were deliberately:
brought out from the store provided
for them in that neighbourhood, and
with unmolested regularity placed
along the sides of the street for the
accommodation of all who might
choose to equip themselves. The
inhabitants during this dreadfuLand
alarming scene, (the most extraor+
dinary and unprecedented ever ex-
hibited in a civilized country—in
the _metropolis—in day-light—
within a mile of the residence of.
the chief governor; not half that
distance from the barracks, where
between two and three thousand
men were Jodged, and commanded
by a most gallant, experienced ,and
vigilant commander in chief, under
whom w as a numerous and well ap-
pointed staff—and in the heart of a
city whose police establishment was
perhaps the most expensive in Eu-
repe) were panic-struck, and seeing
no prospect of succour or protection,
withdrew within their houses,barred
their doors and windows, and be-
took themselves to the imploring
the protection of providence, te
avert from them the impending ca-
lamity.

In the subsequent altercations
which have taken place on this
subject, it has been asserted, that
at the castle the guards were dou-
bled, and that a regiment of infan-
try quartered not two hundred
paces therefrom, had orders to hold
themselves in readiness to act at
the shortest notice. However this
fact may-be, certain it is, that at
the moment when St. James’s-strect

* This street is about amile in length, leading from the ‘side’ of tle county of Kil
dare into the heart of the city of Dublin; it is thro: ughout as wide ag Oxford- road, and
mm which a military force could act with vigour and precision,

might

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Wit have been cleared of insur-
gents, rebellion crushed, and the
‘dreadful calamities which afterwards
took place prevented ; not a soldier
was to be seen, and to the dismay of
the loyal inhabitants of that quarter,
it was speedily discovered that no
post had been occupied, nor additi-
onal guard of any description placed
in that vicinity !
The plot had been well concealed,
~ its machinery was perfectly prepared,
and it now only remained to be proy-
-ed, whether it could be put in exe-
cution: every thing hitherto had
favoured the designs of the conspi-
rators, henceforward however, ulti-
mate success entirely depended upon
the conduct of that vast body they
lad set in motion.
Towards dusk the concerted sig-
‘wal that all was in readiness, was
given by some men riding furiously
through the principal streets; but
general alarm was not excited until
the firing at and severely wounding
Mr. Clarke in the midst and most
frequented part of the city, had taken
place ; an actas audacious as it was
atrocious and brutal. This gentle-
man, the proprietor of a considerable
manufactory in the neighbourhood
of Dublin, in the direction of that
quarter whence the force was coilect-
_ ed forthe meditated insurrection,hiad
_ previously imbibed strong suspicions
of approaching tumult, from the
_ &ymptoms of fever and agitation uni-
versally perceived by the mostincuri-
ous observer,to prevail in the actious
and manners of the lower orders, and
of which he thought it his duty to ap-
. prize the lord lieutenant’s secretary.
On the afternoon of , this memorable
day, some unusual appearances a-
mong his workmen confirmed his
opinion; as he rode from town (as
was his custom) to pay them off at
, Volk XLV.

305

the conclusion of the week, he met
nearly their whole body proceeding
to Dublin, without waiting for their
wages or the accustomed hour of
dismissal from work.—On question~
ing some of the foremost as to the
cause of this extraordinary conduct,
he was rudely and abruptly answer-
ed; on which with great presence of
mind he instantly turned round and
rode with the utmost expedition to
the castle, to apprize government of
what he had seen, and thence con-
jectured. Here surely was ground
for active and immediate measures
of precaution. His men. who ob-
served this movement, and aware of
his intentions reported the circum~"

‘stance to their chiefs, who ordered

them to way-lay Mr. Clarke on his
return, and inflict upon him the
dreadful punishment of death for
this presumptuous interference : a~
bout nine in the evening as he rode
homeward, a blunderbuss was dis-
charged at him by one of his own
workmen, which must have been
provided for the occasion, as the
party was yet unarmed when he first
spoke to them. Such was the out-
rage which commenced the horrors
of thisbarbarous proceeding. Pro-=—
videntially by the inexpertness of
the assassin, or through some favour-
able circumstance, Mr. Clarke es-
caped with life although desperately
wounded!

About the period. of this pre-'
meditated assassination, a smalk
piece of ordnance, which had
been in readiness for the pur-
pose, was discharged, and a sky
rocket let off at the same mor
ment, so as to be observed through-
outthe whole city. Mr. Emmett
at the head of his chosen band -
sallied forth from the obscunty
of hts head quarters in Mar-

> ae shalsea

306 ANNUAL REGISTER,

shalsea Janc, and drawing his sword
in the street, with a flourish incited
his ruffians to action; before they
reached the end of the Jane in which
they were arranged, a confidential
member of the party dis¢harged
his blunderbuss at a person array yed
as an officer hastily passing along ;
and thus by a base and unprovoked
act of assassination perished colonel
Browne, a most respectable and me-
ritorious Officer. This circumstance
is the more worthy of notice, as it
denotes the very small reliance to
be placed on the ostentatious dis-
play of lenity set forth in the pro-
clamation which was subsequently
_ discovered, and with which this
wretched self-constituted authority
ptoposed to commence its career of
government. It marks too, how
grossly its leader was the dupe of
his own chimerica! fancy, when he
eould believe that such men could
‘be governed by any other principle of
-action, save their hope and thirst
of plunder and massacre !—Here
we lose sight of the: general and his
stafi—here ended his short lived
course of military and political
achievement! it is to be hoped (and
there is no evidence to counteract
the presumption) that this unfortu-
nate enthusiast did not participate
in the subsequent horrors of the
night. His education, his habits
of life, the polished and elevated
turn of his mind and general de-

portment, which marked him de-

signed for better things, all concur to
yescue his memory from, the odium
of thoseatrocities,which however, it
must be allowed, had solely originat-
edinhimself. Emmett was a fana-
tic—not a fiend. Henceforward
we do not discern him or his brother
conspirators any farther conspicuous
tintil we find them fallen from their

1805.

day dreams of empire, beneath the
power of the offended justice of their:
country.

The prison for debtors is situated
contiguous to where was the chief
rendezvous of the insurgents: thither
they directed their first onset, which
could scarcely have any other object
than that propensity to mischief,
which ever distinguish the commo-
tions of arabble. The corporal of the
ordinary guard there stationed, was
inhumanly butchered; but meeting
no encouragement nor succour from
within, the assailants did not think
fit’ to encounter the resistance of
about twelve soldiers who stood on
their defence ; the unhappy inhabi-
tants of this dreary abode called
loudly for arms, to defend their pri-
son against the ruflians by whom it
was beset; wisely resolving to await
rather the chance of relief from the’
compassion of their country, than te
trust to the infuriated phrenzy of a
mob,

The most vigorous attempt, or in-
deed the only one which could be so
considered in the entire affair, was
upon a few soldiers composing an
out-post, who overpowered by num-
bers were put to death. A single
dragoon riding on command from
some of the generals on the statf of |
Dublin was fired at and killed.

A guard-house of the 21st regi-
ment lay near the scene of rising ;
whilst the main body that composed
the guard were absent on a patrole
party, aband of the insurgents ap-
proached it; but the slight resist-
ance which the remaining men could
make, was sufficient to repel it. A
watch house was also attacked,
but with the like success, although
in this latter instance, as in the
former, the mea were mostly on
duty.

Having

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Having wasted above an hour in
those futile and ineffectual attempts,
distinguished only by acts of indivi-
dual atrocity, notwithstanding every
- effort of their leaders to direct. them
‘towards the castle, the grand object
of attack; the insurgents seemed at
dength seriously disposed to assay
‘that most difficult part of their en-
-terprize, and had actually collected
nan immense column, and had
proceeded through James’s intoTho-
‘mas street, when the attention of
‘its rear was diverted to the arrival
‘of an equipage, which a moment’s
‘inquiry satisfied the rebels, was that
of the lord chief justice of Ireland.
-A halt was instantly called, disorder
‘and tumult again prevailed—the
heads of the advancing party imme-
diately returned upon their steps,

and the massacre of the venerable
Jord Kilwarden, became the sole ob-
ject of this infatuated and execra-
‘ble mob.—The circumstances of
this atrocious act we shall present-
ly advert to—but the delay which
“the putting into execution the bloody
deed, as strongly marked by its folly
“as its ferocity, added to the alarm
which the outrages of more than an
hour had universally spread, gave,
‘though late, an opportunity to
the military guards of the neighbour-
hood to act upon the insurgents.
‘. It was at this period, that it is
serted Mr. Emmett and the
ther leaders, who had been some-
hat more than an hour engaged in

S07
a task far beyond thdirpowers—that
of directing effectually and with pre-
cision an armed Irish mob—retired
in despair, at finding all command
disregarded, all efforts to produce

subordination ineffectual, and their

favourite project of assailing the
castle * rejected for the slightest
opportunity that occurred of indulg-
ing the predatory disposition to ra-
pine and murder, of their associates !
It has been urged in their favour,
that shocked and disgusted at the
murder of lord Kilwarden, the
chiefs instantaneously came to the
resolution of abandoning their vile
associates.— But if that of colonel
Brown, and of the corporal of the
prison guard, had not lessened their
appetite for revolution, it cannot
well be conceived that the subse-
quent barbarities exercised towards
the lord chief justice, would have
rendered them allat once so precise
and squeamish.—in effect, what
must that man be, who could em-

ark on an hostile design with a
drunken, armed populace, and not
calculate upon being the witness,
the ACCOMPLICE, of every species
of crime?

About half past ten the rebels were
in their turn severely attacked—
the mighty project and elaborate
preparation of Mr. Emmett and bis
associates; the numbers their design
had assembled; the lofty conceptions
they had formed; were all discomfit-
ed and dissipated in less than half

- * It is very certain that the head of the advancing column never approached the
le, nearer than Francis street, which is thence distant about halfa miie. The fol-
Towing anecdote, the authenticity of which may be depended upou, will serve to shew
ow little was to be apprehended {from the adherence to each other in the moment of
“action, or from the subordination of thishorde of barbarians. An inhabitant of Francis
street, as the advanced ranks proceeded in that direction overheard froin his window a
leader calling out to his party “to advance,” to which a reply was instantly made, will
_ # tremendous oath—“ We won’t advance, you are no captain of mine, 1 NEVER Bat
NOK DRANK WITH vou!”
> x 2 ar

"
eo

308
an hour by two subaltern officers of
the 21st regiment, each having a-
-bout 50 men under his command,
a peace officer with 15 constables,
and nearly'20 unattached regular
soldiers and volunteers, who had
thrown themselves together under
an officer employed in the recruiting
service.

The 21st regiment of infantry was
stationed in several occasional bar-
racks, in that part of Dublin called
“‘the liberty” inhabited solely by in-
digent manufacturers, and the work-

‘men employed in breweries, distille-
ries, and other sources of employ-
/Inent of the same nature. In this
neighbourhood was situated Mr.
Emmett’s head-quarters; and Tho-
mas street, the first chosen scene of
action. After the rebels had taken
possession of certain streets, and
had put every person in military
attire to death or severely wounded
them ; many other stragglers were
then cut off, who were passing along
in the unsuspecting confidence of se-
. eurity and also some volunteers,who
at these hostile appearances were an-
xiously repairing to the rendezvous
appointed for them in cases of dan-
ger. The attack which we have
already mentioned, and the report
that several soldiers had been inter-
cepted by the mob, induced the offi-
cersat the principal barracksin“ the
liberty” to detach an escort for their
golonel, who lodged at some little
distance: Lieutenant Brady with
about 50 men proceeding on this
service, Came unexpectedly upon
the rear of ihe mob; in attempting
to seize the first pike man he met
with, a shot was fired from an entry
by which one of his soldiers was
wounded ; and some other instances
ef aggression having taken place,
Ijieutenant Brady gaye orders to

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1863.

fire ; ina few minutes the mob fied
in every direction, and left him com=_
plete master of the scene of action. —
The commanding officer of the re="
giment whom this party was dis-
patched to seck out, was the unfor- _
tunate colonel Brown, who on the
first alarm was proceeding to the
quarters of his regiment, and who”
was, as we have already described,
basely assassinated by an atrocious
tuffian of the name of Howly, who
has since met with that punishment
he so richly merited. |The light
company of the same regiment was
stationed in the street called the ~
Combe, contiguous toThomas street; ©
lieutenant Douglas who command- ~
ed it, had had the precaution to
place his men under arms. <A co-—
lumn of rebels proceeding down
Thomas. street seemed desirous to
attack them, two or three shots were
fired, by which some of the soldiers
were hurt, and the mob then ran
forward as if to a charge, but on re~
ceiving a volley fell back; a second
volley dispersed them, and no far-—
ther attack or resistance was expe-—
rienced,

There has never been any re-
turn made of the lives lost on this
occasion; of soldiers and volunteers
there must have been nearly twenty,
and perhaps about 50 of the po-
pulace. The affair would have
terminated earlier, but for the inde-
cisive weakness of a magistrate, un=
der whose disposal was placed the.
Combe party of the 21st regiment ;
he patroled the streets and brought
it directly on the insurgents, but re-
fused his permission to fire, and
obliged it to retreat. On his res
turn he abandoned them and se-
cured himself, when the officer left
to his own discretion, did his duty.

The great preparations which

were

were ooserved in Marshalsea-lane,
and the number of armed men who
issued thence, naturally attracted a
good deal of attention. Lieut.Coult-
man of the 9th regiment, at the
time accidentally in Dublin; par-
taking in the general alarm, col-
lected a few men zealous and reso-
lute like himself, some of which
were of the regiment to which
he belonged, others, volunteers of
the barrack division, of a serjeant
and 12 men whom he met on his
way, and who all put themselves un-
der his command; the entire party
proceeded to the place whence so
much mischief had appeared to is-
sue. The house and the Jane adjoin-
ing it were by this time completely
abandoned, Mr. Emmett and _ his
party not having prepared any
measure for its security, or provided
any means of retreat to it, The
passage through the lane was strew-,
ed with pikes, which marked the
way to the magazine already men-
tioned. Lieut. Coultman and his
party, on entering it, found the en-
tire apparatus of rebellion: a large
quantity of ball cartridge, hand
grenades, pikes, and gunpowder ;
7° military dresses ; but above
Ml, a proclamation wet from the
ress, of persons styling themselves
2 provisional government, and
containing their projects of a future
stitution.
The authors of this instrument
no sort of apology or vindica-
ion, for intruding themselves into
asituation already occupied: they
ar to suppose their claim and
1 to be perfectly notorious and
lowed! Perhaps a higher effort
of presumptuous pride and folly
ver was before presented to the
world, than that displayed in this
Manifesto, which did not even

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

309

contain one word to attach or ani-
mate the people: thence it wag
supposed to be a surreptitious pro-
duction of some of the meaner
confederates... Nothing of the su-
perior mind of an audacious con-
triver, was therein elicited. The
entire is as formal as if it were an
official document, from an acknow-
ledged and undisturbed govern-
ment; and as peremptory and de-
cided as if its authors had ascended
toauthority, by prescriptive right
and regular succession. It became
the jest of the multitude as soon as
made public. And perhaps no
other circumstance could have
more directly tended to produce in”
this class of people, a disposition fa-
vourable to the established autho-
rities; as it was heie taught, that
the Irish were not to expect by a
change of constitution any redress
of their grievances, nor any other
alteration, save a change of go-
vernors.

But the circumstance from which
this hopeless and disastrous com-
motion, derived a degree of cele-
brity, far beyond that which would
naturally belong to the ordinary
acts of turbulence in a disaffected
country, and in an_ ill-regulated
metropolis; was, the dreadful ca-
tastrophe of the chief justice of Ire-
land, the lord viscount Kilwarden.

This unfortunate nobleman had,
on the day of the insurrection, re-
tired 'to his country seat nearly four
miles from Dublin, as he was ac-
customed to do after having passed
the week in fulfilling the duties of
his exalted situation. ‘The — last
judicial acts of his lordship on the
morning of this calamitous day,
were the liberation of confined
debtors under the provisions of an
insolvent act; and the prescribing

X3 swine

BI@ ANNUAL RE

some humane regulations tending
to alleviate the miseries of others
of that description, whe were not
entitled to its benefit. His seat lay
on that side of the town whence the
insurgents were collected; and a
degree of alarm was excited.in his
family towards evening by the re-
ports which poured now fast upon
each other, of vast numbers of sus-
picious persons having been seen
flocking into the city, and of their
obvious intentions, which latter were
indeed no longer atttempted to be
concealed, and must have been by
that time sufliciently notorious.
Lord Kilwarden had probably,
as he had advanced in years, grown
somewhat timorous; but certain it
is, that since the period of the out-
rages of 1798, he was in perpetual
apprehension of being surprized and
assassinated by rebels; and had
not ventured, from that time ull
within the present year, to pass a
night beyond the limits of Dublin.
On the first intimation.of the cir-
cumstances which denoted .distur-
bance being conveyed to him, his
jears returned: his anxious mind
vetraced, in terrifying succession,
the horrors and the audacity of the
last rebellion. It probably suggest-
ed itself to him, that the moving
directly forward upon the metropo-
lis was an argument of the greater
strength, confidence, and resources
of the insurgents now, than on the
former occasion. His situation
was likewise peculiar; as attorney-
general, it had been his duty to
point out numbers of the disaffected
to. the offended laws of their coun-
try; and as a judge he had ordered
in the course of his duty, many of
that description for execution: he,

therefore, in the event of their pos-

GISTER, 1803.

sessing power, however mourentaryy
had much reason to apprehend th
most dismal effects from their fero- |
cious resentment. Inanevil hourys
obeying the impulse given to hist
mind by reflections such as these, ve
did his lordship determine to repairy
.to Dublin for protection; and fort”
that purpose, accompanied by his™
daughter and nephew, © set £
in a post-chaise about the dusk o
the evening. ,
They passed unmolested and™
undisturbed through the solitary
and deserted roads leading to they
capital, and so continued until they®
reached the city; as indeed they”
would have remained, had they not”
quitted the country. One chance”
for safety yet existed. From the!
termination of the road op which his
lordship proceeded, he’might enter
Dublin either by the barracks or by”
St James’s-street; but by the former®
road he would have had to pass?
about a mile farther than on the?
latter, and through a suburb thinly:
inhabited and little frequented ; on:
the latter then he determined, na-
turally reasoning, that where there®
was most town, there would be-
most safety ; and by an over-ruling
fatality, directed his carriage to’
proceed through St. James’s and”
Thomas streets, which were then”
triumphantly occupied by the in=—
surgents! Had he providentially”
chosen the rejected avenue on the |
other side of the river, he would
not have encountered the slightest |
interruption, nor witnessed the leas
appearance of disturbance: indeed’
several individuals of that quarter,
who had retired early to their anced

tations, remained in total igneranc
of the dreadful events of the even-
ing, until they were apprized of

t

HISTORY OF. EUROPE.

the dangers they had escaped, by
the clamor of the frequent patroles,
the posting of guards, and the ge-
neral trepidation and panic of the
next morning.

Tt was darker than it usually
is, at ten o’clock of a night in
July, when the ill-fated party
approached the scene of its
sufferings: as it proceeded into
St. James’s-street, the mob had
nearly evacuated it at the other
extremity, and had advanced into
Thomas-street, so that yet even in
the town, his lordship did not ex-
perience any hostile interruption.
A gentleman of no particular con-
sideration had a few minutes before
atrived in a post-chaise, and pro-
bably would have been the victim
of this ferocious and insane ban-
ditti, but that the arrival of lord
Kilwarden’s equipage arrested his

fate, and drew off their attention’

from him to an object of so much
greater magnitude; and the former
captive, bustling unobserved thro’
the crowd, eflected his escape.

The chaise conveying the lord
chief justice and his family, was
stopped about twenty yards from
the entrance of Thomas-street—
lord Kilwarden immediately de-
clared, his name, and earnestly
prayed for mercy; but in vain—
the three individuals were dragged
from the carriage, the savages ex-
claiming they would sacrifice lord
Kilwarden and his male companion,
but must spare the lady! They
then desired the latter to escape as
well as she could, and permitted
her to pass through their entire
column without injury or interrup-
tion!

Lord Kilwarden and his nephew
were then felled to the ground, of

311
course without resistance, but still
imploring for some return of huma~
nity—the savages to whom they
sued were deaf to all entreaty, and
pierced them with innumerable
wounds. It was afterwards stated
by his lordship’s servant in evidence,
that the ruffians violently contend-
ed and even fought for the distine-
tion of stabbing with their pikes
the prostrate and defenceless vic-
tims!

No portion of the conduct of as-
sassins, which makes us shudder at
their unfeeling barbarity, and
blush for human nature, can ever
be the theme of our applause; bus
in the permitting, in the moment of
blind and infuriate rage, the escape
of Miss Wolfe, we can trace some
of the lineaments of ‘the native
character of the country, such as
it exhibited before its people were
corrupted by faction, brutalized by
misrule,and maddened and depraved
by the influence of that combina-
tion of all vice, and the source of
every popular perversion—jaco-
binism!

The unfortunate young lady,
having ran through the streets,
scarcely knowing whither, fortu-
nately reached the castle in astate,
as might well be imagined, border-
ing on phrenzy; where she an-
nounced the situation in which she
had left her father!

The alarm having been univer-
sally spread by the murder of col.
Browne, and the other instances of
outrage which we have already de-
tailed, the approach of the smalk

_ bodies of the military force hastily

collected by the good sense, gallan-
try, and presence of mind of some
subaltern officers, gave cause of
other consideration to the murder-

X 4p ers,

:

’

312 ANNUAL REGISTER, 12863.

ers, who now as cowardly as fero-
cious, abandoned their mangled
prey, arid betook themselves preci-
pitately to concert some measures
of defence. The slender resistance
they made, and their flight and dis-
persion, we have already related.
As soon as the streets were a little
cleared, some humane persons ven-
tured to approach the scene of blood
and massacre.—The body of the
nephew was found at the distance of
afew yards from the spot where the
carriage had been stopped; whence
it was conjectured that he had con-
trived in the crowd to escape that
Jength, but was soon pursued, and
his murder there consummated.
Strange to relate, that of lord Kil-
warden was found not totally be-
reaved of life!. He was carried to
the nearest watch-house, where he
received such accommodation as
that wretched place could aflord.
In this pitiable situation he breath-
ed his last, having survived his car-
‘ng in thitherabout halfan hour.—

#9» ‘e lived long enough to im-
But h. his name by his last
mortage 46 close a most useful

avords, aga
and respectable
sive testimony of .
which had, throughou | eatie
been his safe and wpe i gwce-
His last words, uttered in iced
nies of a most cruel and yUNIU"
death—bleeding, and beieit E
friend or acquaintance—on the
hard bed of a watch-house— were
such as would have graced the lips
of justice in her most dignified situ-
‘ation, and in the full possession of
her most undisturbed reflection.
“A bye-stander, shocked at_ the
dreadful scene, had exclaimed with
a warmth, commensurate with the
extent ot the feeling it had inspired,
fat the assassins should be exe

life with an impres-
the bonest mind,
't its progress,

cuted the next day. That justice
which this great man, (truly such at
this trying moment,) was accustom-
ed to dispense, arose to the mind, to
the lips, of the expiring magistrate—
that love of law and order, which
governed all his actions, revived his
drooping powers, and he raised his
head for the last time, to exclaim,
“* Murder must be punished, but let
** no man suffer formy death, but on
“a fair trial, and by the Jaws of
“« his country.” Memorable words!
which compose the noblest epitaph
for his tomb, and which will carry
down his name with veneration and
applause to latest posterity.

Arthur Wolfe, lord viscount Kil-
warden, was a native of the kingdom
of Ireland, and had served the
crown in the usual gradations of the
highest. law offices. _He became
solicitor general of Ireland, when
the present viscount ‘arleton was
promoted to the common pleas;
and attorney general, on the Jate
lord Clare’s accession to the seals.
The earl of Clonmel] was his lord-
ship’s immediate predecessor in his
last high office, that of chief justice
of Ireland. As crown prosecutor,
during a period which unfortu-
nately called very much for the
exercise of the duties of that of-
fice, he was fair, candid, and gen-
tle; disposed to give the delinquent
every reasonable advantage, and
always less desirous to exaggerate
ouilt, than to ascertain innocence.
As # judge, no man ever attempted

¢o censure him on any ground,

other (han a strenuous, and what
some considered in. critical times,
an overstvained assertion of the li-
berty of the subject. .He was not,
from his talents or attainments, cal-
culated to extend the limits of
science, or multiply the lights eS

‘his

HISTORY

his profession: but he was really
what his dying expressions bespoke
him, an upright honest man, who
well knew how to appreciate law
and justice, and whom unwearied
sedulity, and long habits of the dis-
tribution of both, had fully and
deeplyimpressed in his mind their
soundest maxims. ‘The situation
in which he was placed, suffered in
the hands of lord Kilwarden, no di-
minution of credit or respectability ;
happily for the country it has, since
his «lecease, been delivered over to
the custody of a gentleman, every
way qualified, in point of honour to
Sustain, in point of ability to ad-
vance, the character which should
appertain to so exalted a station.

From this digression, we shall
now return to our detail of what
yet remains untold of the fate of
the conspiracy and its leaders,

Mr. Emmett, after he had acted
the general for the short space of
an hour, finding himself either de-
serted by his army, or at the head
of a crowd, by whom his commands
and even his entreaties were slight-
ed, fled in despair and mortification
from Dublin. ‘The next morn-
ing, the secret history of the depdt,
of the preparations there, and of
his individual share in the transac-
tion, were become perfectly noto-
rious. A man who had been made
prisoner, (passing by the magazine,
on the morning of the 21st of July,)
by the insurgents, and who were ap-
prehensive of his having discovered
their preparations; was saved by
Emmett, contrary to the wish of

the miscreants who acted with him. >

This person effecting his escape, on
the might of the 23d, after he had
been detained for two days, was
able to detail with minuteness, all

OF EUROPE.

313

the transactions of the place, and
to describe the parties concerned.
A hot pursuit was instantly commen-
ced after the chiefs. Emmett, with
twelve chosen men, had taken the
road which led to the mountains ad-
jacent to Dublin; there, for a few
days, they marched about, in the
guise of French officers; but they
received no other succour than
What compassion afforded ; their
appearance, and the character they
had assumed, created sensations
which could not long be kept se-
cret—the alarm given, asearch was
made in every direction. ‘The re-
bel leaders found this stratagem,
which was indeed as puerile as the
former part of their proceedings were
weak and depraved, soon fail. Em-
mett again took refuge in Dublin,
where he was quickly traced by the’
vigilance of the police, and com-
mitted to prison. Dowdall and Al-
len escaped out of the country ;
Redmond was arrested at Newry,
as he was about to take his passage
for America; Quigley, anda prin-
cipal of the name of Stafford, fled
into the interior of the country, and
were not apprehended until after
Emmett’s execution.

The prisoners made on the night
of the 23d, were some of the most
wretched amongst the rabble. In
about three weeks after the affarr, a
commission for trying all those,
charged with treason, and all taken
in arms, and others of the like con-
dition, against whom evidence ap-
peared; and with Messrs. Emmett
and Redmond wereseverally brought
to trial, and executed. Mr. Em-
mett made no sort of defence; but
being called to receive sentence,
delivered an animated address to
the court, in which he avowed, his

treasons,

Sle

treasons, and appeared to consider
himselfias suffering for the cause of
his country. At his execution, he
evinced uncommon intrepidity and
composure ; declared himself a!
member cf the church of England,
andiaccepted the services of a cler-
gyman of that communion.

At thestime that Emmett adven-
tured his projeet'in the metrepolis,
his friend and associate, Russel, made
an appeal to the passions of the pea-
santry inan obscure corner of the
northern province. He collected to-
gether some persons who coldly list-
ened to his harangue, but were far
from compliance with the meditated
treason to which he endeavoured to
incite them. In fact, these projects
had lost their attraction; the en-
‘thusiasm which for some years bad
agitated the north of ‘Ireland, had
been permitted to subside ; the ani-
mosities by which it was supported,
bad grown languid. We do not
find any attempt made to secure
the person of Russel, although
some threatened him with imme-
diate personal violence, and others
fwent forthwith to. disclose the facts
toa magistrate. The catholic cler-
gyman of the parish, who had by
sine means become aware of the
projected rising, earnestly exhorted
his people to be upon their guard
against the specious delusions of
the agitators. Mr. Russel, upon
these unauspicious appearances, fled,
but hazarded from the place of his
eoncealment, a proclamation (some-
what indeed more modest than that
of the provisional government al-
ready alluded to) in which he stiles
himself General of the Northern
District; and endeavours to se-
duce the people, by that*sort of
language which, oa former ocea-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

sions, had become familiar to their
ears, and was then probably not un
acceptable. After the arrest of Em-
mett Russel introduced himself clan-
destinély into Dublin, with a view
to rescue his friend, jf possible, un-
der favour of soine commotion.
About two days after his arrival, it
became known that some person’
was mysteriously secreted in the ims
mediate vicinity of the castle. In-
formation to this effect having been
conveyed tothe town major, that offi-

cer proceeded to the examination of!

a house in Parliament-street, where
he was found, and to whom Mr. Rus-
sel, though well armed, surrendered

without resistanee, It was supposed’
he was in this act influenced bya re-"

ligious scruple. He was immediate-
ly transmitted to Downpatrick, in the
north of Ireland, where he was short-
ly after brought to trial, and upon
the clearest evidence of his treason,
convicted. Afterhis trial, he mani=

fested all that wildness of religious’

enthusiasmiwhich had for some time
formed the prominent feature of his
character. On conviction he ad-
dressed the court, at great lencth,
and with remarkable firmness. He
declared his adherence to the poli+
tical opiniens, for which he was a-
bout to sufler, and touched, in a
tender point, the gentlemen of the
County of Down, by whom he was
surrounded, These gentlemen, al-
though latterly become more anxi-
ous to preserve their property than
to enlarge the circle of their liber-
ties, had been foremost in the out-
cry for parliamentary reform and
political independence.
minded them of this circumstance,
and declared that he was doomed
to sufier, for endeavouring to put
into’ execution the lessons imbibed

amongst

Russel re-—

—

HISTORY OF EUROPE

amongst them, and concluded by
begging for a few days of life, to
coniplete a moral work,which he had
in hand. ‘The nature of this work
sufficiently displays the state of
mind of its unfortunate author. It
was a collection of notes, on a pub-
lication of the celebrated millen-
arian, Mr. Dobbs, and calculated
‘to enforce that gentleman's inter-
pretations of certain prophecies,
which, according to him and his
disciples, indicated the near ap-
proach of the millenium. It ap-
pears, from Russel’s conversation
with some gentlemen who saw him
shortly. before his conviction, that
he acted under an idea, that the
great political évents he had al-
ready witnessed, and others he with
confidence looked forward to, were
parts of the great change permitted
by providence, in accomplishment
of the prophecies contained in the
Old ‘Testament.

Alter the execution of Emmett
and Russel, Quigley, and Stafford
were apprehended, in the county
of Galway. Government was how-
ever satisfied, by the examples
which were made, and was inclined
to lenity; the lives of these two,
and of the other untried prisoners,
were spared, on their making a full
disclosure of the circumstances yet
unknown of their treason.

Dwyer, and the band of outlaws
whom he commanded in the county
of Wicklow, struck with the im-
practicability of any treasonable at-
tempt they could undertake, sub-
mitted’on a similar stipulation,
namely, that their lives should be
spared ; and thus was brought to a
close, whatever remained of the re-
bellion of 1798; and the conspi-
racies of that period and of 1803,

were af once completely destroyed,
and buried in the saine grave.

Whatever were the innate senti-
nrents of the people, whichis still
a disputed point, the appearance of
good order and cordiality were’
again re-established throughout the’
island:

Tt will readily be believed, that’
avery considerable degree of sen-
sation was excited, throughout*
every portion of the British empire,
by the developement afd conse-
quiences of the conspiracy, the events
of which, so far as they have come
to our knowledge, we have detailed
with impartiatity, and we trust with
accuracy. That a city of stitch
magnitude (the second in his ma-
jesty’s dominions), garrisoned by a
numerous and well-appointed sol-
diery, under the comimand of an
officer of the highest reputation,
and the seat of the civil government
of the kingdom, should have beew
for more than two hours in’ the’
hands and at the mercy of a wild
and lawless mob, appeared a cir-
cumstance so unpreceddnted and
surprizing, that investigation into
the causes, and punishiment to’ the
culpably negligent, if such there
should be found, were universally
looked for, as a matter at once of
right and of necessity. .

No such proceeding however
took place, and from want of the
sanction of indubitable authority,
we are precluded from laving be-
fore our readers the various states
ments en the subject, which have
with equal eagerness and minutes
ness been obtruded on the w orld,
Snfficient for us to observe that
blame of the most serious nature
was “deemed generally attributable’
to the government of Ireland; and

which,

816 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

which, in that unhappy country,
the friends and partizans of the
lord-lieutenant and commander in
chief, endeavoured, in mutual re-
crimination, to affix on each of
those characters. The result may
be easily conceived ; it was found
impossible to carry on the neces-

. Sary business of the administration

of affairs in Ireland, under circum-
stances so discordant ; consequent-
ly general Fox was removed thence;
but as soon as a situation of credit
and importance presented itself, it
was immediately conferred upon
him—lord Hardwicke was con-
tinued in his lieutenancy, The
English government, thus manifest-
ing its intention of hushing up the
affair, and of suppressing all farther
inquiry.

From an attentive consideration
ef the circumstances we have nar-
rated, it must be deduced, that
either the government of Ireiand
was completely surprized, which,
under every appearance and even
fact, connected with the conspi-
racy which must have previously
come to its knowledge, argues a de-
gree of security totally inconsistent
with wisdom or prudence ; or, that
being well served, and early ap-
prized of the threatened insurrec-
tion, it neglected those means
which the nature of the case sug-
gested, and which were abundantly
within its reach, of guarding against
consequences so much to be dread-
ed. The judgment is thus sus-
pended, between the imputation
of incapacity, and one of a far more
serious nature,

Certain however it is that inform-
ation of the impending insurrection
was given to the government, the
extent of which, and the credit that

should be attached to it, we cam-
not pretend to ascertain, early on
the day of the insurrection ; and we
must ever regret that it was not
thought proper then to set on foot
such precautionary measures, as
might, if not entirely have diverted
the meditated attack, at least have
saved the lives of the innocent
individuals, who were its ~ vic-
tims. The heart sickens at the re-
flection, that the venerable lord
chief justice, who might, at the
short distance of four miles from
the capital, have expected a sum-
mons to council; or the parti-
culars of the information receiy-
ed; or the escort of a few dra-
goons, if any intimation of tdmul-
tuous assemblage had been com-
municated to the lord lieutenant,
hesjtated, between the doubts rais-
ed in his mind, by the rumours
which were, towards the evening of
that fatal day, continually pouring
in upon him, and the total silence
of government, until the moment
when the increase of the former had
amounted to conviction, and im-
pelled him, though too late, to
seek refuge in the metropolis !

The last subject, connected with
the affairs of Ireland, which occur-
red within this year, worthy of en-
gaging the attention of our readers,
was a correspondence of an extra-
ordinary nature, which took place
within a-short period of the sup-
pression of the rebellion, between
the lord chancellor of Ireland and
the earl of Fingall.

The latter is a Roman catholic,
and, from his long line of noble
ancestry, possessed of consider-
able property in Ireland. From
his high rank, extensive influence,

and universally acknowledged good

character,

/

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

eharacter, his lordship was consi-
dered, and withjustice, the most con-
siderable person of that persuasion.
During the late rebellion, at the head
of his tenantry and the neighbouring
gentry, he had valiantly and most
effectually fought the battles, and
guarded the interests of his king and
the constitution. Influenced by
those considerations, and by the
advantage which might accrue there-
by to the country, the lord fieu-
tenant of Ireland proposed to put
him in the commission of the peace.
Ov the transmission to his lordship

* Vide Appendix.

319 ,
of the instrument under which a
authority derives, the lord chance.
lor thought proper to accompany it
by a letter, in which originated the
correspondence we have adverted
to, and which, as itis inserted in
another portion of this work,* we
shall not here recapitulate. . Its
having excited a gonsiderable de-
gree of sensation in both countries,
is our motive for preserving it in
our collection; and we are much
deceived, if it afford not hereafter
for the historian, a valuable and
useful document.

CHAP,

316 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

th

whir ou | . pra

CHAP.) XXK

‘

State of Europe.—Effect of the Peace of Amiens upon Spain—Portugal—~.

Austria—Prussia—Swcden—Denmark—Italy.—Onty beneficial m its
‘effects’ to France.—Discontent of Russia—War breaks out between
England and France.—Ambitious views of Bonaparte on the Turkisle
Empire in Africa—Exo ope—and_ Asia.— Mission of Sebastiant.—View's
of Bonaparte frustrated by the War,—Directs his whole attention to the

' Invasion of ‘Britain.—Vast preparations at Boulogne—At Brest—and

at Bayonne.—Levies contributions on Portugal_—Tyranical conduct to
the Dutch.—Designs on Germany.—State of the, Empire.—French
invade and conquer Hanover.—Acquiescence of Austria, and Prussia
thereto.—And why.—Spirited conduct of Denmark.—Insolence of Bo-

-naparte to Russia, and violation of his Treaties with that Power—-

Posture of Europe at the close of the ¥Year.—Conclusion.

HE year cf nominal peace

which Europe enjoyed in
2802, was to France alone ulti-
mately benelicial. The French
government, however it might af-
fect moderation at-the treaty of
Luneville, never, in point of fact,
gave up any of the advantages it
had gained in the war over the dif-
ferent powers which had coalesced
against her; but on the contrary,
through the medium of that peace,
contrived to increase both — its
territory and influence; and in
some degree to’ restore its finan-
ces from the derangement, which
interior disturbance and the first
year’s expences of the war had ne-
cessarily occasioned.

At the close of the year 1802,
France was every way more powerful
than atits commencement, while on
the other hand Europe had grown
proportionably weaker. It had
been the undeviating system of the

French government, while treating

with the other powers of Europe,
to manifest a specious moderation,
but which was followed by the
assumption of the most absolute
dominion over them.
ity to this principle, it had some
years before signed a peace with
Spain on terms apparently equita-
ble; but from the moment of the
signature of that peace, Spain des-
cended from the rank of an inde-
pendant nation, to a state of abso-
lute vassalage. In like manner the
treaty of Luneville appeared in its
conditions sufficiently reasonable,
had Franee ever intended to have
carried them into execution; and
in the treaty of Amiens, from the
moment that the preliminaries were
signed which led to it, Bonaparte
seemed to consider Great Britain
(as well as Spain and Austria) to:
have fallen from the rank it form-
erly held to the condition of a

secondary

In conform- .

HISTOBY) OFAED/‘ROPE.

secondary power, no longer able
to cope with France, or “of con-
sequence enough to interfere in
the continental relations of Europe.
From the first establishment of
her republic, France had followed
closely the maxim of the ancient
Romans, who only gave peace to
those nations they were willing to
receive as dependant tributaries.

Spain was not the only nation that
descended from its elevated sphere,
and became degraded into insig-
nificance, by a specious peace.
TheGerman empire, which had been
shaken to its centre by the disas-
trous events of the war, was still
a greater sufferer by the short and
deceitful pacification which ensued.

By the treaty of Luneville,,
the independence and freedom
of Switzerland, Holland, and
the Italian republic, were guarded
by the most solemn engagements ;
but in the short interval of suspend-
ed warfare which succeeded, Bona-
parte, so far from respecting those
stipulations, established his doii-
nion but the more firmly over
those countries, in violation of the
faith he had pledged to them. and
to all Europe.
ded ‘in the same treaty, that the
brother of the emperor Francis, the
grand duke, should be fully indem-
nified in Germany, for lis immense
losses in Italy. This stipulation,
although most immediately affect-
ing the personal honor and feelings
of the emperor, was most shame-
fully. evaded. Bonaparte, well
aware of the great dilficulties that
the jarring interests of the different
German powers would throw in
the way of that plan of indemuities
and compensations, on which. the
treaty of -Luneville was founded,

319 ,

had the address to prevail upon
the pacific disposition of the em-
peror of Russia, to co-operate with
him in settling the affairs of Ger-
many. The court of St. Peters-
burgh, anxiously desirous of heal-
ing the. wounds of Germany, and
induced by the hope of restoring
the different nations of Luroze to
permanent tranguillity, and the
quiet enjoyment of their independ-
ence, allowed itself for a season
unwittingly to enter into the views
and projects of the wily Corsican.
Opposed to such mighty powers as
France and Russia, the German
nation was necessitated to patieat
acquiescence, and with scarcely an
exception, every point that was pro-
posed at Ratisbon, by the French and
tussian ministers conjunctively, was
ratified by the diet. One solitary
instance of successful opposition to
the determinations of those powers
however occurred. Originally, no-
thing equivelant to his claims was
proposed to be given to the archduke
Ferdinand for the loss of Tuscany ;
But the emperor of Germany had
the spirit to protest so often and so
strongly against this manifest viola-

It had been provi-~ tion of the treaty of Luneville,

that France and Russia at length
consented that the bishoprick of
Eichstadt should be added to his
brother’s compensations, This e-
vent is principally remarkable, as it
is the only stand which Austria has
attempted to make against the over-~
_ bearing influence of France in Ger-
many, since the cessation of hose
tilities.

The question of the indemnities
however haying been thus disposed
of, the relative situation of Austria
to France at the termination of
a. year of peace, was materially

: deteriorated ;

X

320

deteriorated; she and her allies not
having received the benefit of those
conditions which had been stipu-
Jated in their favour by the articles
of the treaties of Luneville and
Amiens, were positively weakened ;
while the French nation, retaining
Holland, Switzerland, the Italian,
and Ligurian republics, (all of which
it had beenexpressly bound to evacu-
ate by the letter and spirit of both
treaties,) had acquired a prodigious
acquisition of strength and influ-
ence: the balance of course
turned decidedly against Austria,
and from the day of the final settle-
ment oi the German indemnities,
Bonaparte, and not Francis, must
be looked to as the arbiter of Ger-
many. Thenceforward the influ-
ence of the emperor may be consi-
dered as strictly confined within the
limits of his hereditary estates.

In those transactions the views
and policy of the court of Berlin
were so extremely narrow and self-
ish, as even to disgust France, at
the very moment she was exerting
her all powerful influence, to ad-
vantage Prussia. The Moniteur,
the official paper of the French
government, did not hesitate to ac-
cuse the king of Prussia of obstruct-
ing the arrangement of the indem-
nities, by his confined views; and
it must be allowed, that the uni-
form conduct of the cabinet of Ber-
lin was such, as to merit, and draw
upon it, the contempt of all Eu-
rope. The Prussian nation had no
jonger on its throne that Frederic,
who madeit his boast and glory to
be the protector of the smalicr
states of Germany, and who, by a
wise and liberal policy knew how
to unite the force of the lesser pow-
ers to his own, in the common

ANNUAL REGISTE

R, 1803.

defence of the rights and liberties
of the Empire. ‘The present mon-
arch appeared to consider the ac-
quisition of a petty district, how-
ever small, as an object of greater
moment than that influence which
should of right attach to his power
in Germany, and which a spirited
line of conduct must have insured.
The consequence was such as-
might have been expected. The
lesser states of the north of Germa-
ny, seeing no prospect of protection
from a power whose politics were
so mean and debased, naturally
submitted to the authority of
France. Frederick the great, by
protecting the smaller states with
the same zeal as he would his own
territories, became formidable to
the most powerful monarchs of his
age, and obtained for Prussia the
rank of a primary power. The
policy which raised Prussia to such
a Rank among the nations of Eu-
rope was abandoned athis death ;
and since that period, Prussia, al-
though constantly increasing in
_territory, has visibly declined in
importance; insomuch that Eu-
rope at present knows nothing of
that power, save as the ally and in-
strument of France, It may with
propriety be said of this kingdom,
what one of the most accomplish-
ed orators of his age applied to
France, “‘ If we look upon the map
of Europe we see a chasm where
once was Prussia.” Nor can it be
expected from the present aspect of
things, that a sovereign imbued
with the spirit of the ereat Frede-.
rick shall again arise to crown the
Prussian name with glory, and hold
with steady hand the balance
among the rude and restless nations
of the borth, On the contrary it

appears,

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

appears, that Europe has much
more to apprehend from its alliance
with the common enemy, than to in-
dulge in the hope ofits ever adopting
«@ magnanimousand generous policy.
The history of modern times clearly
demonstrates, that with states, as
with individuals, independence can
only be secured, by a steady perse-
verence in an undeviating display of
true spirit and resolution. ‘

Sweden and Denmark, who had
chosen to preserve their neutrality
while the rest of Europe was inyoly-
edin war, did not at the peace ap-
pear to have gained much by their
forbearance: on the contrary their
relative importance seemed rather
to have been diminished than aug-
mented.

The German empire was so weak-
ened by the defection of some of its
principal states, that it was no
longer able to oppose itselfto France;
and Russia appeared the only pow-
er on the continent of Europe,
which was at all capable of pre-
scribing limits to Gallic ambition.
The remaining states of the conti-
nent seemed to have fallen entirely
from the independent rank they had
sustained for ages; and their sove-
reigns, although they preserved
their crowns and titles, appeared in
point of independent consequence,
prefects or proconsuls, governing for
theinterests of France, and remov-
able at her pleasure. The kingdom
of Naples was perpetually menaced
with the return of the French arnty,
if its politics should not be agreea-
ble to Bonaparte ; and Portugal was
‘insulted by the French ambassador,

eneral Lasnes, in a manner totally
neonsistent with the rank and dig-
nity of any stute that has ever been
-egnsideyed independent. In effect,

321

notwithstanding the letter and obvi-
ous meaning of the different treaties
which France had signed, Bona-
parte remained during the peace not
only master of Holland, Switzerland,
Genoa, and the Italian republic,
but also of Naples, Spain, Por-
tugal, and a considerable part of
Germany.” ‘Such an immense and
constantly increasing power, neces-

_ Sarily awakened the attention of

those nations, yet possessed of the
means of resistance.

Russia saw with painand increasing
anxiety the enormous aggrandize-
ment of France, and her unwilling-
ness to fulfil the treaties and engage-
ments which she had entered into.
The independence of the kingdom of
Naples had been specifically gua-
ranteed by Russia; and France had *
positively engaged to procure the
king of Sardinia an equivalent in
Italy for the loss of Piedmont. ‘The
honor of Alexander was as much
concerned in the fulfilment of those
engagements, as his interests were
engaged in restraining the farther
encroachment of Bonaparte.

While negociations were set on
foot between the courts of St. Pe-
tersburgh and Paris resp@ting those
objects, war was again declared be-
tween Great Britain and France,

The mission of Sebastiani, of
which we ‘have in the preceding
pages given an ample accounc,
threw the stronggst light upon the
ambitious project$ ef Bonaparte ;
he had in his imagination already
possessed himself of the whole Ot
toman empire. Egypt and Syria it
was his object tirst to occupy; and
when firmly established. in those
conquests, he was assured from the
experience derived from the Egyp-
tian expedition, that there was

Y ROn

.

‘

*

§22

no force in the Turkish empire ade-
quate thence to dislodge him; and
on such a foundation it was an easy
flight for his ambitious fancy, to
bound his oriental empire only by
the farther limits of Asia! It be-
came evident that the subjugation
of European Turkey was also me-
ditated, for it was not alone to
Egypt and Syria, but to the re-
public of the Seven Isles, that Se-
bastiani’s mission extended. ‘This
person had landed, on the 2d of Ja-
juary, at Zante, and immediately
demanded. an interyicw with the
Delegate Regent; whom he imme-
diately assured of the protection
that Bonaparte meant to extend to
‘all classes of the citizens of that re-
public; and having prevailed upon
him to invite certain noblemen,
merchants, and others, the princi-
pal inhabitants of tl:e island, to the
palace ; he commenced a laboured
harangue, in. which he dwelt upon
the anxious wishes of the first con-
sul of I'rance, for their prosperity
and happiness, and his earnest de-
sire that they should adopt a system
of government analogous to that of
France ; that in such case, so-seduc«
tive an okject held up to the view of
continental Greece, might rouze up
the ancient ardour and enthusiasm
for liberty in that people, and by
which the republic of the Seven Is-
bands, would become @ power supe-
rior even to its own expectations; be
then invited them to convey gene-
srally to the people, not only of the
neighbouring coasts, but of the
Seven Islands; those assurances and
sentiments of Bonaparte; and con-
cluded. by expressing himself in
terms of marked disrespect, of the
emperor of Russia. -Sebastiani had
#hivigued to get this speech applaud-.

ANNUAL REGISTER, -1808.

ed by some of the lower ordem
of the people; but the Russian
commandant considered both
the oration and his whole conduct,
as an outrage to his master, and
represented both in the strongest
terms to his court. M. Romicu,
the French chargé d’affairs, also
wrote a letter to the prince of the
senate, and the vicar-general of the
Roman catholic churches at Corfu,
informing them that he had re-
ceived express orders from his go-
vernment, to place the Roman ca-
tholic church of the republic, under
the special protection of the first”
consul of Trance; and _ therefore
expected that prayers would be put
up in the different churches of that
religion in the islands, for the
prosperity of the- Trench govern-
ment, and the health and preser-
vation of its consuls! A more
decided demonstration of the in-
tentions of Bonaparte to assume.
their future sovereignty, coul.
not be given. When it is recol-
lected what importance he aflixed
to the island of Corfu, on his
first acquiring it from the Venetian
state; that he had originally pro-
fessed to consider it as the key of
the Adriatic, and the direct me-
dium through which Greece, might
be conquered, it may easily be sup-
posed that he would make use of »
every possible means for its repos-
session, By the conduct of his
missionary Sebastiani, he eyinced
his perseverance in that intention.
It was therefore most evident, that
he had marked the whole of the
‘Turkish empire as his prey, and he
did. not conceive, that either Eng-
land or Russia possessed the power
or the will to obstruct the accom-
plishmept of this-object. Such was
oF the

.

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

the position of Europe, when, the
war was renewed between England
and France; an event which, di-
verted the ambition of France. to
widely differing speculations,
Thenaval syperiority of Great Bri-
tain was decidedly sullicient to pro-
tect the Turkish empire; as,after the
complete destruction of the French
fleet at Aboukir, it did not wppear
possible for France to collect..to-
gether such a fect, in. the Mediter-

, anean, as would be at all capable .

of coping in future with, the English
squadrons. The schemes of the first
consul against Turkey, were, there
fore necessarily, postponed, jtill)a
Npre, cenyenient season ;,and, in the
mean time, he employed his wast
means, inthe most unremitting ex-
ertions, and the most astonishing
preparations. for the invasion of
(Great Britain !
», Tp this attempt he was urged
forward by .every’ motive: Great
Britain, exhaustless in wealth and
Tesources »by the longest war, was
Atthe momentof renewed hostilities,
through the,anaccountable impro-
widence of her government, com-
\paratiyelywery weak in the number
of her troops; while Bonaparte
stood in a situation directly the re-
xerse: his armies admirably ap-
pointed, and)flushed with conquest,
were more numerous than his de-
aanged finances could well support.
dt might therefore consist with
sound policy. in him, to venture
considerable armies on an expe-
dition which, if it succeeded, would
amake him master of the world; but
failing, would leave him disen-
cumbered of a dangerous and al-
most insupportable burden.

‘Well aware that every effort
would be employed to increase. the
selitary strength of Great Britain,

*

323
after the war; he commenced, and
nearly completed,, with a, dispatch
perhaps ynexampled in history, the
most immense armament ever des-
tined for theiny asion ofany country.
Despairing of being able, to raise
the French marine. to an equality
with that of Britain, he conceived
the mighty project. of rapidly con-
structing and uniting. at ‘Boulogne,
a flotilla, capable of. conyeying an
army’ suiticenily , powerful to, at-
tempt the invagion and conquest of
England. It ,had..been.satisfacto-
ily ascertained in, the , course /@
the. Jast. war,;,that .any.,nwober of
French gun-boats, could, sail swith
periect safety along their ownshores;
nd xeach, under the protectionof
their numerous batteries, that port,
where once arrived, they were.e-
qually safe from hostile attack.—
Boulogne was therefore made ,the
entre and head quarters of his vast
preparations, and. the, point from
which he. meditated forcing the
passage of the English channel._—
The national vanity, and national
prejudices of France, encouraged
this project; and, as no circum-
stance could flatter the pride, or
increase the power of France, so
smuch as the conquest of England,
the hope held out of its attain-
ment, made the war, at its. com-
mencement, popular in the ex-
treme in the former country; and
the immense preparations of Bo-
naparte, inclined most of the
continental powers, to consider
-Great Britain as already subju-
gated!

No -truth can’ be more clear;
than that the conquest of Britain
would give \Bonaparte universal
empire; and if Europe has. es-
.caped that calamity, she owes it,
under the diyine providence, to that:

Kz. . pirit

$04 ANNUAL REGISTER,

‘spirit of rational ‘liberty and ge-
nuihe patriotism in the inhabitants
of Great Britain, on which her go-
vernnent found, that in the mo-
ment of danger, the most unbound-
ed reliance might’be placed. Had
the united kingdom been despot-
ically governed, it could hardly
“have escaped the danger with which
dt was menated. ‘Its population
would not afford, at the same time
to maintain a naval superiority, and
to keep up a regular force to cope
“with the immense armies of France.
‘The spirit of that freedom, which
had for ages animated the British
mation, however made ample amends
‘for every deficiency, baffled the cal-
culations, and frustrated the object
-of the immense preparations of Bo-
naparte. An army of more than
“300,000 volunteers was immediately
formed, for the additional security
of the empire, and there can be no
doubt, from the spirit and enthu-
siasm in which that system was em-
barked, that such an immense aux-
dliary force, in conjunction with the
segular troops, and the invaluable
militia of the country, would be
sufficient to repulse any force which
France could spare, or her flotilla
¢onvey. The preparations and
menaces of France still continued
at the end of the year, though doubt-
Jess her hopes of success in the ex-
pedition, were very much abated,
“Those menaces and preparations,
however, produced no other effect,
‘with respect to England, than to
consolidate and strengthen her de-
fensive system, and teach her to
. know and feel her own strength
and security.

Bonaparte was however not so
entirely absorbed in his preparations
fog the invasion of England, Or so

+

1805.

confident of the success of the en-
‘terprize, as to pursue’ no other
measure of offensive preparations.
At the same time that his grand
armament was collecting in the
neighbourhood of Boulogne, he had
also an army encamped at Brest,
which, with the fleet of that port, -
threatened the coast of Ireland; and
another at Bayonne, which, at the
same time that it might co-operate
with the former, enabled him to in-
timidate Portugal into any loan, or
pecuniary contribution his exigen-
cies or capricé might” require,
The court of Lisbon, too’ fee-
ble to manifest | the slightest op-
position, was obliged, ‘although she
had given no provocation, to yield
to any terms that were imposed
upon “her; and the French com-
mandant at Bayonne, demanded
and obtained what sums he pleased
from Portugal, merely to buy the
continuance of the peace which al-
ready subsisted between thé two
countries ! In every former period f
war, this country maintained some
shadow of indepgndence’: in 1762,
she was protected’by 4 British army ;
in the American war her neutrality
had been respecte 3 and eVén in
the last contest, although she had
been obliged to make some sacri-
fices for peace, yet-she might well
hope to keep, what thagpeace had

left her; but those hopes, and- all 4

her fancied independenge, were
now no more, and Bouwlaparte was
determined to exact every tribute
he thought proper to demand.—
Spain we have already,noticed, as
having descended from the rank of
an independent power, to-that ofa
tributary; and as the tribute levied
depended merely on the moderation
of France, it may surely be asserted,

that

HISTORY OF EUROPE. 325

that not only Spain and Portugal,
but all their rich possessions in
South America, were in fact be-
come the property of the first consul,
from which he could derive, at
pleasure, whatever contributions he
_ pleased to exact. Such were the
-effect that, not war, but peace had
produced on Spain and Portugal.
Italy remained in the same situ-
ation. Piedmont had been for-
mally annexed to France; the king

of Sardinia had received no compen- _

sation; Lombardy was directly go-
verned hy the first consul ; .and the
newly-created kingdom of Tuscany
was, to all intents and purposes,
a French province. The pope was
a mere dependant on his will; and
the king of Naples had no ‘other
protection from the power of his
neighbour, the first consul of the
Italian republic, than a formal as-
surance of the friendship of the em-
peror of Russia. This protection,
as might be expected, was of no
avail. At the very commencement
of the war, the kingdom of Naples
was invaded by a French army,
who seized on all the ports upon
the Adriatic, and particularly on
Tarentum, which was formerly de-
clared, to be occupied as an equi-
valent for Malta. The. French
army that invaded Naples, con-
fined themselves to the eastern
coasts ; if they had possessed them-
selves ofthe city of Naples, it
would have probably induced Eng-
land to occupy Sicily; and, on
. that ac®ount, it must be supposed,
_ that, for a season, they abstained
from entering those districts, which
would doubtless have been most de-
sirable, as affording the richest

‘plunder.
| We haye already seen, that Spain,

Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland,
had not been gainers by the peace ;
on the contrary, they saw in that:
interval, their independence anni-
hilated.

The Batavian republic too, which
had been so formally promised in-
dependence, was forced, against its
wishes and its obvious interests, to
join in the war against England»
The loss of the little commerce it
possessed, and of ‘its foreign colo-
nies, was the necessary consé-
quence of a contest, from which
it could not by any possibility,
derive the slightest advantage; but
their sailors were necessary to man
the flotilla of Bonaparte, and their
docks and arsenals to contribute to:
its equipment; Holland was there-
fore forced into a war, thejconse-
quence of which to her must be
utter ruin!

Not content with exercising the
most unlimited sway over France,
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzer-
land, and Holland, the first consul
was also determined to obtain a

. similar dominion in the German

empire, mm which project many cir-
cumstances promised him too great
a certainty of success. The an-
cient rivality between Austria and
Prussia, had been artfully fomented,
in the discussion of the question of
the indemnities, while all the lesser
states of the empire, which lay in
the neighbourhood of France, saw in
the first consul the only power thag
was able, either to protect or annoy
them. Prussia, as we have before
observed, had, for sordid and selfish
views, sold herself to the interests
of France; and Austria, alone and
unsupported, was no longer able to
wage war, singly, against so power-
ful an opponent. Thus the German.
OE empire

406 ANNUAL OREGISTER,

empire may be considered quite
decomposed, and reduced to utter
insignificance, as a political body,
since the ties which should connect
its lesser states to the acknowledged
head of that once august union,
are now virtually dissolved.
No circumstance could evince
more clearly the power that Bona-
' parte had, and meant to retain over
Germany, than the invasion and
occupation of Hanover. Austria
and Prussia contented themselves
with demanding explanation upon
those points ; to which the answer
of the French government was,
that it was solely the possessions of
the king of England which were at-
tacked, but that ih other pojnts the
integrity and independence of the
German empire should be respect-
ed. The emperor of Germany
affected to be content with this ex-
planation, as he was in no condition
to war with France about Hanover,
a country which had preserved its
neutrality when he and the Ger-
than empite, were in the greatest
difficulty and danger. The king
of Prussia also, Whatev er discontent
he might feel, professed also to be
sutisfied: that monarch well knew,
. that the first consul would by no
means abandon his plan, on ac-
count of any remonstrances he
could make, and he therefore did
‘not chuse to irritate him by a fruit-
Jess opposition. It must however
have been very g galling to that mo-
nareh to find, that the power -of
France had so soon stripped Aim of
the title, which, while it suited the
convenience of ‘Bonaparte, he was
‘pleased to allow him, that of ‘* Pro-
-tector of the north of Germany.”
From the moment that the French
a@ymy had entered Hanoyer, he per-

-

1803.

ceived, as did the lesser states of

the empire, that there was no power

at hand to rescue the latter from
the grasp of France. In vain .did
the imperial city of Hamburgh ap-
peal to his protection, and to that
of the head of the’empire, when
the French occupied Cuxhaven,
and had demandéd a considerable
loan from them: no relief was ob-

tained, or evén a remonstrancé
issued, upon that unwarrantable
proceeding.

Thus circumstanced, the govern-
ment of Denmark was the only
neighbouring power which displayed
the. slightest spirit. .The Prmce
Royal speedily collected an army of
30,000 men in Holstein, and took
vigorous measures to defend his ter~
ritorics ; but when he found that

Prussia had acquiesced in the en- ©

croachments of France, and that the
official journal of Bonaparte had be-
gun to threaten Denmark herself in
unequivocal terms;unless she imme-
diately dispersed the army of Hol-
stein; the Prince Royal found him-
self (though reluctantly) compelled
to submit. to the imperious and
over-ruling necessity of the case,
and his German states were again
placed on a peace establishment.
Although Russia was infimately
conrccted with the interests of the
north of Europe, and must doubt-
less have felt much displeased at
the advance of the French army,
and the violation of the Germanic
empire, of which she was the gua,
rantee; yet the emperor Alex ander
was so pacifically disposed as not to
consider that aggression of France,
as an immediate ground of ~var.—
Bonaparte had solemnly alleged,
that he only occupied Hanover,
in order to induce the king of

England

— Pre _—"

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

England to give up Malta, agrec-
ably sto the conditions of the
treaty of Amiens: ‘The emperor,
who eagerly wished: for the resto-
ration of peace, would probably
have been glad that England could
by any theans ,yhave been induced
to execute that article which re-
spected the island of Malta’ The
British government had however
most imprudently rested the war
entirely upon the possession of that
‘island. The great and continu-
ally increasing aggrandizement of
France; the violence and outrages
committed by her, daily, against the
independence of every nation in

Europe; and her continued insult:

and injury to Great Britain,were all
‘to be forgiven, if she would consent
that the latter power might retain
the possession of Malta, It was not
at all surprising therefore that the
nations of Europe evinced the most
_ profound indifference upon the sub-
ject of the island of Lampedosa, or
even of that of Malta, There were
but three nations in the world that
would have wished to be troubled
with the possession of cither, namely,
England, France, and Russia, Toany
of these nations the possessionof the
latter island would be an important
object, as the means of increasing
or establishing their powerin the
Mediterranean: and Russia having
evidently wished and demanded
the possession of Malta for herself,

it could not be expected that she

‘would ‘be very sanguine in her
efforts to procure it for England.
As therefore England had em-
barked in war, on a ground in
which the continental powers could
feel no interest; and as. it was
evident that the neutral nations
would be obstructed ang «cramped

S wid

tg

327

in their commercial relations, as_
well in the prosecution of this as in
every former war ; it was natural
for them to wish that a peace might
be concluded upon any terms; and
as Bonaparte professed solely to
desire the execution of the treaty
of Amiens; they were content to
allow him to occupy Hanover as
the means of compelling Great
Britain to fulfil her engagements, »
and which must necessarily bring
about that tranquillity so much the
desire of Europe.

The real views of France, how-
ever, were soon more perfectly de-
veloped. The army of Hanover
was but the advanced guard of that.
vast force which, she could rapidly

‘move into the heart of Prussia, or

any northern nation that should
resist her will.. The armies at
Boulogne and in Holland were ih
reality as formidable to the north
of Europe, asto England. In Italy
her armies had entered the king-
dom of Naples, occupied all the
strong places on its eastern coasts,
and levied contributions through-
out the whole country: at once a
most flagrant violation of direct
treaty with that power, but also a
manifest insult to Russia. F'rom the
moment that Bonaparte had ascer-
tained that nething was to be ap-
prehended from either Austria or
Prussia, he evinced the greatest in-
difference towards the court of Pe-
tersburgh; and it has been even said
that he behaved with marked in-
attention and incivility to jts am-
bassador,-count Markoff. With
respect to his solemn engagements
formerly entered into with that
power, he paid to them not the
slightest regard, It had been agreeq
by treaty between Russia and
Y 4 Frantg:.

g98 ANNUAL RE

France, that the affairs of Italy
should be settled by those two na-
tions in concert; that the king of
Sardinia should have a compensa-
tion for the loss of Piedmont; and
that the independence of the king-
dom of Naples should be compietely
respected. On all those points Bo-
naparte evinced marked disregard,
Yndas we have already observed,
by the conduct of Sebastiani at
Corfu, proved that it was his in-
tention to dispossess the emperor
of these islands. So many provo-
cations and insults’ undoubtedly
must have deeply affected the
mind of Alexander: the year,
however, was permitted to pass
over, without any decided oppo-
sition to France, from him or any
of the continental powers.

The attitude of Europe at the
close of 1803, may be thus stated:
while France was extending her
fiant-arms from the Adriatic to
the Baltic, and scorned to bound
her dominions on the north by the
Rhine, oreyen the Elbe; Germany
seemed lost in-apathy or the slug-
gishness of despair! Italy was di-
rectly governed as a province of
France ; ; while Spain, Portugal;
and the Hanse Towns, were neces-
sitated to furnish such contribu-
tions in money, as were demanded

by the French government.
Arrived at this height of power
and military glory, there was no
greater object left for the ambition
of Bonaparte, than the conquest of

GISTER, . 1803.

England, But vast as his fortune
had hitherto been, when opposed to
the continental powers of Europe,
it seems to have been constantly
kept in check by the better genius
of England. In Syria, in Egypt,
in Malta, and in St. Domingo, he
has constantly found the greatest
and most promising of his ambi-
tious projects rendered abortive,
by the valour of the British arms,—
It isnot then to be wondered at,
that the tyrant of France should
strain every nerve, and risk every
danger, to destroy the only nation
which has the will and thé power
to oppose him.

The exertions and the means how-
ever employed for the invasion of
England, have only served to raise
the spirit of the British nation, to de-
fénd their coasts and chastise an in-
solent invader. Although somealarm
was created at the moment, by the
preparations of France; long be-
fore the year had expired, all sense
of fear gave way toa justconfidence
in the high and well-regulated
spirit of a great, free,and enlight-
ened nation, rising in defence of
its independence and existence.—
A confidence however in some de-
gree damped by the consideration,
that energies and resources so vast,
were intrusted to an administration,
whose wisdom and talents the nation
considered by no means adequate
to the arduous task, of employing
thein for its protection, and for the
annoyance of so powerful an enemy,

CHAP

-

o = Yellow

HISTORY OF EBROPE. 329

CHAP. XXII.

| Mrs of the West Indies.-—Transactions: of the French in St. Domingo.
— Dreadful cruelties exercised by them towards the Black loknbitante,
Fever breaks out,—Great ravages . among the French
_Forces.—General Insurrection.—Partial Sighabice of ‘thé Blachks.—
Great Distresses of the French.—Cape Town besieged by the Insur-
gents. — Sickness of General Le Clerc.——And Death.—Command of the
Army devolves on General Rochambeau,—Cape Town relieced.—Action
at the Mole.—Great slaughter of the Negroes.—Effect of the War be-
tween England and France, on St. Dotiingde—Br itish Squadr ons block=
ade the several Ports of the Island.—Cr itical situation of the French.—
—Capture of the Towns on the Coast.—Out Posts successic ely fall into
the hands of the Negrocs.—Fort Dauphin taken by the English. tered
lant defence of the Cape Town.—French. force Capitulate.
the Island by the English Squadron.—Freedom of St. Domingo pr Fadia
ed by the Negro Chiefs.— Reflections. Effect of the War on the Brit-
ash West Indian Islands. —Greath Ly benefited thereby, —Disputes in Jampi-
ca.—Not terminated.—Affairs of the United States of America.—
French encroachments and designs. —Totally defeated by the declaration
of War.—America thus rescued from the most serious dangers—Obser-
vations. —Glance at the sttuation of India.—Conclusion,

ey attention is next forcibly
drawn to the events which oc-
curred in the new world in the
course of the present year: those
‘with which we shall commence our
Narrative, as most interesting and
certainly most important, are the
transactions of the French force in
* Hispaniola.

The triumph.of Bonaparte’s gene-
tal in chief, LeClerc, and of hig vast
armament in St. Domingo, was
not of long duration. ‘The cru-
elty and perfidy which were exer-
cised towards all the unfortunate
negroes who had submitted, and
particularly to their gallant leader,
Toussaint L’Ouycrture, was more

’

than sufficient to rouze the deep-
est resentment in their bosoms.
Although the sufferings of a hero, —
or the injustice offered to an il-
lustrious individual, usually en-
gages more of the attention of the
world, than is excited by multi-
plied acts of cruelty, exercised in
secret, and on obscure persons; yet
in the colony of St. Domingo even
the barbarous act of seizing upon
Toussaint after he had surr endered,
and sending him to France to be
made away with in cold blood, was
lost among the frequent and atro-
cious acts of horror, committed by

the French upon the unresisting ne-

groes. Frequently were the latter,

wher

536
when barely suspected of being likely
to rebel, forced into vessels, the cap-
tains of which were instructed to
throw them overboard, when they
got out to sea! Other ships were
fitted up on a new construction, for
the purpose of their destruction.
When @ considerable number of
these unfortunate beings were
stowed in) the hold, the hatches
weré closed, and sulphur burned
below, the fumes of which in a
short time occasioned suflocation.
‘Those were acts that the French not
only committed in the face of the
world, but openly avowed. They
evenspoke of such transactions with
their accustomed levity and gaiety,
and to the mode of sending the ne-
groes out to sea to be thus destroy-
ed, they gave the appellation. of
deporter en mer, or, to transport
into the sea. Tortures of the most
_eruel nature—burning their unlap-
py victims at a slow fire—
other act of relentless barbarity,
were daily and. hourly practised by
the French armies and government.
essalines, and cther of the black
generals, who afterwards broke
out Into open «insurrection, de-
elared, and probably with truth,
hat the French generals had the
unblushing audacity to propose to
them, gravely, the extermination
of the actual population of St, Do-
miigo, in order to colonize it anew
with. natives of France! The idea
of exterminating half a million of
men, women, and children, ap-
peared to those professional de-
strayers as merely a common act
¥f policy, and they supposed that
the black generals who had submit-
-"ted to their arms, could be bribed
‘by military rank and emolument
‘fo Zoneur in the hornd scheme.

and every’

AN Nu Nn REGISTE Ry — 1863.

It will not be matter of surprize
then, that Dessalines, Christophe,
and the. other gencrals, who were
obliged to listen to such a proposal,
should feel the most inveterate ha-

-tred against those polished ruffians,

who, pretending to superior civi-
lization, were not ashamed to per-
petrate. and propose acts, that the
most .untutored savage would shrink
with horror from. ~ Although the
indignation of every negro jn ithe
island must have been aroused, at
such a proposition, policy obliged
them for a season to stifle their

emotion, and conceal their feelings. ©

When, however, the time was come
which allowed them. to express |
their sentiments, they appear to
have been still more aggrieved at

the hypocritical cant of ‘thin French *

writers, than even by the cruelty of
their soldiers.

These writers certainly possessed
an admirable art of glossing ever
the foulest actions, which they
sometimes described with a gaiety
that turned the mind from a due
consideration of their atrocity; and
again, treated in the language and
affectation of sentiment “and sym-
pathy. French gaiety or French
sentiment, however, little tended
to assuage the miseries of this un-
fortunate island, Whether the
hyana laughed, or the crocodile
wept, the unhappy victims were
equally doomed to suffer! Those
who suryived, had. the addition-

al affliction of hearing all kind.

of calumnies thrown out in polish-
ed language against the living and
the dead.‘ Ferocious Africans,”
and ‘¢ horrible barbarians,” were

the terms constantly applied to the

individuals of the black population
of the island, which the French
generals

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

_Benerals had already resolyed | to

exterminate.

Under these circumstahees‘a de-
termined spirit of resistance quietly
though firmly arose among the ne-
gto inhabitants; and a determina-
tion to revenge their oppressions,
the fitst favourable cast shred that
iight occur, was by them univer-
Sally adopted. The hand of provi-

deiice itself appeared to'hasten that

Toussaint,

.

mioment of their justdeterminations,
It was shortly after the infamous
and pertidious arrest of the brave
t, that the West Indian
fever, the scourge of European ava-
rice, broke out with the most de-
Structive fury in the island; the
blacks, however, suffered nothing
from it; it was reserved with deadly
effect for their i imperious conquer-
ors, Speedily did the courage and
the strength of their ferocious i in-
vaders, Wither away before the fier
breath of the pestilence! Their
hospitats were crowded with sick—
their ranks were thinned—and those
who stillescaped,were unable to pur-
sue those active operations of war
against the few revolted slaves who
still remained unsubdued; from
which alone they could have ex-
pected’ success, but which now
they saw would expose them to an
enemy far more terrible than they
had yet encountered im the field.

’ The consequence was such as might
have been expected: in proportion
to the decrease of force and enter-
prize'in the French army, the cou-
fage and activity of their adversa-
ries increased; and a general insur-
Fection took place, Whit h soon confi-

ned the French troops to theirstrong

Ries on the coasts of their part ot
e island.
The only official account we haye

334

‘of the/proaress of the renewed Hene-

ral warfare, is in the letter of gen,
Boyer to the minister of marine
and cclomies: he says, that ‘ after
the arrest of Toussaint, the disarm-
ing of the negroes (an essential ope-
ration, and the first basis of tran-
quillity) was pursued with as much
activity as success.” “A few slight
insurrections then took place.’ A
man of the name of Sans Soucie,
who was before unknown, assen=
bled a number of Congo negroes,
and set fire to some plantations. He
was pursued by the French general
commanding in the horthern dis~
trict, but escaped into the distant
mornes. This event took plaee
about the latter end of June: the
heat then became excessive, aud it
was impossible for the French army
to make any farther movements,
Gen. Boyer states, that in that teme
perature the mornes of the smallest
elevation presented almost insu-
perable obstacles. The number
of thg brigands (as the French
terme the negroes) daily ih-
creased; while every day the sick+
ness made new ravages in the
French army. The blacks calcu-
lated its progress with a secret joy.
The first attacks they made in force
were on the French posts at Marma-
lade, Donder, and Moustique; they
succeeded in all those attacks; the
French, however, afterwards dis-
lodged them, and retook their po-
sitions. Inthe latter end- of Au-
gust, Charles Belair, an atrocious
African, (according to Gen. Boyer)
rose in insurrection on the heights
of Artibonite. Some of the black
troops, who were in the French
pay, deserted to him: he was how-
ever, at length défeated, and taken
prisoner, with is wife, who had

adm

$32.

accompanied him hitherto, and now
shared the dreadful punishment al-
lotted for him by his cruel captors.
Several risings of the blacks likewise
took place in the south, particularly
in the neighbourhood of Leogane
anid Jocmel, but they were all sup-
pressed, and many of their ringlead-
ers executed.

The southern districts, after these
successes, remained in. tolerable
tranquillity ; and in the Spanish
part of the island, the old colonists
FOSe Ee" 71ASSC, a, defeated the in-
surgents, who had attempted to
penetrate’ thither,

It was in the northern portion
of the colony that the insurrection
was carried-on with unabated vi-
gour, Dessalines, Clervaux, and

Christophe, headed the insurgents
in this direction, and Gacembled
an army sufficiently strong to in-
vest the Town of the Cape, the
head quarters of the [rench
commander in chief general Le
Clerc, at that moment approach-
thg to his last hour, from the
baneful effects of the fever, with
which he had for some time strug-
sled; and who now saw, in the
dreadful hour of despair and
death, that all the cruelties, of
which he had been the willing
instrument, were insufficient to at-
tain the object with which he was
entrusted—the extermination of
the inhabitants of the island! He
who but a few months. before, had
written to his brother-i in- -law, Bona-
parte, a pompous statement of his
conquest of the island of St. Do-
mingo, now saw himself besieged
in bis head-quarters by those,wlom
he had considered as entirely de-
face and incapable of ever again

aking head against the power of
the French. Alter an illness of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

about a fortnight, he died on the
second of November, nearly about
the same time that the unfortunate
Toussaint perished in, a French
dungeon. . Thus, by the equitable
dispensations of providence, had ~
the French as well as the blacks to
lament the loss of their leader. .
Notwithstanding the dreadful
slaughter which the French soldiers
made, whenever they were victori-
ous; the losses of the French army
by the fever were at least equal to
those the blacks endured by the
sword. General Le Clerc, before
his death, sent sealed instructions
to general Rochambeau, to take the
command of the French army in
the island.. Before the arrival how-
ever of the latter at the Cape, the
French garrison, finding themselves
much straightened, made a vi-
gorous sally against the blacks, who
were encamped on the plains in the
neighbourhood, and drove them
into the mountains. By this vic-
tory, the garrison at the Cape de-
rived considerable temporary ad-
vantage ; but still Rochambeau had
the disagreeable effice of taking the
command of an army unfitted for
active operations, and which he
was necessitated to keep confined ta
the unwholesome limits of a few
sickly towns. His medns of de-
fence were merely in the strength of
the fortifications, and the facili-
ties of transporting detachments by -
sea, from any one port on the sea
coast to any other, whence he might
have meditated anenterprize. His
hopes of finally maintaining him-
self in the island, rested on the
arrival of the reinforcements now
expected from I'rance. Those re |
inforcements however arrived but
slowly, and by no means in time to
enable him to resume active opers
"ations.

HISTORY! OF EUROPE.

ations. Although the French go-
vernment had calculated extremely
well the force, which, according to
all human probability would have
been sufficient to conquer and re-
tain possession of the colony, yet
the dreadful fever which broke out
in the beginning of ‘summer in the
French army ; baffled all their mea-
$ures, and rendered them totally un-
ble to put down this second insur-
_ rection. The troops however defend-
ed'themselves well against the at-
tacks of the negroes, and generally
routed them with great slaughter.

Tue first'serious attempt made by
' the blacks in the north, was on the
Mole, where general Brunet com-
manded. That officer permitted them
to advance quite close to the works,
but by an ambuscade, which he had
previously laid, placed them be-
tween two fires, and forced them
to retreat in’ confusion,’ and with
considerable loss. In all the strong
posts on the sea coasts, the French
defended their positions with equal
~ success. The insurgents, although
completely masters of the interior of
the country and of the mountains,
were not able to cope in the plain
with the French troops; and this
inequality was still more observa-
ble, when they attempted to attack
the French in their fortified ant
or strong positions. r

Such then was the situation of
affairs in this once flourishing and
happy island, at the breaking out
of the war between France and
' England. We have already ob-
served, that the French were in
possession of a line of posts, on the
sea coast, which were mutually
supported by the facilities which
their fleet afforded them of mu-

‘wal transportation. | This great ad-

388

vantage the war with England to-
tally deprived them of. The Caps
and all their principal positions,
were’ immediately blockaded by
British squadrons, which blockade
not only broke the chain which had
hitherto firmly bound the French
force together, but by cutting off
the supply of provisions and rein-
forcements, accelerated, or ‘with
more justice may be said \to have
been: the direct cause of, their-ca-
pitulation and surrender to the
black for¢e, which composed the
besieging army; for, in all ‘hu-
man probability, had not hostilities
commenced between England and
France, the insurgents must finally
have been subdued aid extermi-
nated. While the French were mas-
ters of the seas, it does not appear
that the negroes were able to possess
themselves of even one of the towns
on the coast; and there cannot be a
doubt, but that so long as the ocean
could be traversed in safety, France,
in her immense population of thirty
millions, would have found suf-
ficient reinforcements to have final-
ly subjugated the revolters. And
if inthe course of the winter of
1802, she did not pursue this po-
licy, -it was merely because the
first’successes of Le Clerc made it
appear unnecessary: and the se-
cond general insurrection would ne-
ver have taken place, had it not been
for the destruction which the fever
produced among the French troops.
—The English squadrons, however,
by shutting up the ports of St.
Domingo against all succours and
supplies from Europe, contribut-
eed at leastas much as the efforts
of the insurgents, to the total aban-
donment of that great and va-
luable colony, by France.

It

»*

\

934 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

It is! extremely difficult te re-
eoncile the powerful and effectual
co-operation of Great Britain. with
the revolted French negroes; to the
repeated declarations of the English
government but the year before,—
that no force which France could
send to St. Domingo, or keep there,
would be half so dangerous to. our
West Indian colonies and the inter-
ests of Great Britain,as the existence
of a black independent em or
tepublick. Governed, however, less
by principles than by events, it was
contented to abandon all theory,
and contribute to the establishment
of a power, which they had so
much decried ; forthe sake of making
a temporary impression on France,
where she was most vulnerable—
In consequence of those vigorous

measures both by sea and land, the -

French garrisons were soon reduced
to the most deplorable distress,—
On the land-side, the Blacks were
masters of the field, who not only
cut off provisions, but hourly
threatened them with assault.—
‘Towards the sea, reinforcements
and supplies were intercepted by
the British eruisers, while the most
terrible of all enemies, the pesti-
lence, continued its ravages, and
‘hot only diminished their numbers,
but paralyzed the spirit and strength
of the survivors, Notwithstanding
this dreadful complication of un-
fortunate circumstances, they still
made an obstinate» defence. The
Cape Town, which Rochambeau
now made his head quarters, and
where he had collected the prin-
cipal strength of the French army,
-made a long and powerful resist-
ance, The English cruisers found
it impossible tu block up: the har-
bour so completely but that. sup-

plies of, provisions. were: frequen tly.
thrown, in by coasting , vessels.—
The other posts where the French
were weaker, fell either before, the
attack of. the negroes, or im, conse-
quence of the blockade. Port au
Paix was the first strong town
which fell into the hands of. the
insurgents :—the French garrison,
consisting, of 500 men, became
their. prisoners... In ,the, other
parts of the island, Port au Prince,
Leogane, and St, Mark, fell suc-
cessively hefore the besieging arnry,
under the black general Dessalines.
The English cruisers, however, in
every practicable case, humanely
made it a point of carrying off their
garrisons, to save them from the
revengeful fury of the blacks.
General Rochambeau was now
obliged to confine his operations
to the defence of the Cape :—he
wished to escape to the city of
St. Domingo, in the Spanish part
of Hispaniola, but every route was
completely occupied by the negro
troops, who were masters of all, the
interior of the country. The En-
glish blockading squadron, finding
that frequent supplies of provisions
were carried to the cape, from Fort
Dauphin, made a very spirited at-
tack on that post, in consequence
of which the garrison eyacuated it
and retired within Cape ‘Town.
This being now the only spot: in
possession of the French, the entire
army of the insurgents, command-
ed by general Dessalines, regularly
and completely invested it and
daily menaced giving the assault;
all the out-posts successively _ fell
into their hands, -and even, Fort
Picolet was carried by them in a
yery gallant manner.
Under those . circumstances, .all
retreat

a

Ce Fe

<

HISTORY .OF; EVROPE.

Retreat and supply being cut off;
and the place every hour in danger
ef attack; Rochambeau at length
resolved to capitulate, on the
terms, of being allowed to, carry off
the garrison. A
this,etlect was opened with general
Dessalines, but on ‘the English
squadron coming into the road, a
capitulation was signedon the 30th
of November, on board the Sur-
veillante, by which captain Bligh
of the Theseus, on. the part of
‘commodore Truscot, and general
© Boyer on the part of general Ro-
, ehambeau, agreed, that all the
ships of war and merchant vessels
belonging to France should he sur-
rendered to the English, and that
the garrison should be received by
the latter, as prisoners of war.—
The negociation was then continued
with Dessalines, to prevent confu-
sion or attack at the time of eva-
ecuation, Dessalines agreed, not to
disturb them in the evacuation, but
“nevertheless; when they had em-
barked, and were waiting fora wind,
to enable them to leave the port,
it required -all the influence which
the British commodore had over
the black general, to prevent his
ordering the batteries to fire upon
the French ships and sink them.—
Without making much allowance
‘for winds and tides he declared,
that if in twelve hours they did not
quit the road, he should drive them
away with his cannon, and that
when the English met them at sea,
they were at liberty to treat them
_asthey pleased. The French force
vhaving atJength finally departed,
Dessalines, Christophe, and Cler-
vaux, published a proclamation to
the inhabitants, declaring the
island free’ and independent. They

t ;

negociation, to-

333

promised protection to those land-
holders who chose to remain upon
their estates and renounce their pre-
Jjudices, but threatened the most
inexorable cruelty to . whoever
should talk of again restoring the
system of slavery.

Although the French. still. re-
tained the city.of St, Domingo, in
the part.of_the island which, for-
mertly belonged to Spain, yet the
total evacuation of the northern
part, forms not only ow: of the
most important epochs of the his-
tory of the island, but an event
‘which is likely to produce conse-
quences of the most general. inter-
est to Kurope and to mankind :—
The experiment of a black indepen-
dent nation, possessed of European
tactics, and of arts which have never
visited the deserts of Africa, but
which are supposed by civilized
nations to contribute much to hu-
man happiness and to the progres--
sive greatness of nations—is now
fairly at issue. .

Itcamnot, we think, be doubted,
but the commencement of war be-
tween Great Britain and France,
and the immediate effects.it pro-|
duced on the fate of St. Dominga,
were most materially beneficial to
the old British West Indian islands:
they were thus freed from the per-
petual danger and alarm that they
must have constantly experienced,
if a considerable French army had
been permanently established in
Hispaniola; and they were like-
wise rescued from the dangerous
competition they would have been
exposed to in the event, of the
French colonies being » restored
to peace and cultivation; cir-
cumstances which must haye de-
ptived them of what they may

now

336

now look forward to with confi-
dence, namely, a permanent mo-
nopoly of sugars and colonial pro-
duce. Although in those lights they
may be considered as the principal
“gainers by the war, yet did they ap-
pear very unwilling te contribute
their proportion to its vast expences.
A spirit of discontent, broke out
with considerable violence in Ja-
maica, where the members ‘of the
assembly positively refused to grant
the necessary supplies, for the main-
tenance of 5000 troops. ‘To the long
and laboured reply made to the re-
quisition of government for that pur-
pose, they concluded by stating, that
their resistance to the measure was
founded on constitutional right
and justice; but that, if they could
be induced to depart from their
duty by an inclination to comply
with the demand in question, the
circumstances in which the country
was at present involved, from the
great depression of the price of its
staple article of commerce—the
‘exorbitant rise in all articles of
British and Irish merchandize im-
ported—the advanced prices of
every article necessary for culti-
vation and subsistence—the injuri-
ous regulations and restrictions
on its produce in the British mar-
ket—the ruinous and oppressive
qguties existing and likely to be in-
creased on iis imports and experts
fo Great Britain—the difficulties
attending its commercial inter-
course with the American. states,
whence many most essential articles
necessary for carrying on the culti-
vation of their plantations, and for
the subsistence of the inhabitants
of all descriptions, can alone be ob-
tained, arising from the prohibition
to export any article of their staple

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

productions, excepting rum and
molasses, in American hottoms—
and the pressure of a very heavy
existing debt, for which a high rate
of intérest was paid, rendered it
altogether totally impossible for the
island to incur such an enormous
amount of additional taxes,as would
be necessarily required to support
such an expensive increase of estab-
lishment. The language and tone
of this answer, or rather remon-
strance, appears to be that of com-
plete dissatisfaction with the whole
system of the mother country with
respect to her colonies. Several
other papers were also printed at
the same time in defence of their
conduct, wherein they stated, that
the vast advantages derived by Bri-
tain from the monopoly of their
trade, and the revenue raised on
the importation of their produce,
were fully adequate contributions
from them to the general expences
of the empire.

How far the state of the island
could afford the military establish-
ment proposed by the governor, : it
is impossible for us accurately to
determine; but we can never ad-
mit the principle, that a colony,
however rich and flourishing, is
always to continue a dead expence
and incumbrance to the parent
country, and not to contnbute its
proportion for its own protection and
security, or even for the general °
good of that empire, whose collect-
ed strength is the protection of
every part of its possessions, how-
ever minute or consequential.

Those uneasinesses to which we
have adyerted, continued without
apy intermission throughout the
whole of the year, and in the
month of December, when the

governor

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

governor prorogued the general as-
sembly, he expressed a deep regret,
*‘ that it had not allowed him an
opportunity of thanking them for
furnishing the supplies required in
aid of Great Britain, and for their
own defence; but he trusted, that
upon more mature consideration,
they would feel the propriety of
supporting government most ef-
fectually at the next meeting,

and thereby restore to themselves”

its confidence in their loyalty and
patriotism.” Immediately after
‘this speech the general assembly
“was prorogued, and there therefore
was no opportunity afforded of
reply.

This discontent and unwilling-
ness to contribute to the expences
of the war, still appear to continue ;
and it is certainly a disagreeable
reflection, that those whose pro-
perties have been protected by the
strength of the empire, and to de-

fend whom, the flower of the British
army has fallen in their pestilential
climate, should afford the solitary
exception of resisting the payment
of (what we must suppose from the
character, temper, and experience
of their governor) a reasonable con-
tribution—not for the defence of the

empire at large—but for their own.

immediate protection.

A painful analogy has been
forced upon our mind by those dis-
putes, with the circumstances which
produced the disastrous and unfor-
tunate struggle with the revolted
colonies of North America. What-
ever parity, however, there may
‘exist in tHe causes of com-
plaint, the effects can never be the
same, for reasons too obvious to
need our exposition. Nor strall we
pursue a subject so painful, farther

Vol. XLY.

357
than to express our most heartfelt
wish and hope, that before the ex-
piration of another year, a re-
ciprocal sense of duty between the
government.and the governed, will
terminate those disputes and heart-
burnings, to the general satisfaction;
and thus restore the harmony of an
empire, which can alone exist by
the concord and union of its com-
ponent parts: and which will be
efiectgd by the simple eperation, of
the West Indian proprietors con-
tributing what is reasonably de-
manded of them, and by the go-
vernment limiting those demands,
to the exigence of the case, and
the ability of the islands.

The affairs of the United States
of America, were, in the course of
the present year, peculiarly inte-
resting. We have already stated
in our last volume, that no sooner
had the peace of Amiens been sign-
ed, but a secret treaty between
France and Spain “was produced,
by which Louisiana was ceded to
the formér power. The views of
Bonaparte doubtless extended to
the dominion of the. western
world; and had he succeeded,
through this insidious negociatien,
in obtaining firm possession of
Louisiana ; and had reconquered,
by his vast armaments the colony
of St. Domingo, he might well
have hoped, not only to crush the
British colonies in the West Indies
at his pleasure, but even govern in
future the American states, as de-
spotically as those of his European
neighbours. The combined, fleets
and armies of France and Spain,
would, unopposed by that of Great
Britain, be much too powerful tor
the Western Union; however gal
lant and high-spirited we may sup-

pose

338 ANNUAL REGISTER,

pose that people to be.. Five mil-
lions of men, scattered over a
boundless territory, could not ser
riously and for an interminable
period, resist the efforts of a force
tenfold more numerous. Were
England necessitated to withdraw
from. all interference with conti-
nental affairs, as had been dictated
to her by the imperious construc-
tion France appeated to put upon
the terms of the treaty of Amiens,
there would be no power on earth
that could effectually interfere to
rescue North America from the
all-powerful dictation of France.
The towns on her coast could
have been destroyed, and her com-
merce utterly ruined; nor would
it have been possible for the United
States to keep up permanently,
such an army for their defence,
_as France, assisted by her depend-
.ent ally, Spain, could maintain for
their annoyance.

Before Louisiana was. to be sur-
yendered to the French, we have
seen that the latter contrived to
foment a quarrel between Spain,
who was to evacuate it, and Ame-
rica. This measure seems how-
ever to have been intended solely
fo feel the pulse of the latter
gountry, and enable Bonaparte to
calculate how far she would permit
aggression, before she would ven-
ture to demand redress and satis-
faction.

The federal government had by
treaty with Spain, the right of ware-
housing at New Or feana,: all the pro-
duce of the western territory, which
came down the Missisippi for expor-
tation. Spainnow, at the instance of
France, pretended to abrogate that
fight, without which all those dis-
trict, of the American union, na-

1803.

turally by far the finest and most
productive, would become uninha-
bitable; as the Missisippi is the
only channel through which their
produce could be exported, and
New Orleans the only port, at the »
mouth of that river, capable of ac-
commodating vessels large enough
for the purpose.

This audacious attempt, on the
»part of France, kindled the most
violent indignation, throughout the
population of the districts in ques-
tion, The state of Kentucky loud-
ly called for an immediate war
with Spain, and the attack of New
Orleans, Tliese spirited measures
did not however suit with the cold
and prudential caution of Mr.
Jefferson. — The President, well
aware that to France this out-
rageous breach of faith was owing,
thought it most advisable to dis-
“patch ambassadors to Paris, to ob-
tain that by negociation and pur-
chase, which assuredly, under
every ‘circumstance, America might.
have possessed herself of, RY force
of arms.

It is extremely prabptile that Bo-
naparte would have persisted in his
original plan, and retused the offers
which were made him by the Ame-
rican government, had not the ap-
proaching war with England con-
vinced him, that to retain Louisiana
was utterly impracticable, and that
therefore it was better for him to
sell it at the high price which the
president of America was pleased
to affix, than to risk both money
and territory, by his non-acquies- —
cence. France therefore appears
to have made an excellent bargain
in selling, at a high price, that
which she was never possessed of,
and, in the event of war with Eng- |

lund,

HISTORY, OF EUROPE.

land, had no possible means of
eyeracquiring. But weconfess the
wisdom of Mr. Jefierson is not so
apparent, nor the transaction
so beneficial to his country, in
the giving thirty millions of
dollars to France, for a territory
to which she had a base and very
disputable title, unaccompanied by
any right of possession. Although

the history of this event is the sole
circumstance worthy of particular

narration, which occured within
the year, it may however well be
considered that, which will hence-
forward be deemed to have marked
the most important epoch of Ame-
rican independency; as it may

justly be pronounced that which
-has for ever secured America, trom
the grasp of French dominion.

*Had Bonaparte completely suc-

ceeded in St. Domingo, then the

armaments, he would have con-
stantly kept up in that island and
Louisiana, would have. protected
New Orleans for ever against
any American force which could
be brought against it, while the
coasts of the republic would be

constantly exposed to the depreda-.

tions of French and Spanish in-
vaders. Louisiana and St, Do-
mingo were undoubtedly connected
in the projects of the French go-
vernment. The disposable mili-
tary force of either could recipro-
cally be brouglit to act in the de-

fence of each, or .be combined in’

any attack upon the British West
Indian islands,or on America herself.

In the belief that England could
never again presume to take the
field against her, France had ma-
nifested the desire of extending to
the most extensive. degree, the
boundaries of her newly-acquired

339
territories in the western world.
Not only was the island of New
Orleans, which belonged to Spain,
to be given up to her, but, upoa
the construction she was pleased to
put upon the treaties subsisting be-
tween Spain and America, all those
countries which had ever been com-
prized under the general appella-
tion cf Louisiana, were to be con-
sidered as ceded to France, by the
provisions of this secret engage-
ment. The two Floridas, as anci-
ently comprized within the limits of
that great district, were therefore
nowto be annexed to her dominion.
—Nor did her projected encroach-
ments rest there, Any claims thas
France might make upon Spain in
this part of the world, would have
readily been conceded: nor would
the latter have resisted the demand
of acolony in that distant part of
the world, when she had already
given up’so much in Europe. But
a far more important circumstance
arose in the progress of this trans-
action; France also claimed the
fort of the Natchez, on the Missi-
sippl, a post that the Americans
had long been in possession of, and
the surrender of which must have
been pr. luctiye of the most serious
consequence to the future safety
and security of their western dis-
tricts. : ‘

These schemes and projects of
Bonaparte were, however, all dis-
concerted, by the rupture between
‘England and France, the first fruits
of which were the quieting the
claims of the latter upon Louisi-
ana, and the abandonment of St.
Domingo to its fate: circumstances
of incalculable advantage to the.
future peace and tranquillity of the,
United States, :

Great

‘340

Great Britain, however she might
have been humbled by the peace
of Amiens, was far trom being crip-
pled in her energies and resources :
aroused from her lethargy, she still
appeared the queen of islands—the
mistress of the seas—the bulwark
and refuge of the weaker powers of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803. :

achievements of her fleetsand armies,
during the last contest, at Aboukir,
St. Jean d’Acre, and Alexandria,
she had completely frustrated the
views of Bonaparte on the East;
so now, did her bare declaration of
war against France, annihilate his
gigantic project of extending the

the world—and the eternal check
to French ambition! And as by the

dominion of that power over the
continent of America.*

* It was found impossible to compress within the limits of the historical portion of
this volume, a satisfactory narration of the brilliant achievements of the English arms
within the penmsula of India, during the present year. The proofs which they afford
ot the talents, integrity, firmness, and success of the Marquis Wellesly’s government
of that country, far transcend our praise; and have opened too wide a field for their
detail to be bounded by the narrow space alone, which the usual and necessary size of
our volume would have afforded. One advantage will however accrue to the reader
from this delay. He will thus be enabled, in our ensuing volume, to see at one view,

_not only the causes of the war in India with the Mahratta states ; and the triumphant

progress of the campaign ; but also, the negociations 01 1804, which happily crowned
the splendid victories of Lord Lake and Sir Arthur Wellesly ; and terminated so fa-
vourably to the British interests, and gloriously to the Briush character, @ most nn-
portant and eventful contest.

Although we have thus reluctantly foregone a most pleasing part.of our duty, in
other respects the subject in question will be found to have engaged our wonted atten-
tion: the official details of the ever memorable and decisive battles of Delhi,’ Assye,
and Laswuree, are comprized in our “ Appendix,’2, to which we beg leave to reter the
reader; as also to an authenticated statement of a disastrous circumstance which took
piace in the island of Ceylon, the causes and consequences of which we purpose
hereaiter minutely to investigate.

In the “ Appendix” will also be found a most important and interesting Royat
CorresponpENCcE, to which we have not referred in our text; and upon which we
do not presume to make any comment,

oe
Seeley, Printer, Buckingham. ‘

£02 t PTE aoa FT]

CHRONICLE.

JANUARY.
Ist, EING the anniversary of
the Unton, was distin-
guished by the usual ceremonies ;
the imperial flag was hoisted at the
Tower, and the guns of that for-
tress, and those at the Park, were
fired.
_ 4th. A personarrived in London,
to communicate a shocking transac-
tion to the English police, in order to
procure assistance in tracing out the
perpetrators, in case they should
have crossed the channel. The hor-
rid deed was committed at a small
village between Marquise and Bou-
logne :—A written paper, with three
signatures, was carried to the house
of the mayor of the village, appoint-
ing a meeting upon business m the
evening at a fixed place. <A neigh-
bour observed three men at the
door, and the mayor to go out with
his great coat on, leaving at home
his wife, daughter, niece, and a
maid servant. Karly the next morn-
ing, a nephew of the mayor’s, call-
ing, found the door open, and, upon
entering, first beheld the dreadful sight
of the maid lying murdered in the pas-
sage, the mother and daughter dead
in one room, and the niece a corpse
in another! With a neighbour, whom
he called in to his assistance, the
You. XLV.

nephew examined the house, but it
appeared that nothing had been
taken away; they found, however,
the written paper, containing the
three signatures, which induced them
to proceed to the stated place ; when,
as their minds foreboded, they dis-
covered the unfortunate magistrate
miserably strangled. In one of his
hands was grasped a large lock of
hair, with a part of the skin to it.
This was taken immediately to the
municipality, and an embargo was
laid, in consequence, on, all ves-
sels "hetween Calais and Boulogne,
and the most active search was
made: the diligences were all ex-
amined, and every one obliged to
take off his hat, but the monsters
have remained hitherto undetected.
The mayor was a very powerful
man; he was much.cut, and by the
hair, which he must have torn from
one of their heads, probably made a
stout resistance.

5th. The following description of
the first consul of France appeared

‘in the Montteur.

Sketch of Bonaparte.—The per-
son of the first consul is small, be-
low the ordinary size of men. The
consular garb does not become him;
he looks best in the plain uniform of
the national guard, which he, at
present, generally wears. His face

Aa is

354

is strongly marked with melancholy,
reflection, and deep thought; the

lines of premature age are very Vi- ,

sible upon it. He is said to be im-
penetrable even to his triends. His
head is remarkably large, and his
eyes are well formed, and well set,
animating a countenance which has
been seldom known to smile. His
voice is the deepest toned, and seems
to issue as from a tomb. His mouth
is large and handsome ; and, in ge-
neral, it may be asserted, there is
that harmony of features which de-
notes an entire character. ‘The va-
rious resemblances of him are toler-
ably exact; though they by no means
do him justice, nor give his look,
which is extremely interesting and
impressive.

The image of the Holy Virgin,
which had been carried to France
from Loretto, during the revolution,
was brought back thither from
Rome, and welcomed with the dis-
charge of cannon and ringing of
bells. It was carried on a superb
frame, borne by eight bishops, and
placed in the Holy House. A con-
course of above 50,000 persons had
assembled on the occasion. In the
evening Loretto and all the neigh-
bouring places were splendidly illu-
minated. :

9th. This afternoon, a boat be-
longing to the Neptune, with eight
persons in it, five belonging to the
boat, and three passengers (two of
them young gentlemen of Gosport,
who were going to the Neptune, at
Spithead, to see their brother) was
upset, ina gust of wind, near the
hospital, and all drowned, except
three of the boatmen. Four dead
bodies were immediately picked up ;
two of them the young gentle-
men aforementioned, who had held
by the boat until exhausted, but

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

driving on the shore, were beat off,
and perished. .

10th. This evening, about 6, the
Active, of Greenock, Capt. Hornby, ?
a fine new West India ship, of 350
tons burthen, laden with 300 hogs-
heads of sugar, &c. bound to Gree-
nock, parted from her anchor in the
Margate Roads, and came ashore
within half a mile of the pier-head,
where she soon sunk. After the sea
had made a complete breach on her
weather-side, she drove in shore,
with her fore and mizen-masts stand-
ing, upon the Nayland Rock, at
three o’clock in the, morning; to
which fortunate circumstance may
be attributed the safety of part of
the passengers and crew, who, had
she remained where she first struck,
would, in all probability, have pe-
rished. They consisted of nineteen
persons; and, from lashing them-
selves in the shrouds, ten out of the
nineteen were saved. Five perished
in the main top, by the falling of the
mast; one lad was washed over-
board, and three were taken from
the rigging, who perished by the
spray of the sea, and from the in-
clemency of the weather. Every
means of resuscitation on them was
used by Mr. Slater, a surgeon of
this place, without success. Among
the survivors are the captain, mate,
and pilot.

At night, during the heavy gale of
wind from the eastward, the Hussar,
of 38 guns, commanded. by captain
Wilkinson, lying at Blackstakes,
caught fire, by accident, in the gun-
ner’s store room, close to the maga-
zine; and, from the explosion of
some combustible matter, the ship’s
company rushed on the quarter-
deck, and thence into a boat, which
was hanging in the tackles astern 5
and, from too great a number get

ing

CHRONICLE.

ing into her for the purpose of sav-
ing themselves, the davit by which
she was hoisted up, gave way, and

2 threw the whole of them overboard ;

by which unfortunate accident two
master’s mates, one midshipman, 14
men, and one woman, were drowned.
By the exertions of the captain,
ollicers, and remaining part of the
ship’s company, the fire was soon
got under, without any damage te
the ship.

12th. A few minutes before four
aclock this morning, during the
very severe gale, the Hindostan Kast
dIndiaman, captain Kdward Bals-
ton, parted with all her anchors,
drove on shore off the Culvers, and
shortly alter went to pieces. One
gentleman, of the name of Clarke, a
cadet for Madras, and a passenger
on board this ship, with sixteen of
the crew, unfortunately perished.
Every possible exertion was made to
save the ship, but the fury of the
gale bafiled every effort. ‘The cargo
Was estimated at 100,0001. She had
a vast quantity of private silver bul-
lion on board, on freight; but the
Kast India Company had not asingle
dollar on board. The Hindostan
was a fine ship, of the largest dimen-
sions, being of the burthen of 1,248
tons, and was proceeding on her
fourth voyage. Soon after the ship
got on shore, she filled with water.
Her dreadful situation was imme-

diately observed upon land ; boats °

put off te her assistance, and fortu-
nately succeeded in saving about 120
of the people. On the ship striking
the shore, the baker and boatswain
flew to the shrouds for safety ; but
this hasty expedient unfortunately
proved their destruction ; they both
perished in sight of the survivors,
who could afford them no relief.
The Iindostan was destined to Coast

355

and China. Her loss is to be at-
tributed solely to the severity of the
gale, which baffled every efiort that
could be used. ‘The complement of
men on board was 122. Being one
of the largest ships, she had on board
30 guns ; was completely stored for
sea, and proceeding for the Downs,
te take on-board her passengers,
when the terrible gale drove her on
shore. When the ship struck, and
no hopes of getting her off were
left, she then being twelve miles
from shore, two rafts were made,
and several of the crew, passengers,
&c. committed themselves te them,
in hopes of floating on shore. ‘These
rafts, by the violence of the waves,
were dashed against each other, and
most of the persons on them were
drowned or killed.

This morning, about two o’clock,
a fire broke out at the house of Mr.
Hayes, Patrick-square, near Bethnal
Green, which was entirely con-
sumed. A driver of one of the en-
gines, on the occasion, was run over,
and dreadfully hurt, the carriage
having passed over the whole length
of his body.

13th. The following letter, signed
“ Kelly,” and dated from Cambo-
rough, gives a most satisfactory
statement of the efficacy of that in-
estimable invention, the life-beat.

‘¢ I have the satisfaction to in-
form you, that our St. Andrew life-
boat performed wonders last Mon-
day, the 10th, in saving the crew
(12 persons) ct the Meanw ell, of

‘Scarborough, Capt. Holiday. Thap-

pened to be in town that day, when
it blew a tremendous storm from the
N. E. with the sea running moun-
tains high, and thick weather. About
two, a ship appeared so near the
shore, that she could not possibly
clear the land. Hundreds of people

Aa2 turned

356

turned out to give assistance, every
signal was made for the harbour,
and the Jife-boat in readiness. Un-
fortunately, just as the ship was en-
‘tering the harbour, a very heavy sea
made her strike the ground, and
hove her out of the channel, among
the breaker’s rocks, where the life-
boat soon brought the crew safe on
shore. Had I not been eye-witness
to it, I could not have believed that
any boat could have lived in such a
sea and surge. ‘The storm was so
violent, that the fishermen could not
be persuaded to enter into the boat
till Mr. Dempster, one of the ma-
gistrates, and a major Horsberg, vo-
junteered their services ; also a ship-
master, David Stewart, who made
great exertions indeed. The famous
and enterprising Mr. Honey was on
the beach, ready also for exertions.
The ship had goods from Bour-
deaux, for Newcastle; they will be
saved (partly damaged). he ship’s
bottom is out.—Please intimate this
to the committee at Lloyd’s, for en-
eouraging the building and keeping
of life-hoats on different parts of the
coasts of the united kingdom.”
16th. A poor man was this day
found dead in Liddington field. He
was returning from Oakham, where
he had been to offer himself as a
substitute in the Rutland militia ;
and has afforded another instance of
the dangerons consequences of per-
sons, in a state of inebriety, ven-
turing to go to any distance in ex-
cessive cold weather. Drowsiness,
in that state, is almost irresistible,

and the danger of being froze to .

death, if asleep, imminent in the
extreme.

17th. This morning George Fos.
ter, who was convicted, on Friday
last, of having murdered his wife and

child, by throwing them inte the ca.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

nal at Paddington, was executed
pursuant to his sentence. ‘Till yes«
terday morning, he continued to as-
sert that his wife had by accident
fallen into the canal; and, the water
being deep, he was fearful of at-
tempting to lend any assistance, Jest
he might be drawn in also. A short
time, however, before his execu«
tion, he confessed to doctor Ford,
that he actually did push her into
the water, and then came away, and
left her to perish. He acknow-
ledged the justice of his sentence.
When he appeared on the scaffold,
he was so much overcome with the
sense of his unhappy situation, that
he fainted, and was obliged to be
supported while the cord was ap-
plied to his neck. About ten mi-
nutes past eight he was launched
into eternity.

19th. A very numerous and highly
respectable meeting was held at the
London Tavern, ‘* to consider of
the best means to be adopted for
the extermination of the small pox.”

The right hon. the lord mayor
took the chair at about a quarter
after one o’clock ; and explained, in
a short, but impressive speech, with
what pleasure he saw around him a
meeting of noblemen and gentlemen
so eminently respectable; how great
he conceived to be the utility of vac.
cination ; and how sublime the be«
neficence that would labour to make
it, as soon as possible, the means of
exterminating the ills of one of the
most terrible afflictions under which
humanity had ever suffered.

Mr. ‘Travers, whose zeal and in-
defatigabie exertions im the cause of

¥accination cannot be too much com-. *

mended, took an extensive view of
the importance of the subject; and,
after a well-deserved eulogium on
the character and services of Dr.

Jenuer,

CHRONICLE. ‘

Jenner, entered largely into calcu-
lations of the mortality occasioned
by the small-pox, and the decrease
of that mortality since the introduc-
tion of the Jennerian discovery—a
discovery, to the honour of which
Dr. Jenneris wholly entitled. 11,800
persons, he observed, had been ino-
eulated, in the short space of two
years, and of 2,500 who had gone
through the cow-pock, and were
afterwards inoculated for the small-
pox, not one persen took the latter.
He stated, that, for 1000 years, the
small-pox had thinned the popula-
tion of Europe, had robbed the af-
fections of fathers, the yearning
hearts of mothers, of their dearest
joys; that the cooling practice of
Sydhenham, invented about 150
years since, tended to lessen the de-
yastation ; that inoculation, com-
mencing at a later period, had, in
fact, increased the mischief which
it seemed to diminish ; that the’ pre-
sent annual-deaths, by the small-
pox, were, for the metropolis 3000,
for the whole empire 40,000; that
Dr. Jenner’s invention, aflording an
effectual preventive, not commu-
nicable otherwise than by imocula-
tion, yielded a sure hope of the ul-
timate extirpation of this most ter-
rible of plagues; that, for this rea-
son, the design of the present meet-
ing, expressed in an address to the
public (which he moved), was one
of the most beneficent to which hu-
man beings could, in this state of
existence, give their aid. He ap-
pealed to the numerous assemblage
of medical men, friends to the sys-

, tem, who were then present; whe-
ther his observations and assertions

were not founded in fact.

’ The proposed address to the pub-
lic was then read, by the chief ma-
gistrate, from the chair, in the fol-
lowing words:

857

‘¢ The dreadful havock, occasions
ed by that horrid pestilence the
small-pox, which, in the united king-
dom alone, annually sweeps away
more than 40,000 persons, has long
beena subject of deep regret to every
humane and reflecting mind.

‘¢ The inoculation of this disease
has opposed an ineffectual resistance
to its destructive career. Although
confessedly a valuable improvement
in rendering the disease more mild 5
yet, such has been the consequence
of the partial adoption of the prac.
tice, that it appears, on a careful
review of the history of the small-
pox, that inoculation, by spreading
the contagion, has considerably in-
creased its mortality.

‘¢ A new species of inoculation has

at length been providentially intro-

duced, by our countryman, Dr.
Jenner; which, without being con-
tagious, without occasioning any
material indisposition, or leaving
any blemish, proves an effectual
preservative against the future in-
tection Of the small-pox.

‘“« The house of commons, having
investigated this subject with the
most scrupulous attention, and be-
ing perfectly convinced of the supe-
rior advantages resulting from this
discovery, have given their sanction
to the practice; the safety, mildness,
and efficacy of which, more than
half a million of instances have fully
confirmed.

‘¢ The unspeakable benefits which
may be expected to arise from an
extensive diffusion of this salutary
practice, will be much accelerdted
by the establishment of an institu-
tion in a central part of the metro-
polis, on a broad basis, supported
with a spirit equal to the design,
and worthy of the character of the
British nation. And, when the mag-
nitude of the object is considered,

Aas which

558

which is no Jess than to eradicate a
disease acknowledged to be the
greatest’ scourge that ever afllicted
mankind, there can be but one sen-
timent on the subject,

*¢'The enlightened, the Dbeneyo-
Jent, the opulent, will doubtless vie
with each other, in the zealous sup-
port of an undertaking which will
reflect the highest honour upon their
country ; and, by saying millions of
victims from an untimely grave,
prove an inestimable blessing to the
whole human race.”

Dr. Lettsom expatiated on the
advantages the community experi-
enced from establishments formed
for checking the ravages of the small-
pox, by the introduction of imo.
culation. But it was to be lament-
ed, that one unfortunate circum-
stance attended the practice by ino-
culation; while it insured safety to
the individual, it afforded the means
of spreading the variolous contagion.
This he confirmed by the production
of tables, drawn up With elaborate
accuracy, shewing the comparative
mortality occasioned by the small-
pox, for 42 years before the intro-
duction of inoculation, and 42 years
after that practice became known.
He shewed that the mortality was
annually increasing since the intro-
duction of inoculation. In the 42
years before inoculation, 1100 died
annually in London, or about 72 in
every 1000 ; but in the last 42 years,
the calculation is on the average
2000 deaths in London only, until
the last two years, in which, from
the adoption of inoculation with
cow-pock, the number has decreased
to 1500. Healso expatiated on the
increase of christenings and decrease
of deaths, from the very excellent
regulations adopted in hospitals and
the establishments of dispensaries ;

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

by which more than 300,000: poor,
who could not’ otherwise ‘allord to
have recourse to medical aid in their
various diseases, were relieved ; by
which it was very evident, frony
calculations made from the bills of
mortality, that, in the last 15 years,
there were annually, on an average,
1300 more christened, and 1500.
fewer deaths, than in the fifteen years
preceding. That it was no unrea-
senable supposition to advance, that
if Dr. Jenner’s discovery had been
known 15 years ago, 30,000 lives
would have been saved to the coni-
munity in that short space of time.
He concluded by seconding the mo-
tion for the address.

Dr. Bradly, in a most energetic
speech, took a comprehensive view
of the advantages resulting from the
very great blessing with which we
had been fayoured, and of the ho-
nour which this country should de-
rive from having the vaccine inocu-
lation first promulgated by our own
countryman, Dr. Jenner.’ That so
great was the exultation, and so high
a sense was entertained on the conti-
nent of Europe, of the very great
advantages of the Jennerian disco-
very, that it was celebrated by fétes
and anniversary demonstrations of
exultation. His being concerned in
a widely-extended literary work,
(the Medical Journal) gave him op-
portunities of knowing, from cor-
respondents in various parts of the
world, the high opinion entertained
throughout the whole continent of
Europe, he might say the whole
world, of the Jennerian practice;
and observed that our neighbours on
the continent appeared rather sur-
prised, that we, with whom that
practice originated, appeared slow
in the propagation of so great a bles-
sing, and less sanguine in promoting

it

CHRONICLE.

it than theinhabitants of other coun-
tries in Europe. He combated, in
a masterly manner, the vulgar error
that other diseases are inoculated
with the common small-pox, proving
that this supposition is totally un-
founded; at the same time calcu-
lated that, with respect te the na-
tural small-pox, as many persons
die of diseases consequent thereon,
as of the disease itself; consequent-
ly, if, in a given number of years,
40,000 die of small-pox, 40,000
more will dic of diseases originally
produced by that disease. He sig-
nified his regret that prejudices of the
people, which he convincingly enu-
merated, gave to Britain the shame
of being slower than some foreign
countries in putting vaccination
(which was followed neither by dis-
ease nor blemish) into universal use;
and concluded a most learned and.
interesting speech, by observing,
that, if we received inoculation from
Turkey, we have amply repaid the
boon, by sending back Dr. Jenner’s
discovery.

Dr. James Sims recommended
that the plan now proposed should
be extended to every part of the
united kingdom.

Mr. Wilberforce added his hearty
concurrence with the intentions of
the gentlemen who had spoken ; en-

‘ tered feelingly into the sufferings
which humanity had borne for so

_ long a time, and the benefits that

_ would accrue from the introduction

- of the vaccine inoculation ; and pro-

posed, that, through the medium of
a committee, the meeting should
apply to parliament, to address his
majesty, to command the whole in-
fluence of the executive government,
by all its servants, and throughout
every suitable department, to be
put in act for the extension of yac-
cination.

359

Mr. Highmore, secretary to the
small.pox and inoculation hospitals,
attended with instructions to say,
that any assistance within the power
of the governors and officers, to-
wards the completion of so laudable
an undertaking, would be most
cheerfully rendered. He presented
also a report from the committee of
those hospitals to a general court,
Dec. 16, respecting the increased
public benefit of thatinstitution, since
the introduction of the Vaccine Lyo-
cuLaTrion has been added to the for-
mer branches of its practice. It
began in this hospital, under the di-
rection of Dr. Woodville, in January
1799; and, from that period to the
1st of December last, 11,800 patients
and upwards have been vaccinated,
of which number, about 2500 were |
afterwards proved to be secure from
the natural small-pox, by receiving
a further inoculation according to
the former practice, which took no
effect; a number amply sutlicient to
satisfy the public mind of the secu-
rity and success of the new practice
of vaccination. And the committee
have not heard of any complaint
from any one of those who were not
inoculated a second time, of their
having since taken the natural small-
pox, although they were chiefly in-
digent persons, and the far greater
number of them living in places
where the air is very confined, and
particularly where it has been since
ascertained that the natural small-
pox was prevalent among those with
whom many of them necessarily had
continual intercourse. ‘The success
of vaccination has very rapidly ins
creased during the current year.
From the Ist of January to the Ist
of December, 1802, of 373 patients
admitted into the inoculation hos-
pital, only 49 were inoculated ac-

Aa4 cording

>

360:

cording to the former practice ; and
of 4005 out-patients, only 39 were
inoculated according to the former
practice; whereby it appears, that
the relief of the institution has been
afforded to 4378 patients by inocu-
lation, of whom 88 haying been
inoculated according to the former
practice, the blessing of vaccination
has been extended to 4290 persons
im eleven months, by this hospital ;
159 patients in the natural small-
pox have been received into that de-
partment of this institution; and
medicines and advice have been
granted to 55 children also in that
disease, who were brought to the
hospital as out-patients. This very.
extensive practice, under the skilful
management of Dr. Woodville, the
physician, and of Mr, Wachsell,
the resident surgeon, have enlarged
the sphere of this institution, ren-
dered it more beneficial to the poor,
and increased its claim on public li-
berality.

Mr. Wilberforce observed on the
popular prejudice, that, out of
every 100 who had been yaccinated
at the small-pox hospital, not five
would have submitted, had they not
supposed it to have been the old-
fashioned mode of inoculation.

Counsellor Gurney informed the
meeting, that a number of gentle-
men, who had first conceived the
design of this important institution,
were of opinion, that, if those pre-
sent felt no striking objection, the
whole meeting should now resolve
itself into a society for the extermi-
nation of the small-pox.

. Dr. Clarke viewed the subject as
of the utmost. importance, and
agreed, fully, as to the necessity of
the benefit being widely extended ;
and it appeared to him, that nothing
less, viewing the small-pox as a

“

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

contagious pest, than an act of par=
liament for the prohibition of ino-
culation for the small-pox, unless
with the special licence of a magis-
trate, would be a suflicient pro-
tection from its ravages.

Mr. Rutt, however, objected to
this measure, as trenching too much
on the liberty of the subject.

_The question for the address hay-
ing been put, and unanimously car«
ried, a motion was made by Mr.
Gurney, ‘‘ That this meeting do
form itself into a society for the ex-
termination of the small-pox.”

Mr. Wilberforce wished, that,
instead of the actual formation of
any society at present, a committee
should be chosen, to which should
be referred such plans as might ap-
pear to gentlemen likely to contri-
bute most effectually to the accom-
plishment of the proposed object,:
and which should report to a meet-
ing, to be appointed at a short pe-
riod ; and he proposed that, in lieu
of any society for this purpose, a
general application should be made,
to parliament, to carry the whole
into effect, in order that the bene-
fits of this wonderful discovery,
which contained so much for the
essential good of mankind, might
be made as extensive as possible,’
and reach throughout the state, and
ramify into every corner of the em-
pire.

Dr. Lettsom produced a letter
from Dr. Jenner, expressing his
entire approbation of the subject of
the present meeting ; and his wishes
to co-operate with the plan in its
fullest extent, both by a liberal
subscription and by personal assist-
ance.

After severalexplanatory speeches
from Dr. Clarke, Dr. Bradley, Dr.
Lettsom, Mr. Wilberforce, and Mr.

Rutt;

CHRONICLE.

Rutt; Mr. Gurney’s motion was
put, and carried unanimously.

_ Admiral Berkeley expressed his
high sense of the advantages the
community, and the world at large,
would receive from the labours of
Dr. Jenner; and stated, that he
came officially, having it in com-
mand from the duke of Clarence, to
apologize for the absence of his royal
highness, who was prevented from
attending the meeting, having it in
his intention to move thanks to Dr.
Jenner, for his invaluable discovery.

The duke of Bedford said, that
as his royal highness was prevented,
by unavoidable absence, from moy-
ing thanks so justly due, he would
take on himself to make a motion
to the same effect; and moved,
s* That the thanks of this meeting
be transmitted to Dr. Jenner, ex-
pressive of the high sense it enter-
tains of his merit, and the great im-
portance of his discovery; and par-
ticularly for the liberal offer of his
assistance to accomplish the great
object it has in view.”

This motion was unanimously
carried.

Admiral Berkeley then roseagain ;
and, as he considered patronage of
much importance on these occa-
sions, wished that, on one of so
great importance to the interests of
mankind, the highest patronage
should be obtained for it; and,
therefore, moved, ‘‘ That his ma-
jesty should be humbly petitioned
to become the patron; and that the
institution should be called Tue
Rovyat Jennerian Institution ;”
which was also unanimously carri-
ed, as were successively the follow-~
ing resolutions:

* Vhat a subscription be now
opened to prosecute the laudable ins
tentions of this society.

361

*¢ That the following three gen-
tlemen be appointed trustees; the
right hon. the lord mayor, John
Julius Angerstein, esq. and Benja-
min Travers, esq.

‘* That a committee, consisting
of ths under-mentioned gentlemen,
be desired to prepare a plan, and
lay it before another general mect-
ing, to be called by them, for the
purpose of carrying into effect the
important object of this society ;
viz:

Right hon. the lord mayor.

His grace the duke of Bedford.

Right hon. the earl of Egremont.

Hon. admiral Berkeley.

Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, bart.

Wm. Wilberforce, esq. M. P.

Henry Thornton, esq. M. P.

John Fuller, esq. M. P.

Dr. Jenner.

Dr. Lettsom.

Henry Cline, esq.

Everard Home, esq.

Benjamin Travers, esq.

John Julius Angerstein, esq.

Thomson Bonar, esq.

William Vaughan, esq.

Doctor Bradley. |

Sir Walter Farquhar.

Doctor Denman.

Doctor Croft.

Sir W. Leighton.

John Gurney, esq.

Astley Cooper, esq.

Doctor Clarke.

Felix Ladbroke, esq.

Richard Sharp, esq.

John Everett, esq.

John Ring, esq.

John Furnell Tuffin, esq.

Dr. Woodville.

Dr. Hawes.

Samuel Thorpe, esq.

John Nichols, esq.

John Addington, esq.

Robert Barclay, esq. big
1 Johe

36%

John Towell Rutt, esq.
Nathaniel Fenn, esq.
Doctor Dimsdale.

John Abernethy, esq.
Joseph Leaper, esq.
Thomas Bernard, esq.
Thomas Baring, esq.
Edward Fletcher, esq.
George Godwin, esq.
Doctor Pett.

Doctor Skey.

W. Stephen Poyntz, esq.
E. L. Mackmurdo, esq.
Rey. Rowland Hill.
W. Allen, esq.

John Christie, esq.
George Johnson, esq.
W. Chamberlaine, esq.
Joseph Fox, esq.

<¢ That the thanks of this society
be given to the governors and offi-
cers of the small-pox hospital, for
their very liberal offer to co-operate
in the purposes of this society.

<¢ That the thanks of this society
be given to the right hon. the Jord
mayor, for his respectful attention,
cordial support, and able conduct
in the chair.

<¢ That the bankers of London
and Westminster, and the members
of the committee, -be requested to
receive subscriptions.”

A subscription was. then opened,
io effect the purposes of the insti-
fution; when upwards of 5001. was
subscribed on the spot. The busi-
ness of the meeting, which consisted
of about 300 gentlemen, was car-
ried forward with the most unani-
mous enthusiasm we have ever wit-
nessed on. any public occasion ;
highly honourable to the benevo-
tence which characterizes the metro-
polis of the British empire; and
worthy of the weill-digested design
of the first projectors of the insti-
tution, which promises to be of the
7”

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

most extensive benefits to our coun-
trymen and to the world.

20th. ‘Vhis evening a horrid mur-
der was committed in Greenwich
hospital, by J. innis, a pensioner,
upon J. Price, another pensioner.—
The perpetrator had been guilty of
a breach of duty in the college ; for
which, on the charge of a fellow-
pensioner, he was deprived of two
months’ pocket-money, and repri-
manded. LExasperated at this cir-
cumstance, he went into the apart-
ment of the deceased, and with a
poker beat out his brains at a single
blow. ‘The murderer then examined
the next room, where an old pen-
sioner lay, intending he should share
a similar fate, if he appeared awake,
lest he might have heard what had
passed. ‘he man had heard the
blow, but pretending to be asleep,
the murderer left him, and retired to
his own cabin: the man got up,
alarmed the guard, and secured him.
The evidence on his trial was deci-
sive; and on Saturday, March 26,
he was executed on Pennenden heath.
The prisoner was brutal in his man-
ner, and but little affected by his
sentence.

Advices from India, arrived this
day, bring the following intelligence,
dated Fort William, Aug. 11, 1802.
On the 9th inst. his majesty’s frigate
La Chiffoune, Captain Stuart, ar-
rtved in the river from Bombay, with
dispatches from that presidency, to
his excellency the most noble the
governor-general in council, contain-
ing the afflicting intelligence of the
death of his excellency Haujee
Khuleel Khaun, ambassador to the
British government on the part of
his majesty the king of Persia.

In the afternoon of the 20th ult.
a dispute unfortunately arose be-

tween the Persian servants of the .

ambassador,

ee

residence, near Massagong.

CHRONICLE,

émbassador, andithe sepoys of the
corps of Bengal volunteers, cou-
pesing his excellency’s honorary
guard, at the house assigned for his
An afs
fray ensued, and both parties re-

sorted to arms. -

_ At the commencement of the dis-
turbance, his excellency the ambas-
sador, with his nephew, Aga Hoos.
sain, and his attendants, descended
into the court, for the purpose of

- quelling the tumult; and while his

excellency was exerting his endea-
yours with the utmost degree of hu-
manity and firmness for that purpose,
he received a wound from a musket,
which instantly proved mortal. His
excellency’s uephew was severely
wounded in several places. Four
of the ambassador’s servants were
killed, and five more wounded.---
Tranquillity, however, was speedily
restored, and medical assistance was
immediately procured tor the reliet
ot the surviving sufferers.

The most active and judicious ex-
ertions were successfully employed
by the acting president at Bombay,
J. iH. Cherry, Esq. and by the civil
and military officers under his au-
thority, for the purpose of restoring
order, and of tranquillizing the

minds of the attendants and follow-

_ ers of the deceased ambassador, as

well as securing the means of bring-

_ ing to justice the perpetrators of

‘this atrocious act.

A court of enquiry has accordingly

_ been instituted at Bombay, for the

nen

purpose of investigating the causes
of this disastrous calamity ; the result
of which has been so far satisfactory,
as clearly to prove its having result-
ed from accident. An embassy has
been dispatched to the court of Per-

363

sia, with the condolence of the Bri-
tish government in India on the me-
lancholy event. And the body of
his excellency was interred with all
the rites of his religion, and every
mark of honour, both civil and mili-
tary, which could be bestowed upon
Kid} -w
The special commission for the
trial of Col. Despard and his partizans
was opened this day, before Lord
Ellenborough, and Sirs A. ‘Thomp-
son, S. Le Blanc, A. Chambre, and
J. W. Rose. The commission be-)
ing read, the noblemen and gentle-
men who composed the grand jury
were called over and sworn.

Lord Ellenborough, as president
of the commission, immediately ad-
dressed the jury, in a charge of the
most eloquent composition, explain-
ing the heads of the Jaw of treason,
and also the nature, frame, and cir-
cumstances of the indictment, and
the proof requisiteto support it.

When the jury retired, twenty-one
witnesses were sworn, one of which,
named ‘* Connolly,” was admitted
king’s evidence. In the evening the
grand jury returned a true bill for
high treason, against E. M. Despard,
W. Lander, A. Graham, Tl’. Brough-
ton, T. Phillips, D. Tindall, J-
Doyle, J. S. Wratten, J. Wood, J-
Francis, T. Newman, S. Smith, and
J. Macnamara.—No bill was found
against Winterbottom ; and C. Pen-
drill, being ill, was left in Newgate.
At the request of Col. Despard,
Serjeant Best and Mr. Gurney were
appointed as his counsel*.

25th. This morning an alarming
fire broke out in a warehouse at
Ashton junction wharf, near Bir-
mingham, which ina short time con-
sumed the building, together with a

very

* For a minute account of this interesting trial, vide the appendix to this vol. where
it is minutely set forth.

364.

very large quantity of grain, to the
amount of near 20001. which unfor-
tunately wasnot insured. This ac-
cident was occasioned by a fire in the
cabin of a boat (which lay under the
warehouse) communicating with the
floor: a boy who slept in the boat
was fortunately awakened by the
smoke in time to escape; the boat,
however, was burnt, and a horse suf-
focated in an adjoining stable. .

Drev.—Jan. 2d. At his house at
Twickenham, Middlesex, in his 81st
year, sir Richard Perryn, knight,
late one of the barons of the. court
of exchequer.

16th. Aged 77, C. J. De Boeck,
a native of Brussels, in Germany.—
He was naturally attached to the
study of painting, and from his in-
fancy displayed marks of great ge-
nius in that art. » Being of a volatile
disposition, he set out on his travels,
and went into Italy, with no other
prospect than what the efforts of his
taste and genius promised him.—
There he became acquainted with
the works of the most celebrated
masters, and soon acquired a perfect
knowledge of that art ix which he
afterwards so eminently excei!ed.—
He thence returned to his native city,
where, having produced several capi-
tal pieces, and exercised his talents
successfully, he resolved to fix his
abode in England, and to this end
left his whole collection to the care
of afriend. When he had arrived here,
and becomealittle settled, he thought
of disposing of his paintings to ad-
vantage, and sent for them; but the
person in whose charge he had left
them was not to be found, nor was
he ever afterwards heard of by the
lamented subject of this article. By
this abominable act he was reduced
to great distress; and, but for the
unceasing exertion -of those talents

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

which he was so happily possessed
of, his family must have perished
through want.
well as many others which he met
with in the course of his life, he bore
with a truly-christian patience, ne-~
ver repining at his losses, but always
possessing an air of cheerfulness:—
Having a perfect knowledge of the
German, French, and Ltalian lan-
guages, and, besides these accom-
plishments, possessing a thorough
knowledge of the science of music,
he commenced schoolmaster, and
kept a very respectable academy for
some years at Bethnal Green, with
great credit; where he first became
acquainted with that family who
have supported him in his latter days,
By a sad reverse of fortune, he was
obliged to quit this profession, when
he found a friend in the late Mr.
Fairbone, mathematical instrument
maker, of New-street, Gough-
square, who, upwards of 14 years,
besides giving him a room in his own
house, and supplying him daily from
his own table, allowed hima weekly
stipend. This allowance was kindly
continued after Mr. F.’s death,
Nov. 18, 1801, by his surviving fa-
mily, who, it is but justice to say,
have used their utmost endeavours
to make his last days comfortable.
About a fortnight since, he lost the
use of his reason, and continued lin-
gering in. this lamentable state, a few
lucid intervals excepted, till his
death.

FEBRUARY.

Ist. The French government has
definitively organized the protestant
church at Paris. There is a consis-
torial church there ; and the national
edifices of St. Louis du Louvre, of

St.

This misfortune, as ~

4 oe Po

‘CHRONICLE,

St. Marie, and one other, are grant-
ed to that communion, for the cele-
bration of their religious ceremonies :
the twelve members of the consistory
have been already appointed.

An atrocious murder was lately
committed in the department of the
Sarre, in France. A Jew of Mus-
cuheim having brought a quantity of
merchandize to Neukirch, a peasant
agreed to purchase part of it; but,
not having money sufficient to pay
for what he had agreed for, the Jew
did not object to give him credit.—
The peasant, to convince the Jew
that he was able to pay, requested
him to look at his stock of wine.
When in the cellar, the unfortunate
Jew received some blows with a
hatchet, which instantly killed him.
His long absence, and other circum-
stances, excited suspicion ; in conse-
quence of which, the house of the
peasant was searched, where the
goods were found, and the dead body
discovered buried in the garden.—
The peasant was immediately arrest-
ed, together with his wife, whom he
accuses of having struck the first
blow.

The Swiss are abandoning their
country ingreatnumbers. It appears
that the pecuniary damage which
that unfortunate country has received
by the revolution with which the
French have overwhelmed them, is
immense, and that it is impossible to
levy it on the remaining sufferers.—
The emigrations are represented to be
so numerous and general, as to call
io mind the revocation of the edict
of Nantes. The Swiss are one of
the most industrious, virtuous, and
_ ingenious people of Europe; and
they will, in every respect, bea great
acquisition to the countries in which
they shall seek an asylum.

A letter from Berne, of the Ist

365

February, states, that, according to
an official report laid before govern.
ment, the loss sustained by the Swiss
cantons, since the commencement of
the revolution, amounted in May,
1801, to the sum of 14,257,590
livres; and that the assessment or-
dered for the purpose of repairing
these losses, only produced 20,883
livres. The executive council has,
therefore, sent a message to the se-
nate, in which it states as follows.
—‘ The insignificant produce of
the assessment is an unequivocal
proof of the wretchedness that pre-
vails in the republic, as the genero-
sity of its inhabitants cannot be
doubted.”

By letters from Gothenburg, we
learn that the number of houses
burnt in a late fire there is 179, and
the persons who have lost their homes
2761. The damage is estimated, at
least, at 1,000,000 rix dollars.

3d. A-singular phenomenon was
lately observed in the parish of Noa
Kopparbarger, in the province of
Delecarlia, in Sweden. At two in
the morning, the moon, at its full,
was seen surrounded by a black cir-
cle, inclosed in a circle of blood red.
From the east and west sides of the
moon several rays escaped, which
were prolonged to the circles, where
two suns appeared distinctly, the one
in the east, and the other in the
west, having the colours of the rain-
bow, and emitting perpendicularly
towards the horizon rays of light.
In the heavens were seen a rainbow,
which touched the circle round the
moon, and on the sides of which
were also two suns of the same form,
as the other, but of a paler colour.
This phenomenon embraced nearly
the whole horizon, and continued
some time.

Early in the morning an Ts

re

366
fire broke out at the printing-oflice
of Mr. Samuel Hamilton, Falcon-
‘court, Fleet-street, which, in the
‘short space of two hours, entirely
consumed the whole of his valuable
‘and extensive premises. The prin-
cipal booksellers of London, together
with several private gentlemen, are
more or less sufferers by this dread-
tul conflagration. The property
consumed is estimated at 11,000).
and an insurance was effected to the
amount of 3,0001. only. One cir-
cumstance deserves to be recorded.
Part of the works of the late Rev.
Gilbert Wakefield remained in Mr.
Ji.’s warehouses, and had been in-
suredat theSun fire-office for 1,0001.
-but which insurance had lately ex-
pired. With a liberality for which
our country is so distinguished, the
directors have, upon a statement be-
ing laid before them by a very aetive
friend of his widow, presented her
with 7501. a circumstance so much
to the honour of the company, that
"it will doubiless be amply re-paid by
the continued patronage of the pub-
lie.—The fire burst forth again in
the morning of the 18th, but, in the
course of an hour, was happily ex-
tinguished.

5th. A person of the name ‘of
Warner lately lost himself in the
woods on the banks of the Ohio,
and continued in that state for 22
, days, when he was found by some
‘hunters. During that period he
dived on the buds of the sassafras

tree, a pole-cat, and a wild pigeon, -

which he eat raw: having lost one of
__ his shoes, he was bitten in the foot by
a snake, and was obliged for several
days to go on bis hands and knees.
Letters from America, of this date,
give the following well authenticated
details of the mutual barbarities ex-
ercised by the French-and blacks on

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

each other, in their warfarcof extermi.
nation,now carried on between them,
in the once flourishing settlement of
St. Domingo; and which deserve to be
recorded, as specimens of ‘the bitter
fruit borne by the tree of liberty.

‘¢ A dreadful) massacre of the
black prisoners, on board the French
ships at Cape Frangois, took place
about the middle‘of last November.
it was computed that, in the course
of one day, not less than 6,000 of
these miserable wretches, after being
bayonetted, were thrown overboard.
A person who was on board a ship
in the harbour counted 240 floating
by the side of his vessel. » About 900
blacks, who held a garrison in the
island, were poisoned by a stratagem
of the French. At Port Repubii-
cain the whites erected a gallows in
the market-place, and the blacks
another upon the hill, where execu-
tions on both sides were hourly tak-
ing place in sight of each other.

‘¢'The French have invented a new
way of getting rid of the blacks :—
they get a ship, called a stifler, on
board of which they shut down a
hold full of blacks, and stifle them to
death, by burning brimstone. The
morning after, they discharge the
bodies into boats and launches, carry
them off the harbour, and throw
them overboard. Zs

‘6’ The French havedriven back the
brigands from the cape; but, weary
of shooting and putting them to the
bayonet, and alarmed by the stench
which issued from the numerous car-
cases, they have adopted a new mode
of extermination. ‘They now drown
the negroes; they send them out in
boats, tie their hands behind them,
and carow them overboard. ‘Thou-
sands haye perished in this way !”

On the other hand, letters from
Philadelphia mention the perpetra-

tion

CHRONICLE.

tion of atrocities, by the blacks, that
are of the most horrid kind. Some
unarmed vessels, passing wear the
coast of Port Leogane, were boarded
by several boats, from) the shore,
filled with negroes, who plundered
_ the vessels, and butchered the great-
est part of the crews. ‘The passen-
gers on board a packet bound to St.
Mare were seized by the brigands,
who, among the means of torture
they employed, had recourse to
-eorkscrews, for the purpose of de-
priving them of their eyes.

One of these boats, it is said, has
been taken by a French frigate.-—
She was manned by twenty negroes,
seventeen of whom were landed, and
exposed to the rage of the populace,
who kicked, stoned, and trampled

them to death. Even women, to sa-
tisfy their revenge for the murder of

their sex, stamped on their heads till

- they expired. It is certain that the
most savage warfare is carried on
between the French and the blacks,
no quarter being given on either side.
7th. By a letter officially received

_ this day from Bombay, it appears,
that, on the 29th of July last, Cap-
tain Hayes, of the company’s ship
of war the Swift, received a requisi-
tion from the resident at Amboyna,
to proceed to the relief of an out-
port, named Amoorang, then closely
infested by the Magindanao pirates ;
_ their fleet consisted of forty large
_ proas, from which 1,200°'men had
been landed, with twelve pieces of
brass ordinance, of eight and six-
pounders. On the first of August,
at half past five P. M. the Swift
came up with the piratical fleet, and
instantly opened a cannonade upon
them, which continued till half past
nine. Besides the annoyance of the
‘enemy, Captain Hayes’s attention
was imperiously called to the critical

> 4

36F:

situation of his own vessel, which
was surrounded by islands, and upore
a dangerous reef: to this cireum-
stance were the vessels which escaped
destruction indebted for their safety.
The Swift, however, captured twos.
one she passed over, and cut in two;
seventeen others were run ashore,
and about 600 of the enemy are sup-
posed to have perished during the
conflict. The company’s settlements
upon the Celebes, as well as grana-
ries completely stored, have thus
been protected from the most serious
depredations, by the dispersion of
these daring pirates, who had over-
run the whole of the Sangir islands,
reduced the capital Tairoon to ashes,
and carried thence two hundred fe-«
males captives, besides males, many
of whom perished on the occasion of
this attack ; one only of the former
was saved by the Swift, and one of
the pirates from the wreck of the
proa which had been run down.—
Kach of the enemy’s vessels carried
from sixty to eighty men, one six or
eight-pounder brass gun forward,
besides many smaller ones, with mus-
kets, lances, &c.

Doctor Aldini, a native of
Italy, exhibited, at the house of Mr.
Hunter, some curious experiments on
the body ofa dog newly killed. ‘The
head of the animal was cut off; the
head and body were put beside each
other, on a table rubbed with a so-
lution of ammonia; two wires com-
municating with the galvanic trough
were then applied, the one in the
ear, and the other at the anus of the
dead animal, when both head and
body were animated by the strongest
muscular motion. ‘The body started
up with a movement by which it
passed over the side of the table, and
the head moved; its lips and teeth
grinned violently.

The

368

The body of Foster, who was exe-
euted for the murder of his wife, was
likewise lately subjected to the gal-
vanic process, by Mr. Aldini, in pre-
sence of Mr. Keate, Mr. Carpue,
and several other professional gen.
tlemen. On the first application of
the process to the face, the jaw of
the deceased criminal began to quiver,
and the adjoining muscles were hor-
ribly contorted, and one eye actually
opened. In the subsequent course
of the experiment, the right hand
was raised and clenched, and the legs
and thighs were set in motion, and
it appeared to all the bye-standers
that the wretched man was on the
point of being restored to life! The
object of these experiments was to
shew the excitability of the hu-
inan frame, when animal electricity
is duly applied; and the possibility
of its being eflicaciously applied, in
eases of drowning, suffocation, or
apoplexy, by reviving the action of
the lungs, and thereby rekindling
the expiring spark of vitality.

12th. ‘Che mortality by which
Paris is desolated, in consequence of
2 catarrhal fever, which now rages
there, may be said to exceed all
bounds of credibility. Within the
last ten days, the number of inter-
ments were officially reported ta
amount to 400 a day on the average,
er 4000 in the whole of that term.
The determining causes of the com-
plaint are, as stated by a committee
of the medical body of Paris, ‘* the
singular variation in the temperature
of the atmosphere @fring the last
two months; the blowing of the
north and east winds during the
night, and of the south and east
winds during the day, and the rapid
@ansition in the course of a few
hours, from between four and five
degrees below the freezing point, to
five or six degrees above it.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

14th. Guildhall sessions opened
before the lord mayor, recorder, and
aldermen; when Ann Brown was
indicted for 23 assaults on Ann Har=
ris, a child of 11 years old, her ap=
prentice to pin-head making. The
prosecution was brought on by the
overseers of Bishopsgate parish; buts
in consequence of the coroner’s ver=
dict, the prisoner had been acquitted
of the capital part of the offences
It appeared that the prisoner had,
repeatedly, given the deceased child
fourteen strokes at a time with a
cane; that she used to knock her
head against a leaden weight; and
that, though her health: was ims
paired, an hour-glass continually
stood by her, and her mistress ex-
pected her to produce six ounces of
manufactured pins in an hour; in
default of which, pins were run into
her arms and body till the blood
flowed from the wounds. At one
time two steel files were broken by
beating her over the head; and, at
another, the prisoner placed her on
the hob of the grate, with a log of
wood suspended from her feet, and
her arm extended up the chimney,
holding a brick-bat for two hours.
The prisoner was sentenced to three
years imprisonment in Newgate.
Her husband, who had been in-
dicted with her, lately died in pri-
son.

15th. A lad, of Castor, in Lin-
colnshire, who had been witness ta
the execution of Pidgeon, at Peter-
borough, was explaining to his
younger brother the manner is
which the culprit made his exit ;
and, to make his representation the
more striking, he fastened a rope
over a beam in the barn, got a lad-
der, and placed a noose round his
neck; when his foot slipped, and
before the family could be alarmed,

he was dead!
21st. This

CHRONICLE. :

Qist. This night the Newhaven rid-
ing officers, and the crew of the Sea-
ford boat, fell in with a gang of
smugglers, about 150 in number,
near the barracks at Dletchington,
from whom, after a sharp conflict
with bludgeons, cutlasses, and pis-
tols, they seized 88 casks of contra-
band spirits and two horses, with
which they were retreating ; ‘ but,
being pursued by the smugglers, the
conflict was renewed, and obsti-
nately maintained for about a quar-
ter of an hour, during which time
the ciicers kept firing their pistols
at the smugglers, several of whom
were wounded; as were many of
their horses, in a shocking manner ;
some having their. eyes cut out,
others their ears cut off, and shot in
different parts of the body. The
smugglers at length gave way, and
left the officers in possession of 39
casks more of spirits: and four small
parcels of tea, which were lodged in
the custom-house. None of the
smugglers were killed.

At six o’clock on Saturday even-
ing, the 19th, his majesty’s warrant
for the execution of col. Despard,
- and six of his associates, and also an
order from lord Pelham, for the re-
spite of the three others, under sen-
tence of death, reached the New Gaol
in the Borough; and at eight o’clock,
on Sunday morning, col. Despard
and his fellow-prisoners were sent
for, by Mr. Ives, to attend the cha-
pel. They all cheerfully obeyed
the summons, except col. Despard
and Macnamara ; the former assigned
no reason for his refusal; but the lat-
ter said he was a roman catholic,
and it would not be consistent with
his faith.

This morning, as soon as day-
light appeared, the military took
their different stations. Two troops

% Vou. XLV.

369

of horse were stationed at the Obe-
lisk. Others patroled the roads from
the Obelisk to’ the Elephant and
Castle, and down the Borough road.
All parts that had a view of the
scaffold were completely crammed.
It is supposed that 20,000 persons
might be assembled. — At seven
o’clock, five of the prisoners, Brough-
ton, Francis, Graham, Wood, and
Wratten, went into the chapel ; col.
Despard refused to attend, remain-
ing in his cell; and Macnamara, be-
ing a roman catholic, prayed in his
cell with a priest. The five former
conducted themselves with much de-
corum in the chapel. The sacra-
ment was then adininistered to them.
Before it was over, col. Despard
and Macnamara were brought down
from their cells. Their irons were
knocked off, and their arms and
hands bound with ropes. Notice
was then given to the sheriff that
they were ready. ‘The hurdle had
been previously prepared in the outer
court-yard. It was the body of a
small cart, on which two trusses of
clean straw were laid, and wasdrawn
by two horses. Macnamara and
Graham were first put into the
hurdle, and drawn to the Lodge,
where the inner gates were opened,
and they were conveyed to the stair-
case that leads up to, the scaffold?
The hurdle then returned, and
brought Broughton and Wratten,
then Wood and Francis ; Jast of all
col. Despard was put into it alone.
Macnamara seemed intent upon the
book in his hand. Graham remained
silent. Broughton jumped into the
hurdle, smiled, and looked up to
the scaffold. Wood and Francis
both smiled ; and all of them sur-
veyed the awful scene with much
composure. Despard shook hands
with a gentleman as he got into the

Bb hurdle,

370
hurdle, and looked up to the scaffold
with a smile.

Macnamara was the first brought
up: he held a book in his hand ;
and, when the cord was placed round
his neck, he exclaimed, with the
greatest devotion, ‘¢ Lord Jesus,
have mercy upon me! O Lord, look
down with pity upon me!” Graham
eame-second. He looked pale and
ghastly, but spoke not. Wratten
was the third: he ascended the
scaffold with much firmness. Brough-
ton, the fourth, smiled as he ran
up the scaffold stairs; but, as soon
as the rope was fastened round his
neck, he turned pale, and smiled no
more. Ife exhorted the crowd in
these words: ‘“¢ I hope that every
young man who witnesses my fate
will avoid public-houses, and take a
warning. Should they mix with cer-
tain companies, they will, perhaps,
see more executions of a similar na-
ture.” He joined in prayer with
great earnestness. Wood was the
fifth, Francis the sixth. Francis
ascended the scaffold with a compo-
sure which he preserved to the last.
Wood and Broughton were equally
composed. Of all of them Francis
was the best looking; tall, hand-
some, and well made. He and
Wood were dressed in the uniform
of the foot-guards; and Francis,
when he came on the scaffold,- had
on his full regimental cap. The rest
were in coloured clothes. Col. Des-
pard ascended the scaffold with great
firmness. His countenance under-
went not the slightest change. He
looked at the multitude assembled
with perfect calmness, and thus ad-
dressed them :

*¢ Fellow citizens, I am come
here, as you see, after having served
my country faithfully, honourably,
and, I trust, usefully, for 30 years

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

and upwards, to suffer death upon
a scaffold, for a crime which I am
no more guilty of than any man who
is now looking at me. I do so-
lemnly declare, [ am no more guilty
of it than any of you, who are now
listening to me. But though his
majesty’s ministers know I am not
guilty, they will avail themselves of
the legal pretext which they have of
destroying a man, because they think
he is a friend to truth, to liberty,
and to justice, and because he has
been a friend to the poor and to the
oppressed. But, fellow citizens, I
trust and hope, notwithstanding my
fate, and, perhaps, the fate of many
others who may follow me, that still
the principles of liberty, justice, and
humanity will triumph over falshood,
despotism, and delusion, and every
thing else hostile to the interests of
the human race. And now, having
said this, 1 have nothing more to
add, but to wish youall that health,
that happiness, and that freedom,
which I have ever made it my en-
deavour, as far as lay in my power, |
to procure for every one of you,
and for mankind in general.” Im.
mediately after this speech, the crowd
cheered; but the impulse as imme-
diately subsided. The clergyman
now shook hands with each of them.
The executioners pulled the caps
over the faces of the unfortunate
persons, and descended the scaffold.
Most of them exclaimed, ‘¢ Lord
Jesus, receive our souls!” At 7
minutes before nine, the signal was
given, the platform dropped, and
they were launched into eternity.
After hanging about half an hour,
they were cut down; col. Despard
first. His head was then severed
from his body; and the executioner
held it up to the view of the popu-
lace, exclaiming, ‘‘ This is the head

: ef

CHRONICLE.

of a traitor, Edward Marcus Des-
pard.” The same ceremony was
performed at the parapet on the left
hand. ‘There was some hooting and
hissing when the colonel’s head was
exhibited. His body was now put
into the shell that had been made for
it. The other prisoners were then
cut down, their heads severed from
their bodies, and exhibited to the
populace. ‘The bodies were then
put into their different shells. The
execution was over shortly after
ten, and the “populace soon after
dispersed.

Macnamara, was 50 years of age,
he was born in Ireland; by trade a
carpenter.

Wood, 26 years of age, born in
Derbyshire: a soldier.

Francis, 23 years of age, born
in Shropshire: a soldier and shoe-
maker.

Broughton, 26 years of age, born
in London; a carpenter.

Graham, 53 years of age, born in
London; a slater.

Wratten, 35 years of age, place
of birth not known.

At the sittings before Jord El-
lenborough, and a special jury,
at Westminster Hall, Jean Peltier,
the celebrated journalist, and zealous
adyocate of the Bourbons, was found
guilty of a libel, at the suit of the
king, upon the prosecution of Na-
poleone Bonaparte, first consul of
France.*

97th. The remains of Graham,
Francis, Wood, Wratten, Macna-
mara, and Bronghton, were in-
terred in one grave, in the yault un-
der -the rev. Mr. Horners chapel,
in the London Road, St. George’s
Fields ; and on Tuesday , the Ist of
March, the body of col. Despard
was moyed from Mount-street, Lam-

371

beth, in a hearse drawn, by four
horses, followed by three mourning
coaches, with four gentlemen in

each; and interred in the cemetery
belonging to the parish of St. Faith,
on the south side of St. Paul’s Ca
thedral. A great crowd collected,
but their demeanour was remarkably
peaceable.

28th. Accounts received at Cal-
cutta, from Assam, report exten-
sive injury to have been sustained at
Ghuyon, the capital of the country,
in consequence of an earthquake,
which had demolished a considerable
part of the city. In the confusion
incident to this awful visitation, a
fire obtained such irresistible vio-
lence as nearly to complete the de-
struction of the place. It extended,
likewise, to some extensive powder-
works, which exploding, have done
incredible damage. Seyeral thousand
persons are stated to have perished
on this occasion.

A letter from Lisbon has the fol-
lowing singular article :

‘¢ General Lasnes is arrived.
Scarcely had he entered his former
hotel, when he wrote to his royal
highness the prince regent, that he
came to resume his deplomatic func-
tions; but that he could not appear
at any leyee, before all the minis-
ters who were in power when he
left Portugal were dismissed.”

The state of North Carolina has
passed an act, by which all persons,
who shall fight duels after its date,
are, by that very fact, to become
incapable of any public office, civil
or military, within the said state ;
and all persons, by whose hand an-
other shall fall in a duel, are made
liable to conviction for felony, with-
out benefit of clergy.

Dr. Bairi, a physician of Fojano,

Bb2 in

* Tor the particulars of this interesting and extraordinary trial, vide appendix.

372

in Tuscany, has discovered, that, by
the addition of three ounces of pul-
verized quick-lime to one pound of
gunpowder, its force is augmented
one third. No farther preparation
is required but to boil the whole
together, till the surface appears no
longer white.

A letter from Copenhagen, dated
the 28th of February, mentions that
there was then a woman in the hos-
pital of that city, who had slept 11
weeks without interruption. Some
attempts have been made to awaken
her from this trance, by violently
shaking her. While the motion
Jasts, it seems to revive her ; but as
soon as it is discontinued, she imme-
diately relapses into a profound and
death-like sleep. During this pe-
riod she has not received any food,
notwithstanding which, there is not
the least alteration in her appear-
ance. She is only 23 years of age,
but remarkably corpulent.

A thief and murderer, who has
confessed perpetrating 32 murders,
among which were two of his own
wives, and 180 burglaries, committed
in conjunction with accomplices, was
Jately guillotined at Cologne.

Dizp.—At Vienna, aged 82, the
poet Casti, a Florentine by birth, and
successor of Metastasio in the place
and title of poet laureat of the court
of Vienna.

14th. Mr. Thomas Trotter, en-
graver, son of the Rev. Dr. T. of
Swallow-street. He served an ap-
prenticeship to a calico-printer,
which requires a talent for drawing,
and when he was out of his time he
took to engraving, and soon pro-
duced many excellent portraits in
various works; also a very excel-
lent head of the rev. Stephen Wilson,
and another of lord Morpeth: his last
principal performance was the por-

ANNUAL RE

GISTER,

trait of Shakespeare, patronized by
the late Mr. G. Steevens. A few
years since he received a hurt in his
eyes from the fall of a flower-pot
from a chamber window, which pre-
vented his following a profession he
loved, and had adopted from choice ;
and he had, lately, been principally
employed in making drawings of
churches and monuments, in various
parts of the country, for Sir Richard

Hoare and other gentlemen.
16th. At Camsbarren, near Stir-
ling, in Scotland, James Hosier. Tie
was born in 1699, while his father,
who belonged to the parish of Gar-
gunnock, was butler in the house of
Blair Drummond. He was about
45 years old when he first married ;
after which he served two years as a
common soldier. During his life he
had two wives, by whom he had 15
children ; his second marriage was
in 1772. He was 83 years old
when he had his last child; and,
though repeatedly exposed to the
infection of small-pox, in his own
family and otherwise, yet he was
not affected till the age of 95, when
he suffered under an uncommon load
of small-pox: having recovered, he
enjoyed a better state of health than
he had done for some time before.
Ile was naturally short-sighted ; but,
in the 80th year of his age, his sight
was so much renewed, that, though
reading small print, he never had
occasion to use glasses. At this
period of his life, he, all at once,
gave up drinking spirituous liquors,
to which, for a long time, he had
been so much addicted as to produce
frequent intoxication. Ilis body
was well made and stout; he was
5 feet 5 inches high; and walked
remarkably upright ; his chest was
prominent, his neck thick and short,
and his head of the ordinary size. He
lived

1803.

CHRONICLE.

lived chiefly on coarse country food,
except that, during the last ten
years of his life, he became parti-
cularly fond of tea. He wrought
mostly in the fields at laborious
work, which he continued till within
a month of his death. In September,
1802, he walked for half a mile
with a load upon his back, which,
with difficulty, any ordinary man
could have raised from the ground.
Several years ago it was advertised
im the public papers, that an ad-
miral Hosier had died, and left a
sum of money, which his relations
might have upon application ; and
though, as he had an uncle of the
name of Hosier, who went into the
navy as a boy, there was little doubt
of his being the same person, yet,
considering that, at such an advanced
period of life, ease of mind was pre-
ferable to the expectation of riches,
he could not be prevailed on to make
any application.

MARCH.

1st. His royal highness the Prince
of Wales notified, in the most gracious
and condescending manner, to the
committee of the Royal Jennerian In-
stitution, his permission ** to make
use of his name in any way that they
might consider it as best calculated
to forward their Jaudable purpose.”

Doctor Jenner has received from
the empress dowager of Russia,
by the hands of lord St. Helens,
a present of a most brilliant dia-
mond ring, accompanied with a let-
ter from her imperial majesty, an-
nouncing her successful introduc-
tion of the vaccine inoculation in
the charitable establishments under
her majesty’s care in Russia; and
acknowledging the signal benefit

373

rendered to mankind by the impor
tant discovery.

Government have purchased a
tract of land adjoining Bagshot.
heath, and intend enlarging it by an
enclosure from the heath, and there-
on to erect thé necessary buildings
and premises for the lately establish-
ed military college. A superb de-
sign for which purpose has been pre-
pared by Mr. Wyatt. This institu.
tion has two objects in view ; one
is to give a course of instruction to
a certain number of military officers
who have seen service, but who
have risen by extraordinary merit,
or been promoted through patron-
age, or by purchase, without all
the previous and necessary acquires
ments. This department is now
fixed at High Wycomb, where pro-
fessors of superior abilities are en-
gaged in the mathematics, drawing,
fortification, the French and Ger-
man languages, &c. and the course
is calculated for furnishing every
necessary information as well as ac-
complishment in the military pro-
fession. The other object of this
institution is to educate a large num-
ber of boys for the military service,
and professors of the first abilities in
every branch of science connected
therewith, are, or shortly will be,
appointed. A considerable number
of pupils are already admitted.

2d. The lord mayor, attended by
the sheriffs, the recorder, and cham-
berlain of London, eleven aldermen,
and about one hundred common-
councilmen, went to the levee, and
presented the following address to
the king.

‘¢ We your majesty’s most duti-
ful and loyal subjects, the lord

‘mayor, aldermen, and commons of

the city of London, in common-
council assembled, approach the
Bb 3 throne

374

throne with the most lively and
heart-felt congratulations on the
timely discovery and defeat of the
late traitorous designs against your
majesty’s person.

“¢ Sensible as we are of the hap-
piness we enjoy under your majes-
ty’s mild and paternal government,
ruling, as we are persuaded your ma-
jesty does, not more over the per-
sons, than in the hearts of a free
and grateful people; allied as your
august person is to the safety of our
glorious constitution in church and
state, and essential as your majes-
ty’s invaluable life is to the vital in-
terests of the empire at large, and
of every individual living under its
wise, wholesome, and equal laws ;
we are unable in terms adequate to
our feelings, to express our abhor-
rence at the nefarious and diabolical
machinations, which were delibe-
rately planned to whelm them all,
by one fatal blow, in horror and
destruction.

‘¢ Such sentiments of indignation
must glow in the hearts of your ma-
jesty’s faithful subjects throughout
the united kingdom; and we entreat
your majesty to believe, that your
loyal citizens of London are sensibly
alive to the mighty mischief which
threatened them ; and that their af-
fectionate attachment and ardent
zeal, wjjlever,if possible, strengthen
in proportion to any danger to
which your royal person may be
_ exposed.

‘¢ We trust, however, that the
firm and decided execution of the
laws, upon the unnatural projectors
of so foul a deed, will, while it
warns the traitor of his punishment,
convince the loyal of the protection
our revered constitution affords, and
effectually secure your majesty and
the united kingdom, over which the

1

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

agodness and mercy of providence
have placed and preserved you, from
any such guilty attempts in future,
to disturb the general tranquillity.

*¢ Long may the Almighty guard
the throne of this realm from the as-
saults of violence, and the insidious
attacks of domestic treason; and
long may your majesty, in your
person and family, enjoy that quiet
and happiness in governing, which
are so intimately interwoven with
the dearest possessions of the free
and happy people who obey.”

To which his majesty was pleased
to make the following most gracious
reply :

‘¢ J thank you for this dutiful and
loyal address; and I accept, with
particular satisfaction, the affec-
tionate congratulations of my faith-
ful city of London, on the signal
protection of diyine providence
vyouchsafed to me, and upon our
common deliverance ffom a despe-
rate and wicked attempt to destroy
our invaluable constitution,
therewith the laws, liberties, and
happiness of my people.”

After which his majesty conferred
thehonourof knighthood on Richard
Welch, and James Alexander, esqrs.
the two sheriffs of the city of Lon-
don.

3d. A superh sword, and the
freedom of the city of London, were
presented to Sir James Saumarez,
by the chamberlain, for the victo-
ries obtained by the squadron under
his command, over the Spanish and
French fleets, off Algesiras and Cape
Trafalgar.

Napper Tandy has inserted, in the
continental papers, a challenge ad-
dressed to Mr. Elliot, the member
of parliament, in consequence of his
late public strictures on Napper’s
conduct. He offers to meet him in

any

and —

a —"

CHRONICLE.

any city of the continent that he may
name, to avenge the insult offered
to him as a French officer. Mr.
Elliot has, of course, treated this
notice with the silent contempt it
merited.

The following lamentable morta-
lity lately occurred in the family of
Mr. Williamson, of Gungley, near
Gainsborough. On Monday sen-
night, one of his children died; on
the succeeding Wednesday, ano-
ther; and the following day his
wife, from grief, who was ina state
of pregnancy. They were all bu-
ried in one coffin.

This afternoon, about 3 o'clock,
part of the bank of the Paddington
canal gaye way, @ little on this side
the first bridge ; the water rushed
through the tunnel close to the spot,
and the meadows on the other side
were immediately inundated ; the
lock at the bridge prevented the
water flowing from the upper part
of the canal. The gap is about eight
feet wide; a log of timber is placed
across, and planks driven to secure
the lower part of the bank. The
water in the bason, and to the first
bridge, sunk between two and three
feet.

A court of common-council was
this day held; when, upon an investi-
gation of the expences incurred during
sir J. Eamer’s mayoralty, it appeared
to the court, that out of 53151. 7s.
6d. no less than 28931. 6s. were ex-
pended for the state bed at the man-
sion-house, and the furniture of the
room wherein it is placed.

Sir John Eamer explained what
he had ordered, which amounted to
about 7601. He said, that if he
had ordered a bed amounting to the
sum charged, it would have been a
blot upon his character :—that he
had represented to the court that a

375

state bed was necessary, and esti-
mated the expence of it at 400I.
curtains 2001. and other articles, in
the whole not exceeding 7601. A
spirited debate arose on the occa-
sion ; Mr. Phillips, the upholsterer,
insisted that his charges were rea-
sonable, and agreeably to the lord
mayor’s orders, and that the silk
alone cost upwards of 10001. It
was at last agreed, that it should be
referred to a committee to examine,
and again. report.

10th. A terrible fire broke out in
the night at a cooperage, in Rose-
mary-branch-alley, Rosemary-lane,
which consumed the whole of the
premises, and also Branch’s cloaths
exchange, consisting of about 12
houses, chiefly built of wood, and
inhabited by piece-brokers. The
fire raged with great fury for more
than one hour, through the want of
water. Happily no lives were lost.

11th. This morning a most extra-
ordinary duel took place in Hyde
Park, between Lieut. W. of the
navy, and Capt. J. of the army. The
antagonists arrived at the appointed
place within a few minutes of each.
other. Some dispute arose respect-
ing the distance, which the friends
of Lieut. W. insisted should not ex-
ceed six paces, while the seconds of
Capt. J. urged strongly the rashness
of so decisive a distance, and insist-
ed on its being extended. At length
the proposal of Lieut. W.’s friends
was agreed to, and the parties fired
per signal, when Lieut W. received
the shot of his adversary on the
guard of his pistol, which toreaway
the third and fourth fingers of his
right hand. ‘The seconds then in-
terfered to no purpose; the son of
Neptune, apparently callous to
pain, wrapped his handkerchief
round his hand, and swore he had

Bb4 another

376

another which never failed him.
Capt. J. called his friend aside, and
told him it was in vain to urge a re-
conciliation. Thicy again took their
ground. On Licut.,W. receiving
the pistol in his left hand, he look-
ed stedfastly at Capt. J. for some
‘time, then cast his eyes to heaven,
and said, ina low voice, * forgive
me.” ‘She parties fired as before,
and both fell. Capt. J. received
the shot through his head, and in-
stantly expired: Licut. W. received
the ball in his left breast, and im-
mediately enquired of his friend if
Capt. J.’s wound was mortal? Be-
ing answered in the affirmative, he
thanked heaven he had lived thus
Jong ; requested a mourning ring
on his finger might be given to his
sister, and that she might be assured
it was the happiest moment he ever
knew. He had scarcely finished
the words, when a quantity of blood
burst from his wound, and he ex-
pired almost without a struggle.
The unfortunate young man was
on the eve of being married to a
lady in Hampshire, to whom, for
some time, he had paid his ad-
’ dresses.

13th. The following statement of
a conversation which is said to have
taken place between the first con-
sul of France, and Lord Whitworth,
the English ambassador at that court,
on Sunday March the 13th, ap-
peared in all the public papers of
Ewrope; as such, and, without
youching for its exact authenticity,
we give it a place in our Curonc ie.

On the above evening, there was
a grand circle at the Thuilleries. The
ambassadors of the different powers
were in the saloon, with a nume-
rous assemblage of strangers and
ladies of distinction, generals, sena-
tors, tribunes, legislators, &c. &c.

ANNUAL REGISTDR, 1803.

Bonaparte entered, with an nnusual
alertness of manner, and, aiter sa-
luting the company, addressed him-
self to lord Whitworth, in a tone
sufficiently loud to be heard by all
who were present.—‘* You know,
my lord, that a terrible storm
has arisen between England and
France.”

Lord Whitworth. ‘ Yes, gene-
ral consul ; butit is to be hoped that
this storm will be dissipated without
any serious consequences.”

Bonaparte. ¢¢ It will be dissipat-
ed when England shall have evacu-
ated Malta. If not, the cloud will
burst, and the bolt must fall. ‘The
king of England has promised. by
treaty to evacuate that place ; and
who shall violate the faith of trea-
ties ?

Lord Whitworth. (surprised on
finding himself questioned in this
manner, and before so many per-
sons) ** But you know, general
consul, the circumstances which
have hitherto delayed the evacuation
of Malta. The intention of my so-
vereign is to fulfil the treaty of Ami-
ens; and you also know———”

' Bonaparte. ‘* You know (with
impetuosity) that the French have
carried on the war for ten years,
and you cannot doubt but that they
are in acondifion to wage it again.
Inform your court, that if, on the
receipt of your dispatches, orders
are not issued for the immediate
surrender of Malta, then war és de-
clared. I declare my firm resolu-
tion is to see the treaty carried into
effect ; and I leave it to the ambas-
sadors of the several powers that
are present, to say who is in the
wrong. You flattered yourselves
that France would not dare to shew
her resentment whilst her squadrons
were at St. Domingo. I am happy

thus

CHRONICLE. ies

thus publicly to undeceive you on
‘that head.”

Lord Whitworth. ‘* But, ge-
neral, the negoeciation_is not yet
broken; and there is even reason to
believe Se

Bonaparte. ‘ Of what negocia-
tion does your lordship speak? Is
it necessary to negociate what is
conceded by treaty—to negociate
the fulfilment of engagements, and
the duties of good faith ?—(lord W.
was about to reply; Bonaparte
made a signwith his hand, and con-
tinued in a less elevated tone.) My
lord, your lady is indisposed. She
may probably breathe her native air
rather sooner than you or I expect-
ed. I wish most ardently for peace;
but if my just demand be not in-
stantly complied with, then war
must follow, and God will decide.
If treaties are not sufficient to bind
to peace, then the vanquished must
not be left in a condition to offer in-
jury.”

Here this unexpected conversation
terminated; if that term can be al-

_ lowed, where the discourse was al-
most wholly on one side.

The following instance of remorse
of conscience occurred a few days
since at Croscomb, near Wells: A
young man in the service of a farmer,
had been prevailed on, by his {a-
_ ther, to rob his master of hay, and
was detected by his mistress in the
act of putting it on his father’s
shoulders. He received some re-
proaches from the matron, but was
promised forgiveness on the hay be-
ing returned. The unhappy youth,
however, ina state of despondency,
hung himself the same evening in an
out-house. ‘The coroner’s jury re-
turned a verdict of felo de se; but
that part of the sentence which di-
_ tects the body to be buried in the
_Aighway was dispensed with.

At a court of common-council,
held this day, Mr. Nichols, in an
animated and impressive speech, il-
lustrated the benefits which have al-
ready been obtained from the intro-
duction of the Jennerian method of
inoculation from the vaccine pock.
He felt a peculiar satisfaction in the
question having been adjourned from
a preceding court, as it had given
the members a fortnight’s more time
for investigating a subject of the ut-
most moment to themselves, to their
children, and to their children’s chil-
dren yet unborn. Investigation was
universally the friend of truth; and
the mists of prejudice, he was happy
to observe, were hourly dispersing, as
shadows before the mid-day sun.
Throughout the continent of Europe,
in the remotest corners of Asia and
America, in the parching climes of
Africa, the vaccine inoculation was
established on the firmest basis. A
report of the central committee at
Paris had given it the completest
sanction. At Geneva, one of the
most virtuous and enlightened cities
in the world, by the united exertions
of the clergy and medical practi-
tioners, the small-pox was already
nearly exterminated. It was there
enjoined, as a religious as well as
moral duty, to sponsors at the font,
to see that the infant should be pro.
tected, by vaccination, from the ha-
zard of a dangerous infection by the
small-pox; and the laudable exam.
ple was now followed in some of the
great manufacturing towns of the
British empire, particularly at Dud-
ley. After adverting to the unpa-
ralleled patronage the Royal Jenne-
rian Society had experienced from
the highest characters in the king-
dom; he briefly stated the outline
of the intended plan; the establish.
ing a house in a central part of the

metropolis,

378
metropolis, where an inoculator of
the first rate abilities should at all
seasonable times be in readiness to
perform the operation gratuitously ;
and it was proposed, he said, to
establish twelve other public situa-
tions, in different suitable districts,
where similar establishments should
be formed ; that every inhabitant of
the metropolis, in which 20,000 chil-
dren were annually brought into ex-
istence, might have the opportunity
ofapplying for inoculation with con-
fidence and security. Hethenmoved,
‘¢ That this court, fully sensible of
the benefits which have resulted to
the community at large, and to the
metropolis in particular, from the
introduction of the Jennerian mode
of inoculation, and desirous that the
practice may be universally diffused,
do subscribe the sum of 500].towards
the carrying more fully into effect
the laudable purposes of the Royal
Jennerian Society, for the extermi-
nation of the small-pox ; and that
the said sum be paid by the cham-
berlain of this city, to the right ho-
nourable the lord mayor, one of the
three trustees of the society.

Mr. Alderman Hibbert seconded
the motion, and most energetically
enlarged on the value of the disco-
very which had so_providentially
been brought forward into general
practice.—The question was also
ably supported by-Mr. Vandercom,
Mr. Thorpe, and Mr. James Dixon ;
and, after an unexampled discussion
(all the speakers being on the same
side), the question was unanimously
carried, in one of the fullest courts
that has of late years assembled.

2ist. This day being the anniver-
sary of thememorable battle of Alex-
andria, the Turkish piece of ord-
nance, taken in that battle, was
placed in St. James’s park, amidst

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

a great concourse of people. It is
16 feet in length, but was originally
20 feet. The carriage for this can-
non, on each side, in different com-
partments, was inlaid with copper ;
the centre one representing Britannia
seated on a rock, with a lion at her
feet, pointing to the British camp ;
the figure of a crocodile, four feet
long, is executed in a masterly
style of workmanship. The royal
crown, with the initials G. R. the
sword and sceptre at the lower part,
added to the embellishments of seve-
ral devices, have been recently finish-
ed, and give it a very noble appear-
ance. Atthe breech is a sphynx, on |
which the gun rests. In the front
are lord Chatham’s arms, as master-
general of the ordnance; underneath
is placed the letter C. with the

motto.
26th. A few days ago, at Tor-
soot, about seven miles south-west
of Strathaven, in the shire of Lanark,
a boy, cleaning out a drain, at the
foot of arising ground, struck upon
a glass bottle, which contained about
400 silver Roman coins of Trajan,
Antoninus Pius, Faustina, wife of
Antoninus, Crispina, wife of Com-
modus, and various other emperors
and empresses, &c. They are, in
general, in good preservation, and
weigh about forty grains each. The
bottle was an oblong square, and
sealed with a greenish pigment.—
About fifty of the coins were so
much verdigreased and adhering to-
gether, that they were broken with
a hammer, by a rude and unskilful
hand, in order to separate them. It
will be recollected, that an important
discovery of coins and medals was
made, in a manner equally acciden-
tal; in October, 1799, near Med-
bourn, in Leicestershire. Upon that
occasion, as a boy was nutting in
Holt .

CHRONICLE.

Holt wood, his foot slipped into a
ditch, and stracke upon a glass urn,
¢ontaining 230 pieces of silver Ro-
man coins, in the highest state of
preservation. Among this number
were one of Gratian, one of Julian,
‘one of Theodosius, and one of Ar-
cadius, Roman emperors.

3ist. A new institution has been
established in London, under the title
of ‘¢ The British School.” Its pur-
port is to afford an opportunity for
artists to display such of their pro-
ductions as they intend for sale, and
to contribute to support themselves
and families in case of sickness, or of
death.

A second voluminous, but curious,
report on the crown lands has been
published, in conformity with the
directions of the act of the 34th of
the present king, for the better ma-
nagement of the land revenue of the
crown, and for the sale of fee-farm
and other unimproveable rents. Mr.
Fordyce, of the land revenue office,
is the author of this report, which,
after a variety of statements on the
improveable rents, proceeds to those
not of an improveable nature.—In
the progress of the report, we notice
the mooring-chains of the river
Thames, held on lease of the crown
by the Gwydir family ; likewise the
sunk island in the Humber, as highly
improveable. But all we can say
within our narrow limits will convey
but a faint idea of the great mass of
matter brought forth in this report.
—As many of the holders of the
crown lands had obtained them un-
fairly, and by various encroach-
ments, so, of course, a variety of
complaints have been made against
the new regulations and reclaims on
the part of the crown: indeed, we
are not a little surprised to see,

among the papers forming part of

379

the report, a copy of a memorial
presented by a number of the tenants
of the crown, complaining of the ge-
neral hardships of leases granted in
the manner now adopted, and put-
ting several extreme cases of distress
which may oceur. It is rather re-
markable, that, among the tenants
complaining of these great hardships
and possible distresses, the greatest
number of names are those of peers,
of the highest rank, members of par-
liament, and private individuals of
high distinction and fortune. ‘The
titles of Richmond, Marlbororgh,
Leeds, Queensberry, Essex, Har-
rington, Gower, Fife, Sheffield, and
Whitworth, are not the only remark-
able ones. The answer of the lords
of the treasury to these was, that it
was impossible to make any general
regulation, where every two indivi-
dual cases were different; but that no
individual, who had a real cause for
distress, should suffer hardship from
the crown.

The following is a copy of a letter
from the society of agriculture, at
Paris, to William Marshall, esq.
in London, the well-known author
of several useful volumes on the ru-
ral economy of England:

“¢ Sir—The agricultural society of
Paris, ever since their installation,
have been desirous to give you a
proof of the very high esteem with
which they regard your useful la-
bours. But the war, which so long
separated two nations formed to ap-
preciate and assist each other, had
broken the chain which unites the af-
fections of men, of whatever clime,
whose exclusive employments are the
improvements of the useful arts, and
who devote their study and experi-
ence to increase the happiness and
prosperity of their native country.
The society of Paris, now availing

themselves

380

themselves of the general peace which
permits that pleasing bond to be re-
newed, hastens to enrich the list of
their fellow-labourers with the name
ef a man of science who is dear to
agriculture, and whose important la«
bours will form an epoch in the his«
tory of rural economy.

*¢ 'The society have desired me to
announce to you, that they have ap-
pointed you to the first rank among
their foreign associates, and to beg
‘your acceptance of this mark of their
esteem.

‘¢ J am also directed to transmit to
you the volumes which they have
published, since peace has permitted
them to unite their labours for the
common good.

‘¢ The society farther hope, that
you will have the goodness to keep
up a correspondence with them, and
to communicate the result of your
researches and experience.—Health
and respect.

¢¢ SILVESTRE, Secretary.”

Diep.— Miss Butler, solesurviving
niece of the wealthy and respectable
Mrs. Porter, of St. Andrew’s-street,
Cambridge. While warming herself
by the fire, which seemed sufficiently
guarded by a screen, a chance spark
communicated itself to her muslin
gown, and she was very soon enve-
Joped in flames. The gentleman to
whoin she was betrothed was the first
person who heard her cries ; but he
arrived too Jate, for, before the
flames could be extinguished, she
was so much burnt as to expire the
next morning in great agonies.

In her 86th year, Mrs. Margaret
Jackson, of Old-street, supposed to
be the oldest methodist in London.

Aged about 58, Mr. Daniel Cuer-
ton, of John-street, Tottenham-court
road, shoemaker, supposed to be the
strongest man in England. He was

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

about 5 feet 6 inches high, rather
corpulent, yet could put both his el-
bows together, take a glass between
them, and drink in’ that position ;
could contract or swell himself over
the chest, at a minute’s notice, so as
to be the least person, when mea-
sured, in company, or so extend
himself as to measure more than four
of the biggest persons together across
the chest. When sitting on -the
ground, he could get up, without the
aid of his hands, with three full-
grown men across his shoulders and
on his back, and dance a hornpipe
with them with ease ; and could per-
form many other feats equally incre-
dible, unless seen. Many hundreds
are alive who have seen these things,
which he generally did of his own
accord, and without profit.

At Metz, aged 105, Elizabeth
Adam. She was 78 years the wife
of Conrad Priess, who, at the age of
109, survives her !

APRIL.

Ist. D. Wells, who was found
guilty, at the late Derby assizes, of
the murder of G. Bingham, was exe~
cuted this day. After having been
suspended, the rope slipped, and the
wretched man fell to the ground, by
which his leg was broken, and he
was otherwise much bruised ; but be-
ing immediately tied up again, he ex-
pired after a severe struggle. It is
said that he acknowledged, at the
place of execution, the commission of
another murder, two years ago, when
he drove a waggon over his unhappy
victim, and reported that he had met
his death by accident.

6th. This morning, as lieut. col.
Montgomery and capt. Macnamara
were riding in [Hyde park, each fol-

lowed.

CHRONICLE.

lowed by a Newfoundland dog ; the
dogs fought; in consequence of
which the gentlemen quarrelled, and
used such irritating language to each
other, that an exchange of address
followed, with an appointment to
meet at 7 o’clock the same evening,
near Primrose-hill ; the consequence
of which proved fatal. Capt. M.’s
ball entered the right side of col.
M.’s chest, and, taking a direction to
the left, most probably went through
the heart; he instantly fell, without
uttering a word, but rolled over two
or three times, as if in great agony,
and groaned. Col. M.’s ball went
through capt. Macnamara, entering
on the right side, just above the hip,
and, passing through the left side,
carrying part of the coat and waist-
coat in with it, taking part of his
leather breeches and the hip button
away with it on the other side. Col.
Montgomery was carried by some of
the persons standing by into Chaik-
farm, where he was laid ona bed, at-
tended by Mr. Heaviside. As they
were carrying him, he attempted to
speak and spit, but the blood choak-
ed him. His mouth foamed much,
and, in about five minutes after he
was brought into the house, he ex-
pired, with a gentle sigh.

Capt. Macnamara is a naval of-
ficer, who has much distinguished
himself in two or three actions, as
commander in the Cerberus frigate.
He lately returned from the West-
Indies, and his ship was about two
months ago paid off at Chatham.—
He is about 36 years of age, a strong,
bold, active man. He has fought
two or three duels before, and was
remarkable at Cork for keeping the
turbulent in awe. Col. Montgo-
_mery was lieutenant-colonel of the
9th regiment of foot, son of sir Ro-
bert Montgomery, of ireland, and

381
half-brother to Mrs. George Byng,

and to the marchioness of Towns-
hend. He was aremarkably hand-
some, genteel man, and he had also
fought bravely in the service of his
country. In the Dutch expedition,
the Russians being put to flight, his
regiment was thrown into confusion,
and retreated, in consequence of the
Russians falling back upon them: at
this time a drummer was killed, and
col. Montgomery took up the drum,
beating it to rally his men, he him-
self standing alone; he did rally
them, and at their head rendered es-
sential service. On several occa-
sions, in Egypt and Malta, he dis-
tinguished himself for his courage and
spirit. He wasremarkable, some years
ago. for dressing like the late duke of
Hamilton, from which circumstance
he was called ‘* the duke of Hamil-
ton’s double.”—He was very inti-
mate with the prince of Wales and
duke of York. ‘The former shed
tears on being apprised of the melan-
choly end of his friend. Crowds of
people were all Thursday and Fri-
day viewing the spot where the co-
lonel fell, which was covered with
blood. The coroner’s inquest, ona
view of the body, brought in a ver-
dict of manslaughter. The remains
were buried on Saturday, in a vault
in St. James’s church. The funeral
was attended by general Loftus, Mr.
Byng, and Mr. Beresford, repre-
senting the three families to whom
he was nearest related.

Capt. Macnamara was tried on the
22d at the Old Bailey ; and was led
into court supported by his friends,
accompanied by Mr. Heaviside.—
The evidence for the prosecution be-
ing closed, the prisoner addressed the
jury, in extenuation of his conduct.
Lords Hood, Nelson, Hotham, and
Minto, and a great number of highly

respectable

582

respectable gentlemen, gave capt.
Macnamara a most excellent charac-
ter. Mr. Justice Heath summed up
the evidence, and stated, that, from
the pressure of the evidence, and
the prisoner’s own admission, the
jury: must find a verdict of man-
slaughter. ‘They were, however, of
a different opinion; for, after retir-
ing a quarter of an hour, they pro-
nounced a verdict of—Not Guilty!
12th. This day the chamberlain,
recorder, sheriffs, aldermen, and
city officers, attended the Jord
mayor, and partook of a cold colla-
tion ; after which they witnessed the
ceremony of rewarding the respec-
tive merits of the scholars of Christ’s
hospital with half-guineas, _ half-
crowns, shillings, and sixpences of a
new coinage. They were also, ac-

cording to custom, presented with .

two buns and a glass of wine each.
They then preceded his lordship to
Christ church, where an excellent
sermon was preached by Dr. Glasse.

13th. A most violent tempest was
felt at Olmutz. The lightning struck
one of the towers of the cathedral,
and set fire to it. This tower, with
three others, were soon covered with
flames, and in less than an hour the
whole fell with a terrible crash. All
the bells were melted, except one in
the middle tower, of 30 tons weight,
which fell through the roof of the
cathedral. It was not till the next
night that the fire was entirely extin-
guished. .

19th. At Gardenstown, coast of
Scotland, it blew a tremendous gale
from W.S. W. which increased to-
wards the afternoon to a complete
hurricane, abating only at short in-
tervals throughout the night. Next
morning a variety of wreck, scatter-
ed along the shore, announced the
destruction of some vessel at no great
distance.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Some of the inhabitants, eager to
make a farther discovery, went to
survey the western rocks, where,
from the top of a stupendous pro-
montory, in a curved shore, called
Walcove, they discovered a large
mass of wreck, which convinced
them that this had been the scene of
the unfortunate event they had
anticipated. Actuated by aspirit of
enterprising humanity, some young
men adventured to crawl down the
stupendous precipice; and, not-
withstanding the fluctuating and fu-
rious gusts of wind peculiar to the
time and place, actually descended
to the depth of 900 feet perpendicu-
Jar! “On reaching the bottom of the
rock, their attention and feelings
were suddenly interested in a very
striking object indeed ;—the only
survivor of an unfortunate crew (1k
in number) insulated on a fock, near
the wreck, in whom the tide of life
was fast ebbing! nor was it till low-
water that these laudable adventurers
were able to rescue him from this
dread asylum. This, however, at
last, they happily ecilected ; and suc.
ceeded, weak and bruised as he was,
in bringing him safe up the hill—an
achievement which any stranger
would certainly pronounce impos-.
sible. ‘The wreck proves to be the
Reliance of Newcastle, Willian Allen
master, 198 tons register ; sailed from
Shields on the 17th, coal-loaded for
Jamaica. The bodies of six of the
crew have been found, and interred.
The survivor, Colin Burn, a native
of Montrose, only engaged with
capt. Allen on the 16th—of course
was very little acquainted with his
shipmates, but thinks three of them
were from Aberdeen. People are
daily employed securing what little
remains of the wreck may drift
ashore; and the poor surviving tar is

: é now

CHRONICLE.

now so far recovered as to be able to
walk about occasionally.

20th. A fire consumed seven cot-
tages at Sheering, near Harlow.

21st. This day the senior scholars
of St. Paul’s school, pursuant to an-
nual custom, delivered public orations
before the mercers’ company, the

- trustees and patrons of the school,
and a very numerous and respectable
audience. The theses from which they
spoke were in Latin and Greek, and
did credit to the judicious selection
of the high master, the rev. doctor
Roberts; and the young gentlemen
acquitted themselves much to the sa-
tisfaction of all present. The sub-
ject most interesting was, the long
depending dispute concerning the an-
cients and moderns, with respect to
literary merit and mental excellence ;
in the discussion of which, much spi-
rit and ingenuity were shewn. On
this subject, Hincks, senior, appear-
ed to carry the palm for animated

delivery and vigorous verse. His
brother, in opposition, had much fe-
licitous allusion and neat point. The
strength of the argument, however,
was certainly with the mediator Cur-

* tis. —Bentley (the third of the family)
was very deservedly applauded, for
distinct enunciation, correct concep-
tion, and action graceful and appro-
priate.

23d. About two this afternoon, a
dreadful storm of thunder, lightning,
hail, and rain came on at Biggle-

_ $wade ; during its continuance, a fire-
ball fell upon a stable belonging to
Mr. Wells, and set fire to the thatch,
but was prevented doing any further

_ mischief through the assistance of the
inhabitants. .

Two fine horses, (valued at 701.)
belonging to Mr. William Connell,
farmer, of Needham-street, Suffolk,
were killed by lightning, by a sudden

383
tempest, whilst at plough. Mr. C.
himself, ‘overlooking his workmen
in the field, was struck by the elec-
trical fluid ; which affected his
whole frame so much, as to occasion
a temporary suspension of faculty,
from which, however, he recovered
in a few minutes, without any far-
ther injury.

24th. At 12 in the evening, three
Londoners driving a spirited but
blind hoxse in a gig, were overset in
a small pond on Bush-hill, the horse
nearly suffocated, and one of the
company, a son of Mr. Ibbitson’s, of
Durands, in Enfield parish, so sunk
in the mud, under the carriage, the
shafts of which were broken, that he
died a short time after his return
home.

The body of Mr. Smith Ramage,
a merchant of eminence in Dublin,
and one of the directors of the na-
tional bank, was found in the canal
near that city. He rode out on
Sunday, and his horse was found on
the day following, near the spot
where his body was afterwards dis-
covered.

At Ackworth, Mrs, Townley and
her son, who resided at that place,
had removed to a new house, and,
in order to dry their bed rooms,
which had been newly plaistered,
they burnt in them, during the night,
a chaffing dish with charcoal. In
the morning they were both found
dead!

25th. As Dr. Bowen, an eminent
surgeon of Bath, was riding in his
carriage, this evening, near the
Grove, his horses took fright, and
ran down the street with great vio-
lence; his coachman was thrown
from the box; a poor labouring man,
in endeavouring to stop the carriage,
was trampled under the horses feet,
the carriage went over his body, and

384

he was killed on the spot. Soon
after the carriage was stopped, and
the doctor escaped unhurt.

26th. During a storm, as Mr.
Cornell, a rich farmer, of Gazely,
Norfolk, was in a field, he suddenly
felt a shock at his ancle, and on
looking down, observed the light-
ning playing about his shoes ; it 1:m-
mediately atlected his frame so much,
as to occasion him to fall imniedi-
ately into a state of stupor, from
which he was, with great difficulty,
recovered.

Dirp.—3d. Hester Grenville, ba-
roness of Chatham, &c. (vide deaths.)
‘The remains of this great and vir-
tuous woman, the dowager countess
of Chatham, were removed, on the
1ith of April, for interment in
Westminster Abbey, from Burton-
Pynsent in Somersetshire, an estate
bequeathed by sir Thomas Pynsent to
the late earl, as a tribute of respect
to his great talents, and a mark of
gratitude for their extraordinary ex-
ertions in the service of his country.
On the 16th, a little before 12
o'clock, the hearse, containing her
Jadyship’s remains, arrived at lady
Warren’s, Kensington-gore, where
it was met by a party of her lady-
ship’s relatives and friends, and a
funeral procession commenced in the
following order: The undertaker
on horseback ; two conductors,
-dressed in silk, on horseback ; six
mutes, with cloaks, on horseback ;
two porters, dressed in silk, on
horseback ; a state-horse, led by
two grooms, covered with black
cloth, bearing the arms of the Pitt
and Grenville families, with a double
coronet, she being a baroness in her
ewn right, and sister to the late
earl Temple; a herald on horse-
back, bearing the coronet on a crim-
son velvet cushion; a hearse and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

six horses, the hearse elegantly
painted with banners and intermar-
riages, with the Pitt and Grenville
arms, with escocheon-flags, plumes
of feathers, and velvet beautifully
decorated ; ten pages on foot; three
mourning-coaches and six, with
escocheons and feathers; followed
by ten private carriages, amoung
which were those of lords Chat-
ham, Grenville, Hood, Cameliord,
Braybroke, Carysfort, Elliot, for-
tescue ; lady Sydney, and Mr. T.
Grenville. As soon as the corpse
entered the Abbey. the procession
was preceded by the dean of West-
minster, the prebends, minor ca-
nons, and the whole choir, wha
suns Purccll’s Funeral Service. The
burial service was very solemnly
read by Dr. Vincent, dean of West-
minster; and the body interred in
the vault, alongside that of one of
her ladyship’s daughters, and upon

that of the late earl.
fier death is severely felt by the
poor cottagers in the neighbour-
hoods of Burrowbridge, N. Pether-
ton, and Bridgewater. Her lady-
ship’s bounty, during the inclement
seasons, was the means of their very
existence. When in health, it was no
uncommon thing to meet her in the
park of Burton-Pynsent, during the
coldest weather, carrying a bundle
containing necessaries for the relief
of the indigent. She has often been
seen to enter the abode of distress,
with blankets, warm cloathing, and
food, which she has ordered libe-
rally to be distributed where such
were necessary. Fuel, and other
comforts, never failed to flow from
her charity ; and Mr. Symonds, an
apothecary at Bridgewater, had long
her ladyship’s orders to visit the ob-
jects of her bounty, and to give all
the assistance which they might ro
quire

Wand the fine arts.

: CHRONICLE.

quire from medicine. Whenever a
real appearance of want and poverty
came within her knowledge, she ne-
ver failed to change the scene of mi-
sery for health, comfort, and hap-
piness. Her ladyship’s humanity
was continually directed towards the
relief of private individuals in dif-
ferent parts of the kingdom, as well
as those in her own neighbourhood,
whom she established in their cot-
tages, and supplied with all that
could render them happy. ‘The only
return she required from these de-

_ pendents on her charity, for the

comforis they enjoyed, was, their
regular attendance on every Sunday
at the parish-church, where she also
was accustomed to visit regularly.
The countess had enjoyed the estate
of Burton-Pynsent since the death
of the late earl. She erected upon
it, at the expence of 2500l. in the
park, an obelisk to the memory of
the patriotic donor, the late sir
Thomas Pynsent.

At Trinidad, Henry Swinburne,
esq. the celebrated traveller, young-
est son of the late sir John S. bart.
of Capheaton, in Northumberland,
the long-established seat of that an-
cient roman catholic family. He was
educated at Scorton school, in York-
shire, and afterwards studied at Pa-
ris, Bourdeaux, and in the Royal
Academy at Turin. He made the

usual tour of Italy; and, in 1774,

travelled with his lady on the con-
tinent, for the express purpose of
indulging their taste for antiquities
He spent six
years in France, Spain, Italy, and

Germany ; formed an intimacy with.

some of the most celebrated literati
of those countries, and received some
signal marks of esteem from the so-
vereigns of the courts he visited.

Vox. XLY.

‘

385

On his return to England he retired
to his seat at Hamsterley, in the
bishopric of Durham, which thence-
forth became his principal residence.
He published his travels in Spain in
a quarto volume, 1779; four years
after, vol. I. of his travels in the
Two Sicilies; and a 2d. two years
after. Both these works have been
reprinted in octavo, the first in two,
the other in four volumes, with im-
provements.

MAY.

9d. A new table of rates, by
which the fares of watermen are re-~
gulated, has been at length made
out by the court of aldermen, under
the authority of four members of the
privy council, and began to take
place this day. All persons hiring
boats will now know what they
are to pay; and watermen can no
louger, with impunity, refuse to
take a fare when called upon; be-
cause they are obliged, under a pe-
nalty of 40s. to carry, in their hats,
badges containing the number of
their beats.

5th. A most extraordinary for-
gery was practised in the city. At
an early hour in the morning, a man
delivered a letter at the Mansion-
house, which, he said he had brought
from lord Hawkesbury, secretary of
state, and requested it to be delivered
immediately ; it was accordingly
given to his lordshipp.and soon af-
ter, the following literal copy ap-
peared in front of the Mansion-
house:

‘¢ Lord Hawkesbury presents his
compliments to the lord mayor, and
has the honor to acquaint his lord-
ship, that the negociation between

Ce this

386

this country and the French repub-
lic, is brought to an amicable con-
clusion.

“ Downing Street,
6¢ Hight o’ Clock, May 5, 1803.”

Printed notices were then posted
round the Custom-house, declaring
the embargo to be taken off ships
Jaden with saltpetre, &c. And, in
consequence of this delusion, the
funds experienced an immediate rise
from 633 to 71}. <A real treasury
messenger, however, was soon dis-
patched to announce the falsity of
the news; on which the genuine
communication was read in the pub-
lic street by the city marshall. The
confusion which then prevailed was
beyond all description. The stock-
exchange was immediately shut, and
the committee came to a resolution,
‘* That all bargains made in the
morning should be null and. void.”
The consequence of the detection of
the artifice was a rapid fall of the
funds from 71 to 63.

7th. A similar imposition was at-
tempted to be practised on the pub-
lic credulity, through the medium
of ¢ The Times ;” a morning paper,
notoriously in the interests of go-
vernment, in which appeared a pa-
ragraph, stating: the amicable termi-
nation of all differences with ¥ rance.
The commiitee for managing the
stock-exchange, however, in order
to guard against imposition, would
not allow the doors to be opened,
until the truth of the report could
be officially ascertained. At their
instance, the lord mayor addressed
a note to lord Hawkesbury, soli-
citing information, and stating the
occasion of his application. To
this note the chancellor of the ex-
chequer returned the following an-
swer:

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

‘¢ My lord,

‘¢ As lord Hawkesbury is not at
the foreign office, IL have opened
your lordship’s note, conformably to
the wish expressed through your
messenger. If any information had
been received by government, which
could, possibly, be the subject of a
public communication, your lord-
ship may be assured that such com-
munication would not have been
withheld. I feel it, however, my
duty distinctly to caution your lord-
ship against receiving impressions of
the description alluded to, through
any unauthorized channel of infor-
mation.

‘¢ J haye the honor to be, &c.

‘¢ Henry Addington,”
“ Downing-Street,
6¢ Saturday Noon.”

An extract of this letter was
posted up at the Mansion-house,
and exhibited at Lloyd’s, &c. and
the stock-exchange was open soon
after 12 o’clock.

The stock-exchange committee
have reported, that no person be-
longing to their connexion appears
to have been implicated in the late
fraudulent transactions.

This evening, as Mr. Walker, of
Hampton-wick, was returning home
in a one-horse chaise, the horse took
fright, and ran violently against a
gate. Mr. W. was thrown out with
such force as to fraéture his skull,
and when taken up, was entirely
without signs of life.

9th. A fire, occasioned by singeing
a horse’s ears in the stable, broke
out at the Spread Kagle inn, near
the episcopal palace, Buckden, near
Huntingdon, which spread. with ra-
pidity in every direction, and con-
sumed 13 tenements, and property
to the amount of 2000]. A collec-

tion

hie

CHRONICLE.

tion was immediately set on foot for
relief of the sufferers, under the di-
rection of a committee, of which
Mr. Maltby, the bishop’s chaplain,
is chairman.

About a quarter before one o’clock
in the morning, avery large and lu-

“ minous meteor was seen in the air ;

apparently about 200 yards distant
from the earth; it passed over the
town of Cambridge, taking its course
from S$. W. to N.E.
colour it nearly resembled the moon,
and hada tail of considerable length:
its light was very splendid, and its
yelocity astonishing, being visible not
more than half a minute!

An ewe belonging to Mr. Bam
ton, of Barford, lambed at the usual
time this season, and seven weeks
after lambed again.

10th. Messrs. Easterby and Mac
Farlane, the accomplices of Capt.
Codlin, who was executed in De-
cember last, for sinking the brig
Adventure, off Brighton, received
his majesty’s pardon !

llth. This day, about 3 o'clock,
an obstruction took place in the nar-
row part of the Strand, near Ex-
eter Change, in consequence of the
breaking down of an hackney coach.
Two men and a woman, crossing the
street, unfortunately ran between
two coal waggons, then in contact
with each other; when the two
men and the woman were so jammed
in, notwithstanding their screams
and shrieks, before any assistance
could be given, that they were killed
on the spot.

A child who was left in a cradle
at Welling, Herts, was attacked by
anumber of vais, and when the fa-
mily, alarmed by its cries, arrived to

_ its aid, they found a great part of

its face devoured. Hopes were,
however, entertained of its recovery.

In size and.

387

The first consul, driving a pheton,
with four horses in hand, was thrown
from his seat in the Park, near St.
Cloud, on the 11th instant. ‘The
shock was violent; but he lighted
on the grass, and experienced no
injury, except a slight bruise on the
hand.

12th. Early this morning a fire
broke out in an upper apartment of
the left wing of Huntley Castle, the
seat of the duke of Gordon, which
originated from the snuff of a candle
being left burning on the floor. ‘I'his
wing having been separated from the
building by a stone wall, the door
which communicated with it was

quickly built up with turf, which

secured th¢ remainder from destruc-
tion. After burning for several
hours, the conflagration was extin-
guished. Most of the property was
saved by the villagers.

On this evening lord Whitworth
departed from Paris, and landed at
Dover on the 20th, where he met
general Andreossi, the French mi-
nister to the court of London, on
his way to Paris.

On the 17th appeared in the Ga-
zette, dated the 16th. (the morning
of the French embassador’s de-
parture from London) an order
in council, directing that general
reprisals be granted against the
ships, goods, and subjects of the
French republic, or to persons in-
habiting within any of the territories
of the French republic. It also
contains a proclamation, ordering
an embargo-to be laid on all ships in
our ports, belonging to the French
or Batavian’ republics, or to any
countries occupied by the French
armies. ‘The gazette likewise con
tains a proclamation for granting
the war bounty of five pounds to
every able seaman who shall enter

Ce2 on

388

on board the fleet ; and another, de-
claring, that any British subject
found on board an enemy’s ship,
with intent to commit hostilities
against this country, will be liable to
suffer death.

1sth. ‘This day, by order of his
majesty, a DecrAnation or Wan
on the part of Great Britain against
France was laid before parliament :
And thus, after a feverish interval of
exactly ONE YEAR AND SIXTEEN DAYS,
have hostilities commenced between
the two countries, as it was pre-
dicted and believed they would, by
every man in the empire, who aspired
to the science or to the name of a
politician !

19th.
remonial of the installation of the
knights of the most honourable mi-
litary order of the Bath, which took
place this day.

From the prince’s chamber in the
house of lords was a covered plat-
form, which reached to the N. EK.
door of the Abbey, wide enough
to admit six persons to pass in
breadth; this platform was lined with
the guards. So strong was the ex-
pectation of the crowd, that as early
as 6 o'clock, several houses were
filled with visitors, and at 8 the win-
dows and houses in. New Palace
Yard were crowded. At half past
8 o’clock, the life-guards were sta-
tioned in all the streets and avenues
leading ito the abbey, from the
Horse-guards to Petty-France,
Dean’s-yard, Millbank, and all the
leading avenues, with sixty horses,
which guarded the platform on cach
side leading to the door, to prevent
the pressure of the crowd. About
9 a passage was made. to the plat-
form, large enough to admit car-
riages, where the knights and es-
quires were set down; and after-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

The following was the ce-

1803.

wards proceeded to the anti-chamber
leading to the prince of Wales’s
chamber r, where they were received
by the dean and chapter of West-
minster, pursuivants, heralds, and
provincial kings of arms, who con-
ducted them to the prince’s cham-
ber, preparatory to forming the
procession. At 10, her majesty
and the princesses arrived, and en-
tered the great south door: and
soon after, his royal highness the
duke of York appeared in his state
carriage, his horses ornamented with
yellow ribbons ; his appearance was
announced by the beat of drums and
sound of trumpets ; his royal high-
ness alighted near the door of the
abbey, and proceeded upon the
platform, attended by Mr. Stepney,
his train-bearer, from thence to the
prince’s chamber, where the proces-
sion was in waiting. About 10 thi-
nutes past 11, the spectaters were
aroused by the sound of 15 knights
trumpeters, six drums, and a kettle-
drum. The old national. air of.
‘* Britons strike home” was played,
after several interchanges between
the drums and trumpets. ‘Phe pro-
cession advanced in slow march to
the middle of the ‘platform, where
it remained for some time, till the ,
remainder of the procession came on
in regular succession. About half
past 11 the procession entered West-
minster abbey, by the south-east
door, leading into the south cross,
and passed down the south aisle in
the following order :

Six gentlemen in dark crimson silk

scarfs, uncovered, preceding, the
’ procession.

Druims of his majesty’s household.
The.drum-major.
Kettle-drums and trumpets.
The serjeant-trumpeter with his
mace.

Twelve

CHRONICLE.

Twelve alms-men of the church of
Westminster, two and two, in
their gowns, with the badges
of their order.

The messenger of the order in his
surcoat.

The esquires. of the knights elect,
three and three, their caps
in their hands.

The esquires of the knights-compa-
nions, their caps on their heads.
Prebendaries of the church of West-
minster, two and two.

.The sub-dean, carrying the bible
in his right hand.

Officers of arms according to their
rank in their tabards, viz.
Pursuivants.

Heralds.

Provincial kings.

Knights elect, two and two, car-
rying their hats and feathers in
their hands.

Gentleman usher—Register—
_Secretary—

Bath king at arms—Garter—
Genealogist.

The dean of Westminster, Dean of
the order, carrying in his right hand
the form of the oath and
admonition.

His royal highness the duke of York,
first'and principal knight com-
panion, as great master,
covered.

Twelve yeomen of the guards,
to close the procession.

The proxies walked in the place
of their respective knights, wearing
the surcoat and girt, with the sword
of the order; they carried the

mantle on their right arm; they

had no spurs, nor the hat and fea-
ther, but walked with a hat in their
hands. ‘lhe procession advanced to
the end of the south aisle, where her
majesty, the princess of Wales, and
the princesses Augusta, Elizabeth,

5389:

Mary, Sophia, and Amelia, with
the duke of Cumberland, were seated.
in a box lined with crimson, over
Mr. Congreve’s monument. ‘The
knights halted, and paid their ebe-
dience to her majesty and the prin-
cesses ; the whole of the company
in the nave of the cathedral at the
same time standing up; the proces-
sion then crossed over to the north
aile, and proceeded down till they
came to Henry VIIth chapel, the
trumpets continuing to sound till
they reached it. The banners of
the deceased knights were buried
under the altar; the band, during
the ceremony, playing the Dead
March in Saul. The installation of
the respective knights then took
place. Divine service was performed ;
and the Te Deum composed by Dr.
Cook, and appropriate anthems,
were sung by the gentlemen of the
choir of Westminster, assisted by the
choirs of the Chapels Royal. Di-
vine service having ended, the knights
put on their hats and feathers, the
proxies remaining uncovered, and
approached severally with their
companions to the altar, where each
knight, standing and drawing his
sword, Offered it to the dean, who
received it, and laid it on the altar.
The knights then received their
swords of the dean, who restored
them with the proper admonitions.
The ceremony then concluded; and
Handel’s Coronation Anthem, God
save the King, having been sung,
the procession returned back to the
prince’s chamber, in the same order
it came from thence; except that
the prebendaries retired to the Je-
rusalem Chamber from the abbey
door, and the esquires and officers
of arms, and officers of the order,
when they came out of the church,
were covered.—On the procession

Cc3 arriving

390

arriving at the door in Poet’s-corner,
the king’s cook, dressed in full court
dress, bowed to each knight, and
addressed him thus: * Sir knight,
the great oath that you have taken,
if you keep, it will be great honour
to'you ; but if you break it, I have
power, by virtue of my office, to
hack the spurs from off your heels.”
Each of the knights bowed to him,
and touched their hat. Some of them
asked him if there were any fees to
pay? to which he answered, he

would do himself the honour to call.

upon them. He receives four gui-
neas for this extraordinary speech,
and ancient custom. This ceremony
was conducted with the utmost re-
gularity and order.

Seats were placed at the south
cross, where the procession entered,
which were occupied by ladies,
splendidly dressed: all the way up
the south aile there were galleries
erected between the monuments,
which were likewise occupied by
company of the most elegant de-
scription. At the west end of the
cathedral, there were seats placed
for the accommodation of the dean
and chapter’s friends: these were
filled with ladies of the first rank and
fashion. All along the north aisle
there were galleries, in which we
noticed a brilliant assemblage of the
most beautiful ladies, arrayed in the
most captivating dresses. Opposite
the west end of the church, under
the organ loft, was a spacious gal-
lery, equally resplendent with beau-
ty and fashion. The dresses of the
ladies in general were distinguished
for their elegance. Her majesty was
dressed in white, with a white tur-
ban, decorated with diamonds ; the
princess of Wales was in white, and
wore a white muslin turban, em-
broidered with gold. The guards

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

were placed along the cathedral, in
order to preserve the regularity of
the procession.

The old knights absent, who were
not obliged to find proxies, were—
lord Lavington, ear] Macartney, sir
R. Gunning, lord Dorchester, vis-
count Howe, sir Hector Munro,
earl of St. Vincent, lord Grey of
Howick, and viscount Bridport.

The old knights present: earl of
Malmesbury, lord D. Blaquiere, vis-
count Galway, right hon. sir W.
Fawcett, and the right hon sir G.
Yonge.

The knights personally installed:
sir Alured Clark, sir Henry Harvey,
sir J. F. Cradock, lord Henley,
right hon. sir W. M. Pitt, right hon.
sir Joseph Banks, sir James Henry
Craig, sir James Colpoys, lord Hut-
chinson, sir Eyre Coote, and sir
David Dundas.

Knights installed by proxy : right
hon. sir W. Meadows, by sir James
Pulteney ; lord Whitworth, by sir
F. Whitworth ; right hon. sir John
B. Warren, by sir Edmund Nagle ;
viscount Nelson, by sir W. Bolton;
sir T. Graves, by sir Rupert George ;
sir Thos. Trigge, by sir Charles
Greene; sir James Saumarez, by
sir Thomas Saumarez ; sir R. Aber-
cromby, by sir Samuel Auchmuty ;
lord Keith, by sir Francis John
Hartwell; Sir Andrew Mitchell, by
sir Richard Hankey; sir John
Thomas Duckworth, by sir George
Shee.

Her majesty, the princesses, and
princess of Wales, remained in their
box some time after the procession
had passed; and then returned to
the dean’s house, where an elegant
entertainment was prepared for the
royal party. The last installation
took place in 1788.

A maniac attempted to gain ad-

mission

‘

‘

‘was at Lerwick,

CHRONICLE:

mission to the levee. He said that
he had just risen from the dead, and
was sent by heaven to kill Bona-
parte.

Capt. Brisac, and the purser of
the Iris frigate, were tried in the
court of king’s beuch, and found
guilty, ona charge of conspiracy to
procure false vouchers of expendi-
ture, in order to defraud the vic-
tualling board. When the vessel
in Shetland, the
purser bought 5,355 lbs. of beef, at
2id. and 3d. per lb. for which he
paid about 541. '

The seller, and the other requi-
site witnesses to the purchase, deli-
very, &c. by desire of the captain
and purser, subscribed blank forms
of certilicates, in which the quantity
of beef was stated at 12,160\bs. of
beef, at 7d. and other articles were
introduced, making in the whole
5571. which was paid by the victual-
ling board.

20th. Lord Nelson, in the Vic-

‘tory, accompanied by the Amphion,

sailed from Portsmouth to take the
command in the Mediterranean.
22d. Extract from the register of
the deliberations of the government
of the French republic, of this date.
‘¢ The government of the republic,
having heard read, by the minister
of marine and colonies, a dispatch
from the maritime prefect at Brest,
dated this day, announcing that two
English frigates had taken two
French merchant vessels in the bay

of Audierne, without any previous

declaration of war, and in manifest
violation of the law of nations.

I. Itis prescribed to all comman-
ders of squadrons or naval divisions
of the republic, captains of its ships,
and other vessels of war, to chase
those of the king of England, as
well as those vessels belonging to his

591

subjects, and to attack, capture, and
conduct them into the ports of the
republic.

Ll. Commissions will be delivered,
in course, to those French priva-
teers for which they are demanded.

JH. All the English from the age
of 18 to 60, or holding any commis-
sion from his Britannic majesty, who
are at present in France, shall imme-
diately be constituted prisoners of
war, to answer for those citizens of
the republic, who may have been
arrested and made prisoners by the
vessels or subjects of his Britannic
majesty, previous to any declaration
of war. '

The first consul,
(Signed) Bonaparte.”

The third article of the above,
contains such an open violation
of the laws of hospitality against
harmless strangers, not responsible
for the conduct ‘of their native go-
vernment, as has only been equalled
by the proceedings of Robespierre,
and adds another indelible blot on
the character of the ferocious Cor-
sican.

23d. The following letter to ad-
miral Cornwallis, commanding the
channel fleet, amnounces the first
capture of a ship of war, of the
enemy’s, since the commencement
of hostilities.

“¢ Doris, at sea, May 23.
“¢ Sir,

<¢ T have the honour to acquaint
you, that while, in obedience to
your order of the 18th inst. cruizing
off Ushant, in his majesty’s ship
Doris, under my command, I fell
in withthe French republican lugger
VAfironteur, commanded by Mons.
Morce Andre Dutoya, lieut. de
Vaisseau, mounting 14 long nines,
with 92 men. As she made sail to
Cc4 escape

392

escape me, I fired a shot wide of
her, with the hope that she would
then have shortened sail, as I was
gaining fast upon her; as this was
without effect, I fired a serond,
which she returned, and kept up a
running fire till the instant I laid her
along side, nor did she then give up
a contest so fraught with temerity,
until the first captain and eight men
were killed, and 14 wounded, one
of whom is since dead of his wounds.
I am happy to add, that the damage
on our side consists only in one man
wounded, anda few shot in the hull
and rigging.
“Tam, &c.
“* R. H. Pearson.”

Between 3 and 4 o’clock in the
afternoon, a fire was discovered in
that beautiful edifice, Boston church,
which threatened its total destruc-
tion, but by the timely and judicious
application of the engines, the fire
was completely extinguished in the
space of three hours. The accident
happened by the carelessness of a
workman, who had lighted a fire
upon the lead in the gutter of the
roof, which so rapidly extended it-
self along the spars and beams, that
the whole interior space between the
ceiling and the roof, was filled with
such a volume of smoke, as for a
long time to deny all entrance; but
by the spirited exertions of the firc-
men, the water was at length con-
veyed to the very heart of the fire,
and that elegant building was thereby
saved. Meantime, an engine was
very successfully employed within
the church to extinguish the flames,
“as they appeared to spread along the
ceiling. Considerable damage has
been done by this accident, (it is
supposed not fo.a less amount than
10001.) but nothing equal to what

ANNUAL! REGISTER, 1803.

might have been expected ; indeed;
about 5 o’clock, it was the general
opinion that nothing could save the
roof, as the lead began to melt and
run ; fortunately the discovery was
in the day time, and there was very
little wind, or the church must have
beenatotal ruin. Never were greater
exertions used by all ranks and de-
scriptions of persons than on this oc-
casion, and it is but justice to say,
that the officers and soldiers quar-
tered at Boston, and every stranger
there, felt a natural impulse in say-
ing this pride and ornament of the
town.
25th. The Hertford coach, com-
ing to London, and crossing the
new-laid gravel on Stamford-hill,
with fourteen outside passengers,
and driven by the proprietor’s bro-
ther, was overturned; one of the
outside passengers was killed on the
spot, and a young woman, one of
the two passengers who escaped un-
hurt from the fall, had her arm
broken in two places by the other
passengers trampling on her. The
person killed was the foreman of the
late Mr. Whittingstall.
26th. The anniversary meeting of
the charity-children of the different
parish-schools, took place, as usual,
this day, in the cathedral of St.
Paul, which was fitted up for their
reception. An excellent sermon was
preached by the Rev. R. Cray, D. D.
and rector of Cracke, county of
Durham. Theappearance was grand
and striking. More than 7000 chil-
dren, clothed and educated in the
metropolis, and a great number of
them wholly supported by the vo-
luntary bounty of individuals only,
without any obligatory support from
the laws, present, to the admiration
of surrounding states, a picture of
the British character, liberally and
amiably

CHRONICETE.

amiably pourtrayed; an affecting
display of public benevolence; a
grateful tribute to the memory of
our generous ancestors, who esta-
blished them ; and an animating in-
centiye to the present age to patro-
nize and transmit to posterity these
excellent institutions, so ornamental
to this country, and unrivalled in
any other.

A woman, who has for several

years travelled the country as a,

pedlar, with four children, bare-
footed and in rags, called on Mr.
Kerridge, at Stow-cum-Quy, Cam-
bridge, and begged permission to lie
in his barn, on account of illness,
which was granted. On Friday May
27th, she died, when, on examining
her baskets and clothes, property
was found to the amount of 800l.

28th. A proclamation is just pub-
lished by the elector of Hanover,
stating that the differences between
the crown of England and France,
are of sucha nature, that they con-
cern only the former, and can, in
no ways, relate to his majesty as
elector, and a state of the Germanic
empire. His majesty, in that parti-
cular quality, abides by the treaty
of Luneville, and, has a right to
expect that the treaty will procure
’ perfect safety for his Germanic states,
in a war foreign to the empire. ‘The
preparations he has made are there-
fore merely defensive ; and his ma-
jesty, in his quality of elector, will
take no part in the war.

29th. ‘This morning, at a quarter
before one o’clock, a dreadful fire
broke out in the house of Mr. Davis,
No. 2, Union-row, Limekilns,Green-
wich, which consumed that and six
adjoining, besides materially da-
maging two others; from the vio-
lence of the wind, and searcity of

393

water, the flames were not got un-
der till four.

Letter from capt. Mansfield, of
the Minotaur, dated at sea,
May 30, to admiral Corn-
wallis.

S¢ Sir,

“<< T beg leave to acquaint you, for
their lordships’ information, that 1
this evening saw the French repub-
lican frigate, la Frangaise, safe off
the Dodman, agreeably to signal
made by the hon. adm. Cornwallis.
She was captured by his majesty’s
ship under my command, on the
28th of May, in company with his
majesty’s ship Thunderer, having
chased from the fleet, and during
the chase was joined by the Albion,
which ship had parted from the fleet
some days before, in the thick wea-
ther. The prize proves to be the
republican French frigate la Fran-
caise, from Port-au-Prince 35 days,
capt. Jurien. She is pierced for 28
twelve-pounders on the main deck,
and 16 nine-pounders on the quar-
ter-deck and forecastle, 10 of which
were in her hold, and had on board
187 men.”

31st. The duke of Norfolk has
bought, by auction, at Mr. Jeflery’s,
Pall-Mall, a beautiful manuscript on
vellum, intituled the Golden Legend,
or Lives of the Saints, translated
from the Latin into French by Jean
de Vignay, at the particular request
of Jane, daughter of Robert the se-
cond duke of Burgundy, and wife to
Philip de Valois: it was knocked
down to his grace at sixty-four
pounds.

Astronomers for a long time sus-
pected there was an error in the
measurement of a degree of the me-
ridian, eftected in 1736, in Lapland,
by Maupertuis, Lemoinier, Outhier,

and

894

and Celsius. M. Swanberg, and
three other Swedish astronomers,
have lately measured a degree, and
found it to be 57,209 toises, which
gives 196 toises less than by the
French measure. This agrees bet-
ter with other circumstances, and
proves that the figure of the earth is
not so irregular as it was believed to
be after the first measurement. M.
Mechain has set out from Paris, for
Spain, where he will measure a tri-
angle of 93,000 toises, terminating
at the Balearic isles, and which will
complete the great and important
measure of the meridian, which has
‘been for some years carrying into
execution, by Mechain and Delamere.

Diev.—At Long Beckly, county of
Northampton, aged 103, Mrs. Swin-
ten.

JUNE.

ad. A verdict of 700]. damages
was given against Mr. Dickie, sta-
tioner, in the Strand, for defamatory
reflections on the character of go-
vernor Aris, of Cold Bath-fields.

The same day an action was
brought against a Mr. Shipley, for
haying received a bribe, at the time
of the election, from Mr. Martin,
one of the candidates for Durham.
He was convicted in a penalty of
5001.

The knights’ fete at Ranelagh was
one of the most splendid entertain-
ments ever given in this country :—
there were present 2500 of the first
characters in the kingdom. The
supper consisted of the choicest de-
licacies of the season ; amongst other
rarities, there were cherries at a gui-
‘nea a pound, and 900 quarts of
pease, at 14s. per quart. A drama-
tic piece was got up for the purpose,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

18053.

by Messrs. Fawcett and) Byrne.—
None but court dresses and regimen-
tals were admitted ; and those of the,
Jadies were new and splendid in the
extreme: the expence was 70001.

4th. We have this day had, at
Airds, one of the most violent thun-
der-storms ever remembered. ‘The
lightning struck an old thorn in the
farm of Slogarie, in the parish of
Balmaghie, and shivered it to pieces.
It then divided into four branches,
and killed nine black cattle belong-
ing to Messrs. Bennets, tenants of
Mr. Livingston, of Airds. One of
the cattle had its head buried up to
the eyes in the earth ; and the light-
ning in its way tore up a stone which
four men could not have moved.—
There was no mark on any of the
cattle, except that one of them had
its hair singed on its hind legs and
belly ; and they were all very much
swelled. It also killed a very fine
cow. Mr. L. received a slight
shock, similar to that given by an
electrical machine.

A fire-ball entered the house of
John Hubbard, the White Bull, in
Kast Norton, Leicestershire, and
did considerable damage; the chim-
ney was thrown down, and many of
the slates from the roof removed to a
considerable distance ; the windows
were shattered to picces, and the
contents of the dairy and pantry
thrown into one contused heap : the
explosion was most tremendous, and
a strong smell of sulphur remained
for some time in every room in the
house.

General Mortier announced to the
French government, the surrender,
by capitulation, of the electorate of
Hanover, to the troops under his
command. By the articles of the
convention, dated the 3d instant, a
total surrender of the country was

agreed

CHRONICLE.

agreed to by the commissioners.—
The French general is to make what
changes in the government, and levy
what contributions he may think pro-
per: the authority of the regency is
suspended ; the French cavalry is to
be remounted, and the army to be
paid and clothed at the expence of
the electorate ; the artillery, to the
amount of 1000 pieces, the arms, to
the number of 100,000 stands, with
the whole of the magazines, are to be
delivered wp to the enemy ; all funds
have been sequestrated, and the ef-
fects belonging to the king of Eng-
land are placed entirely at the dispo-
sal of the invaders; the Hanoverian
troops are to retire behind the Elbe,
and not to bear arms against France
during the present war.

His majesty had just repaired his
palace at Hanover, and sumptuously
furnished it for the residence of the
duke of Cambridge, to the amount
of 50,000]. General Mortier now
resides there.

6th. A vessel from Jamaicaarrived
off Dover this day, and brought the
following particulars relative to St.
Domingo: she left Jamaica the be-
ginning of April, at which time the
accounts were very unfavourable to
the French: the blacks were very
strong, well supplied with arms
and ammunition, and kept the
French troops from advancing. The
French men of war are coming
home, singly, with part of their
guns dismounted, in order to stow
cargoes. Since the treacherous con-
duct of the French to Toussaint,
the blacks have refused all offers of
settling the dispute, and are deter-
mined to perish rather than submit.
They are reported to be between 80
and 90 thousand strong. French
frigates are kept continually cruizing
off the cape, to intercept the supplies
ef arms and ammunition, which,

395
however, they are constantly recciv-
ing.

“rth. Letters from the Hague state
the departure of Mr. Liston, the
English ambassador, to the United
States. On the 24th ult. he notified
to the Dutch secretary of state for
foreign affairs, that if France would
consent to withdraw, immediately,
her troops from the Batavian repub-
lic, his majesty would engage to ad-
here to a reciprocal neutrality.—
This the poor Hollanders were com-
pelled to reject.

Inconsequence of the departure of
Mr. Liston from the Hague, an order
bas been issued to arrest all the Eng-
lish in the Batavian territories.

A French brig, called le Vigilant,
from Port-au-Prince, has been cap-
tured, and sent into Falmouth, by
the Resolution. She is laden with
sugar and coffee, being the whole
produce of the island, and had been
55 days on her passage. The captain
reports, that, just before he sailed,
the French ship la Virginie, capt. le
Noir, arrived there from Havre, hav-
ing on board several ladies, as pas-
sengers, when she was boarded by
the blacks, who murdered the cap-
tain and crew, and sent the women
into the country; and after every
thing had been taken out of the ves-
sel, it was burnt. The French ships
of war were waiting for instructions
from France at the time the Vigilant
sailed, and about twelve sail were
lying at Port-au-Prince. The island
was very healthy; the blacks were
supposed to be 80,000 strong, and
scarcely a night passed without the
commission of some outrage.

The thunder-storm which occurred
this afternoon did considerable da-
mage. Several houses were greatly
injured, and many persons struck
down while walking in the streets.—
A public-house, at the corner of
Abingdon.

396

Abingdon-street, received great da-
mage by a thunder-bolt, and every
piece of iron in the structure was re-
duced to the smallest’particles. The
house of sir F. Whitworth, in Bru-
ton-street, was injured in a similar
way : the wire of the door-bell was
completely destroyed, all the leaden
pipes were melted, the wainscot
burnt, and a great coat, which hung
in the kilchen, -was- entirely con-
sumed. The damage was consider-
able in other parts of the town, and
in the fields much injury was done
among the cattle.

8th. The following malefactors
were executed at the Old Bailey,
viz. A. Nicholas, in the employ of
the general-post-office, for secreting
a letter, and stealing bank-notes :
P. Gregory, for forging bank-notes ;
and RK. Smith. alias Gordon, for rob-
bing several hackney coachmen.

A fine boy, five years of age, son
to Mr. Watson, of Downham-mar-
ket, Norfolk, was last week poi-
soned, by his having had a quantity
of laudanum given to him, which was
sold, through mistake, for another
medicine. An infant, his brother,
to whom a less quantity was given,
was fortunately saved by the timely
assistance of the faculty.

A few days’ago, as three. women
and a girl were travelling in a cart
from Walsbeck to Gedney-hill fair,
in ascending the steep hill, near the
former place, the lorse’s strength
failed. and the cart backed rapidly to
the bottom of the hill, into the river
Nen, where two of the women were
drowned; the third was fortunately
saved by the exertions of a person
passing by.

9th.. "This evening, at,5 o’clock,
a most singular phenomenon. took
place in Panton-street,, Haymarket.
‘The inhabitants were alarmed by a
violent and tremendous hail and

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. |

shower storm, which extended only
to Oxendon-street, |Whitcombe-
street, Coventry-street, and the
Haymarket, a space not more than
about 200 acres: the torrent from
the heavens was so great, that it
could only be compared to a won-
derful cascade from the brow of the
most tremendous precipice, for seven
minutes, so that the cellars of all the
inhabitants in Panton-street and
Oxendon-street were filled with wa-
ter. Astonishing to relate, in the
midst of this hurricane, an electric
cloud descended in the middle of the
street, and fell in the centre of the |
coach-way, and sunk in a_ great
depth, without leaving a vestige, or
any particle of matter, but formed a
complete pit. The smell of brim.
stone, for some considerable. se-
conds, was so strong, that the inha-
bitants expected every minute to be
suffocated. Mr. Madden, who
keeps a public-house near the spot,
had water and beer butts thrown
flat from the stillions, and no other
damage whatever done.

This evening, a very heavy storm
of thunder, lightning, and rain took
place at Lewes. It commenced
about six o’clock, and continued,
with but little intermission, until
eight. The lightning, which emitted
a strong sulphureous smell, was ex-
tremely vivid, and the thunder alarm-
ingly awful, particularly one clap,
which must have been very low,

and near, as it burst forth before

the flash that preceded it had well
disappeared. The rain fell in such
torrents, that it inundated the streets,

the roads, and lowest apartments of

many houses; and, near Rotting-
dean, it washed the mould from the
corn-fields. over the cliff, in quanti-
ties that actually blackened the sea
some distance from the shore. The
lightning, it is said, struck the wea-

ther-cock

CHRONICLE,

ther-cock upon the cupola of the
town-hall ; which is not impro-
‘able, as one side of it exhibits a
sooty hue, as if discoloured by the
fluid. :

‘A mandate of cardinal Camba-
ceres, archbishop of Rouen, is
couched im such blasphemous, as well
as adulatory terms, as are truly
_ shocking: let the following brief ex-
tract suffice: :

*¢ Weare persuaded that the so-
vercign arbiter of the destiny of em-
pires will favour our cause, and that
he will refuse to our enemies his di-
yine protection, without which the
most formidable preparations for
war can only be attended with the
most ‘signal defeat. That he will
avenge the sanctity of treaties, of
which he was appealed to as the gua-
rantee, as well by our adversaries as
ourselves. However, as we are not
ignorant that God wishes we should
implore those favours his paternal
heart barns to grant, entreat of him,
most dear brethren, that we may
conquer the enemy that provokes us,
and moderately use our victory. Let
us demand of him, particularly, that
the man of his right hand, the man
who, by his direction and by his or-
ders, has done so much for the re-
establishment of his worship, and
who proposes to do so much more,
may continue to be, like Cyrus, the
Christ of providence; that he may
watch over his life, and cover him
with his wings; that he may shield
his august person from the dangers he
May meet in combat, and those he
has to fear from the envy of his de-
tractors, on account of his merit;
from the wicked, because his object
is to do good: from impiety, be-
cause he is supporting religion:
from policy and from foreign. pas-
_ sions, because he is the first man of

1
¢

397

a great state, and that the happiness
of the empife he governs is essen-
tially united with his preservation.”
11th. The gazette contains letters
from capt. Wallis, of the Naiad, an-
nouncing the capture of L’ Impatient
French national corvette, of 22
guns and 80 men :—from adm. Mon-
tague announcing the capture of a
small armed French privateer, hays
ing 22 men on board, by the Baodi-
cia; and from lieut. Senhouse, stating
his having, in the Hind revenue cut-
ter, captured La Felicite French
cutter privateer, a Dutch West-Jn-
diaman, a Dutch galliot, and a French
brig. ;
12th. Accounts from Cochin
China, arrived this day, state that a
dreadful action was fought near Hue,
in December last, between the Im-
perial troops and the army of the
Tonquinese, which terminated in the
total defeat of the latter. Twelve
thousand of the insurgents are stated
to have been killed, and many were
driven into the river, and drowned.
Previous to this decisive engagement, ~
the emperor ordered 100 rowing gal-
lies, and 800 gun-boats, to intercept
the vessels belonging to the insur-
gents; and, the day before the ac-
tion, the emperor saw the whole of
their armament in a blaze of fire,
consisting of 200 gun-boats and 50
gallies. ‘The enemy covered an ex-
tent of 6 miles. ‘The emperor, af-
ter this brilliant action, determined
to march to Tonquin, with 300,000
men, in order to be publicly crown-
ed ; and, at the same time, he issued
a general amnesty to all those who
shouldsurrender. ‘The object of the
rebels was, to have seized the king
and queen ; and this they had nearly
accomplished, by the means of one
of the chief mandarins which attend-
ed at the emperor’s. court. The
conspiracy

398

conspiracy having been found out,
this mandarin, a man of letters,
named Ong Thon Thew, was in-
stantly beheaded, with 84 others.—
In the above action the emperor
fought himself, sword in hand.

At a meeting of the royal humane
society, it was resolved that hono-
rary and pecuniary premiums should
be given by that body, for essays or
models relative to the following
questions:

1. What are the best means of
preventing shipwreck ?

2. The most probable means of
keeping vessels afloat, if they spring
a Jeak, or are in extreme danger.

3. The most certain methods of
conveying assistance from shore to
vessels in distress, and when boats
dare not venture to their aid.

Honorary premiums, &c. to be
kept open, and to be adjudged in
March, 1806.

For the first in point of merit, an
honorary gold medal. ‘The second,
an honorary silver medal. Third,
ten guiueas. Fourth, five guineas,
Fifth, three guineas.

Regulations.

1. The models, drawings, and es-
says to be transmitted to Dr. Hawes,
with some device on the outside,
and, within, the name of the author.

2. The determination of their me-
rits will be vested in an appointed
committee, &c. and the prizes ad-
judged as above.

3. The successful essays will be
published by the society ; the others
returned to the respective authors.

16th. This evening, as Mr. Or-
rell, of Winsley-street, Oxford-
street, with Mrs. Orrell, were pass-
ing in their chaise over Goulder’s-
green, on their way to Hendon,
about half past eight, they were
stopped by a single highwayman,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

who produced a pistol, and demand.
ed their money. Mr. O. declared he
would not be robbed ; and after the
highwayman had uttered violent
oaths and threats, and put his pis.
tol several times to the head of Mr.
and Mrs. O. Mr. O. jumped out of
the chaise, and seizing the highway-
man, nearly pulled him off his horse,
and laid hold of the pistol; upon
which the highwayman. struggled
and spurred his horse, and having
extricated himself, galloped away
towards Hampstead. He afterwards
stopped one of the Hampstead stages
near Red Lion-hill, in which were
six passengers, with two men and
the coachman outside, and robbed
them of upwards of forty pounds.
He then coolly rode off. The rob-
bery was committed in the presence
of several persons passing on the
road.

A decree for preventing commu-
nication with France, dated Paris,
June 21, enforces that—‘* There
shall not be received in the ports of
the Republic, any colonial produce
from the English colonies, nor any
merchandize coming directly or in-
directly from England. In conse-
quence, all produce or merchan-
dize coming from the English ma-
nufactories or colonies shall be con-
fiscated. Captains of French or
neutral vessels, who do not attend
to certain forms of declaration, shall
not be suffered to enter the ports of
the French republic.

Qist. At the sitting of the legisla-
tive body, at the Hague, this day, a

message was read from the govern- —

ment, announcing, that ‘¢ this repub-
lic is obliged, as an ally of France,

to take part in the war; and it now _

only remains for us to put our trust
in Divine protection, and the justice

of our cause.”
that

It then announces ©

i
}

CHRONICLE,

that it has satisfied the desires of the
first consul, and placed the Batavian
army under the order of the French
commander.

24th. About six o’clock in the
evening, as a Richmond stage was
passing along Fleet-lane, one of the
fore wheels. broke down, which
caused the coach immediately to up-
set, and three passengers on the top,
aman, a girl, and a boy, were pre-
cipitated on the pavement: the boy
escaped without much injury, but
the man was dreadfully bruised.
The poor girl was in a much worse
state than any of the rest, for, after
she had fallen upon the ground, the
coach fell upon her. In this pitia-
ble situation she shrieked for assist-
ance, when the passengers having
extricated her, and carried her into a
neighbouring cheimist’s, it was found
that several of her toes and two of
her ribs were broken, and her body
otherwise much bruised. The coach-
man was very little hurt, and one
inside passenger (a woman) recciv-
ed not the least injury !

The same day, a seafaring man

lately arrived in the port of Lon-
don, sent for his wiie from the
country, to come on board the
ship, lying off Ratcliffe-cross, where
_ she staid some time. On parting,
as she was descending the ship’s side,
a ballast lighter, by the strength of
the tide, struck the side of the ship,
by which the unfortunate woman
was jammed to death.
. After an elegant dinner given
_ by lord Athlone, in Sloane-street,
his footman, a foreigner, packed up
all the plate, with a variety of his
lordship’s apparel, and carried the
whole off without detection.

Paris, June 25. Chaptal, minister
of the Interior, has addressed a let-
ter to the prefects, of which the fol-

4,

399

lowing is the substanee:—‘* In the
position in which France is at pre-
sent, and with the kind of enemies
with whom we have to combat, the
bravery of the French would remain
fruitless on the shores of the ocean,
if the means of reaching thetr ene-
my were not furnished them by nu-
merous vessels. It is to the con-
struction of vessels, therefore, that
all our eiforts ought to be directed :
commerce, agriculture, and indus-
try, will suffer the less, the more
speedy the execution. <A flat-bot-
tomed boat of the first kind will cost
30,000 franks (12501.) ; one of the
second, from 18,000 to 20,000;
and one of the third, from 4000 to
6000. ‘Two feet of water are suf-
ficient to carry a flat-bottomed boat
not armed: there are few towns,
therefore, that cannot execute an
enterprize of this nature. These
boats will be distinguished by the
names of the towns and the depart-
ments which have constructed them.
The government will accept, with
satisfaction, from a ship of the line,
down to the smallest transport. If
each department, and each large
town, by a general and rapid move-
ment, put vessels on the stocks, the |
French army will soon go and dic-
tate laws to the British government,
and establish the repose of Europe,
the liberty and prosperity of com-
merce, on the only basis by which
their duration can be ensured.”

All the ship-carpenters and boat-
builders, every where in France,
from the age of fifteen to sixty, are
put in requisition, to work only for
government.

In consequence of orders from the
government, the English confined at
Rouen, have been conducted to
Dourlens, six miles from Amiens.

The English that were at Calais

when

400

when Bonaparte visited that place,
have all been sent to Lisle.

The English prisoners at Brussels
have been ordered to — to Va-
lenciennes.

The great consul, like a politic
Shepherd, continually removes the
pen of his bleating English flock
from spot to spot; well knowing
that the soil will every where be en-
riched by their temporary residence.
How their wool will look when they
return from their summer pasture is
of little consequence !

Population of Bengal. An in-
quiry, was lately instituted among
the collectors of districts, as to the
population of their respective juris-
dictions ; when they gave an esti-
mate amounting to 22, 000, OOO tor
Bengal and Bahar !

The beautiful mausoleum, erected
by Hyder Alley, at Seringapatam,
has been repaired and beautified, at
the expence of the british govern-
ment. ‘The body of Jlyder is in the
centre ; the mother of Tippoo on
the right hand, and Tippoo on the
left.

The territory of Louisiana, which
has been ceded to America by
France, comprises 450,000 square
miles, and this acquisition renders
the whole extent of the United
States, not less than 1,680,000
Square miles, sixteen times larger
than Great Britain and Ireland
united.

25th. Karly this morning, the Wis-
beach mail, from London, coming
down the hill between Buckland and
Royston, in Herts, was overturned
by the horses taking fright, by
which accident one woman was kil-
Jed, and the other passengers much
bruised.

As Mr. Thomas Roach, of Ford-
ingbridge, was riding half a mile

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

from that place, he observed some-
thing creep into a pond, which he
afterwards caught, and it proved to
be a land tortoise, about half grown.
It is well known that the tortoise is
not indigenous to this country ; and
it is a circumstance of some curiosity
to account for the mode by which
this solitary animal was dropped, in
a quarter where its species is scarcely
known. The situation is at a great
distance from any public road, or it
might have been inferred that a pob-
lie carrier had lost it. Every enqui-
ry has been made to learn if one was
kept in any garden im the neigh-
bourhood, but this does not appear
to have been the case. ‘It is now in
the garden of Mr. Roach, at Ford-
ingbridge, and is very lively.

A letter from Montreal states,
that a most destructive fire broke
out there on the 6th ult. About.
thirty buildings were burned down,
among which were the episcopalian
church, the jesuit’ s church, the col-
lege, and the prison ; the loss is sup-
posed to be &. 30,000.

A man named William Withers,
some time since, formed a project of
robbing the South Carolina bank at
Charlestown, and with this intent, de-
scended into the common sewer,
whence he cut a passage to the vaults
of the bank, in which the cash was
deposited. He was ninety days em-
ployed in this work, during which
period, he never took off his clothes ;
breathed any other air, than what
passed through the drains with the
refuse water; saw no other light
than what proceeded from his lamp ;
or assumed any other than a prone
position of his body: his food was |
letdown at night by his accomplices !
He was, however, detected, and se-
verely punished.

26th. As Belcher, the famous pu- }

gilist, |

CHRON

gilist, was playing at tennis, in St.
Martin’s-street, Haymarket, the ball
‘rebounding w ith great force, struck
him in the eye, and forced it out of
the socket.

27th. In the court of King’s
Bench, Phillips and Shipman, two
sailors, who had conspired with
others, falsely to accuse their cap-
tain of the murder of his appren-
_ tice at Demarara (for which he was
tried and acquitted) were brought up
-for judgment; one of them having
added perjury to his. conspiracy,
the sentence of the court upon them
was, **’That Richard Shipman should
be imprisoned in the House of Cor-
rection, Cold Bath Fields, for two
years, during which time he shall
stand in and upon the pillory for
ene hour. That Benjamin Phillips
do suffer the same sentence for the-
conspiracy ; and for the perjury, be
imprisoned one month in Newgate,
and then be transported, beyond the
»seas, for the term of seven years.”

28th. The account of a most gal-
Jant action was communicated in the
following letter to Admiral Colpoys,
by captain Maitland, of his Majes-
iy s ship, the Loire.

“ Loire, off L’Isle de Bas.
<¢ Sir,

“cy have the pleasure of inform-
ing you, that, last night, three of the
boats of his. majesty’s ship Loire,
commanded by lieutenants Temple
and Bowen, in a most gallant man-
ner boarded, and, after a very severe
conflict of nearly ten minutes on
her deck, carried the national brig
Venteux, bearing four long 18.
pounders, and six 36-pound brass
farronades, commanded by Mons.
Montfort, lieutenant de Vaisseau,
lying close under the batteries of
the Isle of Bas. When it is consi-
dered that the Venteux, perfectly
, Vou. XLY.

NEC LE: 401

prepared, manned with eighty-two
men, all of whom-were upon deck,
and covered with very heavy batte-
ries, was opposed to the crews of
two of our boats, (as the third, from
rowing heavy, did not get up till the
brig was completely taken possession
of), I feel confident that you will
view it in the light I do, as one of
those brilliant exploits which add
lustre to the British arms, of which,

though so many instances occurred
during the late war, no one has
before been happy enough to have
thrown in his way during the pre-
sent. The success of Mr. Temple’s
daring attempt speaks sufficiently for
his conduct, and that of every one
under his command, to render it su-
perfluous for me to enter into any
eulogium on the present occasion.
Mr. Bridges has served his time, and
passed for lieutenant nearly a year ;
of whose conduct Mr. Temple
speaks in the highest terms, toge-
ther with that of every officer and
man under his command. I am very
sorry to add, that the loss, on our
side, is rather’ heavy, as Mr.
M’Guire, the boatswain, is also so
severely wounded, as to render him
incapable of doing his duty for a
considerable time. Four seamen
and a marine are also badly wound-
ed, two of the seamen, I fear, past
recovery. The Venteux had. her
second captain and two seamen
killed; the captain, with four offi-
cers (all she had), and eight seamen,
wounded. She was stationed at the
Isle of Bas to guard the coast, and
regulate the convoys of stores, &c.
bound to Brest; is a vessel of large

‘dimensions, being seventy-four feet

long, and twenty-four wide, and
perfectly in a condition immedi.
ately to be employed.

“Lam, &c. I’. Maitland.”
D

d

402

29th. A meeting of the livery of
London was held at Guildhall, to
consider the propriety of instructing
the city members to oppose, with all
their influence in parliament, the tax
en income. A number of resolu-
tions were read, declaratory of the
impolicy, injustice, and inexpedien-
cy of the tax, which were all carried
in the affirmative. At the close of
the business, a resolution was pro-
posed and unanimously passed :—
“+ That the livery of London felt the
importance of supporting govern-
ment at this important juncture, and
were uniformly ready to contribute,
im all just and equal imposts, to the
vigorous prosecution of the contest
in which the country was engaged.”

Being the last day of Trinity
term, captain Brisac, late of the
Isis, convicted of a fraud upon go.
yernment, in the purchase of stores,
was brought up to receive judg-
ment; when Mr. justice Grose ut-
tered the sentence of the court, viz.
‘¢ that he should pay a fine of 300l.
be imprisoned eighteen months in
the king’s bench, and once, during
that time, standin and upon the pil-
lory, opposite the Admiralty.” (‘The
latter part of this sentence, the king
has been graciously pleased to re-
mit).

30th. The court of common
council resolved, that 800 men be
voluntarily raised for the public ser-
vice, and referred it to the militia
committee, to determine on the best
mode to put the same into execu-
tion.

A man being discovered, about
3 o’clock in the morning, stealing
lead from the top of a house in Rus-
sel-square, he was pursued by a
number of persons frome one house
to another; at length, an inhabitant
of Hunter-street, fired a blunderbuss

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

at the poor wretch, the contents of
which entering his body, he expired
in a few minutes.

The wife of Daniel Taylor, of
Chalfont, St. Peters, labourer, was
delivered of ¢ghree male infants, all
of whom, with the mother, are now
living, and likely to do well !

Diep.—At Florence, after a short
and feverish reign, the king of Etru-
ria, a monarch of Bonaparte’s ma-
nufacture ! Tle was buried with ex-
traordinary pomp and magnificence ;
the expences of his burial being cal-
culated to have cost 300,000 livres!
They put im his coffin two gold me-
dals of great value; the corpse wore
shoes, with a pair of buckles richly
set in brilliants, and, on the king’s
finger, remains a diamond of great
value. ‘The queen has been declar-
ed regent for her son, an iniant of
three years old.

In her 92d year, Mrs. Harrison,
relict of John Harrison, esq. the
oldest inhabitant of Islington.

JULY.

5th. The following action for
crim. con. was tried in the court of
king’s bench—Smith vy. Smith—the
damages were laid at 60001. Mr.
Erskine, in addressing the jury,
said, the plaintiff and defendant
were brothers’ children, living at
Birmingham, the former about forty
years of age, and the latter only
twenty-four. The defendant was left
an orphan, in his early infancy, and
consigned to the guardian care of,
the plaintiff. He executed that trust -
with the greatest tenderness—He
superintended his education, and
brought him to his own home, in
all the vacancies from school. When
he became of mature age, he ween

an

CHRONICLE.

and found an apprenticeship, which
might be the means of his future
good. When that also was expired,
he introduced him to business ; and,
that he might be at no expence, gave
him part of his own house at Bir-
‘mingham for a warehouse. Under
these auspices, he had acquired a
property to the amount of 3000).
The return he had made, shewed
how well he had merited such singu-
lar attentions and kindness. ‘The
plaintiff married in the year 1790,
had four children living, by his
wife, who wasa very handsome wo-
man, and, till within a year of the
injury taking place, they had lived
on terms of mutual love and ailec-
tion, the defendant being considered
asa brother in the family. From
that period, the plaintiff discovered
an unaccountable change in his wife’s
conduct ; her affections appeared to
be alienated ; as were her-duties both
ofa wife anda mether. At this con-
duct the plaintiff was greatly distivess-
ed. At length, she begged she might
be allowed to separate from him ;
she had private reasons for urging it,
and actually removed a short dis-
tance from Birmingham, to a house
in the town; from whence, on the
llth of March, 1802, slie eloped
with the defendant, wevt to Edin-
burgh (living together in open adul-
tery), where she miscarried of a
child, the fruits of their criminal
connexion. From the time of their
_ elopement, the peace of the plain-
tifl’s mind had been ruined, his health
broken, and he had, ever since, been
labouring under the effects of misery
and oppression. The marriage and
the adultery were proved; the latter
bya Mr. Hayward, who féllowed
the plaintiff's wife to Edinburgh.
The defendant’s counsel endea-
youred to shew, by cross-examining

403
the plaintiff's witnesses, that he had
neglected her, and been the means of
his own shame: but this turned out
to be so far from fact, that every
witness concurred in giving him the
best of characters, asa kind, tender,
and ailectionate husband.

Lord Ellenborough delivered an
excellent charge to the jury: who,
after a minute’s deliberation, found a
verdict for the plaintiff, three thou-
sand pounds damages ; being, as they
observed, all the defendant was
worth. )

His majesty’s frigate, Resistance,
of thirty-six guns, was totally lost
on Cape St. Vincent, early on the
morning of the 3lsé ult. the erew
saved. y

La Mimerve frigate, of forty-four
guns, commanded by captain Bren-
ton, unfortunately got upon a sand.
bank, off Cherbourg, and is lost—
the crew saved.

As colonel Baillie, of the West
Middlesex regiment, brother to lord
Uxbridge, was riding in front of the
line at Coxheath camp, he was
thrown from his horse, and had his
collar-bone broken, and his shoul-
der dislocated.

A horde of wolves has committed
the most terrible ravages in the de-
partment of Gers. The communes
of Aignau, Risle, St. Grisiere, Plai-
sance, and Ladivege, have suffered
in an extraordinary degres.

Sth. At the Old Bailey, came on
the trial of Robert Astlett, who, be-
ing put to the bar, was indicted, for
that he, being a servant of, and em-
ployed by the governor and compa-
ny of the bank of England, was en-
trusted with a certain paper-writing,
called an exchequer-bill, of the value
of 1000]. and another of the same
value, and a third of the same value,
on the 26th of February last, he be-

Dd2 ing

404

ing such servant, &c. did feloniously
secrete and. embezzle the said ex-
chequer bills, and did ran away
with them, so belonging to the said
governor and company. ‘There were
no less than ten difierent counts to
the same effect.

Mr. Garrow was counsel for the
prosecutor, and Mr. Erskine for the
prisoner. . The former stated, that
the Bank of England, being in the
customary habit of purchasing CX-
chequer bills, on account of go-
vernment, such bills are either
brought to the Bank by one par-
ticular house, (Goldsmid and co.)
or by the Bank broker, who py-
chases the bills in the market. On
the delivery of these to the cashier,
Mr. Astlett, he gives an order for
payment, and the exchequer, bills
remain with him til a suificient
quantity are collected together, and
made up in bundles, to deliver into
the custody of the directors in the
parlour. ‘These bundles are then
counted, and a voucher given to
the cashier on their delivery. They
are placed in a strong closet, shut
under three keys, and two of the
keys are kept by the directors. Con-
formably to this practice, on the
26th day of February last, there
were transferred from the custody
of Mr. Astilett, the cashier, to the
parlour,

One bundle of exchequer bills to
the value of 100,000

Another, value 200,000

A third 400,000—700,000

An entry was made in the par-
lour-book, and its correctness was
youched by the,signatures of two
directors, Messrs. Smith and Paget.
The entry thus vouched, was, ne-
yertheless, afterwards found to be
for bills to the amount of 200,0001.
more than the actual yalue of the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

bundles. On this discovery it came
out, that Mr. Astlett had been re-
issuing some of these bills to raise
money ; and Mr. Bish, the stock.
broker, who had been applied to,
with some of them, by Astlett, sus-
pecting all was not right, gave in-
timation of his suspicions to the
Bank, when Mr. Astlett’s crimi-
nality became evident.

After Mr. Garrow had gone
through, his case, Mr. Mrskine, in
behalf of the prisoner, insisted that
Mr. Jennings, who had signed these
purloined exchequer bills, in the first
instance, had not had the proper au-
thority renewed to him for so doing,
as required by act of parliament ;
and so evideut was this, that go-
vernment had, since the commit-
ment of Mr. Astlett, passed an act
to remedy the omission.

The chief baron Macdonald ob-
served, that the charge was for em-
bezzling a valid pill of exchange.
However great the crime in society,
and the magnitude of the sum em-
bezzled ; though every one must
regret the cause of it, and the effect
upon society, yet it was the bounden
duty of the court, to determine ac-
cording to the regular, ordinary,
and constant course of the admi-
nistration of justice. It was cer-
tainly clear the present indictment
was not to be maintained, as the
charge therein alledged could not
be proved. The late act of parlia-
ment had recognized the invalidity
of the bills which the prisoner em-
bezzled. :

‘The other judges concurred in
opinion, and the lord chief baron
directed the jury to acquit the pri-
soner. He was accordingly found
not guilty.

Mr. Garrow applied to the court
to detain him in custody ; it being

the

CHRONTCLE:?’.

the intention of the bank directors
to issue a civil process against -him
fer 100;0001. and upwards, the mo-
nies paid for the bills, which he had
converted to his own use.

The prisoner was dressed in a
lightish brown coat, his hair full
powdered. He appeared quite col-
Jected, but held his head down; ne-
ver once looking up, except when
the application was made to keep
him in custody, when he expressed
symptoms of great surprise, and
looked very stedfastly at the court.

The total defalcation of Astlett,
by exchequer bills purloined from
the bank, amounted to 322,000l.
of which 91,000]. that had been
pawned, was redeemed for 70,0001.
80 prosperous are the affairs of the
bank, that there will be no reduc-
tion in the dividends of bank stock.

9th. Between one and two o’clock
on Saturday, an alarming fire broke
out in the roof of the’ tower in the
centre of Westminster abbey. A
sufficient quantity of water to work
the engines could not be procured
for nearly two hours after the flames
burst forth; in consequence of
which, the roof of the tower (which
was framed: of wood) fell in, and
did considerable damage to the wood-
work of the choir, both by the vio-
lence of the falling timbers, and by
communicating the fire to the stalls,
pews, &c. When, however, water
was to be had in abundance, an end
was speedily put to the progress of
the devastation. The utmest pos-
sible exertions were used by fire-
‘men, soldiers, volunteers, neigh-
bours, and by the populace at large.
At half past 5, all danger was at an
end. The accident was attributed
to the negligence of the plumbers,
employed in repairing the roof, who
had gone to their dinner, and had

405
left their melting pot in an improper
state. No injury was done to the
monuments. Besides the engines, the
soldiers, and others, formed lines to
the Thames, whence they handed
buckets of water to the abbey,
The duke of York, and several no-
blemen, were present, encouraging
the soldiery, &c. ‘The damage is esti-
mated at 5000lI.

11th. In the court of King’s
Bench an indictment was tried, the
King v. col. [lepburne, and another.

This was an indictment against
col. Hepburne and captain M‘Cum-
mins, for conspiring to defraud his
majesty and the public, by the act
of captain M‘Cummins, who was
paymaster of the 31st regiment, in ~
making up false musters and returns
of the number of non-commissionéd
officers and privates of that regi-
ment, when at Barbadoes, in the
year 1796; and by colonel Hep-
burne signing the same, and certi-
fying them to be true. ‘The regi-
ment had, at that time, been so re-
duced by the yellow fever, as to
consist only of about 120; never-
theless, the first article of this mus-
ter was, to subsistence of 42 ser-
geants and 42 corporals during that
period. The musters were so evi-
dently false and fraudulent, that the
counsel for captain M‘Cummins could
not attempt any defence for him.
The question for the jury was, whe-
ther colonel Hepburne, who certi-
fied this to be a true muster, did it
so, fraudulently, knowing it to be a
false one? The evidence to induce
the jury to suppose the colonel
guilty of knowing it to be false
when he first signed it was, 1st. The
gross and palpable nature of the
falshood itself ; which was so glaring
that a single glance of his eye at
that account, which he certified to be

Dd3 true,

406

true, must convince him that it was
notso; im the second place, it was
positively sworn, by a serjeant of the
name of Martin, who was employed
in the fabrication of these musters,
that the colonel had taken an active
part in it. The evidence of Martin
was attempted to be disproved by a
captain Sullivan, of the same regi-
ment, but without effect. The jury,
after a short consultation, found the
defendants guilty.

13th. Mr. Gray, of the Bell Sa-
yage Inn, Ludgate Hill, went out
this morning in a gig, with two chil-
dren, boys:coming home downGrays-
Inn-lane, towards Holborn, the gig
unfortunately came in contact with
another chaise, and the concussion
was so great, that Mr. Gray and
the children were thrown out; one
child was killed ; the other had his
arm broke, and was otherwise
dreadfully bruised. Mr. Gray him-
self was taken home speechless.

The same evening, near Kenning-
ton Cross, a drayman, riding on the
shafts of his dray, from a very sud-
den jerk, fell off, when one wheel
going over his bedy, killed him in-
stantaneously.

‘About half past 10 at night, the
house of Mr. Murphy, a jeweller
and goldsmith, on Clerkenwell-
green, was discovered to be on fire.
[rom the quantity of wood with
which the honse was built, the flames
soon spread with astonishing rapi-
dity, and threatened the whole row
of buildings with destruction. The
roof and cieling of the second story
were on fire before any supply of
water could be obtained by the en-
gins: and it was not till after 11
o'clock that any attempt to extin-
guish the fire was made. The en-
gines then, began to play, and con-
tinued to do so all night. When

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

the flames were extinguished, no less

than five houses were entirely con-
sumed. The cause of the calamity
proceeded from a furnace in which
Mr. M. was melting some gold, the
fire of which flew out, and set the
shop in flames, before any assistance
could be procured. Fortunately no
lives were lost; but three of the
firemen belonging to the Pheenix
Company were dreadfully bruised
by one of the walls which fell in
upon them, during their exertions
to save the property of the sufferers ;
they were conveyed to the hospital.
Mr. Murphy, we understand, is in-
sured, but not sufliciently to indem-
nify him for the loss; the other suf-

ferers are poor people.
14th. A half-yearly general court
of the proprietors of bank-stock was
this day held at the Bank, for the
purpose of declaring a dividend. In
the course of doing this, it became
necessary for the ‘chairman of the
court of directors to state the loss
which the company had sustained
by Mr. Astlett. ‘The actnal loss.
he stated at about 320,0001. about
78,0001. had been employed in
sources from which the directors
think they will be able to recover,
and they are determined to prose-
cute to that effect. On the part of
the directors it was stated, that the
loss by Mr. Astlett would make no
alteration in the dividends.~ That
loss amounted to nearly the entire
dividends of the half year; but the
affairs of the company were in so
prosperous a state, that they would
be able to divide as usual. The
chairman then proceeded to explain,
that the court of directors were not
to blame for the mal-practices of
Mr. Astlett, who had succeeded in
making aavedip with the effects of the
Bank, by interlining sums, and by
ealling

CHRONICLE.

calling out false sums when the pro-
perty was regulated. On this sub-
ject a very detailed and satisfactory
explanation was given, in which the
mode of doing the business was fully
described. The directors too relied
on Mr. Astlett’s character and long
fidelity. Under ail circumstances,
it would have required a super-
natural power to have, at first, de-
tected him.

This day, a numerous and re-
spectable meeting of the friends and
supporters of the literary fund, was
held at the Ship tavern, Greenwich,
sir John Cox Hippesly, bart. in the
chair. Several new subscribers were
announced, and a most flattering
report was made of the state of the
fund. After dinner some loyal and
patriotic songs were sung ; and the
spirits of the company were roused
almost to rapture by Tyrtean com-
positions, recited by their respective
authors. Words cannot convey an
idea of the force and animation with
which Mr. Fitzgerald gave some
lines, or of the enthusiasm with
which the recitation was encored.

15th. This day a very numerous
and respectable meeting of the ward
of Farringdon Without, was held in
St. Sepulchre’s parish church. The
righthon. the lord mayor (as alder-
man of the ward) presided, and ad-
dressed the inhabitants in a very
spirited and patriotic speech, calling
on them to unite as one man in the
common cause—the defence of our
country against invasion and tyran-
ny. The following spirited resolu-
tions were then read, and agreed to
with the most perfect unanimity,
and amidst the Joudest peals of ap-

Jause.

1. That it becomes the patriotism
of every subject of the united king-
dom, of whatever rank, to forego, at

407

this moment, all private gratifica-
tions and considerations whatever,
in order that he may be enabled to
co-operate with the general power of
government in the destruction of any
force that may attempt the invasion
of this island.

Il. That, heartily and sincerely
subscribing to*the sentiments of the
court of aldermen, the inhabitants
of this ward consider the recommen-
dations of that court to hold out
the most effectual measures to be
adopted at this juncture, as, in their
opinion, they cannot fail to stimu-
late all orders in society to come
forward and assist in defeating the
hostile preparations of an implacable
foe.

Ill. That the inhabitants of this
ward, from the age of 18 to 45,
will, as speedily as possible, form
themselves into such associations,
that they may be regularly trained
and disciplined, in order to join
the volunteer corps, established in
the year 1798, when required.

1V. That the householders and
inhabitants, above the age of 45,
and free from infirmity, will -enrol
themselves to serve as constables,
or any similar situation, in order
to co-operate with the volunteer
corps.

V. That, sensible of the great
benefit derived to this ward in parti-
cular, and the country in general,
by the manly exertions of all the late
yolunteer corps, the inhabitants em-
prace this opportunity of making
their grateful acknowledgments to
the gentlemen that composed the late
West London loyal volunteer corps
of this ward, and request they will
again form themselves upon the same
principles, and, after assisting, then
select and admit, as they shall be
found capable, the inhabitants now

DdDd4 to

408

to be enrolled agreeably to the third
resolution.

Resolved unanimously, that the
thanks of this meeting, be given to
the right hon. the lord mayor and
alderman oi this ward, for his very
able and manly conduct upon the
present important occasion—for his
promptitude and zeal*in forwarding
the association of the inhabitants of
the city, and of this ward in parti-
cular, in the defence of the kingdom
—for his upright conduct in the
chair, and his polite attention to the
inhabitants at this meeting.

16th. A remarkable circumstance
happened in Wych-street, opposite
the gate of the New-inn. About 10
this morning, a woman, decently
dressed, came up to a man passing
that way, and, attempting to lay
hold of him, fell back, and immedi-
ately expired. On being searched,
there was nothing which ‘could lead
to a knowledge of her name, or who
she was; for though some pawnbro-
ker’s duplicates were found in her
pocket, the articles appeared to have
been pledged under ‘some other
names, as the pawnbroker declared
he was unacquainted with the per-
son of the woman.—She was con-
veyed to the workhouse, where the
coroner’s jury sat on Sunday last,
* and found a verdict, ‘¢ Died by the
visitation of God.’? ‘The most ex-
traordinary part of the anecdote is,
that the man who was so accosted
by the deceased, and who appears to
have been a porter in the Brown-
low-street lying-in-hospital, as soon
as he came home, said he had re-
ceived.a shock from which he should
never recover, and died in the course
of the day.

A. letter from Hanover, of the
16th, says, ‘* Yesterday was ccle-
brated with much festivity, as’ Bo-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

naparte’s birth-day ; every hour 30.
pieces of cannon were discharged
from the ramparts. In the evening
was a general illumination, free en-
trance at the theatre, a grand con-
cert, &c. The States had been re-
quired to furnish 30,000 dollars for
this fete, but 10,000 were accepted.”

20th. This day, at the house of
Isaac Salter and son, clothiers, at
Langley, near Chippenham, a large
fire-ball fell down the chimney, into
a room, where a woman and four
children were struck senseless, and -
that and the adjoining house were
both in flames in a short time. <A
young child received some hurt by
the fire. Had it happened by night,
many lives would inevitably have
been lost.

As Simpson, a bricklayer, was at
work upon the roof of Albany-
buildings, Jate York-house, Picca-
dilly, he was struck down by the
lightning, and deprived of sight.—
He was immediately taken up, and
carried in a coach to St. George’s
hospital, where he now remains
blind, aud in the greatest agony.— ~
His eyes and eye-lashes were quite
burned. He recollects seeing, just
at the moment of the accident, the
lightning, like the blaze of a candié,
running along his trowel.

The merchants, underwriters, and
other subseribers to Lloyd’s cofleed
house, having this day met for the
purpose of setting on foot a general
subscription, on an extended scale,
for the encouragement and relief of
those who may be engaged in the
delence of the country,.and who
may suffer in the common cause ;
and of those who may signalize
themselves during the present most
important contest: and feeling con-
fident, that when our very existence,
as a great and independent nation, is

at

CHRONICLE.

at stake, it only becomes necessary
to point out any means by which the
exertion of our native spirits, and
the application of our powerful re-
sources, may receive an addition-
al stimulus; begged leave to sub-
mit to the liberal consideration of
their fellow-subjects, the following
resolutions, which were unani-
mously passed at the meeting, and
presumed to hope, that the object of
the subscription will be so promoted
and sanctioned by public bodies in
general—by the higher ranks, and
opulent classes of society—and by
individuals of every description, that
the mite of the labourers; combining
with the munificent donation of the
noble and wealthy, shall be the best
pledge of our unanimity—shall in-
sure our seamen, our soldiers, our
countrymen at large, with a well-
grounded confidence in the liberality
and gratitude of the community ;
anil shall impress on the minds of
our enemies the appalling convic-
tion, that the energies of this great
empire are irresistible, as its re-
sources are incalculable.
Brook Warson, esq. in the chair.
On a motion being made, the fol-
lowing resolutions being produced,
were read, and passed unanimously.
I. That in a conjuncture when
the vital interests of. our country,
when the peculiar blessings which,
under our beloved sovereign and
happy constitution, endear our so-
cia] state, are involved in the issue
of the present Contest; when we are
menaced by an enemy, whose haughty
presumption is grounded only on the
present unfortunate position of the
continental powers, and when we
seem to be placed, for the moment,
as the last barrier against the total
subjugation of Kurope, by the over-
bearing influence ef France—it be-
A

409

hoves us to meet our situation as
men—as freemen—hbut, aboye-all,
as Britons. On this alone, with the
Divine aid, depends our exemption

from the yoke of Gallic despotism—

on this alone depends, under the
same protecting Power, whether this
empire shall remain, what it has for
ages been, the strenuous sipporter
of religion and morals, the assertor
of its own, and the guardian of the
liberties of mankind, the nursé of
industry, the protector of the arts
and sciences, the example and admi-
ration of the world—or whether it
shall become an obsequious tribu-
tary, an enslaved, a plundered, and
degraded department of a foreign
nation. :

il. That, to give more effect and
energy to the measures adopted by
government for the defence of our
liberties, our lives, and property—
to add weight to those personal ex-
ertions we are all readily disposed to

- contribute, it behoves us to hold out

every encouragement to our fellow-

‘subjects, who may be in any way

instrumental in repelling or annoy-
ing our implacable foe, and to prove
to them that we are ready to drain
both our purses and our veins in the
great cause which imperiously calls
on us to unite the duties of loyalty
and patriotism, with the strongest
efforts of zealous exertion.

lil. That, to animate the efforts

_of our defenders, by sea and land, it

is expedient to raise, by the patri-
otism of the community at large, a
suitable fund for their comfort and
relief—for-the purpose of assuaging
their wounds, or palliating, in some
degree, the more weighty misfortune
of the loss of limbs—of alleviating
the distresses of the widow and or-
phan—of smoothing the braw of
sorrow for the fall of their dearest

relatives,

410

relatives, the props of unhappy in-
digence or helpless age—and of
granting pecuniary rewards, or ho-
nourable badges of distinction, for
successful exertions of valour or
merit.

JV. That a subscription, embrac-
ing all the objects in the foregoing
resolution, be now opened; and, to
set an example to the public bodies
throughout the united kingdom and
its dependencies, and to our fellow-
subjects, of every class and denomi-
nation, that, independently of our
individual contributions, the sum of
20,000I. three per cent. consolidated
annuities, part of the funded pro-
perty of this society, shall be appro-
priated to this purpose.

V. That on Friday, the 29th in-
stant, at 12 o’clock precisely, a ge-
neral meeting of the subscribers to
this fund be held at this house, for
the purpose of appointing their
committee; and that the committee
of the house be requested to become,
and they are hereby constituted a
committee, ad inéerim, for the re-
ceipt and management of the sub-
scriptions, and other purposes ex-
pressed in these resolutions.

VI. That the committee of this
house, and the bankers in the me-
tropolis, and in the cities and towns
ofthe united kingdom, be requested
to receive subscriptions ; and that
such part of the fund as shall not be
_ used tor the purposes now intended,
be retarned, in proportion to the
sums subscribed.

VIL. That all sums, however
small, which shail be offered by the
patriotism of the poorer classes of
our fellow-subjects, shall be accept-
ed—the cause afiecting equally the
liberties and lives of persons of every
description.

Vill. That the thanks of this

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1808.

meeting be given to the chairman,
for his able and impartial conduct in

the chair.
23d. A number of persons, armed
with muskets and pikes, assembled
in the evening in a quarter of Dub-
lin that is called the Liberties, and,
after committing some other out-
rages, attacked, in his carriage,
Jord chief-justice Kilwarden, and
his nephew, the rev. Richard Wolfe,
both of whom the_ruffians inhu-
manly murdered on the spot, and
several other persons were despe-
rately wounded. The confusion that
ensued is more easily to be con-
ceived than described. General
consternation and terror ‘immedi-
ately pervaded the whole of the city;
the drums beat to arms, the military
were called out, but, in the mean
time, the perpetrators of the horrid
deed disappeared. On the same
night, the mail-guard was attacked
between Dublin and Naas, and, in
consequence of the resistance that
was made, two dragoons are stated
to have been killed.

24th. This morning, soon after

2 o’clock, a fire broke out at Mr.
Solomon’s, broker and appraiser,
Castle-street, Broker-row, Long-
acre, which burnt with great fury
for upwards of an hour, and en-
tirely consumed the house before any
water could be procured; but, be-
ing surrounded by strong party
walls, in all probability prevented
the flames communicating to the ad-
joining extensive timber-yard and
manufactory of Messrs. Godsal and
co.
This afternoon another fire also
broke out at Mr. Walker’s, baker,
Wardotr-street, Soho, which, in a
short time, communicated to the ad-
joining honses of Mr. Lyons, cabi-
net-maker, and Mr. Smith, chair-
maker,

CHRONICLE.

maker, and burned with irresistible
fury, for upwards of an hour, be-
fore any water could be procured,
and then not in sufficient quantity
to stop the progress of the flames,
as the workshops and- back-build-
ings have been entirely destroyed.
Providentially, about 6 o’clock, a
sufficient supply of water was ob-
tained, and, about 7, the flames were
entirely got under, without doing far-
ther damage. Great praise was given
to the St. James’s volunteers, who
contributed much to the safety and
preservation of the property of the
inhabitants. When the fire broke
out, Mr. Walker’s family were all
from home, and the door of the
house was obliged to be broke
open.

25th. The forest of Culross was
this day accidentally set on fire, by
which an extensive range of trees
have been burnt down, and many
others damaged. ‘The fire com-
menced about 8 in the morning,
pretty far west, and was occasioned
by the burning of some whimns ata
place called Keir. ‘The wind being
south-west, it took its direction to
the north-east, and, at the time,
burned with such fierceness, as to
give reason to apprehend the whole
forest would have been consumed :
it, however, abated in the afternoon,
and terminated in the evening.

26th. Wehave the pleasing task
of recording a display of British
feeling and patriotism, which the
world and posterity must contem-
plate with admiration. A meeting
was this day held, upon the Royal
Exchange, of the merchants, ban-
kers, ship-owners, traders, and
other inhabitants of this metropolis,
for the purpose of expressing their
sentiments in support of their king
and constitution, and the honour

Al}

and independence of their country.
At 1 o’clock, between 4 and 5,000
of the most opulent and respectable
of the mercantile interest filled. the
area of the Royal Exchange; while
those who were more immediately
instrumental in forwarding the
meeting, occupied a temporary
booth, erected within the walk, up-
on the east side. Among them we
distinguished those who rank first in
the city of London for character
and wealth; men whose breath
could, in an instant, raise millions
of money, should the service of their
country require it. Jacob Bosan-
quet, esq. was unanimously called to
the chair, and peals of applause ra-
tified the choice. Mr. D’ Almeida,
the secretary of the East-India
company, read the advertisement
under which the meeting had been
convened : when the chairman, in a
manly and energetic manner, and m
a speech truly worthy of a Briton,
entered more at large into the cause
which had occasioned the assembly
being called, and proposeed to them
the following * Declaration.”

‘¢ We, the merchants, bankers,
traders, and other inhabitants of
‘London and its neighbourhood,
deem it our bounden duty, at the
present momentous period, to make
public our unanimous determination
to stand or fall with our king and
country.

‘¢ The independence and exist-
ence of the British empire —the
safety, the liberty, the life of every
man is at stake. ‘The events, per-
haps, of a few months, certainly of
a few years, are to determine whe-
ther we and our children are to
continue freemen and members of.
the most flourishing community in
the world, or whether we are to be
the slaves of our most implacable

enemies—

412 -

enemies—themselves the slaves of a
foreign usurper !

* We look on this great crisis
without dismay. We have the most

firm reliance on the spirit and virtue |

of the people of this country. We
believe that there exists a firmer as
‘well as nobler courage than any
which rapine can inspire; and we
cannot entertain such gloomy and
unworthy apprehensions of the mo-
ral order of the world, as to think
that 'so admirable a quality can be
the exclusive attribute of freeboo-
ters or slaves. We fight for our
laws and liberties—to defend the
dearest hopes of our children—to
maintain the unspotted glory which
we have inherited from our ances-
tors—to guard from outrage and
shame those whom nature has en-
trusted to our protection—to pre-
serve the honour and existence of
the country that gave us birth.—
We fight for that constitution and
system of society, which is at once
the noblest monument and the firm-
est bulwark of. civilization !—We.
fight to preserve the whole earth from
the barbarous yoke of military des-
potism !—We fight for the indepen-
dence of all nations, even of those
who are the most indifferent to our
fate, or the most blindly jealous of
our prosperity !

** In so glorious a cause—in de-
fence of these dearest and most sacred
objects, we trust that the God of
our fathers will inspire us with a va-
lour which will be more than equal
to the daring ferocity of those who
are lured, by the hope of plunder, to
fight the battle of ambition,

_ © Tlis majesty is about to call
upon his people to arm in their own
defence. We trust, and we believe,
that he will not call on them in vain
—that the freemen of this land, go-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803, ’

ing forth in the righteous cause of
their country, under the blessing of
Almighty God, will inflict the most
signal chastisement. on those who
have dared to threaten our destruc-
tion—a chastisement, of which the
memory will long guard the shores
of this island, and which may not
only vindicate the honour, and esta-
blish the safety of the empire, but
may also, to the latest posterity, serve
as an example to strike terror into ty-
rants, and to give courage and hope
to insulted and oppressed nations.

‘¢ For the attainment of these
great ends, it is necessary that we
shoald not only all be unanimous,
but a zealous, an ardent, and un-
conquerable people—that we should
consider the public safety as the
chief interest cf every individual—
that every man should deem the sa-
crifice of his fortune and his life to
his country. as nothing more than his
duty—that no man should murmur
at any exertions or privations which
this awful crisis. may impose upon
him—that we should regard faint-
ness or languor in the common cause
as the basest treachery—that we
should go into the field with an un-
shaken resolution to conquer or to die
—and that we should look upen no-
thing as a calamity compared with
the subjugation of our country.

‘* We have the most sacred duties
to perform—we have most invaluable
blessings to preserye—we have to
gain glory and safety, or to incur
indelible disgrace, and to fall inte
irretrievable ruin. Upon our efforts
will depend the triumph of liberty
over despotism—of national inde-
pendence over projects of universal
empire—and, finally, of civilization
itself, over barbarism.

*¢ At such a moment we deem it
our duty solemnly to hind ourselves

te

CHRONICLE:

te-each other, and to our country-
men, in the most sacred manner,
that we will employ all our exertions
to rouse the spirit, and to assist the
resources, of the kingdom—that we
will be ready with our services of
every sort, and on every occasion,
in its defence—and that we will ra-
ther perish together, than live to see
the honour of the British name tar-
nished, or that noble inheritance of
greatness, glory, and liberty de-
stroyed, which has descended to us
from our forefathers, and which we
_are. determined to transmit to our
posterity.”

The motion having been mostably
seconded by Kdward Forster, esq.
the declaration was agreed to with-
out a dissentient voice.

» “ God save the king,” and ¢ rule
Britannia,” were called for ; and the
whole assembly having given thrice
three cheers, the meeting dissolved.
Such an expression of zeal, Icyalty,
and patriotism, as was exhibited in
the whole conduct of the meeting,
was, perhaps, never paralleled at
the most glorious era of the histories
of Greece or Rome, or any other
nation under the canopy of heaven.
. 27th. The inhabitants of Lam-
beth, among other sensible and spi-
rited resolutions, this day declared,
“¢ That it appears to this meeting,
the first consul of France, having
enslaved the people whom he under-
took to set free, and. plundered and
subjugated all orders of the inhabi-
tants, rich and poor, of Holland,
Switzerland, and Italy, under the
most solemn assurances of fraternity
and friendship, is now determined

on the invasion of this united king-
dom, and is making the most formi-
dable preparations for that purpose.
That, although: this meeting agrees
with Bonaparte himself, that thesuc-

41S

cess of such an undertaking is highly
improbable, and that he must sacri-
fice army after army if he perseveres
in the attempt ; yet the threat hav-
ing been denounced, nothing can
sustain the honour of our country,
but the most energetic and universal
exertion. It is not enough for our
reputation that his success should be
improbable—it ought, by the num-
bers and gallantry of our volunteers,
under the blessing of Divine Provi-
dence, to be rendered impossible.
By sucha conduct only can this na-
tion continue to enjoy tranquillity,
and have a disposeable force in the
hands of government for offensive
operations ; and share the glory of
avenging the wrongs of Europe
against the destroyer of its liberty,
its happiness, and its honour. That
this meeting, in thus calling upon its
fellow-citizens to arm, hope they
shall be excused for reminding them,
they are invited to come forward in
defence of the happiest and wisest
constitution ever known to the world
—in defence of a sovereign, who,
for a period of more than forty
years, has shewn himself to be the
father of all those who have the hap-
piness to live under the British go- .
vernment. Indefending objects thus
sacred and dear, we deplore that our
country is called upon to encounter
a people with whom England wishes
to live in amity; but who, unhap-
pily for themselves and the civilized
world, have submitted to the degra-
dation of being made subservient to
the aggrandisement and ambition of
one man—an obscure Corsican, who
began his»murderous career with
turning his artillery upon the citizens
of Paris—who boasted, in his public
letter from Pavia, to have shot the
whole municipality—who put the
helpless, innocent, and unoffending’

inhabitants

414

inhabitants of Alexandria, man, wo-
man, and child, to the sword, till
slaughter was tired of its work—
who, against all the laws of war, put
near 4000 Turks to death in cold
blood, after their surrender—who
poisoned his own hospitals in order
to destroy his own comrades, when
disabled, by wounds orsickness, from
furthering the plan of pillage which
carried him to St. Jean D’Acre—
who, having thus stained the pro-
fession of arms, and solemnly and
publicly renounced the religion of
Christendom, and embraced Maho-
metanism, again pretended to em-
brace the Christian religion—who,
on his return to France, destroyed
the representative system — who,
after seducing the Polish legion into
the service of his pretended republic,
transferred it treacherously to St.
Domingo, where :it has perished to
a man, either by disease or the
sword: and who, finally, as it were
to fill the measure of his arrogance,
has. dared to attack what is most
dear and most useful to civilized so-
ciety—the freedom of the press, and
the: freedom of speech; by prope-
sing to restrict the British press, and
the deliberations of the British se-
nate. Such is the tyrant we are
called upen to oppose; and such is
the fate which awaits England,
should we suffer him and his degra~
ded slaves to pollute our soil. With
these sentiments this meeting resolves
unanimously, that they will use their
utmost endeavours to carry into its
fullest effect the bill now depending
in parliament for the aioe defence
of the country.”

28th. Theattention of parliament
was this day called to an object of
the most serious importance, by the
following most gracious communica-
tion from our beloved sovereign :

“
a

ANNUAL! REGISTER, 1808.

‘* His majesty feels the deepest re-
gret in acquainting the house of com-.
mons, that a treasonable and rebel-
lious spirit of insurrection has ma-
nifested itself in Ireland, which has
been marked by circumstances of
peculiar atrocity in the city of Dub-
lin. His majesty relies, with per-
fect confidence, on the wisdom of
his parliament, that such measures
will be forthwith adopted as are best
calculated to afford protection and
security to his majesty’s loyal sub-
jects, in that part of the united king-
dom, and to restore and preserve
general tranquillity. G.R.”

This message having been read by
the speaker ;

The chancellor of the exchequer
addressed the house to the following
purport: ‘¢ I am fully persuaded
that there is, in the united parlia-
ment, a full participation of those
feelings. expressed by his majesty ;
and am convinced that this house
possesses a disposition and determi- ,
nation to justify and repay the con-
fidence of his majesty in such circum. -
stances as the present. ‘There was,
indeed, reason to hope that conta-
mination so malignant would have
been, by this time, completely era-
dicated ; we might reasonably have
flattered ourselves, that the recol-
lection of the calamities they had
brought upon themselves by their
former lawless and treasonable pro-
ceedings; that a sense of the bles-
sings they since so eminently enjoy-
ed, under a mild and paternal go-
vernment; and, above all, that the
experience exhibited to the world
of all the hopes conceived from pre-
tended and deluded reformers: and
that the example of France, during
the most bloody and afflicting scenes,
in the most complete military des-
petism, would have operated fa-

vourably

CHRONICLE.

yourably on a deluded and misguid-
ed multitude. But, unhappily, the
event has shewn, that all these warn-
ings and examples, so obvious to
every eye, and so plain to every
understanding, have miserably failed
of their effect. I remember an ex-
pression of a very great man, who
once said, *‘ { should pity the loy-
-alty of that person, who would at-
tempt to aggravate or inflame the
crime of treason.” But surely it
would now be felt as an aggravation
and a shame, that, at the moment
when we, in this country, are rous-
ing up all our exertions, and uniting
for the defence of ourselves, our
government, and our constitution,
against an insolent and presump-
tuous enemy, and while even, as I
am well assured and convinced, a
majority of the people of Ireland are
actuated by the same noble and pa-
triotie spirit, a comparatively small
part of the misled inhabitants of that
country should be guilty of any
thing which could have the effect of
encouraging that inveterate enemy,
which there is, in both countries,
so ardent, strong, and prevalent a
disposition to resist. I shall not, at
present, enter into the particulars
of the information received by go-
yernment upon this distressing sub-
ject ; but, as soon as the present
question shall be disposed of, it is
my intention, first, to lay before
them the proclamation, issued by
the Irish government, upon that
occasion, and afterwards offer such
farther explanation as has hitherto
reached his majesty’s ministers. The
mind, sir, recoils and sickens at the
dreadful recital of the outrage com-
mitted, and feels oppressed with
shame, regret, and indignation, when
it contemplates the station and cha-
racter of the upright aud worthy
1

415

man, who fell a victim to murde-
roug assassins, after having, by a
long series of dignified and patriotic
conduct, merited and obtained the
respect and esteem of all the good
subjects of the united kingdom. 1
move, sir, that an humble address
be presented to his majesty, thank-
ing him for his most gracious com-
munication, expressing our regret
and indignation at hearing that a
treasonable spirit of insurrection
and rebellion had manifested itself
in treland, and was marked with
circumstances of peculiar atrocity in —
the city of Dublin; to assure his
majesty of our firm determination to
take such measures as may seem best
calculated to afford protection to
the loyal inhabitants of that part of
the united kingdom, and to pre-
serve and restore the general tran-
quillity.”’

Lord Castlereagh seconded the
motion, which was warmly~ sup-
ported by several other members,
particularly Mr. Sheridan.

The question having been car-
ried, the chancellor of the exche-
quer brought up a proclamation, by
the lord lieutenant and council of
Ireland, stating ‘¢ that divers per-
sons, engaged in a treasonable and

aring insurrection against his ma-
jesty’s gevernment, did, on the
evening of yesterday, the 23d of
July imstant, suddenly assemble in
the liberties of Dublin, with fire-
arms and pikes, and did there com-
mit several outrages, and particu-
larly in Thomas-street, in the pa-
rish of St. Catharine, within the said
liberties, did assault the carriages of
the right honourable Arthur lord
viscount Kilwarden, chief justice of
his majesty’s court of king’s-bench,
and one of his majesty’s most ho-
nourable privy council, and did drag

the

416

the said Arthur lord yiscount Kil-
warden, together with his nephew,
the rev. Richard Wolfe, clerk, from
his said carriage, and did therebasely,
and inhumanly murder the said Ar-
thur lord viscount Kilwarden and
‘Richard Wolfe, by stabbing them
respectively with pikes in various
parts of their bodies, of which
wounds they both soon after died ;”
and offering, ‘‘in order to bring
such enormous offenders to condign
punishment, that if any person or
persons shall, within six calendar
‘months from the date hereof, dis-
cover any of the person or persons
who committed the said inhuman
murders, or either of them, or who
aided and assisted therein, or who
advised, . encouraged, _ instigated,
moved, stimulated, or meited the
persons concerned therein to com-
mit the same, such person or per-
sons so discovering shall receive as a
reward the sum of one thousand
pounds sterling for each and every
of the first three persons who shall

be apprehended and _ convicted
thereof.”
30th. The following account of

deaths by small-pox, extracted from

the weekly bills of mortality, evinces

a great decrease of deaths in the me-

tropolis, since the institution of the
Royal Jennerian Society :
Weekly deaths.

1802, November 2 72

' 9 74

16 «Gl
Q 65
3 88

December

Om NI O Co
_—
©
]

1 2
21:50
28 48
1803, January 4 49
1 es 1!)
18..\37
25 56

ANNUAL!) REGISTER, 1803:

.
1803, February 1

St

~8. 30

s 1dy eel
92. uZo
Mareh 1 25
8 20

; Loi Vbyf
99.422

29 13°
April 5 16
12 19

19 14
126;

. May 3 15
10) «h3

LZ. lO

24. 13

31, 18

June 7 10
14. 16

2). AO

28 Lil.

July 5 13
123.40

pits Peg 2

26, a5

A contribution of 8,000,000 livres
has been imposed on the electorate.
of Hanover. Of this.sum there has
been already paid 2,500,000 in rea-
dy money (110,000]. st.) besides
the pay for the armies, furniture,
horses, provisions, ammunition, &c.
&c. The timber in the forests of
Hanover, which is fit for ship-build,
ing, is to be immediately felled, by
order of the French government.

The interior of Hanover has,
since the French conquest, been as
little known to the rest of Enrope,
as that of Japan. <A few. letters,
however, have escaped from that
place, from which the following
statement has been extracted. Eyer
since the conquest, the whole electo-
rate has been a scene of pillage and
butchery, which is said to yield only
to the state of Switzerland in the
Spring of 1798. ‘The French sol-

dicrs

CHRONICLE.

diers have the most unbounded
indulgence of their ruling passions,
of rapacity, cruelty, and lust. In
the city of Hanover, and even in
the public streets, women of the
highest rank have been violated by
the lowest of that brutal soldiery, in
the presence of their husbands and
fathers, and subjected, at the same
time, to such additional and unde-
scribable outrages, as the savage fury
of the violaters, inflamed by drun-
kenness, could contrive. The names
of some of these unfortunate ladies
_are mentioned, but the honour of
their families, and the peace of their
own future lives, forbid their pub-
lication. The baron de K sa
well known partisan of French phi-
losophy and politics, went to the
commandant of Hanover, and claim-
ed his protection as an admirer of
the French revolution. But he
found no more favour in the sight
of the Aga of sultan Bonaparte’s
janissaries, than the most loyal no-
-bleman in Hanover.
officer told him, ‘¢ All that jaco-
binism is now out of fashion—go
about your business!” Nor have
we heard that the philosophers of
Goettingen, the enthusiasts of equa-
lity and perfectibility, have been at
all better rent
What happenin the great towns,
and what befals persons of rank,
are of course better known than the
calamities of the body of the people.
It is for this reason only that we
have selected them. They are, in
fact, a perfectly fair specimen of the
treatment of the whole miserable
people. Every village exhibits the
same scenes in miniature. The pea-
sants, who have more spirit, pa-
triotism, and loyalty, than their su-
periors, have already, in several
parts of the country, been driven
Vou. XLV.

The Freneh

417

into insurrection ; many villages have
been burnt to the ground, and two
districts have been delivered over to
all the horrors of military execu-
tion. The whole electorate, which
is one of the most prosperous coun-
tries of the empire, will, by a few
months of such tyranny, be laid ab«
solutely waste.

Intelligence was this day received
of the unconditional surrender of the
island of St. Lucia, to his majesty’s
forces under lieut. gen. Grinfield,
commander in chief in the Wind-
ward and Leeward Caribbee Islands.
(for particulars, vide appendix.)

The number of English confined
in France, are said to amount to
11,000; those in Holland to 1,300
persons !

The Bombay Courier, received
this day, gives the following account
of a dreadful accident which happen-
ed to a boy on board the Ganges,
on her passage to China.

‘¢ During our detention at Angar
Point, on the coast of Java, on the
5th day of May last, John Walker,
boatswain’s boy of the Ganges, aged
13, swimming alongside of the ship
when at anchor, and ata few yards
distance from our boat with three
men in it, was discovered by a shark,
who immediately approached him ;
and, in spite of the exertions of the
boat’s crew to intimidate the hungry
monster, he laid hold of the unfor-
tunate boy, by including in his mouth
the whole of the right leg and more
than half the thigh, pulling him be-
neath the water close alongside the
ship, when upwards of 100 men were
spectators of the scene, and kept
him below for near two minutes, in
which time he had tore off his leg
and thigh to the extent above men-
tioned. The boy once more made
his appearance on the surface of the

Ke water

418

water, and the shark upon his back,
with his jaws once more extended
to make a finish of his prey, when a
lad from the boat struck him with
the boat-hook, and by the same in-
strument laid hold of the boy, and
brought him on board. ‘The boy
had lost a vast deal of blood, the
stump was dreadfully lacerated, and
the bone splintered near an inch and
a half, which required an amputa-
tion of the thigh close to the hip
joint. Under all these untoward
circumstances, the boy has recover-
ed, quite well, within three months
from the date of the operation. ‘The
flect, as it was an extraordinary case,
have subscribed upwards of 280l.
for him.”

31st. A report haying been in-
dustriously propagated, that depo-
sits of fire arms and ammunition had
been frequently made in the night,
in the English nunnery at Marnhal,
county of Dorset, to favour the
views of the I*rench, should they
make good their landing, and that a
brother of Bonaparte’s was hid there,
the reverend Mr. Blackburne, one
of the justices of the peace for the
eounty, with the laudable resolution
of ascertaining the truth or falsity of
the report, made a visit to the nun-
nery, in company with several gen-
tlemen, and one of the principal in-
habitants of the parish, and narrow-
ly inspected every room, closet, cel-
lar, and out-house, belonging to the
premises, but the only warlike in-
struments found there, were the
SHIELD OF FAITH, THE BREAST PLATE
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and the HELMET
OF SALVATION. On the strictest ex-
amination throughout the parish, not
a person could give the least colour
ef probability to the report. It
would be injustice to the ladies, not
to say, they received their visitors

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

with the greatest politeness and good
humour. The venerable lady abbess
said, ‘* We were not more surpris-
ed, when, in the beginning of the
reign of tyranny in France, a domi-
ciliary visit had been paid us at our
convent, under the idea that Mr.
Pitt, the English minister, was se-
creted there.” Who the authors of
the calumny are, cannot be traced,
but it is impossible, for an instant,
to believe, that women, with Eng-
lish blood flowing in their veins,
connected with Kngland by the
strongest ties of blood and grati-
tude, who, by the cruelty and op-
pression of the French, were de-
prived of all their possessions,
could, for a moment, give counte-
nance or support to the mad and
ambitious schemes of such mon-
sters !

The sum raised by voluntary
subscription, at the end of this
month, for the purposes of reward-
ing individuals, who distinguish
themselves in the defence of their
country, and of relieving the rela-
tions of those who fall, exceeded
150,0001. !

Nicholas Martin, esq. a gen-
tleman of the county of Galway,
in Ireland, of an estate amounting
to 4000]. per annum, was, last
week, at Dublin, indicted for wil-
ful and corrupt perjury, in swearing
to an aflidavit advanced on a chan-
cery cause, relative to a subpoena
served on him the 11th of May,
1782. ‘The law-suit was concern-
ing an annuity that he had engaged
to pay to his wife, from whom he is
separated. The jury found him
guilty, and the court sentenced him
to one year’s imprisonment, and to
stand four times in the pillory.

A reward has been. offered by the |
Irish goverment of 5001. for disco-

vering

——

CHRONICLE.

vering the murderers of lieut. colonel
Browne, and 300 for those of cor-
net Cole, of the 12th dragoons. Mr.
Park, serjeant of the Liberty Ran-
gers, in attempting to save lord Kil-
warden, was murdered at his feet.
Mrs. Browne, the wife of the col.
is sister of the late captain Riou,
of the royal navy, killed at Copen-
hagen.

The Seine, a fine frigate of forty-
two guns, got a-shore on a sand
bank near Schelling, when the ef-
forts of the officers and crew proy-
ing ineffectual, they set fire to her.
The Seine was taken from the French
in 1798. ‘This is the third frigate

lost since the commencement of the.

war.

Diev.—28th. Of a brain fever,
that very ingenious and distinguish-
ed artist, Mr. James Malton.

AUGUST.

2d. A meeting of the freehold-
ers of Middlesex, was convened at
the Mermaid, Hackney, to consider
of an address to his majesty on the
state of affairs. Sheriff Welch took
the chair, and alderman Skinner ad-
dressed the audience in an appropri-
ate speech, illustrative of the object
of the meeting; in the course of
which, he observed, that whatever
little differences might prevail, about
internal matters, he trusted, all
would join in one sentiment against
the common enemy. Mr. Travers
proposed, as an amendment in the
address, that, instead of ‘‘ our de-
structive enemy,”’ the words should
be, ** our daring enemy, whose in-
satiable ambition, nothing short of

419

our destruction could gratify.” A
shout of applause followed, and the
amendment was unanimously adopt-
ed. Sir Francis Burdett entered,
and was received with murmurs and
other signs of disapprobation. Al.
derman Curtis requested an expla-
nation from the baronet, of his con
duct at a late meeting*, where hé,
sir Francis, was charged to have in-
troduced sentiments highly out of
season: the purport of which were,
that if we meant, effectually, to re-
sist the foe, it should be done by
restoring the people’s rights, &c.
Sir F. Burdett then rose, and de-
clared, that the statement of his
speech, which had appeared in a
certain print, was an infamous libel
denied that he had ever said, that
the people ought not to defend the
country, or that he had excited the
fleet to mutiny ; but admitted, that
he had said, that the best mode of
providing for the defence of the
country, was to give the people
their just rights at home. This
speech met with universal disappro-
bation, which was marked by the
hootings and hisses of the whole as-
sembly ; when sir W. Curtis ob-
served, that the worthy baronet had
by no means justified himself. It
was not true, that sailors were in-
fluenced to perform their duty in
consequence of boons: he was not
aware that any boon had ever been
offered, except what they, as sailors,

were entitled to; such as their pay,

clothing, and prize money. He
was, certainly, very sorry for the
conduct of the honourable baronet,
but must now move, ‘* that the she-
riffs, in presenting the address, be
accompanied by one of the county

* At the Crown and Anchor tavern, on the 29th of July, being the anniversary

of his return to parliament, for the county of Middlesex.

Ee2 members

420
members only, Mr. Byng, which
was carried nem. con.

3d. Letters from Newfoundland,
by the Greyhound cutter, arrived at
Portsmouth, contain some particu-
lars respecting the capture of the
little French islands of St. Pierre
and Miquelon. Captain Malbon, of
the Aurora, hearing of the renewal
of war on the 26th of June, imme-
diately sailed from Newfoundland
for St. Pierre, and arrived there on
the 30th ; and, sending his boats on
shore in the evening, they fell in
with a boat having the governor on
board, immediately after which the
place surrendered. Captain Mal-
bon made 180 prisoners, and took,
by this very prompt and gallant en-
terprize, a French schooner, a brig,
eleven small merchant ships, and one
hundred boats. The vessels, fish,
stores, &c. taken at St. Pierre and
Miquelon,-are estimated at 70,000l.

Some unpleasant discoveries have
been made by the British commis-
sioners of accompts in the West In-
dies, An‘arrest has been sued out
against one gentleman, in pursuance
of their directions, for the sum of
130,000].; to which amount they
have proved defalcations.

This day the lady of sir Hugh
Munro, of Fowlis, went to her
usual place, in the Bay of Cro-
marty, to bathe, taking three of
her servant maids along with her ;
and, as was always her practice, a
servant was placed at a considerable
distance, to prevent any person
from passing that way while she was
bathing. Mr. Findlater, a mer-
chant, coming near where the ser-
vant was placed, was alarmed by
loud cries and shrieks, and insisted
on going forward to see what was
the cause, but the servent prevented
him, saying he had orders to stop

3

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

any person going that way, and that
the crics were only occasioned by
his lady and the maids ducking. Mr.
I’. however, not being satisfied with
this, persisted in his determination,

_and instantly getting into a boat,

made for the place, which he had
no sooner reached, than he saw the
four bodies floating on the water.
He soon got them into the boat and
made for the shore. One of the ser-
vants revived when in the boat.
Medical assistance was immediately
procured for the lady and the other
two servants; bat, though every ef-
fort was made to recover them, all
proved ineffectual. It is supposed,
that some of them had gone beyond
their depth, and the others, in at-
tempting to save them, shared their
fate. But no positive information
has yet been obtained from the sur-
vivor.
10th. This day, a beautiful brig
was launched at Thorpe, amidst the
acclamations of a great concourse
of people, assembled at Catter-
moul’s-gardens, and in. the sur- _
rounding meadows. She went off
the stocks in a very fine style, and
without the least accident; but
when she was towing ashore, for the
company on board to quit her, al-
most every one endeavouring to get
ashore first, the weight of such a
body of people, added to those on
the rigging, (being launched com-
pletely rigged), overset her; whitch
created such ascene of confusion and
distress, as it is impossible to de-
scribe. Nearly 100 men, women,
and children, were suddenly plunged
into the river, and, with difficalty,
preserved from a watery grave. Al-
though it was scareely to be expect-
ed, but that several lives must have
been lost, yet, there is reason to be-
lieve, no mere thap ene fella sacri-
fice,

‘CHRONICLE.

fice, viz. Mary Hale, a girl aged
fourteen.

11th. The steeple of Petworth
church, Sussex, about eighty feet

high, and measures, in circumfer-
ence, about thirty feet, entirely co-
yered with lead, with one yane, is
going to be taken down, and the
present tower heightened, and four
pinnacles, with four vanes, added in
lieu of the steeple, by order of the
vestry.

Lately, as two young men were
enjoying the amusement of shooting,
in the moss of Auchlee, parish of
Longside, one of them killed a duck
in the Idoch-loch, and desired the
other to go in for her: he went ina
little way, but beginning to sink, he
meant to return, when the other bid
him go forward quickly ; he made a
second attempt, when, in an instant,
he sunk in deep water, but arose up
again ; the other run in, and reached
the gun te him, which he took hold
of, and drew his companion along,
and they both sunk and perished.
Notwithstanding two men were on
the bank, they could give them no
assistance.

Martha Chapel, of Ackworth,
near Pontefract, in Yorkshire, a
young girl, only 19 years old, was,
last week, executed at York, pursu-
ant to her sentence, for the murder
of her female bastard child. She
acknowledged the justice of her sen-
tence, and died a sincere penitent.

Rebecca Beaumont, tried for a
similar offence, at the same assizes,
was found not guilty ; but, by vir-
tue of an act of parliament lately
passed, at the instance of lord El-
Jenborough, she was, for having
concealed the birth of her child, and
burying it, sentenced to be confined
in the house of correction, at Wake-
field, for two years,

12th. About a quarter before
twelve, his majesty arrived fram
Windsor to St. James’s, and thence
proceeded, in the usual state, to the
house of peers, to prorogue the par-
liament: which was accordingly pro-
rogued to the 6th of October next.
liis majesty appeared in excellent
health and spirits, and was received
with the most ardent acclamations
by the populace, who crowded the
park and the streets leading to the
parliament house.

15th. This day, advices were re-
ceived of the surrender of Tobago
to general Grinfield and commodore
Hood. (Vide Appendix.)

This day (Monday) the notorious
Hattield was tried, on a charge of
forgery, and convicted, at the Car-
lisle assizes. On being called on-for
his defence, the prisoner addressed
himself to the jury. He said, he
felt some degree of satisfaction: in
being able to have his sufferings ter-
minated, as they, of course, must
be by their verdict. For the space
of nine months he had been dragged
from prison to prison, and torn
from place to place, subject to all
the misrepresentations of calumny
‘¢ Whatever be my fate,” said he,
‘* Tam content; it is the award of
justice, impartially administered ;
but I solemnly declare, that, in» all
my transactions, I never intended to
defraud or injure the persons whose
names have appeared in the prose-
cutions. This 1 will mainiain to
the last of my life.” The jury, not.
withstanding this plausible defence
of the prisoner, found him guilty on
two indictments. At eight on 'Tues-
day morning, the prisoner was
brought up to receive judgment;
when baron Thompson, after be-
seeching him to employ the remain-
ing part of his time for eternity,

Ee 3 and

422

and hoping that he would find mer-
cy at the hour of death, and day of
judgment, pronounced sentence of
death in the usual form. ‘The pri-
soner heard it with firmness, bowed
respectfully, and was taken away
from the dock, and thence to the
gaol. From the evidence which
transpired on the trial, it appears
that Hatfield is of a respectable fa-
mily. He is a man of much address,
and formerly himself kept his carri-
age in Devonshire: his motives for
the extraordinary career he has
lately run, are rather veiled in mys-
tery, and will, most likely, remain
so, as no hopes of pardon were held
out to him on his condemnation ;
and he has been ordered for exe-
cution on Saturday the 3d of Sep-
tember.

The duke of Clarence has enrol-
Jed himself as a private in the Ted-
dington volunteers.

17th. A fire broke out atChum-
leigh, a market town in Devonshire,
twenty-two miles from Exeter, on
the road to Barnstaple, Biddeford,
and Torrington. It began at Mr.
Ford’s, soap-boiler, and extended to
the whole neighbourhood, the pre-
mises being mostly thatched. It
raged for about seven hours, and
destroyed one hundred houses ; near
three-fourths of the town. No lives
were lost ; but little property was
saved. he damage is estimated at
upwards of 25,0001.; and a sub-
scription is opened for the relief of
the sufferers.

19th. A fire broke out at the
house of Mr. Henville, at Bradford,
near Dorchester, which consumed
that house, and that of Mr. Deve-
nish adjoining, with three cottages
and a hay rick. Peter Barret, a
blacksmith, and Daw, ashoe-maker,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

were much burnt by the roof of one
of the houses falling in. Most of
the property was insured ; and the
military at Dorchester prevented the

progress of the flames.
20th. A whimsical exhibition
took place on the race-ground at
Brighton. Capt. Otto, of the Sussex
militia, booted, and mounted by a
grenadier of 18 stone weight, was
matched to run 50 yards, against a
poney, carrying a feather, to run
150 ; but capt. Otto’s rider tumbled
over his neck, which he was very
near cracking, and consequently he
lost the bet. The next match was,
the same gentleman, mounted by
the same grenadier, to run 50 yards,
against a noble lord, carrying a fea-
ther, who was to run 100. He was
considerably distanced by the latter.
The brass ordnance belonging to
Norwich were lately tried, in a deep
chalk-pit, by some of the artillery-
men quartered there, when four of
them burst. A fragment of one,
weighing 30I6. was carried, by the
explosion, over Katon hill, a distance
of three quarters of a mile. The
gun was that used by Kett, of infa-
mous memory, and its remains are
preserved as antiquities ;—the iron
nine-pounders stood the test. At
the bottom of an account, presented
to the corporation, as the result of
the trial, was the following nota
bene: ** It is custemary for the cor-
poral to have the old metal, when
any of the pieces burst.” To which
the corporation facetiously answer-
ed, ‘* That the corporal appeared to
have a sufficiency of brass already.”
Mr. Orme, the India company’s
late histeriographer, in addition to a
very valuable collection of manuscript
maps, plans, &c. has bequeathed to
the court of directors 231 volumes of
manuscript

———-s

CHRONIC LE,

manuscript books, containing a vast
body of information respecting In-
dian affairs.

By the mode which, in future,
will be adopted for arming the ships
in the service of the Kast-India com-
pany, they will nearly supersede the
necessity of convoy. Ships of 1200
tons will carry 40 pieces of ord-
nance, and men in proportion ;
and ships of 800 tons will be armed
with 36 guns.

So few rainy days within a
twelvemonth have not been experi-
anced in any year since 1762, as
during the last 365 days; from
which extreme drought many incon-
veniencies have occurred. At Pe-
vensey, a flock of sheep, consisting
of 300, being, after long thirst, dri-
yen to a pond, drank so immode-
rately, that upwards of 100 of them
died almost immediately.

22d. ‘The commerce of the north
of Germany begins to take a difler-
ent direction. ‘The rivers Elbe and
Weser being shut against the Eng-
glish, they have resorted to Lubeck
for carrying on their trade with the
states of the empire.

23d. The distress occasioned in
the city of Hamburgh by the block-
ade of the Elbe, becomes every day
more apparent. Upwards of thirty
suicides have been committed here in
the space of a week. ‘The stagna-
tion of commerce increases hourly.
The port, which formerly displayed
a forest of masts, now resembles a
desart. No vessel can enter the
Elbe; nor will the English suffer
one to go out. This state of things

may last for a long time. The
French are determined not to quit
the left bank of the Elbe; and the
English, not to raise the blockade.
It is certain that the Russians will
preserve their neutrality in the Bal-
tic, and that the coast of Elsineur,

423

and other points, will not be occu-
pied by foreign troops.

The late overland dispatches from
India, announce the assassination of °
the Jeypour Rajah by a priest, who
had ingratiated himself with theprince.
The murder was not discovered for
some hours, when the assassin was
pursued and taken. He was tied to
the foot of an elephant, and tram-
pled to death. The Jeypour Ra-
jah was at the head of a powerful
confederacy, and constantly involved
in hostilities with the Mahrattas.

24th. The following cause was
tried at the Trim assizes, in Ireland.
It was that of Bryan Connor, for a
certain assault on a little and un-
commonly interesting girl, under the
age of fifteen years, and of Judith
Connor, his wife, for aiding therein.
It appeared, from the evidence of
the girl, which was also strongly
corroborated,, that these diabolical
wretches enticed her into a hollow
part of a field, near the duke of
Leinster’s demesne, where the wo-
man tied her with whip-cord, and
was present while the husband per-
petrated the fact. ‘The jury, in two
minutes, returned a verdict of guilty
against both. They were executed
on the Monday following.

26th. A court martial held on
captain Barlow, M. P. for Coven-
try, honourably acquitted him of
every charge.

Early this morning, a fire broke
out in a little wooden house, in St.
George’s fields, inhabited by widow
Cox, and her daughter, who carri-
ed on an extensive carpet and rug
manufactory A neighbour saved
Mrs. Cox and her daughter, but
the whole property, very consi-
derable, was destroyed in half an
hour!

At Whitehaven, Wm. Knott, ina
fit of passion, threw a knife at his

Kea wile

424

wife, which missed her, but struck
his son (a boy about nine years of
age) on the side, and occasioned his
immediate death. Coroner’s Ver-
dict. Manslaughter.
30th. Mr. James Locker, for-
merly a goldsmith in Dublin, but
who had retired from business some
years, was committed to the Fleet
for running away with a ward in
Chancery, not 20 years of age. They
were married at Gretna Green, and
afterwards at St. Luke’s. The lady
has a great fortune, and the gentle-
man is 70 years old. On Friday,
‘the parties were examined before
the chancellor, when a curious scene
was developed. The lady is Miss
Pearce, daughter of a rich brewer,
in Mijbank-street, who dicd in
‘November. A few days after
his death, his widow went to the
theatre, picked up a young man
there, a nephew of Locker, and
Shortly after married him. The mo-
ther assisted Locker in eloping with
her daughter. His lordship, consi-
dering the whole transaction as base
and mercenary, ordered Locker to
be kept in close custody, and all the
papers to be delivered to the attor-
ney-general, for the purpose of in-
Stituting a criminal prosecution a-
gainst the parties for a conspiracy.
In May last, Mr. Goring, of
Staines, lost a valuable horse, for
which he made the most diligent en-
quiry, but without effect. On this
day, however, a gentleman driving
through Staines in a gig, the horse
made a sudden stop at Mr. Goring’s
house, from which no efforts could
induce him to move. The circum-
Stance attracting a number of per-
sons, and amongst the rest Mr.
Goring, who recognized his horse ;
and on reference to the person of
whom the gentleman had purchased

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

it, the animal was at length traced
to the fellow who stole it, and
who has since been committed for
trial.

King Edward’s monument upon
Brough Marsh, in the county of
Cumberland, has been rebuilt by
lord Lowther. ‘The present monu-
ment is the same as the former, in
appearance and dimensions (30 feet
high) with the only difference of a
flight of steps around it. ‘The fol-
lowing is a copy of the inseription
(the old one being omitted) :

*¢ Omni Veneratione prosequens
inclytam EDOARDI primi Famam
optimi Anglice Regis, ;
Columnam hance
Humi fusam dirutamque
hic reponendam curayit
GULIELMUs Vicecomes de LOWTHER
Anno Salutis mpcceri.”

All the English in Italy and Swit-
zerland have been made prisoners,
by order of the first consul, which
atfords one more proof of the con-
tempt of every principle of justice,
and of the despotic sway, over all
parts of the continent, of Bona-
parte.

31st. The special commission hay-
ing met at Green-street, Dublin, E.
Kearney was put upon trial for
high treason.—The overt-aéts were,
assembling, with others, in arms on
the 23d of July, and attacking the
king’s troops.—The following were
the names of the jury: R. Allen,
foreman; R. H. French, J. W.
Fitzgerald, W. $. Magee, J. Hal-
pen, W. Moore, J. Duncan, G,
Byrne, R. Davison, T. Connor ;
W. Stanford, and JT. Kinder, es-
quires.

The attorney general addressed
the court, and, in a speech which
lasted an hour and a half, elucidated
the act of the 25th Edward III.

The

CHRONICLE,

The transaction of the 23d July he
considered as a visitation of Provi-
dence, to arouse the loyalty of the
people; and dwelt with much energy
en the difference between the go-
vernments of France and England :
he then called the attention of the
court to the conduct of government
to the traitors of 1798 ; some paid
their lives as the forfeit of their
crimes; some were transported, and
some escaped for want of legal evi-
dence to convict them. Many of
them had changed their conduct ;
but others had returned to disturb
a constitution, the envy and admi-
ration of the universe. He read a
part of the rebel proclamation, and
contrasted it with their late con-
duct; but admitted, that, at any
time, there were not more than 500
persons acting in the riot. in the
course of his address, he alluded to
the assassination of lord Kilwarden,
and, in the most impressive lan-
guage, described the particulars of
that horrid event. After passing
many encomiums on the modera-
tion of government, under circum-
stances of such provocation, he ob-
seryed, that the rebel proclamation
had the audacity to state, that the
first execution of a prisoner should
be the signal for a general insur-
rection; but, notwithstanding this
threat, government was determined
to shew its strength as well as its
moderation, and prove that it as
much despised the threatened as the
actual hostility of treason. Three
weeks had elapsed since the special
commission was issued—a fair op-
portunity had been offered for the
free trial of the accused ; and he
had the benefit of an enlightened
jury, and the protection of a bench
of judges, as anxious for his ex-
eulpation as for the maintenance of

495

the laws. He then recommended
the lenity of government to be imi-
tated by all loyal subjects; and, by
this means, together with the cou-
rage of the yeomanry and militia,
the country will ever be enabled to
despise the threats of its enemies,
whether foreign or domestic.

P.M‘Cabe, the first witness, stated,
that on the 23d ult. he was informed
of the plan for rising, and that-it
was the intention of the rebels to
attack the artillery barracks at
Island-bridge, and get possession of
the arms and ammunilion; then -to
seize the magazine in the Park, and
to atiack the castle of Dublin, on
the Ship-street side. He was posted,
with a blunderbuss, in Rainsford-
street, and received 40 rounds of
ball cartridge. The remainder of
his deposition went to prove the
assemblage of vast numbers of the
rebels, who were fired on by the
Coombe guard, when most of them
ran away. He admitted that he
was concerned in the rebellion of
1798, and did not believe that any
person was forced to take up arms
on the 23d against his will.

E. Wilson, esg. a magistrate of
Dublin, deposed, that he saw 300
or 400 people marching in a column
towards the depot of arms; and that
they appeared to be a¢ting accord-
ing to a pre-concerted plan. He
ordered them to lay down their
arms; when one of them wounded
him in the belly with a pike. At
length, on the arrival of the sol-
diers, a number of prisoners were
taken.

Lieut. Brady, of the 21st fusi-
leers, deposed that he apprehended
the prisoner with a pike in his hand,
after his regiment had fired on the
mob: he was making much noise,
and endeavouring to escape. The

prisoner

4.26

prisoner was seized by J. Stack,
a corporal of the above regiment,
who heard him call on the pike-
men to advance and charge the mi-
litary.

The prisoner’s counsel represented
his client as a poor industrious man,
who had been surrounded by the
insurgents, and forced to act against
his will: he appealed to the boasted
lenity of government in behalf of his
client.

Several witnesses gave him a good
character, but admitted that he was
addicted to intoxication.

Lord Norbury summed up the
evidence, having previously laid
down the principles and practice
in England, respecting the statute
of 25 Edw. III. on high treason,
from certain law reports of cele-
brity.

The jury, having retired ata
15 minutes, returned a verdi¢ét—
Guilty—at which the prisoner shew-
ed a species of levity bordering on

usanity.

A corps of yeomanry cavalry, in
Leicestershire, having solicited earl
Moira to command them, his lord-
ship declined the honour, in a very
ee speech, the following passage

f Which is too remarkable to be
sai over :—** You will have seen
it mentioned, that the prince of
Wales, with that glowing interest
which he takes in all that may affect
the fame or the welfare of Britain,
had offered his services in a manner
that might best evince his devotion
to his father and sovereign. As co-
Jonel of a regiment of cavalry, his
royal highness probably feared that
he might find himself stationed in a

district remote from the descent of

the enemy; he was, therefore, soli-
citous for such eventual employ-
ment as would give him the chance
of furnishing the example to his fel-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

low-subjects, how every considera-
tion of condition, of ease, and of
personal safety, ought to be spurned,
when the security of the country is
at stake. We are given to under-
stand that the offer has not been ac-
cepted; yet it is possible that his
royal highness may still entertain the
hope of being permitted to oppose
himself to the enemy, as a volunteer,
with the first corps of that descrip-
tion that may be marched against
the invader. [| infer some such view,
not merely from the generous en-
thusiasm which swells his heart upon
this occasion, but from the call with
which he has honoured me. He
has deigned to claim, from my hum-
ble attachment, that, upon the first
notice of an enemy’s landing, I shall
hasten to place myself by his side,
unless I should, in the interval, be
ordered upon service by the king.”

Diep.—At Balnacraig, in the pa-
rish of Aboyne, aged 103, Harry
Troup, a shoemaker. He had ex-
perienced no bodily complaint, and
retained his senses to the last; was
sober and industrious, and never
above thirty miles from his own
house, in which he had lived up-
wards of 70 years.

In Kevin-street, Dublin, aged
112, Mrs. Lindsay, formerly in a
respectable situation, but, having
outlived an annuity, she was latterly
indebted to a subscription of the no-
bility for those comforts which she
had been accustomed to, and which,
at her great age, were become more
necessary.

By a fall from his horse, Mr.
Isaac Troup, of Asbover, in Ireland.
One of his sons, some time ago, was
accidentally shot dead; ancther,
shooting rooks, a short time since,
the gun burst, and shattered his
hand, which was immediately am-
putated, and he is in a fair way of

recovery ;

CHRONICEE.

recovery ; and, about a twelvemonth
ago, his daughter, an infant, was
scalded to death.

In White horse-street, Ratcliffe,
at a very advanced age, and the old-
est in the Greenland trade, having
been 50 years in it, capt. R. Wa-
terhouse ; who, in his life-time, fre-
quently said that he had survived
every commander in the trade twice
over.

SEPTEMBER.

Ist. T. M. Roche was indicted,
in Dublin, for high treason. LEvi-
dence had been previously gone into,
with a view to establish the fact of
insurrection on the night of the 23d
of July, viz. the testimonies of Mr.
Wilson, and lieut. Brady, of the
21st regiment, who identified the pri-
soner as bearing a pike on that night.
He further deposed, that he took the
prisoner in the act of holding a pike,
with both hands, across his breast,
the iron part downwards. On con-
veying him, with 13 prisoners, from
James’s-street barrack to the Old
Man’s hospital, the prisoner there
threw himself on his knees before
gen. Fox, pleaded his age and dis-
tressed family, and protested the pike
: had been forced on him by the insur-
gents in Thomas-street. In the pre-
vious part of the witness’s testimony,
he proved that the prisoner, when
Seized on, made an hideous noise,
grappled his pike, and offered a con-
Siderable resistance.—Several wit-
nesses were called to his character ;
but none of them could say any
thing in favour of his loyalty.—Ser-
jeant Rice proved the discovery of
8000 copies of the traitorous pro-
elamation. Afteran animated speech,
from Mr. M‘Nally, in favour of the

427

prisoner, Justice Finnucane recapi-
tulated the evidence, and the jury, in
a few minutes, returned a verdict of
guilty.—Kirwan was also tried, and
found guilty.
2d. J. Byrne was this day tried
on the same charges as the former
prisoners, and, alter a similar rou-
tine of evidence, was found guilty.
He was seized with a pike on his
shoulder, by two soldiers of the 21st.
About half past two this morning,
a dreadful fire broke out at Astley’s
amphitheatre, in consequence of the
negligence of some of the persons
whose duty it was to see the lights
carefully extinguished. The acci-
dent originated in the repositories of
the machinery and combustibles for
the fire-works; and the immense
quantity of inflammable materials
caused the flames to rage with such
incredible fury, that every effort to
preserve the building was useless. —
Consternation pervaded all the inha-
bitants of the adjoining houses, called
Amphitheatre-row, the back parts of
which almost touch the theatre: the
wretched inhabitants were seen run-
ning to and fro, nearly naked, throw-
ing their goods out of the windows,
and increasing the horror of thescene
by screams and shrieks. The same
scene of misery and distress Occurred
in Pheenix-street, which runs paral-
lel with Amphitheatre-row. In the
latter the destruction proved fatal,
nearly 20 houses having been con.
sumed in that street alone; and the
inhabitants being all poor, and chiefly
industrious mechanics, their distress
may be more easily conceived than
described. The most melancholy
part of the accident is the loss of
Mis. Woodham.* The tote] number
of houses destroyed is nearly 40. A
number of wretches plundered the
unfortunate sufferers, previous to
the

* Vide deaths for this month.

~-

ANNUAL RE

the arrival of the military. The
royal amphitheatre and stabling,
with the scenery, wardrobe, proper-
ties, music, &c. cost Messrs. Astley
30,0001. and were insured only for
17001. in the Pheenix-office. All the
horses are saved.

An accident of the same kind,
and in the same place, occurred on
the night of the duke of York’s
birth-day, August 16th, 1797. ‘The
destruction which then took place,
and in a similar way, was as com-
plete as in the present instance.

3d. This day the notorious Hat-
field prepared, with great fortitude,
for his execution. After praying for
some time in the prison, with two
clergymen, he was conveyed in a
post-chaise to the place of execution.
When he came in sight of the tree,
he exclaimed, ‘‘ O! a happy sight;
I see it with pleasure!’ Then he de-
sired the executioner to be as expert
as possible, and that he would wave
a handkerchief when_he was ready.
The hangman then having fixed the
rope, he put up his hand, and turned
it himself. He also tied his cap, and
took his handkerchief from his neck,
and tied it about his head. At four
o’clock he was turned off, and, af-
ter hanging the usual time, was con-
veyed to St. Mary’s church-yard for
interment. Ilatficld was originally
a rider to a wholesale linen-draper ;
and, in early life, contrived to marry
a natural daughter of old lord Ro-
bert Manners, with whom he got
1500]. For some years he passed
himself as nearly related to the Rut-
land family, and possessing large es-
tates in Yorkshire, &c. On account
of his marriage, he frequently ob-
tained money from the late duke of
Kutland, but was wholly discarded
by his grace while viceroy in Ireland.
habituated to dissipation, he had

428

GISTER, 1803.

been an inmate in the king’s bene
prison, and for some years in a ga
in the north. After being liberate
from the last-mentioned, he had the
good fortune to connect himself with
some respectable tradesmen in Des
vonshire, where he might have lived
happily, secluded from those who
formerly knew him, and acquired an
honest independency; but deception
was so rooted in his nature, that he
could not shake it off. fe was soon
detected in fraudulent practices, and
declared a bankrupt. His flight sucs
ceeded; and, unfortunately, some
evil genius directed his steps to the
once happy cottage of poor Mary of
Buttermere. Her story is well
known, and generally lamented.

J. Begg stood trial in Dublin for
hich treason. Lieut. Coltman proved
that this prisoner was seized while en-
deavouring to conceal himself amongst
some timber: he had ao arms in his
hands when taken, and asserted that
he was endeavouring to conceal him-
self from some pikemen. The pri-
soner, who was a journeyman Cars
penter, received an excellent charac-
ter from his employer. The jury
found him guilty, but recommended
him to mercy.

Kearney was executed in Thomas-
street, and died with few signs of
contrition.—Roche was executed
yesterday, and, when at the scaf-
fold, admitted he had been guilty of
the crime for which he sutlered.—
Byrne was executed on Monday.

A circular Jetter has been ad-
dressed to the lord lieutenants of
counties, stating that orders had been
given to issue such a number of arms
as may be sufficient for one-half of
the quota of volunteers for each
county. Sabres and pistols will be
delivered to the cavalry, and pikes to
the artillery.—A part of the ne

plan

CHRONICLE.

plan relative to the volunteer corps,
is, that such volunteers as may here-
after be accepted, are not to claim an
exemption from being drawn for the
militia, &c. The volunteers, in fu-
ture, are to find their own arms, and
are also to be formed into regiments
6r brigades ; but to be occasionally
reviewed by experienced officers, ap-
pointed to preside over certain dis-
tricts.

~~ 6th. The king has been pleased

to cause it to be signified by the

right hon. lord Hawkesbury, his ma-
jesty’s principal secretary of state,
for foreign aflairs, to the ministers
of neutral powers residing at this
court, that his majesty has thought
proper, for the deience of his doini-
nions, and the protection of his sub-
jects, to take the most effectual mea-
sures for the blockade of the en-
trance of the port of Havre de

Grace, and the other ports of the

Scine ; and that, from this time, all

the measures authorized by the laws’

of nations, and the respective trea-
ties between his majesty and the dif-
ferent neutral powers, will be adopt-
ed and executed with respect to all
vessels which may attempt to violate
the said blockade.

12th. Admiral Bruix has pub-
lished the following curious procla-
mation, dated head-quarters, at bou-

Jogne.

“°F. Bruix, Councellor of State,
and Admiral of the Flottila des-
tined to carry War to England.

' “ The first consul, when he sig-

mified te me your destination, ho-

noured me with the title of your ad-
miral. He sends me to you, to con-

duct your exertions in the career of

‘glory, which his genius has prepared
for you. What man, at this dis-
tinguished proof of the confidence
ofa hero, would not be raised

vity of your labours.

429

above himself? Who could doubt
of his own powers? Brave sea-
men, the choice of Bonaparte ren-
ders me worthy to march at your
head. Your zeal and your bravery
are. pledges to me that we shail fulfil
his expectations. Already you hear
the ery of vengeance—our towns
and districts bring in their voluntary
giits in multitudes; all Frenchmen
are ready to march to punisha go-
vernment which is an enemy of the
peace of the world, and pecially
an enemy to the glory and welfare
of our country. You are first call-
ed to this great enterprize—to you
your country first commits the care
of satisfying her just vengeance.
Be certain that you will fulfil your
noble destination.—Recollect that
the victory begins in your docks,
and in your marine and military ex-
ercises. Those ships which inso-
lentiy cruize along our shores, at
sight of your labours, may return,
and say to their government, ¢ A
fearful day is preparing; the winds
and sea, again favourable to the con-
queror ef Egypt, may in a few hours
bring him to our coasts, and with
him the innumerable companions of
his glory.” ‘To hasten this result, it
is my first duty to establish a severe
discipline im the national flotilla.
Subordination wil! regulate your ef-
forts ; that can alone add to the acti-
Sailors, we
are on the ficld of battle; to losea
moment, would be criminal cowar-
dice. Redouble, therefore, your
zeal; multiply your services; and
the nation which oppresses the seas
will be conquered by terror, before
it experiences the fate of arms, and
sinks beneath tbe blows @f our he-
roes. Brurx.”
The York stage-waggon was over-
turned, from off the bridge, into the
river,

430

river, at Casterton, near Stamford,
in Lincolnshire. The accident was
owing to the proper driver trusting
to the guidance of a caddec, whilst
he loitered behind. Fortunately,
several passengers had previously
stopped at the public-house at Cas-
terton, or their limbs (probably
lives) might have been sacrificed to
the carelessness of the waggoner.
The horses sustained little injury,
though they fell a considerable
depth. Several yards of the bridge-
wall are beat down.

13th. This morning, as the first
regiment of East India volunteers
were practising street firing with
cartridge, serjeant- major Brown
stood before one of the six-pounder
guns, dressing his men, when the
gun being fired, the wadding car-
ried away part of the flesh of his
arm, and lodged near his ribs.

A few evenings ago, as a party of
the Law association, in Temple gar-
dens, were charging with the bayo-
net, a gentleman in the front rank
fell, in consequence of which, two
who were behind fell over him, one
of whose bayonets was run through
the coat of him who fell first, near
the shoulder, but without injury ;
the bayonet of the third entered the
ground, and was broken by the
shock.

14th. Lately, near Halifax, York-
shire, a person in a market-cart,
with two spirited horses in it, ran
full speed against Thomas Lambert,
esq. of Elland-hall, who was on
horseback; the cart was overturn-
ed, and the unfortunate gentleman
thrown under the horse’s feet. His
face was disfigured in a most shock-
ing manner, and six of his ribs were
broken. Ile languished till this
night, when he expired. He was
69 years of age.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

The house of Lindo, in London,
has lately failed, owing to its cons —
nexion in business with the. F rench —
government. It made, during the
peace, immense shipments to the
French West India islands, on the —
faith of the consular court ; and we —
understand it now holds a bill, drawn
on the republic by the late general |
Leclerc, for 260,000l. which, like |
most other demands on it, has been —
dishonoured. ‘The pretext under
which the payment of the bills is —
resisted is, that they were issued at —
an improper discount, or that full —
value was not given for them.

Gen. Rochambeau lately caused —
the following to be inserted in the
official gazette at Cape Frangois :—
‘* The general in chief gives, in the
most formal manner, the le to the
letter of the minister of marine, ad-
dressed to the first consul, under
date 5th Floreal, inserted in the
Moniteur of the 10th of the same
month. This letter falsely censures
the government bills drawn on
France, and particularly those of
Alexander Lindo. I am compelled
to remove this notorious calumny ;
and I owe it to gen. le Clerc, who,
alone with me, has issued them, to
unmask the falsehood of such an as-
sertion.

(Signed) ‘¢‘ D. Rocuamerau.”
15th. A man, who some time
ago leaped from London, Black-
friars, and Westminster bridges into
the Thames, in three-quarters of an
hour, undertook, for a wager, to
perform the same exploit again.
Having leaped from London bridge
into the water, he sunk and rose no
more; when the body was found,
it appeared, that having gone down
with his arms in a horizontal, in-
stead of a perpendicular position,

they

CHRONICLE.

they were both dislocated by the
force of the water.

16th. M. Carney was indicted
at the Old Bailey, for the wilful
murder of his wife. It appeared
that the prisoner had long used the
deceased in the most barbarous man-
ner, and on the 2d. ult. the wounds
he inflicted by beating and kicking
her, were such, in the opinion of
medical men, as to occasion her
death. The jury, in afew minutes,
found him guilty, and he was exe-
cuted on Monday.

A copy of the following letter
addressed to admiral Duckworth,
commander in chief of his majesty’s
fleet in Jamaica, arrived at the
Admiralty -oflice.

“ Cumberland, between Jean Ra-
bel, and Cape Nichola Mole,
~ June 30.
¢¢ Sir,

‘* Having parted with the con-
voy, as I had the honour of inform-
ing you in my letter of yesterday, I
stretched in with the squadron, dur-
ing the night, for St. Domingo.
Soon after day-light, a large sail
was seen near the Fortugas, steer-
ing down Cape Nichola Mole, and
from the cut of sails I judged her to
be a French ship of war; the Cum-
berland, with the Vanguard, were
soon close up to her, the latter on
the starboard side, and the former
on the larboard bow ; in this posi-
tion he received a few shot from the
Vanguard, and, having fired one,
struck to his majesty’s squadron,
and was immediately taken posses-
sion of. She proved to be the
Cfeole, a remarkably fine national
French frigate, of 44 guns, carry-
ing eighteen pounders, and com-
manded by citizen le Bastard, from
Cape Frangois, bound to Port au

43)

Prince, at sea one day, having gen.
Morgan (the second in command at
St. Domingo) and staff, with troops
on board, the crew of the frigate
consisting of 150 men, two of whom
were badly wounded. While we
were taking possession of the prize,
a small national schooner, command-
ed by a lieutenant, came into the
squadron, and was taken: she
came from Cape Francois, and
bound to Port au Prince, having on
board 100 blood-hounds from Cuba,
intended to accompany the army
serving against the blacks.
“Tam, &e.
“¢ H. W. Baynron.”

17th. Drowned, in the canal
facing Chelsea-college, about two
o’clock in the afternoon, Miss Ma-
ry Anne Staker, a very amiable
young lady, in the 21st year of her
age, rather delicate, with sandy hair,
and of a sickly habit. Her mother
is a widow lady, having no more
children, except a son, who is a-
broad in the service of his country.
She took lodgings at No. 9, Upper
Eaton-street, Pimlico, where she re-
sided a few months for the benefit of
her daughter’s health, of whom she
was remarkably fond; and every
fine day, generally took a walk in
the gardens of Chelsea-college, com-
monly called the Water Garden,
owing to a canal which went through
it. On the fatal day, the mother
and daughter walked there as usual,
and, after walking for some time,
they sat down on one of the benches.
The mother complained, that the
place they sat in was rather cold ;
on which the deceased replied, ‘* I
will run and find a warmer situa-
tion.” She then got up, and ran
down the green, which went aslope
towards the water. Her mother,
thinking

432

thinking that she had staid longer
than necessary, went in search of
her; but not finding her, she be-
came alarmed, particularly as there
was no other way out but the one
they came in at.~ She therefore ran
to see if the deceased went back ;
but meeting two gentlemen who
were ‘going into the garden, they
assured her that she did not go out
that way. The alarm being given,
Mr. Garthshore came with a boat-
hook, and, in a little time, hooked
her cloaths, and she was taken out
of the water lifeless, and brought
into the infirmary, where every me-
thod, prescribed by the Humane So-
ciety, was used without effect. Thus
perished an amiable young lady, in
the bloom of youth, and under the
immediate care of an affectionate
mother.

Yesterday evening, between six
and seven, major Sirr, attended by
Hanlon, the keeper of the tower in
the castle, surprised an offender,
against whom there was an informa.
tion, as an insurgent, in a carpen-
ter’s shop in John-street, in the li-
berty, where this fellow was at
work. The major, on entering the
place, where two others were also
employed, threatened, that if any
should offer resistance, he would
fire; this did not deter, for the ruf-
fian whom they wanted, finding him-
self nearly secured, sought for a pis-
tol he had; on doing which, major
Sirr snapped his at him, which mis-
sed fire. Hanlon immediately went
to seize the fellow, but before he
could, the latter fired, as did Han-
Jon, at the same time, but he was
unfortunately killed, and the despe-
rado only shot in the left hand,
where the ball lodged. The offen-
der, with the two other persons,
were seized and lodged in the castle-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

guard house last night: the delin-
quent is a young man between 20
and 30 years of age.

At the Old Bailey sessions, Mr.
R. Astlett was again put upon his
trial, by a fresh-construéted indiét-
ment, charged with the embezzle-
ment of the property and effects of
the Bank of England. The evi-
dence was nearly the same as .on
the former trial, which proved that
the prisoner had embezzled ex.
chequer bills to an immense amount,

Mr. Erskine, in -behalf of Mr.
Astlett, took his former ground of
objection; viz. that the exchequer
bills embezzled had been informally
issued, and were no more than
waste paper.

Mr. justice le Blane said, he
would leave that point to be deter-
mined by the judges. The jury found
the prisoner guilty in the facts, and
the point of law will be argued next
sessions.

The Hereford journal of this day-
says, “* Mrs. Read, who was tried
at Gloucester, in 1796, on a charge
of poisoning her husband, died lately
at Southampton, after acknowledg-
ing her guilt in that, and another
transaction of equal atrocity. No
language can describe the severity of
her feelings, and her contrition bor-
dered on despair.”

A-very fine mastiff dog, at Heckle
Grove, Yorkshire, suffered an ex-
traordinary fate a few days ago, be-
ing actually stung to death by a
swarm of bees, who attacked him
where he was chained in the gar-
den. Many of these vengeful insects
vere found, afterwards, in the dog’s
mouth and throat.

19. Dublin—R. Emmett, esq.
was this day arraigned for high trea-
son. The prisoner ploaded not
guilty. Several persons i es

his

CHRONICLE.

his activity in the different manu-
factories; other witnesses proved
the seizure of arms in the prisoner’s
store-houses. ‘The prisoner did not
make any defence. Lord Norbury
impressively recapitulated the evi-
dence ; and the jury, without leay-
ing the box, returned a verdict of
guilty. The prisoner, before receiv-
ing sentence, boldly avowed his
treasonable actions, and expressed,
in streng terms, his detestation of
the existing government, but posi-
tively disclaimed having any con-
nexion with the French government,
the degrading oppression of which
he had witnessed in every country
through which he had travelled. He
was executed on the following day.
This unfortunate young man was the
youngest son of Dr. Robert Emmet,
a licentiate of the college of physi-
cians in Ireland, physician to the
lord lieutenant’s household, and to
the hospital for lunatics, founded
by the celebrated dean Swift, at
Bow-bridge, near Dublin. The
doctor, having purchased the situa-
tion he now holds from the late
Dr. Robinson, upwards of 30 years
ago, removed, with bis family, from
Cork to Dublin, where he has con-
tinued to practise, though not in
the first line, yet with considerable
celebrity. He is aman of venerable
appearance, grave deportment, im-
pressive manner, and easy, unaffect-
ed politeness in conversation and
address ; and, though he has been
always remarkable for giving his
opinion freely respecting men, mea-
sures, and the conduct of political
affairs in general, he has never been
suspected of any tendency to assist
at treasonable or seditious cabals.
He bestowed uncommon pains oa
the education of his three sons,
Temple, Thomas-Addis, and Ro-
Vou, XLV.

433

bert. The first was bred te the law,
in which he soon distinguished him-
self, and was for several years
looked up to as one of the most in-
genious, industrious, and eloquent
young men at the Irish bar, when
he was cut off, in the prime of life,
by a fever, which he caught on a
circuit. His second brother, Tho-
mas-Addis, had just at that period
returned from Edinburgh, where
he had taken his degree as a doctor
of medicine ; but, either conceiving
that his talents were better adapted
to the forum, or encouraged by the
eminence his deceased brother at-
tained, in a few years he relinquish-
ed his original profession, entered
himself at the temple, and, after
the ordinary course of study and
attendance, was called to the Irish
bar; to which he bade fair to be-
come ano less shining ornament than
his brother had been;, until, dazzled
by the seducing prospects which the
separation of freland from the mo-
ther country, premeditated by the
Trish jacobins, opened to his enthu-
siastic and sanguine imagination, he
became an active and conspicuous
leader in the councils of an associa-
tion of revolutionary traitors, who
called themselves United Irishmen.
In this situation, he, in concert
with Tone, the two Sheare’s, Mac
Nevin, Bagnal Hervey, and several
others, continued to issue manifes-
toes, and digest a code of laws and
regulations for the government of
the country after it should be deli-
vered (to use their own language)
from the tyranny and oppressive
slavery of Great-Britain, until he
was arrested by an order of the
privy council; and, after a full
confession of all the plans of his
party, before a committee of the
frish house of commons, he was

F f sentences!

454

sentenced to be confined, with se-
veral of his associates, at Fort
George, Scotland ; whence he was,
by the mistaken lenity of govern-
ment, permitted to transport him-
self to France, after the signing of the
treaty of Amiens; but, whether he
remains there at present, or has
found his way back into his native
country, which he has contributed
to seduce from its allegiance to the
best of sovereigns, is a matter not
yet accurately ascertained. He is
not, however, most probably, in Ire-
Jand, where, from the very singular
appearance that his being remar-
kably short-sighted gives him, it is
impossible he could venture to go
about without being immediately re-
cognized by some of the loyal per-
sons with whom he was acquainted.
The youngest son, Robert, was also
intended for the bar; but, having
been convicted of an attempt to in-
troduce the spirit of disaffection into
the Irish university, in which he was
a student, he was, with 18 other
young rebels, publicly expelled in
the year 1798; since which he has
been rambling over various parts of
the continent, when the renewal of
hostilities revived his hope of being
able to effect the long wished-for
object of himself and party—the se-
paration of Ireland from its con-
nexion with Great-Britain. This
induced him to return, and enter
upon the daring attempt of seizing
the castle of Dublin, which was for-
tunately frustrated, and so deser-
vedly brought him to an ignominious
death upon the gallows.

At noon this day, as a pleasure
boat from Deal was entering the har.
bour of Ramsgate, apparently un-
der an easy sail, at highwater, with
rather a swell in the offing, she was
by a sudden heel upset in a moment,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

and the company on board (ten in
number) were precipitated into the
watery abyss. ‘Two visitors at that
place, Mr. Innes and Mr. H. Mair,
were the only persons at the time on
the extremity of the north pier, who
witnessed this most distressing scene.
They instantly hailed some Rams-
gate boatmen in the harbour, who
did not delay a moment to push off
to the relief of their unfortunate fel-
low-creatures ; five of whom had
got on the bottom of the boat, but
only one could keep this perilous
situation. Mr. Innes and his friend
threw a rope from the pier-head,
which was eagerly laid hold of by
three of the boat’s crew, and, with
the assistance of two other gentle-
men, who most providentially ran
up to them from the further end of
the pier, they got the rope so fixed
as, in a few minutes, to bring three
poor fellows once more upon dry
ground. The fourth, by extraor-
dinary efforts, got round to the bath- —
ing ground, and was saved. ‘The
boats by this time had remoyed the
gentleman who was clinging to the
wreck ; and a lady (Mrs. Dore),
who was floating with her face
downward, apparently a_ lifeless
corpse, was next picked up, and,
by timely medical assistance, was
soon restored to life. Mr. Dore
had floated out so far, that every at-
tempt to recover him proved fruit-
less. Mrs. D. whose life was pre-
served from the circumstance of her
riding habit keeping her afloat, has,
in consequence of the distress occa~
sioned by the loss of her husband,
brought forth an untimely birth,
which, it is thought, will end in her
death. The following are the unfor-
tunate sufferers on this melancholy
occasion: Mr. Deny, a Deal pilot,
who was chosen by Mr. Pitt to ve
DUS

CHRONICLE.

his pilot at the late sham fight ; Miss
Sharpe, the mayor of Deal’s daugh-
ter; and Mr. Kgleton, the only son
of a banker at Deal. Some sailors
of this port were out all night drag-
ging for the bodies, but to no effect.
A subscription for the four sailors
who were spared in the above acci-
dent, was immediately set on foot at
the library, and the men were, within
a few hours, clothed.

21st. Mr. Moody and Mr. Parks,
two midshipmen of the Leyden, lately
quarrelled slightly at Sheerness. ‘They
were, by their captain’s interposition,
mutually reconciled ; but, within
less than half an hour after, Mr.
Moody, taking up a pistol in the
cock-pit, which he supposed not to
have been loaded, sportively levelled
it at Mr. Parks. Mr. Parks sank
on the floor in the agonies of death,
and soon after expired.

A quaker was committed to
Gloucester gaol, for the space of
three months, by T. B. Delabere,

and another magistrate, for refusing

to be swern in, or to providea pro-
per substitute, for the county mi-
litia. +

23d.. A bet was made to run
a poney, about thirteen hands
high, from London, to the fif-
ty mile stone on the Colchester
road, and back again, in thirteen
hours. ‘The poor animal went to
the extent of his journey, and re-
turned to the Black Boy inna,
Chelmsford, in about six hours, and
did not appear much distressed ; but
when it reached ‘the Cauliflower, at
Ilford, about eight miles short of
the place whence it started, its
Strength and spirits became totally
exhausted, and it dropped down and
expired.

24th. The king’s horses from
Tlanover were landed at Perry’s

455

dock. They consist of nine black
stallions and eleven mares, two cream-
coloured stallions and eight mares,
ten white stallions and five mares,
five mouse-coloured stallions and one
mare, and two brown mares; in all
fifty-three. There'were, likewise,
brought with them, several Stallions
and mares belonging to the duke of
Cambridge; with them came thirty
grooms, belonging to his majesty,
from Hanover.

Advices were received at the ad-
miralty office of the bombardment
of the towns of Granville and Dieppe,
on the French coast, by the squa-
drons of sir James Saumarez and
capt. Owen. ‘The inhabitants of
both places sustained considerable
damage and alarm, without any ma-
terial loss to the English force.

27th. About two o’clock this
afternoon a melancholy accident oc-
curred at Ibbetson’s hotel, in Vere-
Street, Oxford-street—an accident
which is the more to be lamented,
as it has deprived the country of a
valuable officer, ata period when
such a loss must be doubly felt, and
inflicted a deep wound on the mind
of his surviving friend, who, unin-
tentionally, was the cause of it.
Thomas Best, esq. an officer in the
army, had lodged at Ibbetson’s for
some days, aud was on the eve of de-
parture to join his regiment, on its
march to the codst. A post-chaise
was at the door of the hotel to re-
ceive him. His particular acquaint-
ance and friend, lieut. Charles Jones,
of the Kast India company’s service,
had, in the mean time, called on, and
was to accompany him to the coun-
try. Their pistols were lying on
the table, ready to be put into the
pockets of the post-chaise. In the
course of a conversation about high-
waymen, excited by their intended

Fr2 journey,

~ Indies.

436

journey, licut. Best took up one of
the pistols, to shew what he would
do if attacked by any of that fra-
‘ternity. At this period the pistol
unfortunately went off, and shot
lieat. Jones through the body. There
were some carpenters at work in the
hotel at the time, so that the report
of the pistol, if heard at all, was
not believed to be a pistol-shot, and
lieut. Best, wild and distracted, ran
for assistance into the coffee-room,
where he was the first to announce
the fatal catastrophic awhich had hap-
pened. No time was lost in car-
rying his wishes into effect. Mr.
Ibbetson, with the most humane at-
tention to the deceased, ran himself
to surgeons Ford and Heaviside,
who, with the most commendable
alacrity, were at the dying man’s
bedside in an instantafter ; but hu-

- man aid was, unfortunately, of no

avail. After exchanging forgiveness
with lieut. Best, declaring, in the
most generous manner, that his death
was accidental, and that he felt
more for his friend than for himself,
lieut. Jones expired in less than an
hour after the accident had taken
place, but in full possession of his
senses till the last. He was a man
of very polished manners, of a very
respectable family, and had returned
a few months before from the Kast
Lieut. J. was a West In-
dian, and the same gentleman who
was to have fought a duel with licut.
Crohen on the 22d, at Harrow, but
was prevented by the interference of
the magistrates ; in consequence of
which, lieut. Crohen was appre-
hended, and brought to the public
office, where he was obliged to find
bail to keep the peace, himself in
600}. and two sureties in 2501. each.
It appeared, on an investigation of
the cause of the dispute, that it ori-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ginated like the duel so fatal to col.
Montgomery, about a Newfound-
land dog belonging to lieut. Crohen.
A warrant was also issued for the
apprehension of lieut. Jones, but he
kept out of the way. Lieut. Best
was to have been his second.
Anthony O‘Reilly, esq. of Benison
lodge, co. of Westmeath, in Ireland,
was babarously murdered. Atnight
he went to his bed-chamber window,
and opened the shutter (which was an
usual custom with him), to observe
the state of the weather. ‘The mo-
ment he approached the window he
exclaimed ‘¢‘ Oh!” and on the in-
stant he was fired upon by some vil-
lain, who lodged the contents of the
fatal piece (itis supposed a blunder-
buss) in the side of his neck, and
he instantly expired. It is thought
the murderer must be some person
who had been recently in habits of
intercourse with the house, and well
acquainted with Mr. O‘R.’s prac-
tice of looking out of his bed-cham-
ber window, as the watch-dog did
not give the least notice of a stranger
being in the demesne, which is a
circumstance very unusual; and the
villain must have placed himself in
readiness, near the spot, to perpe-
trate the horrid deed. The fate
of this unfortunate gentleman ‘is
much regretted. As a magistrate,
he was sagacious, upright, and mer-
ciful; and proverbial for his hos-
pitality. He was uncle of lieut.
OReilly, lately killed in a duel at
Chalk Farm.
30th. A few days since a very
serious and shocking accident hap-> |
pened in a timber-yard near the
Adelphi. Two men were piling
timber ; and, as one of them was
walking along a plank, his foot
slipped: he was precipitated down
to the ground, and instantly ex-
pired.

CHRONICLE.

pired. The man who was pulling
the timber up at top was also pre-
cipitated to the ground, and died
the next day.

Diepv.—Joseph Ritson, esq. a
conveyancer, of Gray’s inn, deputy
_ high-bailiff of the duchy of Lan-
caster, and a man of information,
but more to be commended for his
acuteness, than for his good-breeding
or candour. His first publication
was, an anonymous quarto pam-
phlet of ‘* Observations on the
Three Volumes of Warton’s History
of English Poetry ;” one of the most
illiberal productions we ever recol-
lect to have seen. He wrote, also
anonymously, three sets of remarks
on the editors of Shakspeare: 1.
on Mr. Steeven’s edition, 1778, in-
tituled, ‘* Remarks, critical and il-
lustrative, on the Text and Notes of
the last Edition of Shakspeare.”
8vo; 2. “¢ The Quip modest,” Kc.
on Mr. Reed’s republication of that
edition, particularly illiberal; 3.
“¢ Cursory Criticisms,” &c. on Mr.
Malone’s edition. In 1788 he pub-
lished, with his name, a well-exe-
cuted translation, with notes, of
the Hymn to Venus, ascribed to
Homer. A select Collection of
English Songs, in 3 vols. Svo. An-
tient Songs, from the Time of Henry
III. to the Revolution, 8vo. <A
volume of pieces of ancient popular
poetry, 8yo. ‘* The English An-
thology,” a selection of poetry, in
3 small octavo volumes. ‘* Robin
Hood; a colleétion of all the an-
cient Poems, Songs, and Ballads,
now extant relative to that cele-
brated Outlaw. ‘To which areadded,
Historical Anecdotes of his Life,”
2 yols. 8vo. 1795. <A Collection
of Scotch Songs, with the genuine
Music, 2 vols. 12mo. « Bio-
graphia Poetica: a Catalogue of

437

English Poets of the twelfth, thir-
teenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and
sixteenth Centuries ; with a short
Account of their works, 1801,”
12mo. He put his name to ** An-
tient English Metrical Romances ;
selected and published by Joseph
Ritson,” 3 vols. 12mo. 1802.
These two Jast publications are dis-
figured by an affectation of singu-
larity in orthography, and are, per-
haps, the least interesting of his
publications.

OCTOBER.

2d. Between fourand five o’clock
this morning, a fire broke out at the
house of George Case, esq. in Ever-
ton, Liverpool, which totally de- -
stroyed the interior of the building,
with great part of the furniture: the
family had a very narrow escape from
this dreadful calamity.

A fire broke out at the sugar-
house of Messrs. Wersley, ‘Temple-
back, Bristol; the whole of one wing
was completely destroyed. ‘The loss
is estimated at 7000I.

3d. M‘Intosh, the rehel, was exe-
cuted in Patrick-street, Dublin ; and
Thomas Keenan, another of the in-
surgents, was convicted, and received
sentence of death: he was executed
nextday. Keenan, according to the
evidence adduced upon his trial, was
one of the wretches concerned in the
atrocious murder of lord Kilwarden.

Accounts from Liverpool state the
loss of the ship Victory, captain
Morison, of that port. Whilst go-
ing out of port, she struck on the
west end of the Hogle: fifty-nine
persons were on board, of whom
only twenty-two were saved: the
captain was amongst the @Sfwned.
She was a remarkable fine vessel.

Ff3 5th, The

438

5th. The grand musical festival
annually celebrated in Winchester,
began on this day, with a concert at
St. John’s house, where it was nu-
merously and brilliantly attended.
Mrs. Billington exerted, with the ut-
most success, those unrivalled vocal
powers for which she is so eminent ;
and Miss Tenant was much admired
and applauded. On Thursday
‘morning, at 11 o’clock, the doors
of the cathedral were thrown open,
and, as was expected, the perform-
ance of ‘¢ The Messiah,” in which
Mrs. Billington took a principal
part, attracted all the beauty and
fashion of Hampshire and the neigh-
bouring counties. At the miscella-
neous concert in the evening, Mrs.
Billington sung, ‘¢ Sweet Bird,”’ in so
_ superior and exquisite a style, as to
delight and enrapture all the audi-
ence. On Friday morning the first
act of ‘“¢ Judas Maccabaeus,” with
a selection from the best pieces of
Handel, Haydn, &c. was executed
with much taste at the cathedral.
This selection did great credit to Mr.
Chard, the conductor, as nothing
could, at this time, tend more to in-
flame the breasts of Britons with pa-
triotic ardour, than the sublime sen-
timents, and animating strains which
abound in the oratorios of Handel.
Mrs. Billington, in the songs of
<¢ Pious Orgies,” and, ‘+ Angels ever
Bright and Fair,” was, beyond ex-
pression, charming and great. Miss
Tennant was particularly happy in
*¢ Awake, thou Lute and Harp,”
from Martini; and Denman gave
the following appropriate air, with
great energy, feeling, and effect.

Arm, arm, ye brave! a noble

cause, i
The cause of heaven your zeal
+temands,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

In defence of your nation, reli-
gion, and laws,
The almighty Jehovah will
strengthen your hands.
6th. Ona rope being thrown out
to fasten to the Jettyy, from a vessel
in the harbour of Hull, it caught
the captain by the leg, just below the
knee, stripped the muscles and flesh
from the bone, and tore his foot en-
tirely off. ‘The captain died soon after.
A clerk of Messrs. Bennett,
brewers, at Enfield, fell into a vessel
of wort, and was suffocated.
7th. This day arrived in London,
on a diplomatic mission, Mehmet
Bey Elfi Murad, one of the Mame-
luke chiefs, who fought so bravely
at Alexandria. He was wounded in
the side by a musket-ball, and con-
cealed it fortwo days, lest, if known,
his danger should produce a cabal
among the other rival chiefs, and
dismay among his troops. His life
was saved by the valour of the Eng-
lish. . His suite at present consists of
17 persons; but the most valuable
part of it, fo the number of 13, has
not yet arrived. It includes three
beautiful females; one a favourite
Georgian, to whom he is much at-
tached : the other two are Circas-
sians ; one remarkable for dancing,
the other for singing. While at
dinner, he is waited upon by four
pages, and a secretary, who acts al-
ways.as interpreter. \ He does not
help himself at table; but, when he
signifies a liking to any particular
dish, one of the pages helps him: he
is a great epicure, and drinks two
bottles of champagne or burgundy
after dinner. He is also very fond
of spruce-beer, but drinks no malt-
liquor. He appears to be fascinated
with the customs of this country.
Of the English ladies he speaks in
terms

CHRONICLE.

terms of the most enthusiastic admi-
ration.

This day, in the wet docks, at
Blackwall, an officer of the excise,
on board the Alton West-Indiaman,
having incautiously placed ‘-himself
against a handspike, left in the
windlass, the pall of the latter gave
way, by which he received a violent
blow, was thrown down the fore-
hatchway, into the ship’s hold, and
killed on the spot. Several mer-
chants, who witnessed the misfor-
tune, have humanely entered into a
subscription for the deceased’s fa-
mily. Next day, also, a labourer,
belonging to the docks, fell from the
foot-way, on the outer gate, into the
bason, where he remained near 20
minutes, before he was taken out.
The different means recommenced for
the restoration of drowned persons
were used, but every effort proved
ineffectual.

8th. <A bull and four cows were
this day killed by lightning, in the
neighbourhood of Norwich.

9th. This day, about 3 o’clock
in the afternoon, a fire broke out at
Hall-place school, Bexley, Kent.—
By the very spirited exertions of the
inhabitants of Bexley and Crayford,
it was extinguished in about an hour.
Some yearsago, the chimney had been
Rumfordized, and the grate brought
forward into the room; a beam,
which was near the grate, caught
fire. Owing to the kind and timely
assistance of the neighbours, the da-
mage was but trifling.

1ith. Between four and five in
the morning, the stables of the
White Hart inn, at St. Alban’s, were
discovered to be on fire, supposed by
the negligence of the soldiers of the
48th regiment, who were setting off
for Horsham; and, loading their
baggage, lefta candle burning against

439

the back of the stable. The lofts,
being full of hay and straw, soon fell
in upon, and stifled, nine horses be-
longing to the Leeds True Briton
stage, and three pointers belonging
to some gentlemen who were on a
shooting party, in the house. As-
sistance being immediately given, and.
a prompt supply of water—for the
town-engine, handed by a line of
soldiers, and of women, headed by
the dowager lady Spencer, herself
assisting in performing the kind la-
bour in person, and furthered by
the excellent engine from Hatfield-
house, the hause was preserved, ex-
cept a room or two near the laun-
dry, and the injury done to the fur-
niture, by hastily removing it, or
tossing it into the street ; but before
the end of the weck it was nearly
replaced. The stables, with the lofts
of those on the opposite side of the
yard, were considerably damaged =
Mr. Domyille, till they can be re-
paired, has most kindly given up the
use of those belonging to the Old
Bullinn, which he lately purchased,
with a view to take it down. ‘The
premises were insured in the Sun
fire-oflice; and, by the attention of
those good customers, whose fayours
have long distinguished this ancient
and well established inn, for the last
50 years, from the time of the re-
spectable Mrs. Langford, to the pre-
sent Mr. Hayward, there is every
encouragement to believe his loss
will be lightly felt. It being the
time of St. Alban’s fair, and the
town particularly full of people, the
present mayor, Mr. Buskerville, in-
dulged the players, under the auspices
of lady Spencer, with an additional
night, for the relief of the servants
of the inn, and one or two poor te-
nants, whose loss is the most consi-
derable. The archdeacon being on

FfA4 his

440

his second annual visitation, his cur-
ricle was involved in the catas-
trophe, and the chair cushions of his
official, which were deposited in it.
It being suggested that the baggage-
waggon contained some gunpowder,
it was drawn out of the yard by the
exertions of a number of men, and
up the hill, by a team of horses.

Leatherhead fair, on account of
the weather being fine, was attended
by almost all the respectability of
the neighbourhood. Very little bu-
siness was done in the sheep fair ;
but pigs being moderate in price,
found a brisk sale. A party
of the 10th light dragoons arrived,
and began to display their address,
in performing the sword exercise,
which created some confusion, and
drew on them the displeasure of the
crowd, who attacked them; and
driving them into a field, assailed
them with stones. The soldiers
charged the people with drawn
swords, but the crowd stood firm,
and proved victorious. One soldier
was severcly wounded in the face
and eyes. A poor woman received
a cut across her arm and breast,
but supposed not to be dangerous ;
and a man had his hand or fingers
rely cut off. Two officers arriv-
ing, interfered, and put an end to
the afiray, with the assistance of
lord Leslie, and Mr. Boulton, and
srdered full amends to be made to
the wounded parties ; and the sol-
diers soon after left the place for
Guildford.

14th. The Italian antiques, with
the statues and bronzes, purchased
by the duke of Bedford from Bona-
parte, during his grace’s residence
in france, last season, arrived this
day safe at Woburn. They are
said to be the finest collection that
ever was in England. The number

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

is so considerable, that they were
packed in 36 cases.

15th. ‘This evening, as 2 young
men from Lancaster were crossing
the sands to go to Allithwaite, ina
gig, they unfortunately missed the
ford. The gig was overturned
in the water, and one of them (Mr.
Thomas Warbich) was drowned ;
the other providentially saved his
life by swimming to shore.

A report has been prevalent in
Prestwich, that a tiger, which was
said to have broken from its keeper,
at Warrington, has been seen in the
woods there; in consequence of
which, many of the inhabitants have
been ranging them in search of the
animal.

The French officers in Hanover
have established themselves in the
houses of the principal inhabitants,
to whom they allow eight rix-dol-
lars, or about twenty-four shillings,
per month, for their board and
lodging. Upon such individuals as
generals or colonels are quartered,
the burthen is still more oppressive :
they must pay towards the support
of such officers in the following pro-
portions, viz. for a general of di-
vison, 2000 livres per month ; for a
general of brigade, 1000; and for
a colonel, 500. If the individual
has not sufficient property to de-
fray this charge, the country at
large is to be assessed to make up
the deficiency.

The French general in Hanover
has made to the states a fresh re-
quisition of 3000 horses; threaten-
ing that, if they are not furnished
within a given period, they will be
taken by force from the inhabitants,
at the expence of the country. The
states have sent urgent representa-
tions to the French government on
the subject. One month’s pay only,

and

CHRONICLE.

and that with considerable deduc-
‘tions, has at length been made to
part of the Hanoverian army: the
majority are, however, left desti-
tute, with a view to compel them,
by want, to enter the legion in the
French service. A lace-merchant
at Hanover, named Muller, nar-
rowly-escaped being hanged for seek-
ing to dissuade some of his country-
men from entering that corps. The
French general declared, that all fu-
ture offences of that nature should
be punished with death.

Advices from Canton state that
the following events had thrown
the court of Pekin into great diser-
der :—A favourite wife of the em-
peror dying, the circumstance was
not published, on account of the po-
litical disturhances, till the day pre-

_vious to the interment. In the mean
time, according to the predictions of
the astrologers, lightning fell upon
the palace, and consumed the com-
modious and beautiful hall of audi-
ence; the flames extending to the
haram, destroyed it, with nearly
200 adjacent houses ; nor were they
extinguished till the following day,
at the hour of the second prayer.—
The day of this calamity being a fes-
tival, little attention was paid to it;
but it derived increased considera-
tion, from the circumstance of the
emperor becoming, on the morning
following, scriously indisposed,
through grief and anxiety. The
princess was interred, im secret, in
a grotto in a mountain, the usual
cemetery of the ladies of the royal
haram ; and the horses which belong-
ed to her were turned loose, to range
on the mountain, until her sons, ac-
cording to custom, become of age to
claim them. A number of women
ahd eunuchs have received five years’
wages, for agreeing to live in the

441

tomb ; and when dead, they are to
be buried therein. ‘The emperor,
at the date of the last accounts, was
said to remain seriously indisposed.

Sumatra has long been known to
abound with gold; and some chasms,
occasioned by a recent earthquake,
have exposed such wealth, as to in-
duce an opinion at Fort Marlbo-
rough, that this island contains as
much gold as either Mexico or Peru.
In the Lemong country, a pure gold,
of a whitish colour, is found in dust,
and lodged in very hard stones on
the surface ; it is likewise found ina
clayish red loam, and, on digging, in
strata extending to the depth of three
feet and a half, and in others of less
depth, consisting of irregular shaped
stones, of a mouldering nature,
mixed with red clay and hard peb-
bles. The natives disengage the
gold from the stones, by breaking
them. ‘This district is 70 or 80 miles
inland from Sumatra; but the road
to it is, from the number of wild
beasts, impassable,excepting to strong
parties. Sumatra is supposed to have
been the ophir of Solomon, from the
circumstance of the word in the Ma-
Jay language signifying a mountain
containing gold. ,

The damage sustained by a dread-
ful fire, which lately happened at
Bombay, is computed at 650,000I.
Nearly 500 horses were burnt to,
death.

The following is the official ac-
count of the loss of the ship Nauti-
lus, wrecked on the Ladrones ; re-
ceived from Madras by the Dover-
castle :

‘¢ On the 16th of November we
had fine pleasant weather ; observed
in 22. 15. N. at sun-set, a ship bear-
ing W.S. W. pleasant through the
night. On the 17th, in the morn-
ing, saw land, bearing W. S. W.

soundings

442

soundings sandy bottom. At seven
A. M. saw Padra Branca, bearing
N. W. by W. from the fore-top,
hazy-looking weather. At noon
came on a hard squall——had no ob-
servation ; ship steering to the north-
ward and westward, At 1 o'clock,
the squall clearing up a little, saw
Padra Branca bearing N. by E.
about two or three miles’ distance ;
and also saw a great number of fish-
ing-boats going in different direc-
tions, and seemingly in great confu-
sion ; hauled more to the westward ;
still squally, with heavy rain. At
8 o'clock at night, the squall in-
creasing, and dismal-looking wea-
ther, handed our top-sails and
courses, and lay-to under the mizen
stay-sail, heaving the lead through
the night; at midnight, blowing
hard, with rain, the wind about N.
KH. At 3 o’clock next morning wore
ship to the. southward and eastward,
blowing furiously, and a tremendous
sea. At 4 o’clock wore ship again.
At day-light saw an island under our
lee ; let go both the bower anchors ;
but at this time, the wind being so
very violent, the anchor had no ef-
fect on the ship, and she drove bo-
dily on the island, and went to
pieces shortly after she struck. . In
the evening we mustered 18 men on
shore ; came to us two China men,
from the top of the island, and
brought with them some roots: in
return, we gave them some liquor ;
they behaved very well, and went
again to the place they came from.
This night we remained among the
rocks; the next morning found one
Qascar dead. This day went on the
top of the island, where we found
two or three huts, but no people.—

A little while after, came some men,
women, and children, and conducted
us te a place where we found a
é Ata

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Mandarin and many inhabitants :—
this man treated us with great civi-
lity. On the 21st sent us to Maeno,
where we arrived in the evening, and
staid in the boats all the night. The
next day, about noon, I went with
the gunner on shore, but the China
men would not allow the Lascars to
be landed. I went and reported
this circumstance to the governor,
and he got them released. I sup-
pose 27 of the crew to be lost, to-
gether with the captain and chief
mate. Nineteen are saved, imclud-
ing myself and the gunner,
This morning, about three o’clock,
a woman was found drowned near
the Dundee wharf, Wapping. She
is supposed to have fallen overboard
from one of the Gravesend boats
two or three nights ago, as Mr.
Minshaw’s boatman remembers hear-
ing a splashing in the water at the
time one of the boats was warping
in, and which he then supposed was
the rowing of a boat.
19th. This day, being appointed
for a general fast, was observed with
the utmost decorum in this great me-
tropolis. The shops and all the pub-
lic offices were shut, and the interior
of every house wore the appearance
of Sunday. The volunteer corps of
London and Westminster, and their
environs, assembled at an early hour,
and proceeded to their several places
of worship, where they received the
instruction of appropriate sermons ;
and the clergy displayed on the oc-
casion a most laudable zeal to
strengthen and improve those gene-
rous and manly sentiments with which
their audiences were inspired. At
half past ten, St. Paul’s cathedral
was surrounded with spectators, and
before eleven, the lord mayor, she-
riffs, and other city officers, with
their different insignia, attended di-
wine,

CHRONICLE,

¥ine worship. To this cathedral also
repaired the hon. artillery company,
- commanded by alderman Le Mesu-
rier, and consisting of upwards of
1000 ; the two troops of loyal Lon-
don cavalry, commanded by col. An-
derton, and Mr. alderman Rowcroft,
their major ;- and the third regiment
of loyal London volunteers, com-
manded by John Pooly Kensington,
esq. eccompanied by the rev. Henry
Budd, chaplain to the corps, who
mustered at their head quarters in
Bridewell-yard. At ten they march-
ed for St. Paul’s, accompanied by
their band, in a most superb uni-
form ; the band under the direction
of Mr. Hyde, playing the duke of
York’s march. The streets were so
extremely crowded, that it was with
the greatest difficulty, and the most
vigorous exertions of the pioneers,
that the band could reach the cathe-
dral ; and when they had gained at-
mittance, the choir was not large
enough to contain them; numbers
went into the organ-loft, and the
others were obliged to remain in the
aisles during the whole time of di-
vine service. All the streets leading
to St. Paul’s were crowded at the
early hour of eight o’clock, and re-
mained so the whole morning.—
About eleven, the lord mayor arrived
in his state carriage, accompanied by
aldermen Skinner and Boydell, the
sheriffs, and the city-oflicers. The
crowd was so great in the cathedral,
that it was difficult to make a passage
for their entrance into the choir.—
The whole of the morning service,
both at the desk and the altar, was
most impressively and distinctly deli-
vered by the rev. John Pridden, one
of the minor canons ; and the sermon
was preached by his lordship’s chap-
Jain, the rev. John Hutchins. After
the sermon, the third regiment was

443

assembled, by companies, under the
dome, and the oath of allegiance ad-
ministered to the officers, and after-
wards to the privates, six at a time.
This regiment then returned to their
head-quarters, in the same order
they came, and were dismissed.—
Upon their return from St. Paul’s,
the London cavalry drew up in front
of the Mansion-house, where the
lord mayor, uncovered, in company
with the lady mayoress, returned
their salute. They were then dis«
missed, after their horn had sounded,
a God save the King,” and dhicir
officers partook of a refreshment at
the Mansion-house. The other nine
regiments attended divine service in
their respective wards. The first
regiment of loyal London volunteers,
commanded by col. Birch, marched
to St. Michael’s church, Cornhill.
‘he second regiment, commanded by
licut. col. John Smith, assembled at
its head-quarters, Guildhall, at 10
o’clock, deposited their arms, and
proceeded to St.Stephen’s Walbrook,
The 4th regiment went to St. Sepul-
chre’s. The Sth and 9th regiments,
not : finding accommodation for them-
selves in large bodies, filed off into
companies, and, for the most part,
repaired to the Ghavehes of their re-
spective parishes. A part of the first
regiment of the East-India company
volunteers attended at St. Mary Axe.
At St. Creed’s was another part o
that regiment, and the Aldgate, or
seventh regiment of city volunteers,
headed by alderman Combe, their
colonel. At Aldgate church, the
remainder of the first regiment of
Fast-India volunteers, commanded
by adjutant Dickison, and tle Port-
soken volunteers, headed, in the ab-
sence of col. Shaw, who accompa-
nied the lord mayor, as one of the
sheriffs, by major Pratt. The second
regiment

444

regiment of Kast-India volunteers,
commanded by ir. Dominicus,
amounting to 709; the Custom-house
guards, headed by commissioner
Wilson, amounting to about 300,
and part of the river fencibles, all in
full uniform, attended at Ailhallows
Barking. At St. Peter’s, Cornhill,
the third regiment of Wast-India vo-
lunteers. ‘Che Bank volunteers at-
tended at St. Bartholomew’s, behind
the Exchange. ‘khe loyal Eritish
artificers, to the number of about
600, attended service ia 'Tayistock-
chapel. TheSt. Clement Danes, their
own church, whence they marched
up Newcastie-street, and madea most
soldier-like and respectable appear-
-ance. The Cecil-street infant asso-
ciation, commanded by Capt. Brad-
ley, also attended at St. Clement’s ;
their number amounted to 70, and if
they did not boast a warlike appear-
ance, they dida most interesting one.
‘The Somerset-house volunteers went
to the church of St. Mary-le-Strand.
The loyal city of Westminster vo-
lunteer corps attended divine service
at the drum-head in Westminster-
hall. The service was performed by
the rev. William Dakins. The no-
velty of the performance of divine
worship in that place attracted a very
numerous congregation;among whom
was the earl of Inchinguin. The
law association attended divine ser-
vice at the Temple church, headed by
their colonel, the hon. Thomas Er-
skine ; where a most impressive dis-
course was delivered by Dr. Rennell ;
whom a commanding eloquence and
dignified manner have tong rendered
an object of general respect. On
the present occasion there was much
solicitude expressed by many to get
entrance to the church, which was
erowded in all parts : and, indeed,
the discourse was such as warranted

ANNUALI| REGISTER,

1805.

*

the solicitude the expectation of it
excited. The learned divine, after
descanting upon the public evils
which surrounded us, combated the
opinions of ancient philosophers, that
there were two distinct principles of
good and evil. [le shewed, from
holy writ, that God was the author
of all evil as well as good; but in
doing this, he nevertheless justified
the ways of God toman. He shew-
ed that mankind, by their wicked-
ness, had provoked the divine dis-
pleasure, whose justice had ever been
administered in the extremity of
mercy ; and thence took occasion to
admonish his hearers that they should
conciliate, by amended conduct, the
favour of the Deity, so that when
they went forth to the protection of
all that was dearer than themselves,
they might have his countenance with
them, whether they went to death
or to glory. After church, the corps
returned to the ground, when it was
announced that on Saturday next
they would commence firing with
ball. Col. Erskine and most of the
other officers were present. After-
wards the oati of allegiance was ad-
ministered to them in the Temple-
gardens. ‘The St. George’s volun-
teers, Hanover-square, attended at
their own church. ‘The sermon was
delivered by the bishop of London’s
nephew. ‘The Loyal Britons volun-
teer infantry, under the command of
col. Alexander Davison, met in their
ground in Bolton-row, and, after
going through various evolutions, had
an excellent discourse delivered to
them by their ehaplain. The St.
Giles’s and St. George’s, after at-
tending divine service at St. Giles’s,
proceeded at one to the Toxopholite
ground behind Gower-street, where
they received their colours among
thousands of spectators. The Ken-

sing (gia

CHRO

sington volunteers, under the com-
mand of Henry Knight, esq. their
captain, after the usual hours of pa-
rade, marched to their own church.
The following corps also attended
diyine service at the following
churches and places. ‘The duke of
Gloucester’s, at Scuth Audley cha-
pel. The royal Mary-la-bonne,
Upper Seymour-street chapel. ‘The
Bloomsbury in the chapel in the
Foundling hospital. The St. Pan-
crass at the church of Somers-Town.
The Highgate at ilighgate church.
The riflemen, or sharp shooters, at
St. Paul, Covent-garden. ‘the Cler-
kenwell at St. James’s Clerkenwell.
The Islington at their parish church.
The Bethnal-green at Spitalfields
church. ‘The Limehouse, the Rat-
cliffe, the Wapping, the St. Georze’s
in the East, the Whitechapel, the
St. Andrew’s fiolborn, the Ber-
mondsey, the Lambeti association,
the Fulham, the Hammersmith, the
Roehampton, the Richmond, and
the Christ-church, Surry, each at-
tended in their respective churches.
Thediake of York and the whole bri-
gade of guards attended at the Al-
monry chapel, Westminster, with
the following distinguished officers :
gen. Burrard, gen. Leslie, gen.
Calvert, A. G. gen. Brownrigg,
Q. M.G. gen. Wynyard, b. A. G.
col. Murray, with the duke’s staff,
the hon. capts. A. and ‘I’. Upton
and Paget. Before and after the
service, the duke of York’s band per-
formed ; several of the guards also
assisted in the choir. ‘The queen’s
Own, Or queen’s royal regiment of
volunteers, met in Mr. Hoelland’s
field, opposite Sloane-street, under
the command of lord Hobart. That
fine corps began to assemble after
eleven. When they were all col-
lected, and had paraded for a short

NIC LE.

4.45

time, they marched down to Rane-
lagh-house, where the morning service
was read by the rev. Weeden Butler,
junr. after whica the rev. Weeden
Sutler, senr. chaplain to the duke
of Kent end to the regiment, preach-

ed au eloquent discourse. Mr.
Wat i (orgzaise ‘9 Charlotte-street
eee e imlico) was then requested

to preside at the organ: and the
ea regiment immediately sang

* Ged save the King,” in a slow,
ae and traly solemn manner.---
Many of the spectators were visibly
affected, ‘the balconies were crowd-
ed with ladies, as were the lower
boxes with gentlemen. ‘There were

about 3000 visitors in all, and the
coup d’etl was remarkably grand.

Such 2 number ef corps attended
this day, that it is impossible to enu-
merate them. Ky ery principal
church was crowded with the ardent
patriots who il the voluntary asso-
ciations ; and there can be no doubt
that, in the eat ittempe sr oi the peo-
ple of tis country, net only every
other great city and towa, but even
the sma!lest village or hamlet through-
Gut the island, evinced 2 proporti-
onate degree of fervour and anima-
tion in the hely cause. ‘The corps
who had not before taken the oath
of allegiance did so this day, either
on their drill grounds, or in their
respective churches. Among the
number, upwards of 300 of the most
respectable individuals of the Jewish
persuasion took the caths to go-
yernment. By an order from their
high priest, they were prohibited
from attending in our churches du-
ring the time of divine service. The
high priest, however, expressed his
highest concurrence to their taking
the oaths of fidelity and allegiance

to our king and country. | ‘These
gentlemen. accordingly tock the

oaths,

446

oaths, either npon the drilling-
grounds of their respective corps, or
in the vestry-rooms of the churches,
as circumstances required. They
» were sworn upon the book of Levi-
dicus, instead of the New, Testament,
having their heads covered.

20th. This morning an alarming
fire destroyed one of the new houses
in Wooburn-place, Rassel-square.
it raged with great fury, under a
brisk wind, for near andhour before
any water could be procured. A
stable in the mews behind Wooburn-
place caught fire, and was burnt to
the ground, without an engine hav-
ing water to play upon it. The
house jwas not occupied by any fas
mily, and had only a woman placed
in it by the builders. :

26th. This was atruly proud day
for the country. It presented the
sublime spectacle of a patriot mo-
narch, who reigns no less distin-
guished in the hearts of his people
than on his throne, meeting the
brave citizens of his metropolis,
‘armed in defence of his crown and
of the British constitution, and, with
the characteristic yirtue of the sons
of Albion, resolved to continue free,
or gloriously to fall with the liberty
and independence of their country.
Such a spectacle is worthy of such a
people ; sucha people are deserving
the superior blessings they possess.

As soon as the light appeared, the
greater part of the population of
London was on the foot in every
quarter, impelled by the most ar-
dent and most laudable curiosity, to
be present at this grand, interesting,
and glorious scene. ‘There was on
every countenance not a common
curiosity, such as was excited by
former military spectacles, when the
king reviewed his soldiers ; it was a
deeper and more lively interest.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

The ties which connect our gracious’
sovereign with his people,ihave been
drawn closer by the common dan-
ger with which our audacious enemy.
has dared to threaten both. The
mutual affections which have ever
united them are enhanced. Instead
of those common testimonies of mu-
tual regard which marked their
meetings on former occasions, there
is now an uncommon ardour and
earnestness in the salutations which
his majesty receives from the pub-
lic, and an extraordinary warmth
in the.manner in which he returns
them, excited by the unprecedented
circumstances of the times. It is a
strong and solemn assurance of the
people to stand or fall-with their
king, and of the king to stand or
fall with his people. This day,
therefore, must have been to his ma~
jesty and the people of London, the
most grateful of all the solemnities
which they have célebrated together.
The congratulations on the escape
of his majesty from the various dan-
gers to which his precious life has
hitherto been «exposed, were
scenes of gladness, in which the ex
ultation was not restrained by any
serious. consideration: it was a ge-
neral feeling of good-natured joy,
in which every disposition that was
not actually savage and inhuman
must have indulged. But this day’s
solemnity was of a far different kind.
The armed citizens of London came
to shew their sovereign that they
were ready to shed the last drop of
their blood in his defence, in defence
of the constitution, and of their
country: the sovereign came to be-
hold their ardour in the glorious
cause, and to evince his own. These
were the motive and the feelings of
his majesty and the volunteers. The
motives and the feelings of those
whom

CHRONICLE

whom sex and age and circumstances
rendered mere spectators, were too
manifold to describe, or even to
imagine; but, though less sublime,
they were probably not less inte-
resting, nor less commendable. The
fathers, children, mothers, wives,
and daughters, whose dearest rela-
tions go forth to meet the danger,
must be agitated with a thousand
feelings of tender anxiety, which,
though inferior in moral rank to
those that prompt the men in arms
to the field, are still much to be ad-
mired and esteemed. All shewed a
feeling in proportion to their con-
dition ; all shewed a feeling equally
loyal and honourable. The corps
evinced their zeal, and their strict
attention to their orders, by being
at the ground appointed for them
before the time at which their atten-
dance was commanded. As early as
seven o’clock, several of the corps
entered the park at the Grosvenor
and Hyde-park-corner gates. By
8 o’clock, all the corps stood as-
sembled in close column of compa-
nies, in and behind the right of its
own ground. <A quarter-master,
with the camp-colour-men of each
corps, were on the ground at seven,
and one of them belonging to each
corps attended at the different gates
to conduct his regiment to its proper
point. As the corps proceeded to

their different stations, each march-.

ed with its right in front, so that
when it arrived at the proper point,
the right division stood on the
ground it was to occupy in the line,
and the other divisions were in close
column behind it. The advantage
of this arrangement was, that all
the corps could, without the slight-
est confusion, deploy into line as
soon as the signal was given. Soon
after nine o’clock a signal gun, a

447

12-pounder, was fired, and the ge-
neral line was formed by deploying
to the left: the line was formed at
close ranks. ‘The ranks were then
extended, and the officers advanced
in front. ‘Vhe corps that had guns
stationed them on their right. » 'lhe
deploying into line, the forming at
close ranks, and the subsequent
opening of the ranks, were executed
with great regularity and order, and
did infinite credit to the discipline

and attention of each regiment.
Majors general Finch, Burrard,
Leslie, and Fitzroy, were on the
ground by eight; the earl of Har-
rington, who commanded the line,
about the same time. About -9 the
commander m chief eniered from
Hyde-park-corner, with the duke
of Cambridge, and their aids-de-
camp. They proceeded along Rot-
ten-row towards Kensington gate.
The duke of Cumberland, in the
uniform of his regiment of light
dragoons, entered shortly after at
Hyde-park-corner, and proceeded
towards Kensington-gate by the car-
riage road. A’ few minutes before
ten, a twelve-pounder was fired as
the signal of his majesty’s approach,
and immediately the whole force
shouldered arms. It was not qfite
ten when his majesty, in his private
carriage, attended by the duke of
Kent in his uniform as general, and
the duke of Clarence in the uni-
form of the Teddington association,
entered the park at the light-horse-
gate, at Kensington. On entering
the gate, his majesty alighted from
the carriage, and mounted his char-
ger. His majesty then rode for-
ward, preceded by the life guards,
and the royal grooms, with four
led horses, elegantly caparisoned.
Iiis majesty was attended by the
princes, and tollowed by her ma-
jesty,

448

jesty, with the princess Augusta
and princess Elizabeth, in an open
jandau. The princess Sophia and
the princess Mary, with two atten-
dants, came after in another of the
royal carriages. The princess of
the Gloucester branch afterwards
joined the cavalcade, in a yellow
coach. Opposite the entrance of
Kensington-gardens, his majesty
was met by the duke of York, the
earls of Harrington and Chesterfield,
generals Calvert, Stewart, Burrard,
and Leslie, with lord Petersham,
col. Macquarrie, and the whole of
the staff. As the procession ad-
vanced, it was joined, near the ring,
by Monsieur, dressed in grecn, with
red facings; the prince de Conde,
in white, faced with blue; the duke
de Bourbon, in white, faced with
red: and the duke de Berri, in
green. The French princes were
on horseback, attended by several
of the French noblesse, decorated
with the insignia of several military
orders. General Dumourier was in
their train. The whole cavalcade
was closed by a party of the 13th
light dragoons ; a regiment which
has now frequently the honour to
be associated in guarding his ma-
jesty. The royal cavalcade passed
rapidly along the carriage-road from
Kensington-gate, as far as the rear
of the Knightsbridge barracks,
where it turned, and crossed to the
right of the line by the bottom of
the Serpentine river; the piles,
which are placed to prevent horses
and carriages from passing that way,
having been removed for the occa-
sion. As soon as his majesty en-
» tered the park, a royal salute of
21 guns was fired by the guns of
the artillery company. A second
cannon announced his majesty’s ar-
rival at the centre of the line. The

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

officers immediately saluted, the
corps presented arms, and the bands
played ** God save the king.” Im-
mediately afterwards a third cannon
was fired, and the corps shouldered
and then supported arms. His ma-
jesty now proceeded to the right of
the line, and passed along from right
to left, each corps carrying arms as
his majesty arrived near the right of
the corps. Whilst his majesty pass-
ed along the front, the music played
a variety of martial tunes. ‘I'he
grandest part of the spectacle was,
when his majesty descended the hill,
to re-pass, at the bottom of the Ser-
pentine, to the corps on the left of
the line, which were stationed along
the footway to Kensington-gardens.
with their front towards the water,
By this time, the fog, which had
dimmed the splendour of the scene in
the earlier part of the day, was in
some degree dispelled, and the whole
of the royal procession, as well as
the immense crowd that followed in
the train, had become tolerably con-
spicuous. We do not remember to
have seen a sight so grand, or so
delightful. he whole of the ground
in the rear of the royal train was
covered to the summit of the hill,
with women elegantly dressed, in-
terspersed with volunteers, and of-
ficers in uniform; and, according
as they descended, fresh numbers
appeared on the summit ready to
assume their places, till their pro-
gress was stopped at the Serpentine,
to prevent the way from being
choaked for his majesty’s return.
‘Chere was not the same opportunity
of discerning persons of rank in this
crowd, as on ordinary occasions ;
from the attention to general ac-
commodation, which so properly
marked the general orders ; no car-
riages, horses, or servants, were

admitted

CHRONICLE.

2dmitted within the lines ; and, from
the absence of those appendages of
wealth and condition, it was diffi-
cult to distinguish individuals. All
that could be seen was, that the
women within the line were chiefly
in white dresses, and the men,
with the exception of a few naval
officers, sharp shooters, and vo-
junteer cavalry, in red. As far
as we had an opportunity of nearer
inspection, it was equally difficult to
make distinctions. Beauty was pre-
valent in innumerable parties ; and
_wherever beauty prevails, rank is
always a subordinate consideration.
The general coup d’wil was, how-
ever, grand beyond description. His
majesty, having passed to the ex-
tremity of the line, returned again
by the serpentine, and took his po-
sition in the centre. ‘Then, on the
signal of the seventh gun, three vol-
lies were fired by battaliens from the
eentre to the flanks; and on the
firing of the eighth gun, three loud,
universal, and unanimous cheers
Were given, with hats and hands
waying in the air, drums beating,
and music playing ‘‘ God save the
_ king.” On the firing of the ninth
gun, the whole of the corps wheeled
backwards on their left, by divi-
sions ; and, having passed his ma-
jesty in the order preseribed by the
general instructions, proceeded by
_ the most convenient way to their
different quarters.

The review being over at twenty
minutes past one, the royal party,
with the foreign princes, and the ge-
nerals, returned again from the po-
sition which his ifajesty had taken
in the centre of the park, by the
serpentine, and along by Rotten-

row, to Piccadilly gate, from which _

they crossed over, and went on,to
Buckingham-house, followed all the
Ver. XLY.

449

way by the immense erowd. Being
no longer restrained by the military
employed in keeping the lines, the
people ran in all direétions, to in-
dulge their affection for their sove-
reign, with a view of his beloved
person. ‘The air resounded with
their shouts; and his majesty shewed
the deepest sense of their loyalty, as
well by the satisfa¢tion which was
visible in his countenance, as by
pulling off his hat, and giving other
marks of his reciprocal feelings. Ne-
yer was such a concourse known
with so little inconvenience. No
one accident occurred: indeed, the
only thing from which any accident
could have been apprehended was,
the extreme eagerness with which
the crowd ran wherever his majesty
could be seen; their impetuosity
was such, on these occasions, as to
break through the best-fenced in-
closures of the Park, and it was with
the utmost difficulty that the troops
employed in keeping the ground
could stop them, though the good-
ness of the motive produced no re-
laxation in the enforcement of this
very necessary duty. On the re-
turn of the corps, after the review,
about half past one, all the windows
in the streets through which they
were to pass, were crowded with
ladies. The principal houses in Pic-
cadilly and Park-lane were filled
with persons of the first distinction,
as were those of St. George’s-row,
leading to Bayswater, and several
in Oxford-street. The small houses

at the gate to Hyde-park, and the

rails to the very top, had a most
singular appearance from the num-
ber of persons who had climbed to
the top of them. Piccadilly was’
thronged with carriages of every de-
scription, none but those of ambas-
sadors and princes being suffered to

G g enter

450

enter the park. With a similar
laudable vigilance, carriages were
excluded from Park-lane, Hereford-
strect, Green-street, Grosvenor-
street, Mount-street, and Brook-
street. It is owing to this precau-
tion, that such an immense con-
course was enabled to view this sub-
lime sight, without a single accident-
Among the persons who attraéted
most notice in the Park, was Efi
Bey, who followed, though, from
étiquette, he could not join, the royal
cavalcade. The bey was in his car-
riage, accompanied by his majesty’s
and his own interpreter, and his
aid-de-camp. His servants were
dressed in scarlet and gold, with
green cufts and collars, gold epau-
lets, plain cocked hats, with gold
loop and button, and high white
feather. The ‘whole number of
spectators, and mien in arms, could
not be less than 200,000; every
person who could come from with-
in a circle of twenty miles being
collected. Many came to town
from a distance of above 100 miles,
to be present at the sight. The
trees, the house-tops, every posi-
tion. from which curiosity could sa-
tisfy itself, were eagerly taken pos-
session of. If we were to enumerate
the minute particulars which were
observed with interest in every par-
ticular spot, the task would be end-
less, and the detail fatiguing. It
was, altogether, a day on which
we have to congratulate London
and the empire at Jarge: it was
a day which afforded the most glo-
rious sight we ever witnessed, with-
out a single circumstance to excite
the smallest regret.

The volunteer corps reviewed this
day avere, the Loyal London volun-
teer cavalry, 217 effective men ;
hon. Artillery company, 994; Ist

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803;

regiment of Royal East India vos

lunteers, 640; 2d ditto, 636; 3d
ditto, 585; 1st regiment of Loyal
London volunteer infantry, 737 ;

Qd ditto, 657; 3d ditto, 804;
4th ditto, 790; 5th ditto, 501 ;
6th ditto, 647; 7th ditto, 404;
8th ditto, 777; 9th ditto, 651;
10th ditto, 587; 11th ditto, 293;

Istregiment of Tower Hamlets, 350;
Whitechapel, 445; Mile End, 333;
St. George in the East, 230; Rad-
cliffe, 183; Shoreditch, 294; Brom-
Jey St. Leonard, 175; Bethnal-
Green, 166; ‘St. Catharine, 121;
and Christ-Church volunteers, 184.
Total 12,401. |

The earl of Moira was this day at
the levee; and took leave, prepa-
ratory to his departure for Scotland,
to assume the military command in
that quarter. Every loyal subjeét
will rejoice to find so good an officer,
so brave a soldier, and so worthy a
man, placed at last in a situation to
serve his country.

27th. This night’s gazette con-
tains his .majesty’s proclamation,
stating, that the fever now raging in
Yew York, is an infectious distem-
per, of the nature of a plague, and
therefore enjoining, that all vessels
coming from that city, or the State
of New York, shall perform qua-
rantine.

2sth. The eclat with which the
grand review of the London district
of volunteers went off on Wednes-
day, excited a laudable ambition in
the breasts of the Westminster,
Lambeth, and Southwark corps,
to surpass, if possible, their brethren
in arms, in discipline, in zeal, and
military appearance. So great was
the anxiety in some corps, that the .
majority of the men never laid down,
in the course of the preceding night, .
the whole of which was spent in pre-

paration 5 ~

CHRONICLE.

paration; and even of those who did,
few, we may presume, enjoyed a
wink of sleep. At six, the corps
were mustered in their respective
drill-grounds, and, at that time, there
was every prospect of a fine bright
day ; but the appearance soon chang-
ed, and an approaching fog seemed
resolved that the western district
should have no advantage of wea-

_ ther over the eastern district, review-
ed on Wednesday. The fog, how-
ever, not content with equalling that

of Wednesday, increased to such a
degree, that, at half past seven, not

a single object could be seen in the
park, and several of the corps would

__ have passed by Oxford-street gate,
had they not been stopped by a
party of life-guards stationed there
to guard the entrance. The eager
expectation which ushered in the
morning, now changed to fearful
anxiety. It was too dark to ob-
Serve the expression of the counte-
nance ; but every body, in tones of
despondency, began to express their
apprehensions that all the beauty of
_ the military spectacle would be lost,
and that a glimpse of the troops
_ could not be obtained, much less a
full view of them, and the embellish.
ments of the scene. The houses,
ee seafiolds; carts, caravans, and car-
Piages of all descriptions, drawn up
for the accommodation of spectators

: along the Bayswater- road, instantly”

began to drop their prices; and
_ would have fallen still lower had not
- the fog, fortunaiely, begun to clear
i away about halt past eight, when the
business of the day again assumed a
_ cheerful aspect, and the spectators
eagerly assembled in amazing crowds,
_and toa still greater extent than on
Wednesday. The same excellent
_ regulations to preserve order were
Ls pisersod as those which were adopt-

451

ed upon that day. The park was
shut up all night, and the gates were
not opened for the admission of the
populace until eight o’clock, at
which time the cerps began to ar-
rive. From that hour until ten
o’clock, the crowds at Piecadilly-gate
were so great, that the pressure be-
came intolerable ;. many persons,- it
was feared, would be crushed or
trampled to death, in the immense
tide which endeavoured to force it-
self through the side-gates, the only
ones for admission. In this situa-
tion, Jones, the Bow-street officer,
under whose care the gate was, per-
ceiving the imminent danger of the
multitude pressing in upon the Pic-
cadilly side, occasionally opened the
main gates, and thus relieved the
dreadful pressure. The parties sta-
tioned here and at the other gates, to
preserve order, consisted of detach-
ments of the guards, patroles, and
the Bow-street officers, except
Townsend and Sayers, who attend-
ed their majesties. As each corps
entered, the party of guards at the
gates shouldered arms; and, as the
colours passed, they presented arms.
The corps immediately in the vici-
nity of the park, did not experience
so much inconvenience from the
darkness of the morning as those at
a distance, who were obliged to
muster earlier. From the lowness
of their situation, the fog lay heavi-
est upon Lambeth and Southwark ;
and, though this circumstance was
unfavourable to the scene as a-spec-
tacle, it was the source of mucli in-
terest and variety.

The regiments reviewed this day
were, the London and Westminster
light horse volunteers, 727 effective
men; Westminster regiment of vo-
lunteer cavalry, 225; Southwark
troop of amg 69; Clerken- —

Gg2 well-

452

well cavalry, 46; Lambeth ditto,
40 ; St. George’s regiment of volun-
teer infantry, 663; St. James’s dit-
to, 954; Bloomsbury and Inns of
Court ditto, 929 ; Royal Westmin-
ster ditto, 961; Prince of Wales’s
ditto, 640; St. Margaret’s and St.
John’s, 625; Loyal North Bri-
tons, 286; Mary-la-bonne, 905 ;
Law Association, 335; Duke of
Gloucester’s, 462; the Somerset
Place, 380 ; the St. Giles’s and St.
George’s, 605; the Clerkenwell,
701; Leyal British Artificers, 542 ;
the Loyal Britons, 127; St. An-
drew and St. George’s, 514; Ist
and 2d battalion of Queen’s Royal,
926 ; the Knightsbridge, 124; the
St. Clement’s Danes, 2453; 1st Sur-
rey, 515; the St. Sepulchre, 174;
the St. Saviour’s, 151; the Loyal
Southwark, 545; Lambeth, 555;
Christchurch, 171 ; St. John’s, 138;
St. Olave’s, 116; Rotherhithe, 158 ;
Duke of Cumberland’s corps of yo-
Junteer sharp shooters, 84; and the
Gray’s Inn corps of volunteer ri-
flemen, 38. Total 14,676.

The total number of the troops
inspected, amounted, on both days,
to 27,077: but, in many instances,
a fourth part of the corps were ab-
sent on business or otherwise ; and,
we understand, that the returns of
the effective strength of the several
battalions, rendered some weeks
since, made the number of volun-
teers, within the city, to exceed
35,000. The corps in the vicinity
of the metropolis, as the Hackney,
Pancras, Fulham, Hampstead, Is-
lington, Camberwell, Wandsworth,
&c. exceed 11,000, making in the
whole, a force of 46,000 men.

The king arrived at the Knights-
bridge barracks, from Kew, about
ten o’clock, accompanied by her
majesty and the princesses; and soon

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

after entered the park, preceded
by a troop of horse, and surrounded
by the dukes of York, Clarence,
and Cumberland, and a number of
officers on horseback. The pro-
cession moved across the head of
the Serpentine river, up to the ccn-
tre of the park. ‘The fog now be-
gan to disperse, and the sight be-
came truly magnificent, as the ca-
valcade could be seen passing the
lines to the distance of three quar-
ters of a mile. After the king had
inspected the line, the whole formed
into companies, and passed his ma-
jesty in review, precisely in the
same manner as the London corps.
on Wednesday Jast ; and then re-
tired in quick time. It is but jus-
tice to observe, that the regularity of
the firing, on both occasions, did in-
finite credit to so numerous a body.
The multitude was beyond concep-
tion great, particularly females ; and
it seemed as if the whole non-mili-
tary population of the metropolis
had come forward in honour of
their defenders. ‘The following ge-
neral orders were issued, from the
office of the commander in chief, to —
the commanding officers of the se-
veral volunteer corps:. |
*¢ Horse Guards, Oct. 29.
*¢ His royal highness, the com-
mander in chief, has received the
king’s command, to convey to the
several volunteer and associated
corps, which were reviewed in Hyde
Park on the 26th and 28th instant,
his majesty’s highest approbation
of their appearance, which has
equalled his majesty’s utmost ex-
pectation. His majesty perceives,
with heartfelt satisfaction, that the
spirit of loyalty and patriotism, on ~
which the system of the armed vo-
lunteers throughout the kingdom
was originally founded, has risen
the

CHRONICLE

the exigencies of the times, and, at
this moment, forms such a bulwark

to the constitution and liberties of

the country, as will enable us, un-
der the protection of Providence, to
bid defiance to the puprovoked ma-
lice of our enemies, and to hurl
back, with becoming indignation,
the threats which they have presum-
ed to vent against our independence,
and even our existence as a nation.
His majesty has observed, with pe-
culiar pleasure, that, amoigst the
unprecedented exertions which the
present circumstances of the coun-
try have called forth, thosé of the
capital of his united kingdom have
been eiinently conspicuous, The
appearance of its numerous and well-
regulated volunteer corps, which
were reviewed on the 26th and 28th
instant, indicates a degree of atten-

tion and emulation, both in officers

and men, which can proceed only
from a deep sense of the important
objects for which they have enrolled
themselves, a just estimation of the
blessings we have so long enjoyed,
and a firm and manly determination
to defend them like Britons, and
transmit them, unimpaired, to our

posterity. The commander in chief
has the highest satisfaction in dis-

charging his duty, by communicat-
ing these, his majesty’s most graci-

- ous sentiments, and requests that the

commanding officers will have re-

course to the readiest means of

making the same known to their

- respective corps.

‘6 Frederic, commander in chief.”

_. The following are the proceedings

of the University of Cambridge on

the subject of arming : : agrace was

_ passed by the senate in these words :
‘¢ Cum bellum in dies singulos in--

_grayescat; hostesque jam tandem sese

453

in ipsam Britannia irrupturos esse
minitentur : :

‘6 Placeat Vobis, quo melius Ju-
venes Academici Patriz periclitanti
opitulentur, aut ii Scolares in qua.
cungue Facultate hunc Terminum
compleyvisse censeantur, qui militan-
di causé cum consensu Parentum,
aut eorum qui sunt Pareritum in lo-
co, ab Academia abfuerint: Provi-
so tamen, ut unusquisque eorum li.
teras testimoniales secundum formu.
lam sequentem producat, que vos
certiores faciant eos bona fide milita-
rem operam havyasse.” [ Here fol-
lows the form. |

At a meeting of the heads at
King’s Lodge, a request from the
lay members of the university hay-
ing been made, that an hour be
fixed on for the time of drilling,
which shall not interfere with pub-
lic lectures ; and to which the tu-
tors of the different colleges shall, on
that account, have no reasonable
cause of objection; it was agreed,
‘¢ That twelve o’clock be the hour
fixed on for the drill. That the tu-
tors of the different colleges recom-
mend to such of their pupils as
mean to be drilled, that they be re-
gular im their attendance. That no
military uniform be worn at the
drill; but that such alteration be
permitted in the dress of its members
as the captain of the drill may deem
essentially requisite towards the
performance of its duties: and this
dress to be worn only at the drill.
That regular officers of the army,
or serjeants, may be allowed, from
time to time, to be.provided for the
instruction of the drill; until some
of its members, by their proficiency

in military knowledge, be deemed

capable of supplying their place.
And we moreover recommend it. to
Gg3 the

454

the university to defray the expences
incurred by the drill from the 10th
of October.

‘¢ Humphrey Sumner, Vice
Chan. J. Barker, W. Cra-
ven, W. Pearce, I’. Barnes,
Isaac Milner, P. Douglas,
R. °‘T. Cory, W. L. Man-
sel.”

The number of young men who
have already come forward in de-
fence of their alma mater is very
considerable. ‘They wear a plain
dress, consisting of a short blue
jacket, pantaloons of a dark mix-
ture, black gaiters, and handker-
ehief. A sort of centurion is ap-
pointed to each division, until he
gets thoroughly versed in his duty,
when he falls in among the ranks,
and is succeeded by another young
man ; so that every person, in his
turn, is instructed in the duties of
an officer and common soldier. The
whole of this drill has given so much
satisfaction to the tutors, that many
of them have expressed a wish it
might always continue as a part of
the education of their students.

30th. A large party, of near 300
French prisoners, lying at Waltham
Abbey, in their way from the south
coast to Norman-cross barracks, one
of them, an Italian, who had some
friends or acquaintances at Epping,
and had frequently attempted to es-
cape, was fired at and killed, as he
was running over the fields this even-
ing, by lieut. Story, an officer of the
detachment that guarded them. A
coroner’s inquest was held on the
body, Nov. 3, and the jury return-
ed a verdict of justifiable homicide.

Diev.—The duke of Modena, at
Trevisa, in the 74th year of his age.
He has left money and effects to the
value of 6,000,000 ducats, and some

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

extensive estates in Hungary, pro-
ducing 30,000 more annually. ‘The
archduke Ferdinand is his heir.

NOVEMBER.

2d. A waggon, loaded with but-
ter and cheese, from Cambridge,
went backwards into a deep ditch
near the fourteen mile stone at Turn-
ford, beyond Cheshunt: so that the
shaft horses were reared upright
against the bank, while the other,
breaking their chains, ran to the
turnpike, at Theobalds, where they
were stopped. ‘The women passen-
gers were taken out unhurt.

3d. <A fire broke out at Faw-
ley-court, near Henley, the seat of
8. Henley, Esq. occasioned by the
negligence of workmen having a fire
not properly secured, which con-.
sumed stabling and four cart horses.

While the Bromley ‘volunteers
were this day going through the
platoon firing, one of the muskets
burst, and shattered to pieces the
hand of one of the corps, since dead,
and knocked down two other per-
sons. The piece had, from the in-
attention of its owner, six cart-
ridges in it at the time it was dis-

charged.

4th. A man that had slipped
from a barge into the river near
Barcomb, Sussex, was taken out of .
the water to all appearance dead;
but, by a vigorous application of the
means prescribed by the Royal Hu-
mane Society, for the recovery of
drowned persons, he was soon re-
stored to animation.

Daniel Isaac Eaton, formerly a
bookseller in Newgate-street, con-
victed, about three years since, of

‘publishing a seditious libel, and who —

was

> sTrabalX,

>

ite a

Se ee a a OD

-—
~

CHRONICLE.

was outlawed, in consequence of not
appearing to receive judgment, was
this day apprehended by Rivett, one
of the Bew-street officers, and lodg-
ed in the custody of the sheriff of
London. i

5th. As one of the armed vessels
lying in the river at Harwich, was
celebrating the anniversary of the
gunpowder-plot, she discharged one
of her guns, loaded with grape shot,
at the camp of the third royal Lan-
caster militia, on the opposite side
of the river, near Landguard fort.
The balls marked the ground in se-
veral places within the lines of the
encampment, and both officers and
men had a most miraculous escape.
One of the balls passed between two
of the officers who were walking on
the parade, and another of them
flew up the oflicer’s street, grazing
the ground in several places ; others
took different dire¢iions through the
encampment, where there was nearly
eleven hundred men, but, provi-
dentially, without hurting any of
them. Eight of the balls were soon
after picked up, some at the distance
of half a mile beyond the camp, and
each of them weighed upwards of a
pound; of course the shot was fired
entirely by mistake ; but as acci-
dents often occur from firing on days
of aejoicing, too much attention
cannot be paid, that no balls be in

the guns previous to their being fired

on such occasions.

7th. This morning the London
coach, on its return to town from
Tunbridge-wells, with four inside,
and four outside passengers, by the
breaking of the axle-tree, was over-
turned near Southborough, two miles
from the Wells ; when Mr. Wheatly,
a seal-engraver, in Bond-street, was
thrown from the roof, and had his

skull dreadfully fractured : he was

body.

455

conveyed to a neighbouring cottage,
where he died in the space of two
hours, in the greatest agony. His
nephew, and four other passengers,
were also much bruised by the fall.
A lady, and Mr. Dryden of York-
shire, were the only persons who
escaped unhurt. The coachman, is
so severely hurt, that his life is
despaired of. ‘

10th.
was given to his excellency Elfi Bey,
and a number of other distinguished
visitors, by his royal highness the
prince of Wales. ‘The conyersation
turning upon the very excellent
equestrian powers of the mamelukes
and Turks, the prince: said, “ I
have now in my stud an Egyptian
horse, so wild and ungovernable,
that he will dismount the best horse-
man in Elfi Bey’s retinue.’ The
Bey-replied, in Italian, to the prince,
¢ 1 shall gratify: your royal. high-
néss’s curiosity to-morrow.” An
appointment consequently took place
next day, at two o’clock, in the
prince of Wales’s riding-house, Pall
Mail. When the Bey, in company
with colonel Moore, his interpreter,
and Mahomet Aga, his principal
officer, a young man of apparently
great agility, entered the riding-
house, where the prince and his
royal brothers waited, attended by
several noblemen, to witness the
management of the horse, which
never before could be ridden by any
One of the mameluke’s sad-
dles being fixed by the grooms, the
animal was led out of the stable into
the riding-house, in so rampant
and unmanageable a state,, that
every one present concluded no one
would ever attempt to mount him.
There never was a greater model of
beauty. He is spotted like a leo-
pard, and his eyes were so fiery and

Gg4 enraged,

A. grand entertainment

456

enraged, as to indicate the greatest
danger to any one who dared to
. mount him. Being led round the
boundary, Mahomet Aga made a
spring, seized him by the reins, and
in an instant vaulted on the back of
the animal, which finding itself in-
cumbered by a burden, that it had
never before felt, and goaded by the
tightness of the Egyptian saddle,
gave loose to his passion, and, in
the height of ferocity, plunged, but
in vain, in every direction. The
mameluke kept his seat during this
proud distraétion of the horse, for
more than twenty minutes, to the
utter astonishment of the prince and
every beholder; and the apparently
ungovernable animal was, at last,
reduced to so tame and accommo-
dating a state, as to yield to the con-
trol of the very able rider who had
thus subdued him. The prince ex-
pressed himself highly gratified ;
greatly complimented the officer for
his equestrian skill; and, after re-
tiring to Carlton-house, ordered
some refreshment, when Elfi Bey
and his retinue departed, not a litte
proud of the display of their easy
victory.

lith. A dreadful scene happened
this night at Whitstable, near the
oyster-ground. The boat of the
gun-brig, called the Hackett, with
ten men in it, was going to Fever-
sham, but the weather being bad,
they returned ; and going along-side
of the ship, the sails of the boat
backed, and, in a mement, she up-
set. Seven out of the crew were
drowned. One of the remaining
three swam to the stern of the ship,
and saved his life; the other two
swam to the buoy, called the Cul-
linbin buoy, and were taken off by
another boat that belonged to the
jolly-boat. Amongst the sufferers

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

were, the doétor and a midshipmar,
two fine men. ‘The ship fired guns
of distress, and hoisted a black
flag.

12th. The boat of the Hecate
bomb upset in a gale, off Reculver,
near Margate, by which lieut. Par
sons, his surgeon, master, and four
sailors, were all, unfortunately,
drowned.

This gazette contains a dispatch
from admiral sir J. T. Duckworth,
dated on board the Bellerophon,
Aug. 13, and introducing the fol-
lowing letter from capt. Loring.
The admiral passes the highest en-
comiums on the zeal and gallant con-
duct of the captain.

“¢ Bellercphon, off Cape Maize,
July 26.
“¢ Sir,

‘¢ In pursuance of your orders,
relative to the blockade of Cape
Francois, with the squadron under
my command, in the performance
of which, I trust, my eudeavours
may not be found deficient, I beg
leave to inform you, that, on Sun-
day, the 24th ult. at 6 P. M. being
off that port, a heavy squall came
on from the land, which induced
the two line-of-battle ships to at-
tempt an escape: the weather sdon
moderating, they were immediately
discovered, and the signal for a ge-
neral chase was made. On their
elearing the harbour they hauled to”
the westward, to take advantage of
the land-wind ; every effort possible
was made to keep sight of them
during the night, which was effected
principally by the vigilance of cap-
tains Evans and Perkins, of the
AMolus and Tartar. At half past
9 o’clock I was informed, by an
officer from the Elephant, who had
been on board the Tartar, that one
of the ships had tacked ta the east.

ward,

CHRONICLE.

ward, andthe other steering to the
westward, close along shore; in
consequence of which, I direéted
capt. Dundas to tack, and endea-
your to cut off the former, the
Elephant being the weathermost
ship, and pursued the other with
the two frigates; the Theseus and
Vanguard, being to leeward in the
first of the squall, did not join me
till about 12 o’clock at night; at
daylight we were within gun-shot
of the chace. On hearing a heavy
cannionading to the eastward, I made
the Theseus signal to chase east,
haying been unfortunately unable to
make a similar disposition during
the night; and at half past 3 P. M.
on the 25th, we came up with, and,
after exchanging several bow and
stern chacers with the Vanguard
and Tartar, who were the headmost
ships, she struck her colours, and
proves to be the Duquesne, of 74
guns, commanded by monsieur Ker-
rangel capitaine de vaisseau, from
Cape Francois, bound to Europe.
1 am sorry to.say one man was
killed, and another wounded on
‘board the Vanguard; none on board
the enemy’s ship. In passing be-
tween the two islands of. St. Do-
mingo and Tortuga, near Port-au-
Paix, we took the French national
schooner.Oiseau, of 16 guns and GO
men, commanded by monsieur Dru-

ault, lieutenant de vaisseau, which

I have ordered, with the Duquesne,
to Port Royal, under charge of the
Vanguard and Tartar.
«+ I have the honour to be, &c.
*¢ John Loring.”

13th. <A most beautiful vivid -

meteor descended this evening, about
8 o’clock ; taking a south-west di-
rection, and the whole atmosphere,
_ for the instant, appeared illumined
with a vivid flame of blue light. Its

457

appearance was exactly that of 2
firework, called’ a Bengal light, of
a bright blue flame ; it was not so
large as has been stated, nor was its
appearance accompanied by any heat
or noise. ‘This phenomenon is not
calculated to excite that terror and
dread which, in the dark ages of
superstition, the designing were wont
to raise. A comparison of well-
authenticated faéts authorises a con-
clusion, that similar events are by
no means uncommon; but by hap-
pening in the day-time, or after the
inhabitants have, in general, retired
to rest, they are observed but by
few ; and the relation, if made, dis-
regarded ; and it is, perhaps, as
much owing to the time of the even-
ing in which this meteor appeared,
as to its magnitude and bDrilliancy,
that it has excited so much curio-
sity. From the circumstance of its
appearance at Dover, Cranbrook,
Chelmsford, Lewes, Brightelmstone,
and Southampton, compared with
its appearance in London, it seems
that the body which occasioned this
light was moving with incredible
swiftness at a vast height above the
earth, in a direction nearly W. or
S. W. and ina line passing to the
southward of the coast of Essex.
Accordingly we expect, in due
course of time, to hear that it was
seen in France, and, probably, fur-
ther in a §. W. direétion, and in the
contrary direétion across England,
Wales, and perhaps Ireland. It
was observed near the Horse-guards,
in Westminster, to- pass about 28
or 30 degrees to the southward of
the zenith, and about 28 or 29 mi-
nutes, after eight by that clock,
which is well and constantly regu-
lated to true or near time; the whole
time which the light occasioned by
the meteor lasted, was not estimated

, to

458:

to exceed five or six seconds. From
the great height at which the me-
teor was moving, and its great ve-
locity, there was no expectation of
hearing of its fall, or of any of
those masses of iron and stony
matters which have, in so many
well-authenticated instances, fallen
from the atmosphere, and buried
themselves in the earth, on the
bursting or extinétion of many si-
milar meteors.

14th. <A letter frem lord Hobart
to the lord mayor, announced the
surrender of the colonies of Dema-
rara and Essequibo, on the 19th
September last, to his majesty’s
forces under the command of gene-
ral Grinfield and commodore Hood.
(Vide Appendix. )

Mr. Dewy, of the 8th regiment
of Loyal London volunteers, who
received the contents of a musket,
ata sham fight, near Hornsey, on
Wednesday, the 2d instant, lan-
guished until half past 11 o’clock
this night, when he expired, after
experiencing the most excruciating
pain. It has not yet transpired who
the person was that inflicted the fatal

wound. Coroner’s verdict; acci-
dental death.
16th. ‘The Circe frigate, of 32

guns, was lost this evening. She
was in chace of a French priva-
teer, and, unfortunately, struck the
ground, by which accident she made
so much water, that the crew were
obliged to leave her next day. She
went down soon after. The crew
were brought into Yarmouth-roads,
- by three fishing vessels, on the 18th.

17th. The court of - common-
council voted their unanimous thanks
to the late lord mayor; which were
ordered to be written on vellum,
richly emblazoned, framed, and
glazed, and presented to him by

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

the town-clerk, in the name of the
court. The salary to the recorder
of London, hitherto 6001. was fixed
by the court at 10001. per annum.
18th. Reports respecting the fe-

ver at Newcastle are very erro-
neous. Some of them state the mor-
tality at not Jess than from 20 to
30 persons a day ; the number has
not been more than so. many per
week. The infection communicated
to Gateshead, in the county of Dur-
ham, but the mortality of that place
was trifling. At Newcastle, lamps
have been lighted on the quay with
tobacco, for the. purpose of puri-
fying the air. ‘The late mild foggy
weather is suppesed to have pro-.
duced this malady. Mr. Mayor

having requested the attendance of ~-

the physicians and surgeons of New-
castle, in order to quiet the alarms
that have been spread on this oc-
casion ; those gentlemen have pub-
licly testified, that although a typhus
fever (such as is usual at this season)
has prevailed in different families,
from which some deaths have hap-
pened, it has not shewn any thing
new in its character ; and that all
the late cases are of a milder nature ;
the number taken ill considerably
lessened, and the disease rapidly de-
clining.

Lately, at Sketty, near Swansea,
as some labourers were employed
in digging a pond, within a hundred
yards of Sketty-house, they disco-
vered three earthen pots, containing
a great number of gold and silver
coins of Edward Lil. Many of them
were in a high state of preservation ;
not asingle coin was found amongst
them, either prior or subsequent to
that reign.

20th. General Baird, who com.
manded the storming party at Serin-
gapatam, and who had afterwards

the

ie
y

7

CHRONICLE. 459

the honour of leading the British
forces from the East across the Red
Sea, through the deserts of Arabia,
into Egypt, where they were again
victorious, is arrived in town from
the East Indies. On his passage from
India, he was taken by a French
privateer, but was fortunately re-
captured by the Sirius frigate, at
the entrance of the harbour of Co-
runna. Sir Edward Pellew ordered
_ the Mary to sail with the general for
- England. ;
- 21st. As the rev. Mr. and Mrs.
Webber were sitting in their par-
Jour at Batbeatsen parsonage, So-
mersetshire, about 8 o’clock in the
evening, there came on a hail storm,
attended with lightning, when in-
Stantly the window-shutters burst
open: the window was shattered to
pieces, and two slate stones were
driven into the apartment. The
house had been. struck in three di-
_ rections—ceast, west, and south. {t
owas totally stripped of the thatch,
some of which was carried, by the
violence of the wind, to a very great
distance. ‘I'welve out of fifteen
windows which were in the house,
were literally shivered to atoms ;
“and the lightning melted the lead
in one of the chamber windows.
The roofs of a barn, stable, and
Many other out-houses, were blown
in and destroyed. The roof of the
_ church was lightly struck. Many
_ trees were rooted up, and carried
_ to some distance. One large apple
_ tree was thrown to the distance of
24 feet. Providentially no lives
were lost. The lightning continued
_ very vivid, with very little inter-
mission, the whole night.
A general meeting of the royal
academy was held, on the king’s
message, respecting the late dispute
_ of the academicians. The president
1

or council had suspended the trea
surer, and then proceeded to vote
away the fund, in a manner not
sanctioned by the statutes. The
attorney-general, on a_ reference
made to him, by the order of the
king, declared the measure to be il-
legal ; in consequence of which, the
king, with his own hand, erased the
resolutions. [is opinion, and that
of the attorney-general, were or-
dered to be entered upon the re-
cords.

29d. In consequence of an at-
tachment issued against one Wil-
son, who keeps. an inn at Basing-
stoke, for carrying, away Miss
Woodward, he was.brought into the
court of king’s-bench, and gave bail
for his appearance to answer any
charges that might be brought
against him. He entered into a re-
cognizance of 300l. and his bail in
the sum of 1501. each.

23d. Mr. Nottingham, an at-
torney, aged between twenty and
thirty, was brought into the court
of king’s-bench, to receive judg-
ment for anassault on Jolin Parsons,
esq. a magistrate, and master of the
ceremoniesat Lincoln, aged seventy;
when he was adjudged.to pay a fine
of 501. be imprisoned three months
in the king’s-bench, find security
for his good behaviour for 3 years,
hiniself in 500}. and two suretics in
250). each, and be further imprison-
ed till such recognizances were en-
tered into.

This afternoon, two boys, be-
longing to Hatton-garden school,
playing at soldiers, in Fleet-market,
attacked each other with pistols

charged with powder; one, about
-11 years of age, happened to, put

some gravel-stones to the charge,

which took place in the face of ano-

ther boy, ef 14, and wounded

him °

460

him so dreadfully, that he is since
dead.

25th. Mr.justiceGrosepronounced
the judgment of the court of king’s-
bench upon Robert. Redhead, a
brandy-merchant, of Mark-lane, for
a conspiracy to defraud government
of the draw-back on the exporting
that article ; and on Neale M‘Bride,
a revenue officer, for assisting him.
The learned judge, having, in suit-
able terms, expatiated upon the
enormity of the offence, sentenced
the former to be imprisoned two
years in Newgate, and to stand in
the pillory twice near the royal ex-
change ; the latter to be imprisoned
cighteen months.

The rev. John Greaves appeared
before the court, to receive judg-
ment, having been convicted of an
assault, with an intent to commit a
crime too detestable to be mentioned.

His counsel entreated the court to
let his punishment be in London,
and that he might not be sent to the
gaol of the county in which the of-
fence was committed—as the pri-
soner had an aged father of ninety,
whose sudden or peaceful descent
into the grave might depend upon
the clemency of the court in this
particular.

Mr. Dallas, as counsel for the
prosecution, said, ‘* When, my
lords, the prisoner was detected in
this nefarious transaction, he applied
to a friend, to advise him the part
he should act, after the painful dis-
closure. The advice he received
was, that he should abandon his na-
tive home for ever; that he should
withdraw toaremote country, where
his name and character would be un-
known, and that he might there ex-
ercise the duties of his sacred pro-
fession, if his conscience would per-
mit him to’ resume them. At first

4

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803:

this gentleman complied with this
prudent admonition ; but, when two
years were passed over, he abandon-
ed all decency, and obtruded him-
self into the parish. He would again
have taken possession of the church,
have entered on the solemn service,
and have officiated at the holy altar,
if the public-indignation had not dri-
ven him from the neighbourhood,
and placed him on the floor of this
court, where he now stands to re-
ceive the sentence of the law.”

He was adjudged to be imprisons
ed in Newgate, for the term of two
years; to give security for seven
years for his good behaviour—him-
self in 500]. and two sureties in
1501. each.

Lord Ellenborough said, the re+
cord of the conviction of this beni-
ficed clergyman shall be laid before
the bishop of his diocese.

During a gale, in the middle of
last weck, seven pilots, belonging to
the Island of St. Agnes, perished
near the Land’s End. A Guernsey
cutter-privateer, with a Dutch East-
India ship, her prize, approached
the islands; but, having lost her

-rudder, it was not practicable, the
day the pilots got on board, from the
wind and tide not being sufficiently
favourable, to bring her into either
of the harbours at these isles; she
was, therefore, brought to anchor
as near as possible on the outside.
During the night, the wind became
more adverse, so that they were
constrained to slip or cut; but, as
each vessel had a pilot on board, the
boat with the other five men kept
them company ; but the gale increas-
ing, and shifting to a different point,
they were all driven off the har-
bour of St. Ive’s; where both ship
and cutter arrived in safety.—The
men then all took the boat, with

hopes

dale,

.

CHRONICLE.

hopes of regaining home; but the
weather growing worse, and they
not being perfectly acquainted with
that coast, were observed, from the
jand, all tq perish, without the pos-
sibility of receiving the least assist-
ance.

27th. This morning, between one
and two, an alarming fire broke out
in the manufactory of Mr. Dims-
Fan-street, Goswell-street,
which threatened the speedy de-
struction of the premises, but was
happily extinguished by the exer-
tions of Mr. D. and a few friends :
too much cannot be said in praise of
the volunteers who attended on this
occasion.

29th. This morning the intelli-
gence of the capture of the Dutch
settlement of Berbice, was commu-
nicated in a letter from lord Hobart
to the lord-gnayor. (For particulars
vide Appendix. )

30th. His majesty’s brig Wool-
wich, lieut. John Cox, commander,
has arriyed at the custom-house
from St. Petersburgh, with his ma-
jesty’s private property, which had
been sent off from Hanover on the
approach of the French. It con-
sists of ingots and specie to the
amount of three hundred thousand
pounds.

By the falling down of a piece of
the cliff, on Walton shore, near
Harwich, the skeleton of an enor-

_™Mous animal was discovered, mea-

suring nearly 30 feet in length.
Some of the bones were nearly as
large as a man’s body, and six or
seven feet Jong ; the cavities which
contained the marrow were large
enough to admit the introduction of
a man’s arm; the bones, on being
handled, broke to pieces. One of
the molar teeth was carried to Col-
chester, by Mr. J. Jackson, who

46}

took it from the spot, in whose pos.
session it now is; it weighs seven
pounds, is of a square form, and
the grinding surface is studded with
several zig zag rows of lamin,
which seem to denote that it be-
longed to a carnivorous animal.
There were more teeth, which were
unfortunately broken, one of which
weighed twelve pounds. It is pro-
bahle, that the tusks will be found
by searching further into the cliffs,
or amongst the earth which has
fallen down. The above skeleton
is supposed to belong to an animal
of the same species as that called
the mammoth, remains of which
have been found in North America,
Great Tartary, &c. Of this ani-
mal, Buffon says, ‘¢ The skeleton
of the mammoth bespeaks an animal
five or six times the cubic volume of
the elephant,”’ Muller has given a
description of the mammoth. ‘* This
animal (he says), is nearly five
yards high, and about thirty feet in
Jength. His colour is grey, his
head is very long, and his front
very broad; on each side, precisely
under the eyes, there are two horns,
which he can move and cross at
pleasure, and in walking, he has
the power of extending and con-
tracting his body to a great de-
gree.”

Diep.—25th. At his apartments
in Somerset-place, aged 82, Joseph
Wilton, esq. a royal academician,
and keeper of the academy; an
artist of very considerable merit, as
his public works, and detached sta-
tues and busts, in variaus- parts of
the united kingdom, and the colo-
nies, abundantly testify. Mr. W.
was a pupil of Mr. Delyaux, a
Flemish statuary of eminence, who
resided in this country for some
time, and executed several works.

Ie

462

He finished his pupillage with him
at Neuville, in Flanders; from
whence he went to. the royal aca-
demy at Paris, and practised under
that excellent sculptor, the late
M. Pigal; from thence he remoy-
ed to Italy, and in Rome and Flo
rence he continued many years,
studying from the antique, and co-
pying busts and statues for the no-
bility and gentry who were then
making the tour of Europe. He
was at Rome in the jubilee year,
1750, and gained a prize medal,
given by Benedict the XI Vth, being
said to be the first Englishman that
had ever obtained one for sculpture.
Ue returned home in the year 1755,
after an absence of 16 years, in the
company of those eminent artists in
their different lines, the late sir
Wm. Chambers, and Mr. Cipriani,
with whom, and sir Joshua Rey-
nolds, he continued on the most
cordial terms of friendship during
the remainder of their lives. In
his private life, he was universally
beloved, being of a placid temper,
mild in his manners, benevolent,
and hospitable; an indulgent and
affectionate parent, and a kind
master; all his habits were tempe-
rate, which contributed very much
to his longevity.

In Pall-Mall, aged 73, after a
long and lingering illness, Mr. James
Christie, many years well known
and justly celebrated as an aucti-
oneer, and the successful disposer
of property of every kind, whether
by public sale or private contract.
With an easy and gentleman-like
flow of eloquence, he possessed, in
a great degree, the power of per-
suasion, and even tempered his pub-
lic address by a gentle refinement of
manners. His remains were inter-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

red, on the 14th, in St. James’s bue
rial-ground.

DECEMBER.

Ist. The mansion-house of Nans-

wydden, the seat of the rev. Mr,
Hoblyn, in the parish of St. Co-
lumb, accidentally caught fire this
night, which was discovered by a
man-servant, who was in bed, and
felt himself incommoded by his room
being full of smoke. ‘The alarm was
instantly given, and the family with
some difliculty escaped unhurt. It
is supposed to have been occasioned
by a candle, not properly extin-
guished, having been carelessly put
into a drawer where there happened
to be somelinen. Nearly the whole
of the furniture, books, and other
property, were destroyed; and
this elegant fabric, one of the most
complete buildings in Cornwall, was
in a few hours reduced to a heap of ©
rubbish. It was built by the late
Robert Hoblyn, esq. M. P. for
Bristol, was 18 years in building,
and is said to have cost upwards of
30,0001. ; the lead on its roof being
estimated at more than 10001. A
view of this house makes plate VIII.
of Dr. Borlase’s Natural History of
Cornwall, when it belonged to Mr.
James Hoblyn. A splendid cata-
logue of the library of printed
books, collected by Robert Hoblyn,
esq. was printed in two large 8vo.
volumes, 1769. This library hav-
ing been offered to sale all together
by Mr. Quicke, who married Mr.
Hoblyn’s widow, was sold by auc-
tion, by Baker and Leigh, March
2, and twenty-four following days,

1778. A
2d. This morning, about two
o'clock,

CHRONICLE,

eclock, a fire was discovered in
the long range of auction-rooms,
manufactories, and ware-houses,
between Frith-street and Dean-
street, Soho. On the first alarm,
the manufactory of Jackson and
Moser, furnishing ironmongers, and

the work-shops of Jameson and.

Willis, coach-makers, appeared to
be in flames.

The drums of the St. James’s and
royal Westminster volunteers im-
mediately beat to arms, and detach-
ments of these valuable corps has-
tened with the most commendable
alacrity to lend their assistance in
subduing the flames, and in protect-
ing the property of those persons
who were sullering from this cala-
mity. It was nearly two hours, how-
ever, before water could be pro-
cured in suilicient quantities to sup-
_ ply the engines, now collected from.

every corner of the town. In the
mean time, the flames were raging
with uncontrollable fury.
Adjoining to the buildings already
on fire, were the large furniture
repositories of Messrs. Hemmings
and. Westwood, extending from
Frith to Dean-street; the school-
room of the Frith-street academy ;
a large auction-room in the rear of
Compton-street; and the back
ware-houses, full of goods, belong-
ing to Mr. Bond, furnishing iron-
monger, also of Compton-street ;
all of which soon formed one ge-
neral mass of conflagration. From
these premises, the flames were ra-
pidly communicated to the dwel-
ling-house of Mr. Kam, upholsterer,
_in Compton-street, and to the po-
tatoe warehouse adjoining, both of
which houses, together with the
back part of Mr. Reid’s, the gro-
cer, were consumed. At this time,
the wind changing from due north

463

to near south-west, the flames ayoid-
ing, as if by miracle, the corner
house in Compton-street, commu-
nicated to the west side of Frith-
street, where the following houses
were consumed in regular progres-
sion, one after another :. the house
No. 39, gutted. The house of Mr.
Stort, No. 40, a complete ruin.
The following houses are levelled
with the ground: the house of Mr.
Hogard, attorney ; the Frith-street
academy, front and rear; the house
and premises of Messrs. Hemmings
and Westwoed, auctioneers; the
house and extensive work-shops of
Messrs. Jameson and Willis, coach-
makers : the house and work-shop
of Mr. Lucas, a taylor; the dwel-
ling-house of Mr. Moser ; and the
dwelling-house, offices, and exten-
sive manufactory of Messrs. Jack-
son and Moser. It was in their
premises that this destructive cala-
mity is supposed to have originated ;
and it was with the destruction of
their dwelling-house, within three
doors of Queen-street, that the pro-
gress of the flames was arrested, and
an end put to the conflagration
which threatened. with desolation
the whole of the neighbourhood.
About ten o’clock in the morning,
the front of one of the houses in
Compton-street fell in with a terri-
ble crash. Several friends who had
come to enquire for Mr. Reid, the
clothier, at No. 9, were in immi-
nent danger, the parapet from the

. falling house opposite, drove.in his

shop door, just as his friends, see-
ing their danger, were running into
the back parlour for shelter.

Besides the above-stated, the back
parts of all the houses in Dean-street,
and the whole fronts of the east side
of Frith-street, have received consi-
derable injury. Indeed the latter

street

464

street exhibits an awful spectacle to
the feeling mind; the only consola-
tion arising from which is, that no
lives were lost. <A fireman, of the
name of Crocker, seeing the front of
one of the burning houses giving
way, took shelter in the door-way
of the house, No. 18, opposite ;—
but here misfortune overtook him ;
both his thighs were broken, by the
falling brickwork, and the door was
completely driven in.

- 4th. The colours of the royal
Spelthorne legion, under the com-
mand of the duke of Clarence, were
presented to the corps, by the prince
of Wales. His royal highness ar-
rived on the ground (Ashford com-
mon) at three o’clock, escorted by
the troop of the legion, the Kingston
volunteers likewise attending as a
guard’ of honour. On_ presenting
the colours, bis royal highness ex-
pressed himself in the following
manner:

“¢ Volunteers ! it is with the high-
est satisfaction I take upon me the
honourable office of presenting the
royal Spelthorn legion, this day,
with their colours. When I view so
respectable a corps, and consider the
high character attached to it, it
would be superfluous in me to point
out those duties and obligations
which have been so fully exemplified
in its conduct. When you behold
these coldurs, (taking them in his
hand) they will remind you of the
common cause in which you are en-
gaged, for your king, your country,
your religion, your laws, liberty,
and property, your children and
your wives; nay, in short, for every
thing dear to Englishmen. Accept,
then, this pledge, this sacred pledge,
which you will take care to defend
with your last drop of blood, and
only resign with your lives.”

* ae

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

After the ceremony, the prince
was escorted, by the troop of the le-
gion, to the Bush inn, at Staines,
where his royal highness and the of-
ficers of the corps dined. .The
ground was kept by the Windsor
and Chertsey yeomanry cavalry.—
The prince was dressed in the uni-
form of the 16th light dragoons.

In the court of common pleas a
cause was tried, wherein col. Shee
was plaintiff, and capt. Malcolm,
commander of the Victorious, of 74
guns, was defendant. The action
was brought to recover damages for
criminal conversation with the plain-
tiffs wife. The criminal intercourse
was found to have taken place on
board the defendant’s ship, in which
col. and Mrs. Shee were passengers
for India. It appeared, however,
in the course of the tria], that very
unhappy differences had prevailed
between them, and that col. Shee
had treated his wife with severity.—
The judge was also of opinion, that
the plaintiff had not used due dili-
gence to prevent her, strong as her
tendency to vice appeared to be,
from throwing herselt into the arms
of the defendant. Thejury, aftera
short consultation, found a verdict
for the plaintiff, damages 40s.

6th. This day, about 9 o’clock,
a soldier, belonging to the 70th re-
giment, was escorted from the pro-
vost, at Hilsea-barracks, Portsea, to
Portsdown, for the purpose of un-
dergoing the sentence of death, as
passed on him at a recent court.
martial, for repeated desertion.—
This unfortunate man was only 20
years of age. He had received re-
peated sums of money, from diffe-
rent parishes and individuals, for the
army of reserve; after which he al-
ways deserted on the first opportu-
nity. Qn his arrival at the fatal

spot,

~y
&r

re

popes sx ersmucuice, the chiefly women and children, to the
jury found a verdict of guilty. greatest misery.
Vou. XLV. Hh Glasgow.— ©

"CHRONIC LE? U4

spot, he shewed every mark of peni-:
tence, and prayed. fervently for ‘a’

considerable time. ‘Then kneeling’

on a truss of hay, the soldiers ap-~

pointed ‘for the execution marched:
inj a solemn manner, till they arrived

withinten yards of him, and then’

proceeded to do their duty. ‘The
first fire wounded him in the thigh,
the second, it was supposed, missed
him, and the third deprived him of
his feelings, though it did not entirely
kill him ;* when ‘three file marched
close to him, and instantly dispatch-
ed him,«—

‘7th. Inthe court of king’s-bench,
John and Michael Hedges were in-
dicted for a conspiracy to defraud
government, by procuring false
youchers (obtained from the clerks
and keepers of the stores at his ma-
jesty’s dock yards at Deptford and
Woolwich) for work done, and
goods delivered ; which, in fact, ne-
yer was done, nor the goods ever
delivered. Mr. Erskine stated, that
the prosecution was mstituted at the
instance of the lords commissioners
of the Admiralty, in consequence of
certain vouchers transmitted to
them'from the commissioners ot the
navy. Heshould shew that, for the
work which, if fairly paid for,
amounted to no more than 2351. 5s.
5d. between the periods of the 11th
of March, 1800, and that of the 11th
of December, 1801, the contractors
had charged, and were paid, (it
~ could hardly be credited) the sum of
2,650). 18s. 9d. ; thus defrauding go-
vernment of the sum of 2,415], 13s.
Ad. in a business whose fair amount
was not 3001. Mr. Erskine then
proceeded to state the manner in
which these frauds were committed ;
the facts of which being maintained,
and fully proved in evidence, the
jury found a verdict of guilty.

Vou. XL

the pillory.

465
9th. "At12 o’clock, Redhead,
flie brandy-merchant, for defraudo
me the revenue, was put in the pil-
lory" at the royal exchange; whence,
after being exhibited for an hour, he
was committed to Newgate, where
he is to be confined for two years,
and to be a second time exposed in

10th. In a severe storm, this
day, in Lincolnshire, two men, re-
turning from’Caistor, were lost, and
found dead next morning amongst
the snow. One of them was war-
rener to Mr. Smith, of Elkington..

11th. Four children playing on
the ice, on a pond at Great Tew
Park, the seat of G. Stratton, esq.
it broke, and they were all unfortu-
nately drowned. ‘Their bodies were
not found for two hours:

Dublin —12th. About six. this
morning, the chimney of a house in
Crane-lane, Essex-sireet, fell in,
precipitating the roof and floors of
the front rooms to the bottom. By
this dreadful event, four persons
have been killed, and six or seven.
dangerously wounded. Through
the exertions of the officers and
privates of the 26th regiment, quar-
tered at the old custom-house, seve-
ral persons were got out of the’
house, who, otherwise, must inevit-
ably have shared the same fate ; the
men with great humanity took off
their great coats, and carried the
unfortunate naked sufferers, con-
ducting them into the guard-roomss
till other relief could be afforded.—
Among the persons killed, were an
industrious man of the name of
Kelly, a hair-dresser, with his wife
and apprentice boy, who occupied
the shop floor. ‘This calamity has
reduced a number of poor persons,
chiefly women and children, to the
greatest misery.

Glasgow.—-

466

Glasgow.—13th. . About four
o’clock this.afternoon, an alarm was
given that the cotton mill in the
Gorbels, the property of Messrs.
M‘Kerlie and M‘Taggart, was on
fire, and soon afterwards the flames
burst through the roof, the accident
which occasioned the calamity hay-
ing taken place in the upper floor.
The magistrates both of Glasgow
and the Gorbels, with the city en-
gines, immediately repaired to the
spot ; it was evident, however, that
there was no hope of saving the
mill, as the fire, from the inflamma-
ble nature of the materials with
whichit was fed, had attained a great
height, and sent forth volumes of
flame, illuminating the whole atmos-
phere around to a great distance, and
presenting an awfully sublime spec-
tacle. The wind blowing strong
from the north, and several thatched
houses, communicating with another
cotton-mill, being in the opposite
direction, the principal attention
was directed to prevent the fire
from spreading in that quarter.—
Indeed, at one time, the immense
shower of fiery sparks threatened
destruction to the whole yillage ; and
Several times the flames caught hold
of the thatch of the adjoining
houses, but it was always happily
got under. About 7 o’clock, the
fire, haying made its way through
the lower floors, was contained
within the walls of the original
building, and the apprehensions of
its extending farther ceased. It
still, however, continued to burn till
about one this morning, when the
front wall fell forward to the street,
with a tremendous crash, An un-
fortunate boy was killed on the spot;
another was so severely wounded, as
to be still in great danger, and se-
yeral persons were much bruised,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

in which number wére, two of the
soldiers, on duty... The back walk
fell in about five next morning. At
the. first ,beat of the fire drum, a
great, number of the volunteers of
the different corps assembled, and
were most useful in assisting the
magistrates, tilla large-déetachment
of the Stirlingshire militia arrived
from the barracks, the whole of
which, continued | most actively em-
ployed, till eleven|.o’clock, and a
great proportian of, them: till five
next morning. il

14th. This morning about half
past two, a fire was. discovered. in
the dwelling-house of Mr. Thomas.
Stacey, at Ringwood, from. whence
the flames were rapidly communi-
cated to the dwelling-houses of W.
Rabbits, W. Pearce, Miss Street,
and J. Morgan, all of which were
in a short time consumed. On the
first alarm that Mr. Stacey’s house”
was on fire, the inhabitants hasten. |
ed to lend their assistance in sub-
duing the flames, and in protecting
the property of the sufferers? Mr.
Stacey caught his infant in his arms,
forced through the smoke, and de.
sired his wife to follow him; but
the poor woman unfortunately pe-
rished in the attempt. Her remains
were afterwards dug out of the
ruins. Great*part of the premises
and stock were insured.

A child belonging to Mr. Page,
carpenter, in Canon-street, Win-
chester, having been left by the
mother in a room up Stairs (in com-
pany with another child), in which
there was a fire, she was suddenly
alarmed by hearing it shriek, ina
dreadful manner ; and, hastening to
its assistance, beheld the infant en.
veloped in flames, which she stifled,
but the child was so burnt, that it
expired next morning. A child,

about

CHRONICLE.

about four years: old, at South-
ampton, was also burnt to death by
similar negligence. ‘The clothes
caught fire in the absence of its pa-
rents, and: the suffering infant ex-
pied i in great tortures.

‘17th. A boat: piloting a brig
intdé the harbour of Little Hampton,
was'this day upset; by which acci-
dent, Mr. Leggat, formerly master
of the’ vessel, and a. man: named
Sutton, neither of whomcould swim,
were unfortunately drowned. A
third person, who was in the boat
with them, sayed himself by swim-
ming. The same day .a vessel was
lost off Elmer, and all hands perish-
ed. The crew were seen in the
shrowds, waving their hats as sig-
nals of distress; but the sea ran so
high, and no life-boat to be obtain-
ed, that the anxious and commise-
rating spectators of the distressful
scene could afford them no relief.—
A vessel was also on the same day
lost off Rustington, but the crew
were all saved.

A short time since, the new stee-
ple which was building for the Gae-
lic church at Campbeltown, gave
way, drove in the roof, and mate-
rially injured the walls. Luckily,
no person happened to be near at
the time.

Qist. This day, a fire broke out
on the premises of Mark Dobito, at
theGreen Dragon inn, at Fordham,
Cambridgeshire ; which, in a short
time, consumed the barn, stables,
and out-houses belonging thereto,
with a considerable quantity of
wheat and other grain, and also a
large quantity of hay.

24th. This morning, between
three and four, a poor man em-
ployed at Mr. Elliot’s brew-house,

Pimlico, fell into the copper of

boiling liquor, and was scalded to

467
death before ~he‘could be got out.
He has left a wife pregnant, and four
small children.

25th. Thisday, the high wind
blew off part of the roof of the
Truchsessian gallery of pictures, op-
posite’ Portland-place ; in conse»
quence of which; the» pictures) have
been removed until’ the necessary
repairs can be made.—Several ‘of
the new buildings. of Hythe bar-
racks were ‘blowm down; and: in
different parts of the country houses
have been unroofed, and trees-torn
up by the roots. A cutter belong-
ing to Folkstone foundered at. sea,
and every personon board perished.
The beach was covered, for some
days, with timber of different sorts,
barrels, staves, &c. As the con-
gregation was assembling at Mar-
gate, for divine service, in the parish
church, a large portion of the tiling
came down on the sky-lights, and
drove in upwards of fifty large
squares of glass; and, though falling
on the pews where several persons
were seated, providentially none of
them were injured thereby. But,
from the tiles continuing to fall, it
being dangerous to proceed with the
service, the congregation was. dis-
missed. His majesty’s sloop of war,
La Suffisante, of 16 guns, capt.
Heathcote, was lost at the entrance
of Cork harbour. Seven of the
crew were unfortunately drowned,
and three killed by the falling of a
mast. La Suflisante sailed from
Cove on the preceding day, with
a number of volunteer seamen and
soldiers on board for England; and,
in attempting to return fer shelter,
she struck upon Spike island, and,
in a very short time, went to pieces.
No other material accident hap-
pened in that direction during the
late tremendous gale, though the

Hh2 harbour

468

hatbour. of \Cork.s:iwaso! crowded
with » West-Indiamen waiting for
convoy.
During the> severe hurricane of
this day, the tops of many chimneys
im the-metropolis were blown down,
and: some houses;-were nearly un-
roofed. There was no walking in
the streets with'safety.. Many pas-
sengers were: hurt: by’ the falling of
tiles. » The casement of a windows
light: blew: downfrom the garret
window of the Flying-horse, Lam~
beth-street, Whitechapel, on the
head -of: a child, who was passing
at the time, and fractured its skull.
The infant was immediately taken
to the: hospital, but without hopes
of recovery. A boy, about eight
years old, crossing the upper end
of Park-street, was forcibly carried,
by. a:sudden gust, to some consi-
derable distance, and, by its con-
tinued violence, rolled several times
over along the ground before he
could be taken up; in the fall his
under Jip was shockingly lacerated
through to the chin, and the whole
of his face very much bruised: he
was carried to a surgeon in North-
Audley-street. A stack of chim-
neys,in St. James’s-place was blown
down; they fell over the parapet
into the street, but happily no per-
son was passing at the time. An-
other stack in Norris-street, Hay-
market, was blown down. About
the same time, the parapet of the
front of a pablic-house in Sutton-
street, Soho-square, had the same
mischance, attended by similar cir-
cumstances. Much damage has
been done upon the river. Between
Blackfriars and London bridges,
four wherries were overset and
sunk. Two coal barges brokefrom
their moorings, and drove upon the
starlings of London bridge, where

ANNUALUREGIESTER,

1803.

they were dashed to pieces’ by the
impetuosity of the waves; fortu-
nately no persons were on board.
The small vessels appointed for the
conveyance of the volunteers and
impressed seamen from the Tender,
stationed off the Tower, to the
Nore, were unable ‘to: proceed far~
ther. than Limehouse. The men
were accordingly taken out at that
place, and conveyed to their desti-
nation in vessels better calculated
to combat the storm. <A large tier
of ships were driven from their
moorings at Shadwell, and received
much injury. Lvery other part of
the river has suffered, more or less,
from the same cause. In the wet
docks, in the Isle of Dogs, though
several prize ships broke from their
moorings, by the badness of their
own tackling, the mooring-stones
remained perteétly steady, as did all
the ships that were properly moored.
Some trifling damage was done to
the copper roofs lately fixed on one
or two of the new warchouses, and
to the shed upon the North Quay.—
Almost every unfinished new build-
ing along the Sussex coast has been
levelled with the ground ; and chim-
neys, to the great annoyance and
danger of the inhabitants, have been
precipitated through the roofs, and
many of them have made their way
to the ground-floor. A considera~
ble part of the ancient wall which
surrounds the old Park at Canon-
bury, with the embankment thrown
up for the ball-firmg of the London
volunteer corps, were leveiled with
the ground; and part of the royal
standard was blown from Wind-
sor castle.

Q7th. The light-house, on Wal-
ney island, was this night burnt
down.

20th. At Horningtoft, in Nor-

folk,

CHRONICLE.’

folk, Mr. Brandford had employed
a person from Ormsby, near Yar-
mouth, to sink a well, seventy feet
deep, which he\ had nearly accom-
plished; when, unfortunately, _be-
ing at the bottom thereof, the sur-
face gave way, and buried him in its
ruins. In this deplorable situation
he remained some time, as he was
heard, to groan. more than two
hours.

3\st. The following report has
been made of the number of persons
who have received yaccine inecula-
tion, free of expence, at the stations
of the Royal Jennerian Society, to
the 20th of November :

Central House, No. 14, Salis. Persons,
bury-square . - = 1266

School-reom, Surry chapel 836
No. 20, Maze-pond South-
wark - - = 150
Mr. Townshend’s meeting-
house, Rotherhithe - 184
No. 172, High-street, Shad
well - - - i124
No. 2, Epping-place, Mile-
en - - - - i190
No.6, John-street, Minories 98
No. 119, Bishopsgate With-
out - - - - 359
Sunday-school, Hoxton - 235
Sunday-school, Golden-lane 193
Soup-house, Clerkenwell - 78
Sunday-school, Drury-lane 74
No. 29, Great Castle-street,
Oxford-market mio, vep) ABS
Sunday-school, Castle-street,
_ King’s-mews ‘ “ 71
4323
Inoculated before the Central .
house was opened - 275
Total 7 .

A598

To which may be added, that

409

2008 charges of .vagcine virus ;have
been supplied, free of expence; from
the Central-house, to 1559 applica-
tions, many of them from remote
parts of the British empire, and fo-
reign places... The supply ef vac-
cine. matter from the other stations
has also been very considerable.
From the above statement, it must
be evident, that the benefits of the
society have been already very im-
portant and extensive; but, when.
to these, are added, the prospect of
its increasing utility, the means and
stimulus it affozds to the propaga-
tion of vaccine inoculation in all
parts of the British empire, and
throughout the world; it assumes

_a beneficial importance to mankind,

which can hardly be estimated.

BIRTHS tn thé Fear 1803.

Jan. 1st. The. wife. of Moses
Solomon, a Jew, of Stoney-lane,
Petticoat-lane, of.three daughters
and a son, alb likely to do well.

2d. The wife-of col. Campbell,
ofthe sixth foot, a daughter.

6th. The. wife of James Wood-
ward, labourer, of St. Helen’s, Lan-
caster, three daughters; all, with
their mother, who is in her 50th
year, likely to do weil. he father
is upwards of 65.

9th. At Haines castle, in Scot-
land, lady Erroll, a daughter.

11th. In South Audley-street,
the marchioness of Buto,ason.

At Dublin, the wife of col. An-
struther, a son, who died in a few
hours.

14th. The wife of lieut. col.
Robert Craufurd, a son.

The wife of capt. Wm. Bowen,
of Summers Leage-house, a son.

16th. At Powerscourt - house,

Hh 3 Dublin,

‘470

“Dublin, ¥iscountess Powerscourt, a
‘daughter. |.» 10 S04

An Munsfieldtstroet; he countess
of Limerick, addaehten,

20th. At Frome, in the county

Campbell,
guards,

22d.
daughter. } 3

‘24th: At ~Mereworth - castle,
Kent, lady Le Despencer, a daughter.

25th. Mrs. Steel, widow of the
late unfortunate Mr. J. C. S$. who
was barbarously murdered, Nov. 6.
on Hounslow-heath*, a son.

At his lordship’s “house, in Cleve-
land-row, lady Hervey, a son.

28th. At Holmbush, near Hor-
sham, Sussex, the lady of the hon. J.
T. Capel, a son.

29th. At Cottle’s-house, Wilts,
the wife of B. Hobhouse, esq. M. P.
a daughter.

30th, At Madeira, the wife of
Tho. Babington, esq. M. P. for
Leicester, a son.

Lately, at Castle-Barnard, in
Treland, the countess of Bandon, a
‘son.

At Wilmar, the hon. Mrs Jeph-
son, wife of L. Hickey J. esq. a
son.

At his lordship’s seat, Ugrooke,
near Chudleigh, lady Clifford, a
son.

Lady Mary Murray, of Ochter-
tyre, a daughter.

The lady of sir Francis L. Wood,
of Hanworth, a daughter.

At Ampton, Suffolk, lady Charles
Fitzroy, a daughter.

The lady of the hon. capt. Ram-
say, of the 92d foot, a daughter.

At Rochester, the lady of the
hon. and rey. do¢tor Marsham, a
daughter,

of the king’s dragoon-
a daugliter.
Lady “William Russel, a

ANNUAL REGUSTER,

1803.
Feb. 1st. At Bradley-hall, in the

-county of Durham, the lady of sir
‘Thomas ‘Liddell, bart. a son.

2d. The wife of col. Crosbie, of

-Northlands, Sussex, a son and heir.
“of Somerset, the: wile of major -

v4th. At the Admiralty, the hon.

Rirs..J.'Markham, ‘a son.

Sth, Hon. Mrs. Baird, wife of
lieut. col. By ason.

6th. At Melbourne, inthe coun-
ty of Dorset, the countess of ‘Il-
chester, a son.

At Lisbon, ladyR obert Fitzgerald,
her sixth daughter and eighth child.

7th. At Mulgrave-castle, lady
Mulgrave, a daughter.

8th. In Queen Anne-street,
west, the hon. Mrs. Poyntz, a
danghter.

At Holton-park, co. Oxford, the
hon. Mrs. Parker, a daughter.

9th. Viscountess Southwell, a
daughter.
11th. At Richmond, Surry,

the hon. Mrs. Smith, a son.

12th. At his lordship’s house at
Hadley, near Barnet, lady Charles
Somerset, a son.

14th. In Lincoln’s Inn-fields, the
hon. Mrs. Spencer Percival, lady of
the attorney-general, a Son.

In Baker-street, the wife of lieut.
col. Knox, of the 1st foot-guards, a
son.

18th. Hon. Mrs. Ryder, a
daughter.
20th. At Armagh, in Ireland,

the lady of major-gen. sir Charles
Ross, bart. a son and heir.

At Berlin, the queen of Prussia, a
princess.

In Dover-street, Piccadilly, lady
Blaney, of a son.

24th. At Columbo, in the island
of Ceylon, the lady of the hon. sir
Edward Carrington, chief justice of
the supreme court of judicature of

that.

* Vide Chronicle, 1802,

CHRONICLE.

that islandj.cand member of “the ;

council there, a son.

» 25th. odn Clifford-street, the la-

dy of the hon. John Bridgman, ‘a

son.
28th. ,jAt' Frankfort, co. Cork,

Ireland, the lady of the hon. col.

W. Mordaunt Maitland, a:son:

_ ‘The dady) of capt. Boucher of the

R.N. of ason..

Lately, at the earl of Derby’s
house, in Grosvenor-square, lady
Stanley, a son and heir.

In upper Grosvenor-street, the
Jady of the hon. George Villiers, a
daughter.

The lady of the hon. and:rey. Mr.
Twisleton, a daughter.

The wite of Dr. Mansell, master
of Trinity-college, Cambridge, two
children.

March st.
house, in Wigmore-street, lady Pa-
get, a son.

3d. In Hertford-street, May-
fair, viscountess Middleton, adaugh-
ter.

4th. In St. James’s-square, the
lady of the hon. St. George Caul-
field, a daughter.

oth. At Caswick, co. Lincoln,
the lady of sir John Trollope, bart.

a daughter.

10th. At Groton-house, ..the
wife of John Pytches, esq. M. ‘P. a
daughter.

13th.. In Wimpole-street, the

countess of Cork, a son.

15th. At Malling, Sussex, the
wife of capt. Young, R...N. of a
‘son.

16th. -At Kimbolton-castle, «the
‘duchess of Manchester, a daughter.

17th. At Edinburgh, the wife of
capt. Ogilvey, R. N..a son.

24th. In Berkeley-square, the
Jady of the bishop of St. Asaph, a
son.

At his lordship’s ©

474

In Burlington-street, the lady: of
sir John Hayes, bart.a son.

In Wimpole-street, lady Elizabeth
Loftus, a son.

25th. The wife of. lient.. ‘col
Dyke, a son and heir.

26th. The wife of capt. Lam.
bert, R. N. a son.

28th. ‘The wife of James Dupré,
esq. ason and heir.

31st. The ‘hereditary printcess
of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, a «prin-
cess.

Lately, in Cayendish-rew, Dub-
lin, lady H. St. George, a daugh-
ter.

April 1st.. At Dresden, the wife
of Alexander Campbell, esq. of
Gatcomb-house, in’ » Isle of
Wight, and Jate lieut. col. .of the
86th foot, a daughter.

2d! The wife of capt. G. Mur-
ray, R. N. a son.

In Charlotte-street, Bloomsbury,
the lady of sir Francis Vincent, bart.
a son and heir.

5th, In Gloucester-place, the
lady of the hon. major-gen. F anki,
a son.

6th. In Guildford.street, the
lady of the hon. James Abercromby,
a son.

9th. In Berkeley-square, the
wife of J. Adams, esq: M. P..for

‘Harwich, a son:

10th. In Manchester-square, lady
C. Drummond, a son.

12th. In "Spring-gardens, the
countess of Berkeley, a daughter.

At Latham-house, co. Lancaster,
the wife of Edward Wilbraham
Bootle, esq. M. P. 1a still-born
son.

13th. At Baldwins, Kent, :the
lady of sir John Harrington, a
daughter.

15th.

Hh4

The wife of lieut. col.
- Hutchinson,

472

‘Hutchinson, of the 49th foot, a
son, asi
© -of7th.. In. Upper Grosvenor-

street, the lady of Sir Robert Peel,
bart..M. P. a daughter.

At her father’s house in Grosve-
ator-place, the wife of col. Wild, a
son.
oreath.
pleat one Kent, a daughter.
25th, Lady William Beauclerk,
a son.

At the house of her father-in-law
Marquis Cornwallis, in Burlington-
street; the lady of lord viscount
Brome, a daughter.

27th. At Dominica, the lady of
sgovernor Prevost,a daughter.
so 29th. At his lordship’s house in
Saville-row,. lady G. H. Cavendish,
a daughter. .

' Lately, at Chatham, the lady of
sir William Burdett, bart. a’daugh-
ter.

At Bristol, the wife of col. Baillie,
a son.

' Lately, ‘the lady of the rigiit hon.
<iinwtcg Fitzgerald, knt, of Kerry,
a son and heir.

In Lansdown-places'! Bath, | the
lady of rear-adm. ‘sir Charles Henry
Knowles, bart. a son.

‘May 2d. Ati: Brighthelmstone,

lady Leslie, a daughter. >

4th. Lady Catherine Graham, a
ydaughter.
5th. Lady Sefton, a daughter.

The wife of capt. Pierrepoint, R.
N.a son.
© In Arlington street, the countess
Sutherland, a son.
8th. At Ealing, Middlesex, the
wife of capt. George Hopewell, Ste-
© phens, R. N. a son.
24th. In New Cavyendish-street,
the lady of Sir John i bart.
‘a son and heir.
a

ANNU.AL REGISTER,

The wife of ‘col. Hay, of «

1805.

26th. At Ball’s-parky the hort.

Mrs. Boyle, a daughters

- 30th, At» Mount Browne, co.
Mayo, Ireland, the Jady® of right
hon. Denis Browne, a son.

June 1st. Mary Robinson, the
unfortunate beauty of aneyairg
a still-born child. a

5th. Athis.seat in Eibebintilire,
the lady of sir Thomas W inchcote,
bart. a daughter. °

8th. In Lower Brook-streed,
lady Henry Steward, a son aid
‘heir, ;

oth. In Gloucester=place, ( the

lady of vice-admiral sir John Orde,
bart.:a son:

12th. In 'Tilney-street, lady Mary
Myers, a son.

14th. The wifeof Thomas Jones,
a journeyman lace-weaver, of Lang-
ley-street, Long Acre, of 2 daugh-
ters and a son; all, with their mo-
ther, likely to do well.

16th. In South Audley-street,.-
the countess of Albemarle, a daugh-
ter.
24th. In Hill-streety Jady Mor-
peth, a daughter. + A

At his house at Crayen-hill,
lady of sir Wm. Beechey, a son.

25th. At Castle-martyr, in Ire-
land, viscountess Boyle,;.a daugh-
ter.

‘26th. At Winchester-house, Chel.
sea, the lady of the hon. and rey.

the

‘Tho. de Grey, a daughter.

28th. In Gloucester-place, lady
Cathcart, a son.

.29th.. In Great Cumberland-
place, the lady of admiral sir Hyde
Parker, a son and heir.

July 2d.. At Herdmanston, in
Scotland, lady Sinclair, a son.

At Marsk-hall, in Cleveland, the
lady of the hon. Lawrence. Dundas,
a daughter. ivid ;
; 5th. At

Bi CHRON! LE. 473

' 5ih. At Woodstock, lady vis-
in tatk Ashbrooke, a daughter.

7th. In Baker-street, lady Char-
otte Gould, a son and heir.

12th. In Somerset-place, | lady

Louisa Rodney, a daughter.

» 17th. At the iiitisa of viscount
Sicioest, in Portman-sguare, the
hon. Mrs. Bentick, wife of gov.
‘B. ason and heir.

21st. In Portman-street; the
dady of sir Edward Knatchbull.
tbart. a daughter.
23d. The lady of sir John Goy-
‘don, dart. a daughter.
25th. In Dublin; lady A. M.
Cotton, a son.
-»27th.. In Chandos-street, the
lady of admiral sir Charles Pole,
_bart..a daughter.
> Lately, in Gardiner’s-row, Dub-
lin, lady Maxwell, a son.
At Castle-town, in Ireland, vis-
countess Dunlo, ason and heir.
Mrs. White, of Thumpton, near
Retford, co. Nottingham, three
- daughters.
The wife of Mr. John Pilkington,
- farmer, of Canliffe, near Blackburn,
_ three daughters ; the mother is in her
Ad ‘year; had before’ borne eleven
children, at single births ; and the
grandmother, by the .father’s side,
aged 92, was the poate on this
-accasion.
> 29th. In Bloomsbury-squaré,
the lady of lord chief justice Ellen-
borough, their tenth child, which
died August 10th.
> August 1st. At Inveresk, near
Edinburgh, the wife of lieut. col.
Burnett, a daughter.
? The lady of sir Henry Harpur,
bart. of Calke-park, co. Derby, a
“yson.
_) 8th... Liwenny, viscountess Kirk-
_ wall, a son and heir.

Oth. In Somerset-place, the
lad of sir W. Rule, a daughter,

oth. At Ruperf-house, co.
Sathampton, the marchioness of
Vinchester, a son.

73th, Lady Pelham, a daughter.
) 14th. © Lady Sarah Baily, a son.

/ 15th. In Manchester-street, the
wife of captain Elphinstone; R, N.
a daughter.

16th. . Lady Jand Long, of Hill-
street, a son. i

17th, Int Hillestreet, eae
square, the hon. .Mrs. Bernard,
daughter, which dicd the next i

In :Charlotte-square, Edinburgh,
the lady of the -hon. Archibald
Maedonald,a son. © :

20th. The wife of capt, Whitby,
R, N..a daughter, which ated the
same day.

Qist,’ © At her mother’s bivios,
Bagshot-lodge, Surrey, the wife of
capt. Mends, R. N..a daughter,

23d; In> Lower Brooke-street,
Grosvenor-square, the lady of sir
Robert Barclay, bart. M. P.a son.

98th. In Hart-street, Blooms-
bury, the wife of capt. G. H.
Towry, R. N.a son.

Sept. 3d... The lady of sir Robert
Williams, bart. M. P. for Carnar-
vonshire, a daughter.

Ath. The wife of col. Lowther,

-a daughter.

At Yarmouth, the. lady’ of sir
Richard Bedingfield, bart. a sen.

At Jamaica, He: lady of lieut.
gen. Nugent, lieut: governor of that
island, a daughter.

lith: The wife of brigadier-ge-
neral Hunter, a son,

13th.. In Portland-place, the
countess of Mansfield, a daughter.

14th. At Mbelville-castle, the
hon. Mrs. Dundas; of Melville, a
daughter.

15th. At

474

15th. At Martland-field, Irs.
col. Martland, a son.

18th. At Kly-house, the wis of
col. Anstruther, a-son.,

19th. The queen of |Sardiia,
two princesses, whom the ‘pme
baptized, onthe following day, iy
the names of Maria Theresa ar
Marianna.

22d. At East Woodhay-farm,
lady Augusta Leith, ason.

25th. At his house in Portman-
square, the lady of col. Beaumont,
M., P. a daughter.

Lately, in the palace of Kilkenny,
Trelaud, the seat of the bishop of
Ossory, the wife of the rev. Dodg-
son Maddan, a daughter.

At Bothwell-castle, near Glas-
gow, Scotland, lady Douglas, a son.

At Swillington-hall, near York,
lady Elizabeth Lowther, a son.

In Ingleton, in the west riding of
Yorkshire, the wife of John Par-
rington, a labouring collier, three
sons and a daughter, who all died
soon after baptism.

At Buxton, lady Hunloke, a
son.

In Park-street, Bath, the hon.
Mrs. King, a daughter. sa

At her mother’s house, in Port-
land-place, lady Southampton, a
daughter.

The lady of sir Marcus Somer-
ville, bart. of Somerville, co. Meath,
a son.

Oct. ist. At Wimbledon, Surry,
lady Louvaine, a son.

In Harley-street, Cavendish-
square, lady -Charlotte Lenox, a
daughter.

4th. In Grosvenor-square, lady
Anne Ashley, a son.

1ith. At Botleys, Surry, the

“lady of sir Joseph Mawbey, bart. a
daughter, who died soon after.
12th. At Garendon-park, (the

ANNUALREGISTER, 1803.

seat of her father, Thomas March
Phillips, esq.) the lady of the -hon.
and rev. Henry Ryder, a fon. +>

17th. Attithe mang ufis’s, seat, cat
Longleat, the marchioness of Bath,
a son.

2yst. In Hill-street; Berkeley-
square, the wife of major-general
Hewitt, a daughter. 104)

The duchess of Somerset, a
daughter.

gad. At Wortley-hall, co. York,
lady Caroline Stuart Wortley, a
daughter. .

26th. At Aberdeen, the wife of
col. Gilbert, a.son.

97th. At Northwick-park, co.
Worcester, lady Caroline Rushout,
a daughter.

30th. At Weddial-hall, Herts,
lady Charlotte Howard, a daughter.

At Guernsey, the lady of rear-
admiral sir James Saumarez, a son.

31st. The lady of the hon. col.
Vaughan, M.P. a son.

Lately in Merrion-square, Dub-
lin, the countess of Meath, a son.

At Tramore-lodge, near Water-
ford, the wife of Edward Lee, esq.
M. P. a daughter.

At Walthamstow-house, Essex,
the wife of col. Robert Wigram,
M. P. a son.

Lady Catharine Barlow, a son.

Nov. 5th. Lady viscountessFalk-
land, a son.

6th. At the earl of Suffolk’s, at
Charlton, viscountess Andover, a
daughter.

8th. At Ingestree, in Kent, the
countess Talbot, a son.

10th. At Flower-place, Surry, the
lady of the hon. George Neville, a.
son.

13th. In York-street, the lady
of the hon. E. J. Turnour, a still- _
born son. :

14th. At Grange, near Wake-

field,

‘CHRONIC LE.

field, co. York, lady Ambit ete, =

- son.

15th: In Ghanlests i286; Berke:
_ ‘Tey-square, the dady of General
lope, a son.
./19th. »In Upper Brook:street,
Jady Wilton, a son.

20th: Mrs. Jordan, of Visit
lane theatre, a daughter.

'2ast../ The lady” of sir Hedworth
Witltnason, bart. :a daughter.

24th. Atherhousein Lower Gros-

. ‘venor-street, lady Amherst, a son.

Lately, at fly the, in Kent, the
-wife of lieut. col. Sidney Beck with,
‘a daughter.

Dec. 11th. At Edinburgh,
wife of liewt, col. Ainslie, a son.

12th. Hon. Mrs. Warneford, of
‘Warneford-place, near Highworth,
a daughter.

17th. At the parsonage-house,
at Great-Wickington, co. Norfolk,
‘the lady of the hon. William Fitzroy,
ason.

the

19th. At Carlton, near Nor- .

wich, the Hon. Mrs.
daughter.

Near Eton College, the wife of
capt. Schomberg, R. N. a son.
20th. In Hertford-street, May-
fair, the wife of John Dent, esq.
M.P. a son.

27th. At Taplow, the hon. Mrs.
Grenfell, wife of Pascoe, G. esq.
M. P. a daughter.

Lately, in Camden-street, Dub-

Petree, a

_ ‘lin, /the wife of lieut.-gen. Vallancey,

‘a son.
At Gongar-house, in Scotland,

_ the hon. Mrs. Ramsay, a daughter.

,

A
'

AtThistleton, lady Mary Fludyer,
a son.

MARRIAGES in the Year 1803.

Jan. 1st. William Ord, esq. of
Benham, co. Northumberland and
A

475

M. Pi:for. ‘Morpeth, :to Miss Scott,
daughter of thelaterev. James'S. of
Itchin-ferry; Southampton.

8d. laord Andover, to°the hon.
Miss Dutton.

6th. At Earsdon, Northum-
berland, ‘lord “Delaval,. to Miss
Knight:

10th. At Blockley, near North-

wick-park, the hon. and rey. George
Rushout, son of lady Northwick,

‘to lady Caroline Stewart, daughter

to the earl of Galloway.

13th. At Ipswich, Joseph Grove,
esq. of Woodford, Essex, to the
eldest daughter of major-gen. Goldie,
of Goldie Leigh, near Dumfries, Scot-
land.

Rey. William Digby, of Offen-
ham, co. Worcester, to the hon.
Miss C. F. Digby, maid of honour
to her majesty.

16th. Charles Morley Balders,
esq. of .West Barsham, Norfolk,
to the hon Miss Hare, daughter of
lord Ennismore.

18th. John F.'H. Rawlins, esq.
to Miss Baker, eldest daughter of
Wm. B. esq. of Bayfordbury, Herts,
and only daughter by his first lady,
who was daughter of the late lady
Juliana Penn.

20th. Capt. John Bushby, of the
R. N. to Miss Mary Bushby, of
Orchard-street.

At St. George’s, Hanover-square,
major-gen. Gent, to Miss Temple

French.

2ist. By special licence, at lady
Cecilia Johnson’sin Wimpole-street,
Anthony Merry, esq. late his ma-
jesty’s minister-plenipotentiary to
the French republic, to the widow
of John Leather, esq. of Herring-
fleet-hall, Suffolk.
27th. Captain Holder, oftheR.N.
to the eldest daughter of the late
J.C. Troy, esq. of Chatham.
3lst. James Patrick Murray,
esq.

476

esq. M.P. for Yarmouth, only son
of the late hon. gen. James M. to
the eldest daughter of Edward Rush-
worth, esq. of Fresh Waterhouse,
Isle of Wight, and grand-daughter
to lord Holmes.

Feb. 2d. By special licence, at
the earl of Jersey’s, in Stradford-
place, J. B. Ponsonby, esq..to lady
Frances Villiers, fourth daughter of
his lordship.

Ath. Capt: George Hope, of
the R.N. to lady Jemima John-
stone, daughter of the earl.of Hope-
town.

9th.. At Ballindean, in Perth-
shire, the hon. major-gen. Hope,
to Miss Louisa Dorothea Wedder-

burn, daughter of :sir John W.
bart. i
19th. William Bloxam, esq. son

of sir Matthew B. M. P. to Miss
Anne Burnett, daughter of sir Ro-
bert b.

By special licence, at the duke of
Portland’s Burlington-house, Pic-
cadilly, lord William Cavendish
Bentinck, his grace’s second son, and
lately appointed governor-generai of
India, to the hon. Miss Acheson,
daughter of lord Gosford.

March 3d. Wm, Wass Langford,
Esq. consul at Tripoli, to Miss. Pea-
cocke, daughter of Marmaduke P.
esq. of Cavendish-square.

5th. At Bath, lieut.-col. Alex-
ander Colston, son of the late rey.
A.C, of Filtrin’s-hall, co, Oxford,
to the only daughter of James War-
rington, esq. of St. James’ s-square,
Bath,

7th. At Bath, by special licence,

_ the hon. Mr. Dutton, brother: to
lord Sherborne, to, Miss Honoria
Gubbins.

8th. At» Edinburgh, the hon.
Alexander Murray, “eldest son of
Jord Elibank, to Miss Oliphant, of
Bachilten.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

April Ast. At St. James’s-church)
J. Leach, esq. to the second daugh-
ter of sir W. Beaumarice Rush.

8th.) At Dromoland, the seat of
sir Edward O‘Brien, bart. of [re-
land, Thomas Arthur, esq. of Glo-
nomera, to Miss Harriet Smith,
daughter of Wm. S. esq. and sister
to lady O‘Brien.

lith. Hon. Mr. Smith, to the
youngest daughter of John Tylee,
esq. banker of Devizes, Wilts.

15th. Atsir John Sinclair’s, in
Charlotte-street, Edinburgh, lord
Polkemmet, to Miss Sinclair, daugh-
ter of the late George 8. esq.» of

‘Ulvster.

16th. At Rome, lord Cloncurry,
of the kingdom of Ireland, to Eliza,
youngest daughter of major-general
Morgan, of Portland-place.

18th. By special licence, major
Maxwell,. eldest son of sir Wm. M.
bart, of Monteith, and brother to
the duchess of Gordon, to Miss Ca-
therine Fordyce, daughter of John
F. esq.

19th. At Brompton chapel, by
special licence, sir Charles Hamilton,
bart. to the.only daughter of the late
George Drummond, esq. banke r)
Charing-cross.

2ist. At Aston chapel, the
hon. Thomas Kenyon, to Miss
Charlotte Lloyd, sister of Wm. L.
esq. of Aston.

Lately, at lord Whitworth’s cha-
pel, at Paris, Lambton Este, esq. to
Miss Smith, daughter of the late sir
Rob. S. bart. ‘

J. M. Scott, esq. of Bullygannon,
Wicklow, Ireland, to lady Arabella
Brabazon.

At Hammersmith, Middlesex, Tho-
mas Bond, esq. eldest son of sir
James Bond, bart. to the youngest
daughter of the late John Read, esq.
of Portchester-lodge, Hants.

Att, Helena, major Henry Tor--

rens,

CHRONIC LE.

rens, of the 86th foot,’ to: Miss S.
Patten, daughter of col. Pe ‘governor.
of that island.
_ May 4th. At Bath, Thomas D.
Hall, esq. of Seymour-street, to the
hon. ’ Miss Tiystght; rs a of aady
Lisle. /
YG. By special Hebe’, at Dublin,
Thomas, Tenison,.ésq. of Castle
‘Tenison, co. Roscommon, to lady
Frances King, youngest daughter to
the earl of Kingston. ;
—, John, Thoralinson; esg. of Cleys
Norfolk, to the eldest daughter of
sir George Chad, bart. of Thursford-
hall, same county,
9th. At East. Horsley, Siar
the hon. Henry Blackwood, captain
in the royal navy, and youngest son
of baroness Dufferin, to Miss Gore,
daughter of the late Francis G. esq.
iith. Rev. James Jason, rector of
Binegar, and vicar of Westbury and
Priddy, to Mrs. Bovet, widow of
the late doctor B. daughter of the
late hon. and rev. lord Francis Sey-
mour, and niece to the D. of So-
merset,
_ 14th. Capt. White, of the R.
N. son of gen. John W. to the wi-
dow of George Mowbray, esq. of
Mortimer, Berks.
18th. Capt. sir Wm. Bolton, R.
_N. to Miss Catherine Bolton.
23d. Col. Davies, of the Bengal
army, to Miss Maria Blair, daughter
_ of col. Blair, of Stratford-place.
- 24th. Lord viscount Galway, of
Serlby-hall, co. Nottingham, to the
widow of Pp, Drummond, esq. of
| Bawtry, co. York.
June 6th. At St. George’s Han-
_ Over-square, by the bishop of Dur-
“ham, lord Redesdale, lord high
chancellor of Ireland, to lady Fra,
- Percival.
7th. Hon. and rey. W. Capel,
fourth son of the late earl of Essex,

477.

to Miss)Salter, only) child of I’. S,
esq. of, Rickmansworth, Herts.

At Castle Menzies, Leas col. Ar.
chibald ‘ Butter, of. Pitlochie, to
Miss, Vere Menzies, daughter of sir
Robert M. bart.

By special licences: Wm. Strode,
esq.'of Northaw, Herts, to the hon,
Mrs. W. Finch, of Berner’s-street. .

At. Kilfergus, in Ireland, Joseph
Hume,. esq. }of _Hume-wood,. co.
Wicklow, brother, to the M. P. for
that county, to the only daughter of
the late rey. Charles Smith, of
Croagh, co. Limerick, and niece to
the late Arthur S$. archbishop of
Dublin.

8th. Lieut. col. Maitland, of the
first reg. of guards, to the second
daughter of lady Crofton.

13th. Captain Chesshyre, R. N.
to Miss Sandys, of St. Martins,
near Canterbury.
_ 14th. At. St. George’s, Hano-
ver-square, capt. Langford, R. N.
to Miss Ramsbottom, of Windsor.

21st. Lieut. col. Peacocke, eld.
est son of sir Joseph P. bart. to the
eldest daughter of John Morris, esq.
of Claremont, co. Glamorgan.

23d. By special licence, at Fife-
house, White-hall, his grace, John,
duke of Bedford, to lady Georgiana
Gordon, fifth and youngest daughter
of the duke of Gordon.

Lieut. col. Taylor, of the 20th
light dragoons, to Miss Baker,
daughter of J. B. esq. M. P. for
Canterbury.

27th. At St. James’s church,
lord Graves, son of the late admiral
G. to lady Mary Paget, daughter of
the earl of Uxbridge.

July 6th. Cant, Cuthbert, of the
R.N. to the eldest daughter of the
late Alexander Willock, esq. of Bed.
ford-square.

7th. Sir Henry Peyton, bart. of

Hagheach,

478

Hagheaeh, co. Cambridge,“ to: Mrs,
Bradshaw, widow ‘of’ James- By esqy
of Portland-place, 9.80 4

13th. At St. George’s}. Hahiover2
square, by ‘special liceneey ‘major
Milner, of the York hussars,'son’ of
sir W. M. Bart,to Miss Clements,
grand-danghter’ of wae Be ben
John Beresford. |

14th. At Tale, . co, Ladicaster,
by’ special- licence, George. John
Leigh, esq. of Leigh, co. Chester, to
the eldest daughter of John’ Black-
barne, esq. M.’P. for Lancashire:

16th: Col, Robson, of Hwham,
Jate’ governor, of St. Helena, to
Mrs. Seymour, of Sloane-square,
Knightsbridge. |

19th. Wm. Dickinson, esq. M.
P. son of Wm. D. esq. M: P. for
King’s Western, county of Somerset,
to the eldest daughter of Sam. Smith,
esq. M.P. of Woodhall-park; Herts,

Lieut, col. Browne, of the 59th
foot, to the second daughter of sir
Wm. Wolseley, bart. of Wolseley-
hall, co. Stafford.

26th. At Bath, lieut. col. Browne,
of Browne-hall, co. Mayo, Ireland,
to the youngest daughter of the late
col. Arthur Browne, second son of
John Browne, earl of Alamont.

August 4th. By special licence,
at the duke of Hamilton’s house, in
Grosvenor-place, lord viscount Fin-
castle, to lady Susan [lamilton.

By special licence, sir Hunger-
ford Hoskyns, bart, of Harewood,
co. Hereford, to the youngest
daughter of John Phillips, esq. of
Bank, in Lancashire.

Sth. At St, George’s, Hanover-
square, Charles Manners, esq. to
Mrs. Clark, daughter to general
Gardiner.

1ith, At Cheltenham, Phillip
Roche, esq. of Limerick, in Ireland,

ANNUAL! REGISTER,

1803.

to the hom, Anne Plunkett), youngest
daughter of lord Dunsany.

Hon. John Dutton, son of lord
Sherborne, to! the hon. Miss Legge,
only daughter of lord Stawell,

13th. Matthew White Ridley,
esq. eldest son of sir M. W: ri
bart) Mi) P) for Neweastle-upon-
Tyne, to Miss-Laura Hawkins. °

“Alt his grace’s’seat, near Rich-
mond, by:special licence, sir Charks
Ditton, Surry, to lady ‘Caroline
Seott, 3d daughter of the duke of
Buceleugh.)

15th... John Tillie Coryton, esq.
of Crocadon, Cornwall, to the
youngest ‘daughter of the late admi-
ral John Leveson Gower.

24th, By special licence, at Pep-
per Harrow, the seat of lord vis-
ceunt Middleton, Inigo Freeman
Thomas, esq. of Ratten, co. Sussex,
to the hon. Miss Broderick, his
lordship’s eldest daughter.

Sept, ist. At Edinburgh, David
Kemp, esq. son of the rev, doétor
Kemp, to the eldest daughter of sir
James Colquhoun, bart. of Lufs.

5th, David Erskine, esq. of Car.
dross, to the youngest daughter of
the late John lord Keith Elphin.
stone,

12th. Lieut. col. Peachey, late
M. P. for Yarmouth, to Kmma |
Frances, youngest daughter of Thos,
Carter, esq. of Lynchfield house,

19th. By special licence, at Mrs.
Peter’s, at Leatherhead, Surry, John
Campbell, esq. M. P. to the eldest
daughter of the late lieut. col. Da-
vid Hay.

20th. At Stanton-Downham, the
hon. Mr, Wellesley, to lady Char-
lotte, second daughter of lord Ca-
dogan.

29th. At Fulbech, co. Lincoln,
col, Mitchel, of Daw lish, co, Beret,

to

to the eldest daughter of the late
how. Henry Fane.”

Oéi. 1st. John Atkins, esq. M.
P.,of Charlton, Kent, to the only
daughter of the rev. doctor Barnaby,
of Greenwich. anid
_ 5th. William Jerningham, esq.
‘son of sir Wm. J. bart. of Castes-
sey-hall, to Miss Wright, daughter of
Thos. W.. esq. of Londen, banker.

24th. John Williams, esq. M. P.
for Windsor, to Miss Elizabeth Cur-
rie, daughter of do¢ier Currie, of

By. special» licence,
Wit Tatton Egerton, of St. James’s-
square, ‘Tatton-park, in Cheshire,
and Witton Shaw, near Stockport,
and M. P. for the county of Ches-
ter, to Miss Charlotte Clara Payler,
of lliden, near Canterbury.
» At Kensington, George Aust,
esq. of Chelsea, to the hon, Mrs,
_ Murray, widow of the late hon.
Wm. M. brother to the earl of
Dunmore, .
8rd. Richard Ottley, esq. eldest
son of president Ottley, of St. Vin-
“cents, to Sarah, eldest daughter of sir
W. Young, bt. M. P. for St. Mawes.
5th. At Streatly, Berks, rev. E.
Evans, M. A. vicar of Dymock, co.
Gloucester, to the hon. Miss Brad-
shaw.
6th. At Berlin, Francis James
Jackson, esq. envoy extraordinary
_and minister-plenipotentiary at that
court, to Mademoiselle Dorville,
daughter of the lord steward of the
_ court of the late Elizabeth, of Prussia.
10th, By special licence, the earl
_ of Belvidere, to Miss M‘Cay, daugh-
_ter of the rev. James M‘C. of Phips-
_ borough, co. Dublin.
__ 12th. Jacob Philips, esq. of the
Inner Temple, to Miss Berry, of
Southampton -street, Bloomsbury,
‘Sister to sir Edward B, of the R, N,

CHRONICLE.

479

19th. ° At, Deal, lord viscount
Mahon, eldest son of earl Stanhope,
to the hon. Catherine Lucy Smith,
second daughter of lord Carrington.

At Layton, Essex, Wm,. Curtis,
esq. of oLombardestreet, banker,
eldest son of sir Wim. ©. bart. to
Miss Lear, danghter of George L,
esq. of Laytonstone.

Lately, at Lambeth-palace, by
the archbishop of Canterbury, Ri b.
Duncombe Shaftoe, esq. to Miss
Kden, daughter of\ sir John’ Eden,
bast, or!y ni

23d. At Wanstead church, Es.
sex, his'excellency comte de Ralley,
to, mademoiselle Adelaide, princess
of Bourbon, daughter of the duke
de Bourbon, and. grand-daughter of
the prince de Conde.

28th. By special licence, Wm.
Churchill, esq. of Henbury, co.
Dorset, to the countess of Strafford.

30th. AtStoke, near Plymouth,
capt. Richard King, only son of ad-
miral sir Richard King, bart. to the
only daughter of rear-admiral sir J,
S. Duckworth,

Dec. ist. At St. George’s, Han-
over-square, Thomas Walpole, esq.
to lady- Margaret Percival,

At Calton, near Norwich, the
hon. F. P. Irby; son of lord Bos-
ton, and captain in the R. N. to
Emily, second daughter of the late
Wm. Drake, M. P. for Amersham
Bucks.

3d. Lieut.-col. Darley Griffiths
of the Ist. foot-guards, to Miss
Hankey of Felchham-park, Surry.

4th. At the Priory, the seat of
the marquis of Abercorn, Sir Tho-
mas Manners Sutton, solicitor-gene-
ral to his majesty, to Miss Copley,
sister of sir Lionel Copley, bart.

17th. Lieut.-col. Desborough, of
the royal marines, to Miss Vivian.
y 19th.

480
19th, “At St. George’s church,
Hanover-square, “capt. Sidenham,

son of the late'Gen. S. military au-
ditor-general at ‘Madras, | is rom
Bunbury. /

20th. .By» special lidende, ‘Mn
serjeant Vaughan, to Augusta, se-
cond danghter of lord St. John, of
Bletsoe.

Lately, at Standish, in estes.
shire, lieut. col. Browne, of the
12th dragoons, to Miss Clayton,
only daughter of sir Richard Clay-
ton, bart. of Adlington, in the same
eounty.:

William Vaughan, esq. of Courts
field, to Miss ‘Teresa Weld, fourth
danghtew of ‘Thomas Welds, esq. of
Lulworth Castle, Dorset.

At Ashford, co. Salop, rev. R. F.
Halifax, son of the late bishop of
St. Asaph, to Miss Ricketts, daugh-
ter of IT. C. R. esq. of Ashford
Hall.

Capt. Halsted, R. N. to Miss

Pellew, daughter of admiral sir Ed-,

ward Pellew, bart.

At Worcester, capt. Marcus' J.
Annesley, eldestson of the hon, and
rey. William A. dean of Down, in
Ireland, and nephew to the,earl of
Annesley, to Miss Caroline Smith,
daughter of the late Ferdinand 5.
esq. of the Grange, co. Salop.

At Leatherhead, Surry, John
Campbell, esq. M. P. of Leyton Hall,
Essex, to Miss E. Hay, daughter of
the late lieut. col. David Hay, of the
royal artillery:

Major Plunkett, to Miss Gun-
ning, niece to the celebrated beau-
ties, the duchess of Argyle, and
countess of Coventry.

At the court of Stutgard, baron
Spaen, the Batavian minister there,
to lady Louisa King, youngest
daughter of the countess of Kings.
yen.

TURE Ee meen y

1803.

bi

PROMOTIONS in the Year 1808,

Jian; Ist. The! right boi Thot
mas Steele, and John Hiley Ad-
dington, esqrs. appointed joint pay-
master-general of: his majery'@
forces,

3d. John Heley Addington, esq
elected to serve in parliament for the
borough of Harwich.

The right. hon, Sylvester lord.
Glenbervie, to the office of survey ors
general of his majesty’ s woods, oaks;
forests and. chaces,

» 4th. Col. Hugh Lyle Carmichael,
of the 24 West India regiment, to
be nrigadibesgeneraly in the island oF
Jamaicavonly,

7th. The king has been graci-
ously pleased, in® consideration of
the signal’services performed to his
majesty, and to his ally the Ottoman
emperor, by? sir William. Sidney
Smith, knight, commander and grand
cross of the royal Swedish military
order of the swofd, a captain in ‘the
royal navy, and) representative for
the city of Rochester, in the parlia-
ment of the united kingdom; and to
evince the sense which his majesty
entertains ef the great ability and
heroic perseverance manifested by
him, the said sir William Sidney
Smith, upon divers occasions, and
more especially of his able and highly
distinguished conduétin the detence of
the town of St.John d’ Acre, inSyria,
in the year 1799; his royal licence
and authority, that he may bear the
following hongurable augmentations
to the armorial ensigns borne by his
family, viz. on the cheveron, a wreath
of laurel, accompanied by two
erosses calvary; and, on a chief of
augmentation, the interior of an an-
cient fortification, in perspective: in

the

—— ee ee a

CHRONICLE,

the angle a breach ; and, on the sides
of the said breach, the standard of
the Ottoman empire, and the union
flag of Great Britain, as then dis-
played: and for crest, the imperial
Ottoman chelengk, or plume of tri-
umph, upon a turban—in allusion to
the highly honourable and distin-
guished decoration transmitted by

his said imperial majesty to sir Wil-
’ liam Sidney Smith, in testimony of

his esteem, and in acknowledgment
of his meritorous exertions in the
aforesaid defence; and the family
crest, viz. a leopard’s head, collated
and lined, issuant out of an oriental
crown : the said arms and crests to
be borne by him the said sir Wil-
liam Sidney Smith, and by his issue,
together with the motto ‘* Caur pr
Lion.” Andalthough the privilege
of bearing supporters be limited to
the peers of the realm, the knights
of his majesty’s orders, and the
proxies of princes of the blood royal
at installations, except in such cases
wherein, under particular circum-
stances, his majesty has been pleased
to grant his especial licence for the
use thereof; yet, in order to give a
further testimony of his majesty’s
particular approbation of the ser-
vices of the said sir William Sidney
Smith, he has beengraciously pleased
to allow him to bear, for supporters
to his arms, a tiger guardant, na-
vally crowned; in the mouth a palm
branch, being the symbol of victory,.
supporting the union flag of Great
Britain, with the inscription “¢ Je-
RUSALEM, 1799,” upon the.cross of
St. George; and a lamb, murally
erowned ; in the mouth an olive
branch, being the symbol of peace,
supporting the banner of Jerusalem :
the said armorial ensigns being first

‘duly exemplified according to the
‘Jaws of arms, and recorded in the.

Vou. XLY.

481

heralds’ office. And also to order
that this his majesty’s said conces-
sion and especial niark of his royal
favour be registered in the college of
arms.

29th. William Drummond, esq.
to be his majesty’s ambassador ex-
traordinary, and plenipotentiary to
the sublime Ottoman Porte.

Hugh Elliot, esq. to be his ma-
jesty’s. envoy extraordinary, and
minister plenipotentiary to the court
of Naples.

Anthony Merry, esq. to be his
majesty’s envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary to the
United States of America.

Edward Thornton, esq. to be his
majesty’s secretary of legation at the
Hague.

Philip Dundas, esq. to be member
of parliament for the borough of
Gatton, in the room of James
Dashwood, esq.

The king has been graciously
pleased to give and grant unto his
excellency Thomas earl of Elgin, his
majesty’s embassador extraordinary
and plenipetentiary at the Sublime
Porte, his royal licence and permis-
sion to receive and wear the insignia
of the order of the crescent, given to
him by the Ottoman empire ;

And to his excellency sir John
Borlase Warren, bart. &c. &c. &c.
ambassador extraordinary and pleni-
potentiary to the court of Russia,
the like permission. And also to
command that these his majesty’s
concessions and declarations, toge-
ther with the relative documents, be
registered in his college of arms.

Feb. 2d. Major Charles Hollo-
way, of the royal engineers, to the
honour of knighthood.

The hon. and rev. G, Pelham,
elected to the see of Bristol, in the
room of Folliot Herbert Walker-

hi late

482

late bishop thereof, translated to the
sce of Hereford.

5th. Col. T. Hislop to be tient.
governor of the island of Granada
and its dependencies.

Col. Thomas Hislop, of the 11th
West-India regiment, to be briga-
dier-general in the Leeward and
Windward Carribbee Islands only.

11th. ‘To the following dignities
in the peerage of Ireland, viz. To
Edward Henry viscount Limerick,
and his heirs male, the dignity of
earl of Limerick of the co. of Li-
merick.

To William Power Keatuge vis-
count Dunlo, and the heirs male of
his body, the dignity of earl of Clan-
carty, of the co. of Cork. To
Charlotte baroness Newcomen, wife
of sir William Gleadowe Newco-
men, of Moss-town, in the county
of Longford, the dignity of vis-
countess Newcomen ; and the dig-
nity of viscount Newcomen to the
heirs male of her body, by the said
sir William Gleadowe Newcomen.

16th. The right hon. John Hi-
ley Addington to be a member of
his majesty’s most honourable privy
council.

M. G. John Francis Cradock,
knighted and invested one of the
most honourable military order of
the Bath, with the usual ceremonies.

- 92d. The most noble George
Augustus, marquis of Donegall, to
be of his majesty’s most honourable
the privy council of Ireland.

Col. Robert Brereton, ef the
63d foot, to be brigadier-gene-
ral in the Windward and Leeward
Carribbee Islands only.

March 4th. George Harrigon,
esq. (norroy king of arms) to the
office of clarencieux king of arms,

“and principal herald of the south,
east, and west parts of England, in

ANNUAL'REGISTER, 1803.

‘the room of Thomas Locke, des

ceased.

Charles Mac Donnell, to be mem-
ber in parliament for the borough of
Yarmouth, vacated by James Pa-
trick Murray, esq. ‘

John Sweetland, to be principal
commissary of stores and privisions
at Gibraltar.

Lieut. col. James Butler, of the
invalid artillery, to be commandant
of the junior department in the royal
military college. Major Benjamin
D’Urban, of the 89th foot, to be
superintendent of the junior depart-
ment, vice Butler.

12th. Brevet Major Charles Ir-
wine, of the 85th foot, to be deputy
quartermaster-general of the forces
serving in Jamaica, with the rank of
lieut. col. in the army} . vice
M‘Murdo, resigned. Lieut. col.
Willoughby Gordon, of the 85th
foot, to be deputy adjutant-general
to the said forces, in the room of
Irvine.

Brevet major Wm. Gifford, of
the 26th. foot, to be deputy adju-
tant-general to the forces in Malta,
with the rank of lieut. col. in the
army, zice Fitzgerald, deceased.
Major Charles Phillips, of the 44th
foot, to be deputy quartermaster-
general to the said troops, vice
Airey, resigned.

15th. - Major-general Robert
Brownrigg, to be quartermaster-ge-
neral to the forces, vice Dundas.

16th. §S. Wathen, William Pax-
ton, William Blizard, and Charles
Blake, esqrs. to the honour of
knighthood.

30th. James Duberly, of Gains-
hall, Huntingdonshire; Francis
Searle; of Kingston upon Thames ;
and John Dumaresque, esqrs. to the.
honour of knighthood.

April 2, Anthony Henderson,

, esq.

CHRONICLE.

esq. of Kensington, Middlesex, to
serve in parliament for the borough
of Brackley, in the room of general
J. W. Egerton, now earl of Brids-
water.

Peter Moore,esq.toservein parlia-
ment for the city of Coventry, in
the room of N. Jefferies, esq. whose
election has been declared void.

4th. Ralph Bigland, esq. Richmond
herald, appointed norroy king of
arms, and principal herald of the

north parts of England, vice Harri-

son, promoted to be clarencieux king
of arms.

9th. Right. hon. Francis lord
Napier, to be his majesty’s high
commissioner to the general assem-
bly of the church of Scotland.

Lieut. col. Lewis Lindenthal, of
the quéen’s German regiment ; Da-
niel Patterson, on the retired list of
the invalids; Wm. Eden, of the 79th
foot; George Murray, of the 3d re-
giment of foot-guards; and John
Brown, of the royal staff corps, to
be assistants to the quartermaster-
general of the forces. George Wil-
liamson, esq. late captain in the 70th
foot, to be commandant of the royal
military asylum, with the rank of
lieut. col. in the army, so long as he
shall retain the situation of com-

-mandant.

12th. C. Brooke, esq. and sir
William Manners, bart. returned to
serve in the present parliament for
the borough of Ivelchester, in the
room of T. Hunter and W. Plum-
mer, esqrs. not duly elected.

J. Mathews, of Belmont, esq. re-
turned to serve in parliament for the
co. of Hereford, in the room of J.
G. Cotterell, esq. whose election
has been declared void.

Sir H. Dalrymple Hamilton, of
Bargeny, bart. returned to serve in

483

parliament for the shire of Ayr, in
the room of col. W. Fullarton, who
hath vacated his seat.

10th. James Gambier, to be his
majesty’s consul-general at Lishon.

Right hon. sir William Wynne,
&e. &c. &c. elected master of Tri
nity-hall, Cambridge, in the room of
the late sir James Marriott.

Joshua Jonathan Smith, and Ri-
chard Lea, esqrs. to be aldermen of
London.

23d. To be deputy commissary-
general of stores, provisions, and
forage, to the troops serving in Ire+
land, P. CE. Singer, from half-pay.

General David Dundas, to the
honour of knighthood and investi-
ture in the most honourable military
order of the Bath, with the usual
ceremonies.

30th. Major Thomas Birch, of
the 16th light dragoons, tu be an as-
sistant to the quartermaster-general
of the forces, with the rank of lieuf.
col.

Major Edward Henry Bunbury,
on the half-pay of the late 9th
West-India regiment, to be an as-
sistant to the quartermaster-general
of the forces.

Francis Sitwell, and Alexander
Allan, esqrs. returned to serve in
parliament for the town of Berwick
upon Tweed, in the room of Thomas
Hall and John Fordyce, esqrs.
whose election has been declared
void.

May 4th. William earl of Mans-

field, to be lord-lieut. of the county

of Clackmannan, in North Bri-
tain.

Col. Charles Greene, William
Bulkeley Hughes, esqrs. Francis
Hartwell, esq. and Samuel Aulch.
moutty, esq. to the honour of
knighthood.
ae 7 5th. Joseph

484

» 5th,\ Joseph Hawker, esq. late
rouge-croix pursuivant of arms to
the office of Richmond herald, yoid
by the promotion of Ralph Big-
land, esq.

6th. Major Thornton, to be
one of the equerries of his R. H. the
‘duke of Cumberland.

7th. Col. Frederick Augustus
Weatherall, of the 82d foot, to be
deputy adjutant - general to the
forces serving in Nova Scotia.

. By grant from the king, the royal
licence and permission to major-ge-
neral Richard earl of Cavan, to
wear the badge of the order of the
erescent, transmitted to his lordship
by the grand seignior.

. 8th. Major-general David Dou-
glass Wemyss, to be commander of
all his majesty’s land forces serving
‘in the island of Ceylon.

13th. Anthony Hardolph Eyre,
esq. to serve in parliament for the
county of Nottingham, in the room
of lord William Cavendish Bentinck,
who vaeated his seat therefor.

Qist. Major-general John Doyle,
to be lieut. governor of the island
of Guernsey, véce sir Henry Dalrym-
ple, resigned.

23d. “Ihe king has been pleased
to confer the honour of knighthood
en sir James Pulteney, bart. lieut.
col. Francis Whitworth, capt. Ro-
bert Boulton, of the royal navy,
Rupert George, esq. and Richard
Hankey, esq. as proxies to five of
the knights of the most honourable
order of the Bath, at the late instal-
lation. F

24th. The earl of Cardigan,
elected high steward of the borough
of Windsor, vice earl Beaulieu, de-
ceased.

Martin Davy, M.D. F. R.S.
elected master of Caius college,
Cambridge, vice Belward, deceased.

ANNUAL REGISTDHR, 1803.

Edward Bouyer Shocke, D.' D.
to be dean of Bristol, vice Layare,
deceased.

William Nelson, D.D. to be ca-
non prebendary of the metropoli-
tan church of Canterbury.

William Radclitic, esq. to the of-
fice of rouge-croix pursuivant of
arms, in the herald’s office, vice
Hawker.

28th. Howell Holland Edwards,
M. A. to be a-prebendary of the
collegiate church of St. Peter, West-
minster, vice Dr. R. P. Finch, de-
ceased,

Lieut. general the hon. H. E.
Fox, to be commander in chief of
his majesty’s forces serving in Ire-
land.

Major William Nicholson, of the
72d foot, to be deputy-adjutant ge-
neral to the king’s troops serying in
India, with the rank of lieut. col. in
the army.

Lieut. col. William Gordon, from
the $5th foot; major H. Lowe,
from the royal fusileers; major W.
IH. De Lancey, from the 45th foot ;
and captain H. F. Brownrigg, from
the staff corps, with the rank of ma-
jor in the army, to be assistants to
the quartermaster-general of the
forces.

3ist. Thomas Fydell, esq. the
younger, returned to serve in parli-
ment for the borough of Boston, in
the room of Thomas Fydell the
elder, esq. whose election has been
declared yoid.

June 1st. The right hon. Geo.
Tierney, to be treasurer of the na-
vy, and of his majesty’s most hon.
privy council.

4th. The king has been pleased,
by letters patent, to grant and con-
firm to his grace Henry duke of
Beaufort, and the heirs of his hody
lawfully begotten, the ancient ba-

rony

CHRONIC LE.

rony of Bottetourt, with the style
and precedency belonging to the said
barony.

Charles Barker, B. D. sub-dean
and canon-residentiary of _ Wells,
to be one of the chaplains in ordi-
nary to his R. H. the prince of
Wales.

1ith. Col. Martin Hunter, of
the 48th foot, to be a brigadier-
general in North America only.

Col. William Dyot, of the 25th
foot, to be a brigadier-general in
the Windward and Leeward Char-
ribbee islands only.

Capt. the hon. D. G. Hallybur-
ton, from the Ist foot guards, to be
assistant to the quartermaster- -gene-
ral of the forces, with the rank of
major in the army.

Major Charles Harcourt, from
half-pay of the 40th foot, and capt.
John Pine Coffin, from the steff
eorps, with the rank of major in the
army, to be assistants to the quar-
termaster-general of the forces. in
Treland.

14th. Richard Brooke de Ca-
pell Brooke, of Great Oakley,
Northamptonshire, the right hon.
John'Stewart, of Athenrce, in the
kingdom of Ireland, and the rey.
James Strong, A. M. of the king-
com of Ireland, to be baronets of
the united kingdom.

Danie! Parker Coke, esq. return-
ed to serve in parliament for the
town of Nottingham, in the room
of Joseph Bird, esq. whose election
has been declared void.

Sir Matthew Bloxham, elected an
alderman of the city of London, vice
Hibbert, resigned.

Standish O‘Grady, esq. to be his
majesty’s attorney-general in Ire-
Jand, in the room of Stewart, re-
signed.

17th. George earl of Dorches-

4385

ter, ‘td be lord Rent. of the county
of Dorset.

His royal highness Adolphus Fre-
derick duke of Cambridge, K. G.
late lieut. general in the Hanoverian
service, to be lieut. general in the
army, by commission, dated the
24th August, 1798.

25th. Spencer Smith, esq. to be
his majesty’s envoy extraordinary at
the court of his serene highness the
elector of Wirtemberg.

Ifenry Williams Wynne, esq. to
be his majesty’s envoy extraordinary
at the court of his serene highness
the elector of Saxony.

Spiridion Foresti, esq. to be his
majesty’ s resident to the republic of
the Seven Islands.

Charles Dennis,.esq. to ibe his
majesty’s consul at Civita Vecchia.

Henry Savage Yeomes, esq. to be
his: majesty’s consul-general in the
Russian ports in the Black Sea.

Walter Wright, esq. to be his
majesty’s consul in the republic of
the Seven Islands.

George Hilario Barlow, esq. a
member of-the council at Fort Wm:
Bengal, to the dignity of a bart. ©.

The rey: Thomas Burgess, D. D.
prebendary of Durham, to be bishop
of St. Davids, vice Murer de-

ceased.

The rey. John Fisher, D. D. pre-
bendary of Windsor, to be bishop of
Exeter, vice Courtenay, deceased.

28th. Sir Rupert George, knt.
Ambrose Serle, and Thomas. Ha-
milton, esqrs. the hon. Edward Bou-
verie and James Bowen, esq. to be
commissioners for conducting the
transport service: and for the care
and custody of prisoners of war.

Brevet - major, Colin Dundas
Graham, of the late Scotch brigade,
to be fort-major of Edinburgh cas-
tle, vice sir- James Fouls, resigned.

113 July

486

July 11th. Major-general Geo:
Hewitt, to. be inspector-general of
the army of reserve ; to be assistant-
inspectors of the army of reserve.
lieut. col. John James Barlowe, of
the’ 61st foot, and capt. Peter Cary;
to be superintendant of clothing of
ditto, lieut. col. Geo. Williamson ;
to be deputy-inspector in North
Britain, col. Thomas Scott, of the
94th foot.

12th. Col. George Horsfall, of
the 4th West India regiment, to be
deputy adjutant general to the forces
serving in Jamaica, vice Gordon.

19th. Rev. William Beaumont
Busby, M. A. appointed a preben-
dary of Windsor, vice Fisher, pro-
moted to the See of Exeter.

26th. , Capt. Thomas Hardy-
man, of the 50th foot, to be a major
in the army.

James Fisher, esq. Jate lieut. col.
of the 62d foot, to be paymaster of
a recruiting district.

Charles William Thornton, esq.
and John Baddeley, esq. to be as-
sistant barrack masters-yeneral, with
the rank of majors in the army, so
long as holding that office.

29th. Major-general John Doyle,
lieut. governor of the island of
Guernsey, to be allowed to wear
the insignia of the order of the cres-
cent, transmitted to him by the
grand seignior.

30th. Capt. Levett Ibbetson, of
the 28th foot, to be a major in the
army.

August 9th. Major-general Ri-
chard England, to be lieutenant-
governor of Plymouth, vice Camp-
bell. resigned.

Col. sir Samuel Auchmontty,
bart. of the 10th foot, to be com-
mandant of the Isle of Thanet.

Capt. Henry Bromley, of the 26th
foot, to be major in the army.

ANNUAL‘ REGISTER, 1803.

13th. Major William Wilson,
paymaster, on half-pay of the 54th
foot, to be paymaster of a recruiting
district,

17th. ‘Right hon. Charles Yorke,
sworn one of his majesty’s principat
secretaries of state, in the room of
lord Pelham (who succeeded to the
counsellorship of the duchy of Lan-
caster, on the resignation of the earl
of Liverpool.)

Col. George Moncrieffe, of the
90th foot, and col. An. Dunlop, of
the 21st light dragoons, to be briga-
dier-generals in the West-Indies
only.—To be assistant quartermas-
ters-general to the forces in Ireland,
lient. col. G. Airey, of the Sth foot;
lieut. col. A. R. Dillon, on half-pay
of the 115th foot; capt. R. Owen,
of the 56th foot; and major James
Forster, of the 11th foot.

22d. Francis Moore, esq. ap-
pointed, by the right hon. Charles
Bragge, secretary at war, his de-.
puty, vce Matthew Lewis, esq.

30th. ‘To be majors in the army,
capt. Th. Dorrington, of the 15th
battalion of reserve; cap. J. Du-
maresque, of the 9th ditto; capt.
G. Wade, of the 30th foot; and
capt. Charles Morley Balders, of -
the 53d foot.

Sept. 1st. Right rev. doctor Wm.
Knox, bishop of Killaloe and Kil-
fenora, alias Tanabor, translated to
the see of Derry, vice the Earl of
Bristol, deceased.

8th. His excellency Wm. Drum-
mond, his majesty’s ambassador-ex-
traordinary and plenipotentiary at
the Sublime Porte, permitted to re-
ceive and wear the insignia of the
order of the crescent, transmitted
to him by the grand signior.

10th. Right hon. George Keith,
baron Keith, of Stonehaven-Ma-
rischal, co. Kincardine, in Scot-

Jand,

CHRONICLE.

land, K. B. and admiral of the
blue, created a baron of the united

_ kingdom, by the title of baron

Keith, of Banheath, co. Dumbar-
ton; with remainder, in default of
issue, with the dignity of a baro-
ness, to Margaret Mercer Elphin-
stone, only daughter of the said
baron Keith, and the dignity of a
baron to the lawful heirs male of
her body.

13th. Wm. Wass Langford, esq.
appointed his majesty’s agent and
consul-general at Tripoli.

24th. To be inspecting field-
officers of yeomanry and volunteers,
with temporary rank of lieutenant-
colonel in the army so long as they
continue to hold these appointments,
viz. col. Charles Mac Murdo, late
of the 31st foot; lieut. col. John
Jenkinson, on half-pay of the late
Sheffield regiment; lieut. col. Wm.
Thomlinson, on ditto of the late

‘91st foot; major Ralph Gore, on

ditto of the late York fuzileers 5
William Harris, esq. late lieut. col.
of the 2d foot; John C. Cowel, esq.
late lieut. col. of the ist battalion of
the Royals ; HenryHarnage, esq. late

~ lieut. col. of the 104th foot; John

D. Kane, esq. late lieut. col. of
the 4th foot; Heneage Twysden,
esq. late lieut. col. of the 4th foot;
James Kirkman, esq. late lieut.
col. of the 52d foot; W. Dal-
rymple, esq. late lieut. col. of the
2d foot: John Stewart, esq. late
major of the 27th foot; J. Hugh
M‘Leroch, esq. late lieut. col. of
the rifle corps; Wm. Gore, esq.
late lieut. col. of the Birmingham
fencibles ; col. H. M. Clavering, of
the late Argyleshire fencibles ; lieut.
col. Robert Garden, on half-pay of
the 54th foot; lieut. col. G. Duke,
on half-pay of the 65th foot ; and
major Frederick Metzner, on half-

487

‘pay of the late American provin-

cials.

27th. To be majors in the army :
capt. Wyndham Quin, of the 3d
foot; capt. Thomas Mellor, of the
Sist foot; capt. Robert Campbell,
of the 42d foot; capt. Nathaniel
Myott, of the 26th foot ; and capt.
Edward Draper, of the 3d foot-
guards.

Capt. William Macondy Harvey,
of the 1st West India regiment, to
be deputy adjutant-general to the
forces serving in the Charibbee
Islands, with the rank of major
in the army, vice Morden, de-
ceased. .

Reverend lord Charles Murray
Annesley, to the rural deanry of
Bocking, Essex, vice the late bi-
shop of St. Davids, (his brother)
deceased.

Oc. 1. His majesty has been
pleased to appoint

Lieutenant-generals William Shir-
reff, William Grinfield, Samuel
Hulse, Albemarle Bertie, Charles
Vallancey, John earl of Clanri-
carde, Sir James Steuart, bart.
Thomas Carleton, James Marsh;
Cavendish Lister, James Ogilvie,
sir Robert Lawrie, bart. William
Edmeston, David Home, Hugh Deb-
bieg, Montgomery Agnew, Alex-
ander earl of Balcarras, Cornelius
Cuyler, Charles earl of Harrington,
the hon. Richard Fitzpatrick, Nis-
bet Balfour, Edmund Stephens, sir
Thomas Trigge, K.B. Francis earl
of Moira, and Peter Craig, to be
generals in the army.

Major-generals George Bernard,
George Nugent, John Bowater,
Thomas Averne, James Barker,
John Campbell, Charles Tarrant,
John Barclay, William Macormick,
John Freke, Sir Robert Stuart,
bart. Richard England, William

1i4 Keppel ;

488

Keppel, John Hely lord THutchin-
son, K. B. John Hamilton, Alex-
ander Hay, Thomas Goldie, Simon
Fraser, James Stewart, Charles
Hastings, ‘Thomas Davis, Robert
Manners, William Loftus, William
Myers, Oliver Nicolls, Alexander
Mercer, George Hewett, and Charles
baron Hompesch, to be lieutenant-
generals in the army.

Colonels George Elliott, of the
Loyal marines ; Duncan Campbell,
of ditto; Patrick Wauchope, of
the 50th foot; Baldwin Leighton,
of the 46th foot ; Patrick Sinclair,
on _half-pay of the 54th foot;
Richard Chapman, of the invalid
artillery ; John Coffin, on half-pay
of the King’s American regiment ;
Richard Armstrong, on half-pay of
the Qucen’s American rangers ;
John Murray, on half-pay of the
26th foot ; sir Charles Green, knt.
of the 30th foot ; William St. Leger,
of the 27th light dragoons ; Henry
Magan, of the 39th foot ; Richard
IN. Hopkins, of the 32d foot: John
Smith, of the 1st foot-guards ; Alex-
ander Mackay, adjutant-general in
Scotland; Thomas Hartcup, of the
invalid engineers ; William O. Hud-
diestone, of the artillery ; George
Pead, of ditto ; James Sowerby, of
the invalid artillery ; Thomas Bloom-
field, of the artillery ; Gother Mann,
of the engineers ; Donald Mac Do-
nald, of the 55th foot; John Pratt,
of the late Royat—hish artillery ;
Forbes Champagné of the 26th foot;
Josiah Champagné of a regiment of
infantry ; Harry Calvert of the 5th
West India regiment; George Cock-
burne, on half-pay of the 92d foot ;
Edward Dunne, on half-pay of the
Pembrokeshire fencible cavalry ;
George Hay Vansittart, of the 12th
battalion of reserve; the hon.Charles
Fitzroy, of the Ist foot-guards ;

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

Francis Hugenin, of the 4th dra.
goons ; and Thomas P. Vandeleur,
of the 8th light dragoons; to be
major-generals in the army.
Lieutenant-colonels Duncan Mac-
intosh, of the 60th foot; Francis
Carruthers, on half-pay of the 61st
foot; Robert Shaw, of the 74th
foot; Christopher Darby,. of the
54th foot; David Clephane, of the
20th foot ; William Balfour, of the
57th foot ; William Wilkinson, of
the 30th foot; William Dickson, of
the 42d foot; Bulstrode Whitelocke,
of the 77th foot; Henry Tucker
Montresor, of the 18th foot; .Al-
bert Gledstanes, of the 57th foot ;
John Hodgson, on half-pay of the
late 131st foot; Charles Stevenson,
of a regiment of infantry ; Law-
rence Bradshaw, of the 1st Life.
guards; George William Richard
Harcourt, of the 12th foot; Wil-
liam Palmer Acland, of the Cold-
stream foot-guards; Nicholas Ne-

pean, of the late Banfishire fenci-

bles; James Taylor, of the 12th
foot ; Miles Nightingale, of the 51st
foot ; James Hay ; the hon. William
Eardly, on half-pay of the 82d foot;
William Cochell, of the 5th foot ;
Leonard Shaftoe Orde, on half-pay
of the 132d foot; Richard Bingham,
of the 3d foot; Joseph French, on
half-pay of the 102d foot; John
Lee, on half-pay of the 112th
foot ;
foot-guards ; John Sontag; James
Robertson, of the 92d foot; Ed.
ward William Leyborne, of the late
Cambrian rangers; James Dunlop,
of the 77th foot; Fitzroy J. Grat-
ton Maclean, of the 60th foot;
Walter Ker, of the late British fen-
cibles ; Alexander Campbell, of the
74th foot; and John Pigott, on
half-pay of the 113th foot; te be
colonels in the army.
Majors

Henry Clinton, of the Ist .

CHRON € LE '
-Majors Windham Quin, of the’

- $d foot; Thomas Dorrington, of the
15th foot; Thomas Mellor, of the8 1st
foot; G. Wade, of the 30th foot ;
John Dumaresq, of the 9th batta-
lion of reserve; T. Hardyman, of
the 30th foot; H. Bromley of the
26th foot; Robert Campbell, of the
42d foot; Robert Al. Dalzell, of
the 1st foot-guards; Claus Pell, of
the 16th foot; George Sutheriand,
of ditto; Robert: Balfour, of the
2d dragoons ; Dugald Campbell, of
the 46th foot; James Macdonald,
of the 73d foot; James Green, of
the 26th foot ; George Bowater, of
the artillery ; William Borthwick,
of ditto; John Barton, of ditto ;
George Scott, of ditto ; George
Miller, of the 57th foot; Robert
Walker, of the 7th foot; Breon
Bordes, of the 73d foot; Archibald
Mosman, of ditto; Henry ‘Tees-
dale, of the 1st dragoon-guards ;
Thomas Goldie, of the $th dragoons ;
James Cuming, of the 47th foot;
‘Robert Hamilton, on half-pay of
the 7th West India regiment; Jas-
per Grant, of the 41st foot; Pierre
L’Ardy, of Meuron’s regiment;
Francis Piackand, of ditto; Henry
Erskine, of the 91st foot; James
St. Clair, af the late Cambrian
Rangers; and R. A. Seymour,

- of the 15th light dragoons; to be

_ lieutenant-colonels in the army.

_ Captains the hon, Henry A. B.

_ Craven, of the 9th battalion of re-

_ serve; Lewis C. Mears, of the ma-

rines ; George Stephens of the 47th

- foot; John H. Brown, of the 78th

- foot; William Campbell, of ditto ;

William Wishart, of the 15th foot ;

Andrew Patton, of the 92d foot ;

_ George Bruhl, of the 2d foot-guards ;
Charles Macquarrie, of the 42d foot;
Charles Hill, of the 50th foot; Colin

- Campbell, of the 60th toot; John

—_

489

Macdougall, of the 9ist foot; G,
P. Hutchinson, of the 4th dragoons ;
Ames G. Norcott, of the 9th fooi;
John Balcomb, of the ist dragoon-
guards ; John White, of the 80th
foot; Isaac P. Tinling, of the ist
foot-guards ;. William Shipley, of
the 54th foot; W. Hilliard, -of the
89th foot; John Stoddart, of the
45th foot; George Kvans, of the
32d foot; Charles Bruce, of the
39th foot; John. Blair, of the 1st
battalion of Reyals; Nutall Green,
of the 3d foot; William Ledwell,
of the 2d battalion of reserve; J. F.
Fitzgerald, of the New Brunswick
fencibles ; Patrick lLoss of the 22d
light dragoons ; Ar. Christie, of the
6th foot; the hon. J. YT. Deane, of
the 38th foot; James B. Horner,
of the 84th foot; ‘Thomas Costello,
of the 28th foot; Charles Hicks,
of the 6tst foot; George KE. Vini-
combe, of the marines; Brook
Young, of the artillery; Donald
Macbean, of the 41st foot; James
Shortal, of the late Irish artillery ;
Richard Legge, of ditto; Charles
F. Hill, of the 10th foot; and
Robert Crawford, of the late Irish
artillery ; to be majors in the army.

3d. Lieut. general Charles
Leigh, appointed a general in the
army.

Lieut. colonels Henry Frederick
Campbell, of the Ist foot-guards ;
William Burnett, of the 14th foot;
Richard Stewart, of the 43d foot ;
and the hon. Charles Stuart, of the
18th light dragoons ; to be aides-de.
camp to the king.

To be inspecting field-oflicers
of yeomanry and yolunteer corps,
with the rank of lieut. colonels in
the army, so long only as they con-
tinue to hold theseappointments, viz.
sir James G. Baird, late lieut. col.
of the 28th dragoons: lieut. col.

George

490

George Robert Ainslie, of the late
Birmingham fencibles ; Rob. Dou-
glas, esq. late lieut. col. of the 58th
feot; Josiah Cottin, esq. late licut.
col. of the 10th light dragoons ; Jo-
seph Hardy, esq. late of the 93d
foot; Francis Gore, esq. late major
of 17th light dragoons ; lieut. col.
Manley Power, on half-pay of the
20th foot; sir Nathaniel Ducken-
field, bart. late lientenant-col. of the
Windsor foresters ; colonel Ronald
Craufurd Ferguson, on half-pay of
the 98th foot; George Lyon, esq.
Jate lieut. col. of the 11th light
dragoons ; and Francis Mannouch,

esq. late lieut. col. of the 68th
foot.
4th. Henrietta-Laura, baroness

of Bath (wife of lieut. general sir
James Pulteney, bart.) created coun-
tess of Bath, co. Somerset, with the
dignity of earl of Bath, to her law-
ful male issue.

13th. - Major Henry Eustace, of
the late Irish engineers, to be lieut.
col. in the army. Captain John
Thomas Eyre, on the staff of the
army depét, to be major in the army.

To be inspecting field-officers of
yeomanry and volunteer corps, with
the temporary rank of lieut. colonels
in the army, so long only as they
continue to hold these appointments,
viz. Peppard Knight, esq. late ma-
jor of the 4th foot; J. P. Adden-
broke, esq. late major of the 54th
foot; If. P. Pulleine, esq. late ma-
jor of the 21st light dragoons; H.
Master, esq. late major of the 52d
foot ; and Wm, Douglas, esq. late
lieut. col. of the 85th foot. To be
deputy-commissary-general to the
forces serving in Ireland: assistant-
deputy-commissary-general William
Finny.

20th. Hon. and rev, Charles
Lindsay, D. D. to be bishop of Kil-

©

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

laloe and Kilfenora, alias Tanabor,
vice Knox, translated to the see of
Derry.

John Silvester, esq. common ser-
jeant of the city of London, elected
recorder thereof, vice Rose, deceas-
ed; Newman Knowlys, esq. elected
common serjeant, vice Silvester, re-
signed; and William Lewis New-
man, esq. elected solicitor of the
city of London, vee Bushnan, re-
signed.

Col. John Ramsay, of the chas.
seurs Britanniques, to be a briga-
dier-general in the island of Malta
only. Major James Campbell, of
the 91st foot, to be lieut, col. in the
army. Captain Henry Jas. Shawe,
of the 61st foot, and captain Fran-
cis Forrester, of the 15th light dra-
goons, to be majors in the army.
Captain Daniel Lyman, of the 2d
royal garrison battalion, to be major
in the army in the island of Scilly
only.

To be inspecting field-oflicers of
yeomanry and volunteer corps, with
the temporary rank of lieut. colo-
nels in the army, so long only as
they continue to hold these appoint-
ments, viz. Jolin Enys, esq. late
lieut. col. of the 29th foot; lieut.
col, Daniel Seddon, on half-pay of
the late 29d light dragoons, and F.
Dodd, esq. late major of the Inver-
ness fencibles.

26th. Henry-Charles duke of
Beaufort, sworn lord-lieutenant of
the counties of Monmouth and Bre-
con, vice the late duke, deceased.

27th. John Halkett, esq. ap-
pointed captain-general, and gover-
nor in chief of the island of To-
bago.

29th. Right hon. lord viscount
Castlereagh, the duke of Portland,
lord Hawkesbury, lord Hobart, Cha.
Yorke, Henry Addington, esqrs.

lord

CHRONICLE.

Jord Glenbervie, Thomas Wallace,
Edward Golding, and Thomas Mait-

land, esqrs. appointed his majesty’s

commissioners for the affairs of In-
dia.

Rev. J. Brereton, M. A. appointed
a prebendary of Salisbury cathe-
dral, vice Burgess, now bishop of
Bristol.

Nov. ist: William Downs, chief
justice of the court of king’s-bench,
in Ireland, appointed and sworn of
his majesty’s most honourable privy-
council there.

3d. Lieut. col. Richard Thomas
Nelson, on half-pay of the late Ks-
sex fencibles, to be col. in the army.

His majesty has been pleased to
appoint the following officers of the
East India Company’s forces, to
take rank by brevet, in his majes-
ty’s army in India only, viz. to be
major-generals, col. Richard Lucas,
and col. Kenneth Mackenzie ; to be
lieut. colonels, majors John Chas,
Wittet, John Bell, and John Arthur
Tanner; to be majors, captains
James Robertson and John Grif-
fith.

To be inspecting field-officers of
yeomanry and volunteer corps, with
the temporary rank of lieut. cols.

-in the army, col. John Gordon Cu-
_ming, of the late Inverness fenci-
_ bles, and J. Blakeney, esq. late ma-
_ jor of the 23d foot.
7th. Right hon. St. .George
i Daly, one of the barons of the court
_ of exchequer in Ireland, appointed
_ one of the justices of the court of
_ king’s-bench, vice, the right hon.
_ Wm. Downes, appointed chief jus-
tice of the same®* court.
_ M‘Clelland, esq. solicitor-general in
_ Ireland, to be one of the barons of
the court of exchequer there, vice
Daly. William Conyngham Plun-

kett, esq. one of his majesty’s

James .

491

council at law, to be solicitor-gene-
ral in treland, vice M‘Clelland.

9th. Right hon. Thomas lord
Pelham, sworn chancellor of the
duchy and county-palatine of Lan-
caster, vice earl of Liverpool, re-
signed.

Capt. William Samuel Currey, of
the 86th foot, to be deputy quarter-
master-general to the forces serving
in both the Canadas, with the rank
of major in the army,

12th. Hon. Henry Pierrepoint,
appointed his majesty’s envoy extra-
ordinary at the court of Stockholm.

Rey. Walter King, D. D. to be a
prebendary of Canterbury, vice
Busby, resigned.

16th. Right hon. Robert Banks
Jenkinson (commonly called lord
Hawkesbury), summoned to the
house of peers, by the style and
title of baron Hawkesbury, of
Hawkesbury, co. Gloucester.

17th. Lieut. gen. his royal high-
ness Adolphus Frederick duke of
Cambridge, K. G. to be colonel in
chjef of the king’s German legion.
Major Wm. Kent, of the 10th foot,
to be liewt. col. in the army. Ma-
jor Lachlan M‘Quarrie, of the 86th
foot, to be deputy adjutant-general
to the forces lately serving in Egypt,
with the rank of lieut. col. in the
army. Lieut. col. Henry Cuyler,
on half-pay of the 27th foot, to be
an inspecting field-officer of yeo-
manry and volunteer corps, vice
Dodd, resigned.

19th. Right hon. Henry Ad-
dingten, George ‘Thynne, esq.
(commonly called lord George

Thynne), Nathaniel Bond, William
Brodrick, and Edward Goiding,
esqrs. appointed commissioners for
executing the office of treasurer of
his majesty’s exchequer.

Rey, Heury J. Todd, appointed
by

'

49%, ANNUAL

by the archbishop of Canterbury,
keeper of the archiepiscopal records
at Lambeth palace, vice Topham,
deceased.

Major-gen. John Stuart, permit-
ted to receive and wear the insignia
of the Ottoman imperial order of the
crescent, conferred upon him by
the grand signior.

22d. James Mackintosh, esq.
appointed recorder of Bombay, vice
sir William Syer, deceased,

93d. Right hon. ‘Thomas Mait-
Jand, and, right hon. Nathaniel

Bond, sworn, of the privy council.

. 96th. « Brook, Watson, of Kast
Sheen, co, Surry, esg. commissary~
general to his majesty’s forces. in
(ireat Britain, created.a baronet of
the united kingdom, with remainder,
in default of issue male, to William
Kay, esq. deputy commissary-gene-
ral of the said forces, great nephew
of the said Brook Watson, esq. and
to Brook Kay, esq. an officer in the
naval service of the Kast-India con-
pany, and to their respective lawful
male issue.

William Henry Jervis, esq. capt.
in the royal navy, appointed trea-
surer and receiver-general of Green-
wich hospital, in the room of admi-
tal Payne, deceased.

29th. To be inspecting field-
oflicers of yeomanry and volunteer
corps, with the rank of lieut. cols. in
the army, while they hold such ap-
pointment:, col. Walter Ker, on
half-pay of the late British fencibles ;
Jicut, col. Boyle Travers, on half-
pay, of the Jate 112th foot; licut.
¢ol. George Jackson, on half-pay
of the late Argyleshire fencibles ;
lieut. col. Thomas Molyneux, on
half-pay.of the late 104th Soot;
lieut. col. Francis Delaval, on half-
pay of the independents; lient, col,

REGISTER,

1803.

sir Montague. Burgoyne, bart. on
half-pay of the!21st dragoons ; Tho-
mas RK. Grey, esq. late lieut. col. of
the 20th foot: Mobert Bell, esq: late
lieut. col. of the 86th foot; Henry
Chaytor, esq. late lieut. col. of the
1st foot-guards ; Frederick Keppel,

esq. late lieut. col. of the 49th foot ;
sir Kdward Barnes, knight, late
lieut..col. of the 83d foot; Andrew
Wight, esq. late major of the 86th
foot; John Murray, esq. ;. William
Gooch, esq. late lieut. col. of the
5th foot; col. Georgey Warde, of
the late horse grenadier guards, and
C. Watsen, esq, late liout. col. of
the third dragoons.

Dec. 6th.,..Thomas Dyurwhity esq.
M. P. for the borough of Portarling.
ton, appointed by the prince of Wales
lord warden of the stannaries, and
adinival of the duchy ports and har-
hours, in the counties of Cornwall
and Devon, vice admiral Payne, de-
ceased. yh

John Mackmahon, -esq. M. P.
far the borough of Aldborough, ap-
pointed secretary and ke ce per of
his royal highness the prince of
Wales’s privy seal and council seal,
and auditor of the duchy of Corn-
wall, vce Tyrwhitt.

8th. ‘To be inspecting field-oflieers
of yeomanry and yolunieer corps:
lieut. col. Matthew Sharpe, from
half-pay of the late 28th dragoons,
and lieut. col. William Hutchinson,
on half-pay of the late independent
campanies, with the rank while they
hold such Sppointnente of lieut. col.
in the army.

10th. . Lewis Booth, esq. late
lieut. col. ofthe 87th foot, to be
au inspecting field-oflicer of yeo-
manry and. volunteer corps, with the
temporary rank of Jieut. col. in the
army.

17th. John

+

i

CHRONIL LE.

17th. John Lane, esq. of Upper
Eaton-street, Grosvenor-place, to
be receiver-general of the duty of
one shilling in the pound on salaries,
fees; and wages of any offices and
employments payable by the crown
in North Britain, vice the carl of
Leven and Melville, resigned.

'-. 20th. John Philip Morier, esq.
“appointed consul-general in Alba-

nia, the Morea, and the adjacent
territories of. the Ottoman empire.

»=— Charles Lock, esq. to be con-

sul-general in the country of I.
gypt.
- 21st. James M‘Intosh, esq. to
the honour of knighthood.

22d. Charles Cameron, esq. ap-
pointed captain-general and gover-
nor in chief in and over his ma-
jesty’s Bahama islands in America.

24th. Major William Munday
Harvey, of the 1st West India re-
giment, to be lieutenant-colonel in
the army.

To be inspetting field-oflicers of
yeomanry and volunteer corps: col.

-G, Bromhead, on half-pay of the

late Lochabar fencibles; col. Wm.
Murray, on half-pay of the late
24th light dragoons; licut. col. John
Lee, on haif pay of the late 112th

foot; lieut. col. James Orde, on

half-pay of the 4th foot; and Gor-
don Skelly, esq. late lieutenant-co-
lonel of the Royals, with temporary
yank of lieutenant-colonel in the

army.

27th. Capt. Ernest Misset, of
the Queen’s German regiment, to be
major in the army.—Capt. William
Marlay, of the staff corps, to bea
permanent assistant in the quarter-
master-general’s department (with
the rank of major in the army),
vice Lowe, appointed to the com.

_ mand of a corps.

493

Hi. Bisshoppe, esq. late major in
the: 17th light dragoons, to be in-
specting field-officer of yeomanry
and volunteer corps, ‘with tempo-
rary rank of Heutenant-colonel in
the army,

Right honourable Percy lord
viscount Strangford, appointed se-
cretary of legation to the court of
Lisbon.

Rev. doétor Nelson, brother of
lord Nelson, to be vice dean of Can-
terbury, vice Walesby, who goes
out by rotation.

Lord Frederick Campbell, ap-
pointed treasurer of the society of
the Middle Temple, vice Hatsell,
resigned.

Mr. George Vincent, (second son
of the dean of Westminster), ap-
pointed, by his father, chapter-clerk
of that cathedral, vice Cope, de-
ceased.

DEATHS in the Year 1803.

Jan. 1st. At his house in Bath,
Philip Champion Crespigny, esq. for
merly king’s proétor, and M. P.
for Sudbury. He was a man of ex.
tensive knowledge, possessed a taste
for literature, and wrote two num-
bers in the periodical paper intituled
‘©The World,” which was con-
duéted by Mr. Moore, author of
‘¢ ‘The Gamester,” though, at that
time, Mr. C. must have been very
young; a proof that his taste and
talents were, however, mature, as
‘6 The World” was enriched by
contributions from the most distin-
guished wits of that period. He was
four times married, and has left se-
veral children by his different mar-
riages ; was very much the man of
fashion ix his person and demeanour 3

frgt

494

full of anecdote, and with a turn
for satirical humour that rendered
him a very amusing companion.

In Salter’s Hall-court, Cannon-
street, aged 76, Gilbert Thompson,
M. D. a quaker physician of great
integrity ; mild and unassuming ;
and possessed of no inconsiderable
learning and professional skill. He
was the friend of the late dodtor
John Fothergill, whose life he pub-
lished ; and for several years was
secretary of the Medical Society,
(Jong since dissolved), to which
the public are indebted for that ex-
cellent work, intituled, ‘* Medical
Observations and Enquiries.” A
short time before his death, Dr. T.
published, in 8vo. ‘* Seleét 'Trans-
lations from Homer and Horace,
with original Poems.”

At Paris, the hon. Mrs. Cecil,
mother of the marquis of Exeter.
She was a foreign lady, “Charlotte
Gonier, married to the hon. Mr. C.
in 1753.

4th. At Raphoe, in Ireland,
Mrs. Hawkins, lady of the bishop
of Raphoe.

5th.. At Thoulouse, aged 106,
Margaret le Clerque, formerly a nun
of the convent of St. Clare, in that
city. She had been a perfeét beauty
in her youth. Her hair continued
to her death of the finest jet black,
and scarcely a wrinkle deformed her
countenance ; but'she had been con-
fined to her bed many ycars, and,
for the last two, was totally deaf.
Tier father, Peter L. C. was footman
to Louis XIV. who used to take a
great deal of notice of her when
she was a child, and oftentimes
dandled heron his knees. When
she was twelve years old, her father,
who was a native of Castres, took
her with him to Toulouse, and

ANNUAL REGISTER, | 1803.

placed her as a pensioner in the |

convent, in which she afterwards,
at the age of twenty, took the
veil.

Sth. At his seat at Lee, in the
parish of Ickham, near Canterbury,
Kent, aged 59, after a lingering ill-
ness, of a dropsy of the chest, ‘Tho-
mas Barrett, esq. He was great-
grandson of sir Paul Barret, of Lee,
serjeant-at-law, recorder of Canter
bury, and M. P. for New Romney,
knighted by Charles II. at White-
hall, Aug. 7, 1683. Mis father,
Thomas Barrett, esq. who died
about 1757, was a well-known col-
lector, and possessed many valuable
pictures and curiosities, to which
his son made material additions. In
1773, on the death of Sir Thomas
Hales, Mr. Barrett, was eleéted
M. P. for Dover, after one. of the
most violent contests ever known,
with the present Mr. Trevanion.
At the general election, the next
year, his love of quiet induced him
to decline again entering the lists.
About 1783, he began to alter and
new-model his house at Lee in the
gothic style, under the direétion of
Mr. James Wyatt; and it will
scarcely be deemed too much to say,
that it has been made the most
beautiful specimen of the kind ex-
isting. So, at least, lord Orford
thought; and he has expressed his
admiration of it in a note to the
later editions of the ‘* Anecdotes
of Painting.” A short charaéter of
it may also be seen in the third vol.
of Hasted’s Kent; which passage,
indeed, was written by lord Orford
himself; and, had it not been deemed
necessary a little to vary and curtail
it, to adapt it to the’ historian’s
plan, would have appeared still
more advantageously. Mr. Barret

was

ee

CHRONICLE

swas perfeétly skilled in the arts, and
warmly attached to them ; his me-
mory was powerful ; and his know-
ledge of history, memoirs, and to-
pography, extensive and exact. He
loved books, and made numerous
and splendid additions to his father’s
valuable library. Intruth, the de-
sign, the decorations, and the con-
tents, of the library at Lee, as they
are peculiar, are, in many respects,
unrivalled. The cabinets too, have,
amongst their curious ‘contents, the
exquisite original miniature, by Hol-
bein, of Anne of Cleves, to which
the engraved print, among Hou-
braken’s heads, does much injustice.
The grounds at Lee, which he de-
lighted in adorning, possess a cha-
ra¢ter. congenial to the building.
‘His polished manners, social habits,
integrity, charity, and many amiable
virtues, will long be remembered,
with regret, by his friends, and the
neighbourhood in which he resided.
He died unmarried, and has left
his estates to his great nephew and
heir, Thomas Barret Brydges, a mi-
' por, at Harrow-school, eldest son
of his niece, by Samuel Egerton
Bridges, ef Denton, esq. on condi-
tion of taking his name.
12th. At Edinburgh, lady R.
Bruce, daughter of the late Wil-
liam, ear! of Kilcardine, and aunt
to the present earl of Elgin.
14th. At Paris, of a decline, the
hon. Temple Luttrell, next brother
” to the earl of Carhampton. By his
death, without issue, the estate of
_Swallowfield, in the island of Ja-
-Maica, comes to his brother, the
i hon. John Olmius, one of the com-
_ missioners of the revenue of excise.
16th, Rev. Henry Heathcote,
fy youngest son of the late sir Wil-
liam H. of Hursley, bart. and bro-
ne

x

495

ther to the countess-dowager of
Macclesfield, whose lord presented
him to the rectory of Watton, near
Liverpool, where he died. He was
of Exeter college, Oxford, M. A.
1759; married, and had several

children.
17th, At her daughter’s house,
in Upper Brook-street, Grosvenor-
Square, (the hon. Mrs. Damer,)
the countess-dowager of Aylesbury.
20th. At her house, in Albe-
marle-street, aged 97, Mrs. Levy,
a rich Jewess: she formerly gave
fashionable parties ; but, within the
last seven years, she became a ya-
letudinarian, and, during the latter
part of her life, lived in such a
recluse manner, that even the neigh.
bours did not know her. Her
retinue, however, was still retained,
and the same equipage kept up as
in her days of splendor. ‘The car-
riage appeared every day regularly
at the door, though it was seldom
used. he last time she appeared
in public was at Bath; where her
eccentric appearance and behaviour
were the topic of conversation
daily in the pump-room, and other
places. ‘Though she was usually in
town during the fashionable scason,
no one was admitted to see her;
and the summer was always passed
at her villa at Richmond, in Surry.
Mrs. Levy died immensely rich : in
her banker’s hands, property was
vested to the amount of 125,0001,
No will has yet been found, nor
is it known whether she has any
relation to inherit her property.
The funeral took place on the af-
ternoon of the 2ist, agreeably to
the ritual of the Hebrew church,
in the Jewish burying-ground, af
Mile End.
At Nice, of a decline, the hon.
Mrs.

- 496

Mrs. Charles Eliis, only daughter of
the late lord Hervey, whose prema-
ture death on board the Zealous,
which he commanded in the last war,
was so deeply deplored by his fa-
mily. She fell a victim to that fatal
disorder at the early age of 22'years
and five months, and supported her
acute and protracted sufferings with
a serenity and resignation never to
be forgotten. Few events of this
nature have produced a more gene-
ral sensation: besides those near
and intimate connexions whom her
death leaves inconsolable, a very nu-
merous acquaintance sincerely share
the sorrow which it inflicts, and a
still more extensive circle feel the
loss which socicty thereby sustains,
and are alive to the awful lesson
which it imparts. Whether we con-
template her extreme youth, her
~ beauty, her accomplishments, her

unafiected and amiable manners, the
splendid sphere in which she moved,
the bright and spotless example
which she afforded, or the genuine
and unclouded happitess which she
enjoyed, we must confess, that we
do not recollect to have heard of an
occurrence in private life, more cal-
culated to excite pity and reflection.
Mrs. Elis has left three children,
two sons and a daughter; the eldest
son will inherit, through her, the
barony of Heward of Walden, on
the death of her grandfather, the earl
of Bristol.

24th. At Edinburgh, lady Eii-
zabeth Wemyss, widow of. the hon.
James W. of Wemyss, and sister of
the late earl of Sutherland.

25th. Suddenly, at Bristol, H.
W. -J. Hawley, esq. first lient. col.
of the king’s dragooneguards.

97 In a fit of insanity, atthe

27th.
Portland coffee-house, Wm. Col-

ANNUALIRBEGIS TER, 1803.

quhoun, of Brompton-hall, Staines.
esq. He had come to that house, on
the preceding evening, to sleep, and
retired to bed about twelve. On this
day, at noon, on the door being
broken open, he was found on the
bed with his throat cut in a most
shocking :manner; his arm partly
severed in two places, and a deep
wound inflicted on his belly, through
which his intestines appeared. He
was speechless and senseless, but
was not quite'dead. Mr. Johnson,
a surgeon, of Queen’ Anne-street,
was immediately called in, and
washed his throat in water, having
previously called in the assistance of
two other surgeons, who, the mo-
ment they saw the deceased, pro-
nounced him past recovery. He
expired ina few minutes. He had
come from his country seat on Mon-
day last. At the foot of the bed
were laying two razors, covered
with blood. He had been married
only about seven months. His ge-
neral character was that of a mild,
humane, good-natured man, of the
strictest honour, and uncommonly

fine feelings.
28th. At Paris, mademoiselle
Clara-J oseph-Hy ppolita-Lewis-Des
latude Clairon. She fell out of her
bed, in which she lay sick, and the
fall caused her death. She was in
her 81st year; and though, for a
long time, in an habitual state of
weakness and pain, she preserved,
in her last moments, a great spright-
liness and sound understanding. It
is only a few months ago, that she
recited a scene of Phaedra before
Mr. Kemble, the principal tragic
actor in England, who admired the
expression, force, and dignity with
which this great actress recited, at
so'advanced an age, the finest verses
: of

of Racine. She was buried in the
church of the parish (St. Thomas
d’ Aquinas) in which she died.

Feb. 3d. At Chester, aged 84,
Mrs. Conway Hope, widow of
George Hope, esq. of Hope, and
the only remaining daughter of the
late sir Thomas Longueville, bart.

At Offenbach, in his 68th year,
the prince of Ysenbourg, he is suc-
ceeded by his son, prince Charles-
Frederick-Louis Maurice, of Ysen-
bourg, commander of the order of
Malta.

4th. At Paris, the lady of sir
Alexander Grant, bart. of Malshan-
ger, Hants.

5th. Lieut. col. Frederick Man-
ners, of the 96th foot, who highly
distinguished himself in the West
Indies and in Holland. A favou-
rite of superior officers, a friend of
contemporaries, beloved and obeyed
by his soldiers, not only his family,
but his. country has in his death suf-
fered a great loss.

In his 66th year, after a lingering
illness, which he supported with pa-
tient fortitude and pious resignation,
Mr. John Thorsby, many years
clerk of St. Martin’s, Leicester, and
a well-known writer.
man of strong natural genius, and,
‘during the vicissitudes of a life re-
markably chequered, rendered him-
self conspicuous as a draughtsman
and topographer. He attempted ma-
ny expedients for the maintenance
of a numerous family, few of which
answered his purpose ; and his last
‘days would have been shaded with
penury and disappointment, but for
the assistance of those friends who
knew his worth, and justly appre-
¢iated him as a man of honesty, in-
tegrity, and merit. Ilis publications
were, Ist. ‘¢ The Memoirs of the
‘Town and County of Leicester,

Vou. XLV.

CHRONICLE.

He was a

497
1777,” 6 vols. 12mo. 2d. * Select
Views in Leicestershire, from origi-
nal drawings, 1789, 4to. 3d. ‘* Sup-
plementary volume to the Leices-
tershire Views, containing a series
of excursions in the year 1790,
to the villages and places of note
in the county, 1790,” 4to. 4th.
«© The History and Antiquities
of the ancient Town of Leices-
ter, 1791,” 4to. 5th. ‘+ Letters on
the Roman Cloaca at Leicester,
1795,” Svo. 6th. ‘* Thoughts on
the Provincial Corps raised, and
new raising in support of the British
Constitution at this awful Period,
1795,” Svo. 7th. “ Thoroton’s His-
tory of N ottinghamshife, republished
with picturesque and select views of
seats of the nobility and gentry,
towns, villages, churches, and ruins,
1797,” three vols. 4to.

Gth. ‘The hon. Mrs. Henniker,
widow of major H. esq.~ second
son of the late lord Hf.

7th. Aged 14, William Hill, of
Lincoln, youngest son of the late
Mr. Wm. H. innholder. This un-
fortunate boy, on the 29th of Janu-
ary, was in a close by the water side,
in company with another nearly the
same age, and had a fowling piece
with them, which, accidentally go-
ing off, wounded the former in the
thigh, and ultimately occasioned his
death.

9th. At Paris, M. de St. Lam-
bert ; and, on the 10th, M. de la
Harpe. Both had been members of
the French academy, and were also
members of the second class of the
national institute. The latter was
85 years of age, and author of ** an
ancient and modern Course of Li-
terature.”’ Previous to his decease,
he declared he had a firm belief in
the truth of the christian religion ;
and solemnly retracted whatever
c might

498

might have appeared in his writings
against its precepts and constitution.
His obsequies were celebrated on the
14th, in the Metropolitan church of
Notre Dame. A deputation of the
institute went to the house where the
body lay, and attended it to the bury-
ing ground of Vaugirard, where it
was deposited. Previous to the in-
terment, Mr, Fontanes, the friend
and colleague of Ja Harpe, pro-
nounced a manly and sympathetic
oration*.

At Edinburgh, Miss Jean Alex-
ander, daughter of the late Wm. A.
lord provost and M. P. of that city.

10th. In Grosvenor-place, Mrs.
Long, sister to the late, and aunt to
the present, sir James Tilney Long,
bart.

On the island of Bermuda, the la-
dy of vice-admiral sir Andrew Mit-
chell, K. B,
~ 11th. In Ireland, the hon. Jas,
Tenson, second son of the late lord
Reversdale.

In his 26th year, capt. Heary
West, of the royal navy. His death
was occasioned by a very severe ac-
cident, a few days before, while
fencing with his fencing-master,
when, the latter making a strong
lunge, the foil broke through the
mask, and breaking also, the splin-
tered piece entered his mouth, and
penetrated his throat, lacerating his
neck ina shocking, manner.

12th. At his lordship’s palace,
in the arms of its mother, in the cha-
pel, shortly after the ceremony of
baptism, the infant daughter of Mr.
‘Moore, eldest son-of the archbishop
of Canterbury.

At Bath, the hon. Mrs. Bagwell,
eldest daughter of the late lord
Graves.

At Munich, aged ‘three years,

* Vide Characters.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

prince Maximilian, of Bavaria, third
son of the elector.

One Felsted, drinking at the Ge-
nervous Briton, in Newark, Not-
tinghamshire, and trying how much
ale he could guzzle down in a short
time, took sucha quantity, as to ec-
casion immediate suffocation and
death.

Interred, in the family vault at
Yardley, co. Herts, the remains of
Mrs. Elizabeth Cheaney, of Bunting-
ford, aged 91, relict of Butler C.
esq. of Littlecourt, in the same
county, and daughter of sir Pynsent
Charnock, bart. of Holcot, co. Bed-
ford.

2ist. At Paris, in her 90th year,
mademoiselle Dumesnil, a celebrated
actress.

At Gringley, near Gainsborough,
one of the children of Mr. William-
sou; on the 23d another; and, on
the 24th, by grief, his wife, who was
in a state of pregnancy, they were
all buried in one coffin. ;

23d. At Richmond, Surry, Ed-
ward Constable, esq: of Burton
Constable, in Holderness, in the
east riding of Yorkshire. He was
generally styled the lord of Holder-
ness, being possessed of the richest
part of that fine grazing district, si-
tuated on the Humber, to the extent
of 16,0001. per annum. Mr. C..
was highly accomplished ; had lived
in the best societies both at home
and abroad ; and annually expend-
ed 20001. in benevolences of the most
disinterested and liberal kind. Dy-
ing without issue, he is succeeded by
his next brother, Francis Sheldon,
esq. who, with this fine estate, be-
comes possessed also of one of the
best furnished houses and libraries
in England, as heir-looms appertain-
ing thereto. .
26th. The

nil disputandum.’

CHRONICLE.

26th. The hon, Edward Griffin
Kinnaird, second son of lord K. .
At York, the widow of the rev.

archdeacon. Egerton; niece of the

late sir Wm. Lowther, bart.

At Rothley, co, Leicester, in his
42d year, Arthur Carter, esq. lieu-
tenant-colonel of the 20th» light-
dragoons, and brigadier-general in
the West Indies. He was grandson
of the late right hon. sir Thomas C.
secretary of state, {and to the hon,
sir Arthur Chayne, nephew to gen.
Johnson. He had been 29 years
in his majesty’s service, and was
highly esteemed by his regiment and
all who knew him. ,

After along and painful illness,
aged 28, at the house of sir W.
Pultney, bart. at Weymouth, the
wife of John M. Wood, esq. daugh-
ter of the rev. Edward Done, of
Shrewsbury, and niece to lord Kin-
naird, and sir W. Pultney,

March 2d. At her house in St.
Peter’s-street, Canterbury, aged 70,
Mrs. Celestina Collins, widow. Al-
though possessing an income of 7O0l.
per annum, her habits of life were
Singularly disgusting, and her dispo-
sition and peculiarities so eccentric,
that she may be truly said to have
verified the old adage, ‘ de gustibus
During many
years, her constant companions were
from 16 to 23 fowls, whose ordure
defiled as well her bed, and every
article of her furniture, as the plate
out of which she ate. A favourite
cock, whose age might be calcu-
lated, from his spurs being three
inches long, and an equally favoured
rat, were for a length of time con-
Stant attendants at her table, each
partaking of the fragments which
even her penury shared with them ;
till one day, the rat, not preserving
due decorum towards-its rival, met

499

his death from the hands of his mis.
tress... Her predeliction for vermin
prevailed somuch, that, at her death,
a nest of mice was found in her bed.
Among the bequests of her will are,
51. to the minister of the parish for
a funeral sermon, 501. to the Kent
and Canterbury hospitals, and the
same sum to the parish of St. Peter,
and one gninea to each of the per.
sons who should carry her to the
grave; besides many other legacies,
generally to persons in no degree
related to her.

3d. At Cortacby, in Forfar-
shire, Scotland, David Ogilvie, earl
of Airley. He is succeeded by his
eldest son, David lord Ogilvie.

4th. Lieutenant-general Francis
D’Oyley, colonel of the 15th foot.
He was at the levee on the 2d; went
in perfect health, accompanied by
his lady, on the evening of the 3d,
to Mrs. Heberden’s concert in Pall.
Mall ; returned home to his house,
in Half-moon-street, Piccadilly, this
morning, and after retired to bed,
fell into a swoon, and died.

In Bryanstone-street, Portman-
square, after a short illness, aged
79, the widow of capt. John Day,
sister to the late sir Matthew Fea-
therstone. y
, At his lordship’s house, in Strat-
ten-street, the infant son of lord
Pelham.

At Harrew-school, the hon. Fre-
derick Nugent, second son of the
earl of Westmeath. ;

6th. In Gloucester-place, Port-
man-square, sir James Wallace,
knight. He was made a post-cap-
tain, Jan. 10th, 1771; a rear-admi-
ral, April 12th, 1794; a vice-admi-
ral, Jan. 1, 1795; and admiral of
the blue, Jan. 1, 1801; and, a few
years ago, was admiral and governor
of Newfoundland,

Kk2 Th

500

Tn Lincoln’s inn fields, the widow
of Samuel Ruffey, esq. sister of the
dowager lady Dukenfield.

8th. Ather house, in Merchant-
street, Edinburgh, lady Gibsone,
relict of the late sir John G. bart.
of Pentland, and sister to Charles
Watson, esq. of Slaughton,

At his town-house, in Cleveland-
row, about half past 3 o’clock in
the morning, after a short illness
from a cold, which brought on the
complaints accompanying the influ-
enza, Francis duke of Bridgewater,
marquis of Brackley, and baron of
Ellesmere, of Worsley, in Lanca-
shire, and Ashridge Bucks. He
was born May 25th, 1726, and suec-
ceeded the late duke, John, his bro-
ther, in 1748, and remained unmar-
ried, Of those illustrious characters

who have done honour to the British
' peerage, the duke of Bridgewater
deserves to be placed in the first
rank. ‘That time and fortune which
too many others have devoted to
purposes, if not injurious to society,
at least useless, his grace spent in
pursuits that entitle him to be called
the benefactor of his country. By
his active spirit, and his unshaken
perseverance, he amassed immense
wealth. But the public grew rich
with him ; and his labours were not
more profitable to himself than they
were to his country. His return to
the income tax was 110,000. a year ;
the greatest part acquired by his
own exertions, and derived from
circumstances of the highest benefit
to thenation. He was the third duke
of Bridgewater, and, dying without
issue, the dukedom becomes ex-
tinct; but the earldom of Bridge-
water devolves to lieut. gen. W. J.
Egerton, of Grosvenor-square, M.
P. for Brackley, co. Northampton.
The late duke was the fifth son of

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Scroop, first duke of that name, by
Jady Rachel Russell. His grace was
not remarkable for any active part
in politics, though he sometimes ap-—
peared in the house of lords on party
questions. He generally followed
the politics of his relation, the mar-
quis of Stafford; and was a noble
patron of many great national insti-
tutions. To the loyalty-loan he
subscribed 100,0001. all in ready
money, at one time. He has died
amazingly rich, worth large sums of
ready money. By his will he has
left most of his houses, his plate, his
pictures, valued at 150,000]. and
his estate, lately purchased, at
Woolmers, in Hertfordshire, to earl
Gower, together with his canal pro-
perty in Lancashire, which brings in
from 50 to 80,0001]. per annum.—
All this property is entailed on earl
Gower’s second son, lord Francis
Levison Gower ; the eldest son will
inherit the marquis of Stafford’s es-
tates. To general Egerton, now
earl Bridgewater, he bequeaths the
estate of Ashridge, in Hertfordshire,
and other estates in Bucks, Salop,
and Yorkshire, to the amount of
30,0001. per annum. About
600,0001. in the funds he has left
chiefly to gen. Egerton, and partly
among the countess of Carlisle, lady
Anne Vernon, and lady Louisa
Macdonald, the chief baron’s lady ;
all of whom were his relations.—
Between % and 6 o’clock in the
morning of the 16th, his remains
were removed for interment to the
family vault at Little Gaddesden, in
Hertfordshire. The funeral was
conducted in the plainest manner,
according to his grace’s request.—
The procession moved from Cleve-
Jand-row, in the following order:
a hearse and feathers, with six
horses; his grace’s carriage, with

SIX

CHRONICLE

six horses ; three mourning coaches,
with six horses to each; ten out-
riders, and the usual retinue of
mutes and other attendants.

9th. In her 87th year, Mrs.
Anna Maria Shipley, daughter of the
hon. George Mordaunt, and widow
of the bishop of St. Asaph.

10th. In Cavendish-square, after
many years’ illness, Mrs, Hunger-
ford, relict of George Walker, esq.
She was sister and co-heiress of
Lumley Keale Hungerford, esq. of
Studley-house, Wilts, and grand-
daughter of sir George Hungerford.

11th. At his father’s house, in
Berkeley-square, aged 10 years and
4 months, Master ne Shee, third
son of sir George Shee, bart.

At Richmond, Surry, in her 71st
year, the hon. Juliana Howe, sister
to Viscount Howe.

In his 78th year, in the literal as
well as titular sense of the words,
the right hon. gen. Warde, of invio-
lable disinterested integrity, public
and private, col. of the 4th regiment
of dragoon guards, whose benefac-
tions were scarcely less secret than
extensive,

14th. At Hamburgh, in his 79th
year, Frederick Gotlieb Klopstock,

counsellor of the Danish embassy at
Hamburgh, anda celebrated German
poet. He was born at Quidling-
burg, in 1727. His first publica-
tion, ‘‘ Two Odes,” appeared at
Zurich in 1749 ; his ‘* Messiah,” at
Halle, in 1751; his ‘* Odes and
Elegies,” (which have since gone
through more than 30 editions) at
Darmstadt, in 1771. He was like-
wise author of the ‘* Death of
Adam,” ‘‘ Solomon,” and ‘* Da.
vid,” tragedies, and of other poeti-
cal works ; the last of which, if we
mistake not in point of date, was
* The Death of Hermann,” pub-

504

lished at Hamburgh in 1787. His
funeral was celebrated on the 22d
with extraordinary pomp. At ten
o’clock in the morning, a procession
of 76 coaches, composed of the ses
nate, the diplomatic body, the
clergy, the professors and members
of the two gymnasiums, the men of
letters, and a number of merchants,
repaired to the house of the de-
ceased. The body was drawn by 4
horses, escorted by a guard of ho-
nour on horse and foot. After hav-
ing traversed the principal streets of
Hamburgh, the procession moyed out
by the gate of Altona, and was re-
ceived, in the entrance into that ci-
ty, by the first president, Stegman,
accompanied by the officers of go-
vernment, the professors, the clergy
of Altona, and the citizens of all
classes. Three young women,
dressed in white, and carrying
crowns and baskets of flowers, pre-
ceded the retinue, which, being in-
creased by 50 carriages, arrived at
the burying-ground of the village of
Ottenten, the place of interment.—
All the guards of the two cities paid
military honours, and the ships in
the harbour hoisted the mourning-
flag. ‘The procession having arrived
at the temple, the poem of the Mes-
siah was placed on the coffin: at this
instant a young man stept out of
the crowd, and placed a crown of
laurel on the book, which was open,
and the young women of Altona
fixed theirs likewise on the coffin.
At the same moment a sublime strain
of solemn music was sent up by
more than a hundred performers.—
During a moment’s silence, an indi-
vidual of the retinue advanced to-

_wards the coffin, took up the poem

of the Messiah, and read the twelfth
canto; after which, the coffin was
deposited in the grave of his first

Kk3 wife,

&-

502
‘wife, who ‘had been buried there 30
years before.

At Lisbon, Miss Macdonald,
eldest daughter of the lord chief
baron of the exchequer.

‘20th. In his 82d year, the hon.
James Everard Arundel, second son
of Tlenry, sixth baron Arundel of
Wardour, by his first wife, Eliza-
beth Eleanor, daughter and heir of
baron Everard, of the principality of
Liege, one of the barons of the em-
pire. He married, 1751, Anne,
daughter and heir of John Wind-
ham, esq. of Ashcombe, Wilts, by
whom he had James Everard, who
died young, and was buried in Sa-
lisbury ‘cathedral ; James Everard,
born 1763; Thomas Raymond,
born 1765; Eleanor Anne, born in
1752; Mary Windham, born 1757;
and ~ Catherine Elizabeth, born
1759—married 1792, ‘to George
Ryves, esq. captain of his majesty’s
ship Agincourt, and eldest son of
the late G. R. esq. of Ranston,
Dorset, by whom she has several
children.

23d. At Little Wilbraham, in
‘Caernarvonshire, Mrs. Hobbs, who
‘had lived in three centuries ; having
been born in 1699, and had enjoy-
ed her health and ‘intellects till
within’a few hours of her death.

28th. At her ladyship’s seat, at
Bounds, in her 56th year, Mary
countess of Darnley, relict of John
earl of Darnley. Her ladyship was
daughter and heiress of John Stoyte,
esq. of Street, co. Westmeath, Ire-
Jand, (by Mary Howard, sister of
Ralph viscount Wicklow, ) and mar-
ried, in 1766, John earl Darnley,
by whom she had seven children,
the eldest of whom, John, is the
present earl Darnley in Ireland, and
baron Clifton in England ; and mar-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ried, 1791, Miss Brownlow, daugh-
ter ofthe late right hon: Wm. B. of
Lurgan, in Treland. Her remains
were interred at Southborough cha-
pel, near Tunbridge-wells, A num-
ber of poor children, educated and
cloathed at her expence, attended
the funeral in mourning.

At Manich, lady Wallace, sister
to the duchess of Gordon, and, in
former times, well known in the li-
terary world and the circles of fa-
shion.

30th. At Broome-house, in
Barham, aged about 70, Margaret,
the lady of sir Henry Oxendon,
bart, daughter and co-heiress of sir
George ‘Chudleigh, of Devonshire,
She married sir Henry in 1755, and
had ‘by him one son, Henry, born
1756.

Sist. Miss Siddons, daughter of
the celebrated Mrs. Siddons.

April 2d. In Scotland, sir Jamés
Montgomery, late chief baron of -
Scotland, and uncle to the unfortu-
nate col. M. who was killed in a
duel with capt. Macnamara on the
6th.

At Burton Pynsent, co, Somerset,
the right hon. Hester Grenville, ba-
roness of Chatham, in her own right,
and countess dowager of Chatham.
Her ladyship was the only daughter
of Richard Grenville, of Wotton,
by Hester Temple, viscountess Cob-
ham, to which title she succeeded on
the death of her brother, and was
created countess Temple 1749.—
Hester Grenville, baroness of Chat-
ham, was the only daughter by this
marriage, and was created a peeress
Oct. 5,1761, having married, Nov.
6, 1754, William Pitt, the illustri-
ous earl of Chatham, by whom she
Icft issue, the present earl; and the
right hon, William Pitt.

At

GHRIONICLE ) “ 503.

At Coltness-house, Edinburgh,
Miss EF. Steward, daughter of sir J.
S$. bart. of Goodfrees.

5th. At her house, in Wim-
pole-street, aged 86, lady Frances
Williams Wynn, relict of — sir
Watkin Williams W. so famed for
his hospitality, and munificence,
throughout Wales, 60 years ago.—
She preserved, by her conciliating
manners, the high regard of his nu-
merous friends during her son’s Jong
minority; and her memory was
clear, and strength of mind conti-
nued to the last.

At Edinburgh, the wife of ma-
jor-general Ilay Ferrier, niece of
the late lord justice Clerk.

6th. At his house, at Sunning,
near Reading, Berks, aged about
seventy, admiral sir Thomas Rich,
bart.

In Piccadilly, in his 74th year,
the right hon. sir William Hamil-
ton, K. B. &c. &c. He died at the
house of his lady, bought for him, on
an interruption of his own finances,
with some jewels, a present to her
by a foreign princess, who, in a let-
ter to our own sovereign, praises
Jady Hamilton, in full gratitude of
heart, as “* her best friend and pre-
server! to whom she was indebted,
certainly, for life, and probably for
the crown.” Sir William was a
man of most extraordinary endow-
ments, and his memory will be dear
to the literary world, by the indefa-
tigable exertions which he made
through life, to add to our stock of
knowledge and of models in the fine
arts. His whole life, indeed, was
devoted to studies connected with
the arts, and he made every interest
contribute to the passion of his soul.
He was foster-brother of his present
majesty, which laid the foundation
of that gracious attachment and
friendship with which he was ho-

noured by the king, through the
whole of his public ‘service. By
that immediate protection, he pro-
cured the fayourite appointment of
minister at the court of Naples,
which he enjoyed, with the unin.
terrupted approbation of the two
courts, for 36 years, and which he
would not exchange for more lucra-
tive situations. The zealous and
successful efforts he made, during all
this time, in bringing to light the
buried treasures of antiquity, and in
promoting a just and correct taste
in the arts, by making known, in
his works, the specimens of the pure
and chaste style of the classic wra
that he had discovered, need not be
here enumerated. He was equally
active and successful in the dus
ties of his appointment, and main-
tained the harmony of the two
courts at a period when it re-
quired all his influence and ad-
dress to counteract the designs of
those who had an interest in the
breach of that amity that so happily
subsisted. ‘The English nobility and
gentry, who travelled into Italy,
speak with the warmest acknowe-
ledgments of the splendid hospitality
with which he represented his sove-
reign. About twelve years ago, he
married the present lady Hamilton,
He had a pension of 12001. a year,
on the Irish establishment, conferred
on him for his long diplomatic ser.
vices, which ceases with his exist.
ence. He hag made his nephew, the
hon. Charles*Greville (deputy lord
chamberlain) his sole heir. His es-
tates near Swansea, which he got by
a former wife, amount to 5000I. per
annum ; these he has left charged
with 7001. per annum, as an annuity
to the present lady Hamilton, during
her life. Ilis remains were interred
at Milford-hayen, in Pembrokeshire.
His ‘* Observations on Mount Ve.

Kk4 suyius,

504

suvius, Mount Etna, and other
Volcanoes, in a series of Letters to
the Royal. Society,” were re-pub-
lished with notes, in 1772, Syo.

7th. At Edinburgh, in his 77th
year, Patrick Crichton, earl of
Dwitfries, elected, 1786, one of the
sixteen peers of Scotland. He suc-
ceeded his uncle, the fourth earl,
and married, 1771, a daughter of
Ronald Crawford, esq. of Restal-
rig, by whom he had a son,
born 1776, and a daughter, born
1773.

8th. At his house, in Jermyn-
street, in his 63d year, general de
Baurmeister, resident minister from
the court of Hesse-Cassel. His_re-
mains were deposited in the Savoy
chapel. In the death of this distin-
guished personage, the Landgrave
of Hesse-Cassel has lost an able ge-
neral and a faithful minister. His
excellency’s military career has
shewn itself most conspicuously in
the German, American, and_ late
continental wars; and he bore to
his grave the honourable wounds he
received in those contests. His ser-
vices were principally with his Bri-
tannic majesty’s troops. His sua-
vity and mildness of manners en-
deared him particularly to their ma-
jesties and the royal family, to most
of the nobility, and to all those who

had the honour of his acquaintance. .

His excellency’s illness was long and
painful ; during which time, the at-
tention of his excellency’s secretary,
N.G. Lewis, esq. anda number of
friends, was unremitted; which
must afford much consolation to his
relativesabroad. 5 ‘

10th. At Holton park, co. Ox-
ford, in her 24th year, the hon.
Mrs, Parker, wife of col. P. bro-
ther to the earl of Macclesfield. *

At Somerset-place, in her 63d

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

year, the lady of sir John Henslow,
first surveyor of his majesty’s navy.

At Edinburgh, sir John White.
foord, of Whitefoord, bart.

15th At Vienna, in his 89th
year, the archbishop of that see,
cardinal Prince Migazzy. On the
preceding day, he had taken a walk
upon the Prater; found himself un-
well; and, returning home, expired
almost immediately. Cardinal M.
it is well known, was not upon the
best terms with emperor Joseph IL.
and refused to promote any of that
monarch’s views of reform. He
was of a very ancient family, which
distinguished itself in the Valteline,
in the year 1200. For some time,
he filled the office of imperial envoy,
at Madrid. His remains were in-
terred on the 19th, at Vienna, by
torch light; the funeral procession
heing opened by the children of the
orphan-house, and the poor belong-
ing to several other charitable foun-
dations.

16th. In his 64th year, Mr. .
James Aickin, late comedian and
stage-manager of Drury-lane thea-
tre. His remains were interred on
the 25th, in the church-yard of St.
Anne, Soho, attended by most of
the performers of Drury-lane house,
in testimony of the high respect in
which the deceased was deservedly
held by them.

18th. At Stratford-house, Essex,
John lord Henniker, baron Henni-
ker, of Stratford upon Slaney, F.
R.S. and L. L. D. His lordship
was born in 1714, and married,
1747, Anne, eldest daughter (and
co-heiress with her sister Elizabeth,
duchess of Chandos), of sir John
Major, bart. of Warlingworth-hall,
co. Suffolk; and had issue, Ist, the
hon. John Henniker Major ; 2d, the
hon. Major Henniker, deceased ;

3d, the

CHRONICLE.

3d, the hon. general Brydges Hen-
niker; 4th, Anne Elizabeth, mar-
ried, 1787, Edward Stratford, earl
of Aldborough; and died at Aldbo-
rough-house, Dublin, July 1802,
without issue. His lordship was
descended from an ancient family in
Kent ; succeeded to the title of ba-
ronet, 1781, and was created a peer,
July 30th, 1800, by the title of
baron Henniker, of Stratford upon
Slaney, in the county of Wicklow.
He is succeeded in his title and large
estates, by his eldest son, the hon.
John Henniker Major, F. R. 5. of
Portman-square, now second lord
Henniker, who married Emilia,
daughter of Robert Jones, esq. of
Dufirin, Glamorganshire.

19th. Suddenly, aged 65, sir
Charles Ventris Field, of Campton,
co. Bedford, bart.

2ist. In Baker-street, the wife
of Thomas Skip Dyot Bucknall, esq.
M. P.

23d. Ather father’s house, in
Arlington-street, aged 19, Miss
Fellowes, second daughter of Ro-
bert Fellowes, esq. M. P. for Nor-
wich. This lady and her sister
dined with the earl of Portsmouth
on the 17th; complained of the
influenza on the 18th, and died this
day.

24th. At Clifton; near Bristol,
Miss Ersekine, sister of sir W.
Ersekine.

At his house, in Piccadilly, sir
John Smith Burges, bart. of Kast-
Hath, Essex, so created May 4th,
1793, adirector of the East India
Company, and lieut. col. of the 3d
regiment of East India volunteers.
His death was occasioned by too
great exertion on the day of the late
election at the India house; the
disorder increased to so violent a de-
gree, as to defy all medical aid ;

508

and, for the last two days of his
existence, he remained motionless.
He had married the ouly daughter
and heiress of the late Y. Burges,
esq. of East Ham, and Thorpe-hall ;
and, in consequence thereof, took
the name of Burges, in addition to
that of Smith, but dying without
issue, the title becomes extinct.

At St. Petersburg, madame Rose
Didelot, a celebrated and much
admired performer at the Opera-
house.

25th. At the Swan inn, Bedford,
sir John Payne, bart. of ‘Temps-
ford-hall, lieut. col. of the Bedford,
shire militia. He went to bed ap-
parently in good health, about 11
o’clock the preceding evening.

At Paul’s-cray, in Kent, where
she was on a visit, after six days

. illness, the dowager lady Houghton,

reli¢t of sir Henry H. bart. of
Walton Hall, near Preston, co. Lan-
caster.

At Brighthelmstone, after a lin-
gering illness, in his 7th year, the
hon. Wm. Neville, youngest son of
lord Braybroke.

27th. At his seat of Castletown,
in Ireland, the right hon. Thomas
Connolly, one of his majesty’s most
honourable privy counsellors, and
forty years representative for the
county of Londonderry, This ce-
lebrated senator was great nephew
of the right hon. Wm, Connolly,
speaker of the house of commons,
one of the lords justices of Ireland ;
and married December 30th, 1758,
the lady Louisa-Augusta Lenox,
daughter of Charles, duke of Rich-
mond, whose virtues will be long
remembered in Ireland, but by
whom he had no issue, His father,
the late right. hon. Wm. Connolly,
of Castletown, in Ireland, and Strat-
ton-hall, co, Stafford, married the

lady

506

lady Anne Wentworth, eldest daugh-
ter of William, ear] of Strafford, and
had issue one son, Thomas, the sub-
jet of this article, who, on the
death of the last earl of Stafford,
succeeded to large property in En-
gland ; and several daughters, viz.
Catherine, countess of Ross, who
died without issue by her husband
Ralph, earl of Ross. 2d. Frances
yiscountess Howe, married lord
Howe, to which title he succeeded
on the death of his brother, Richard
carl Howe, but has no issue, 3d.
Caroline, countess of Buckingham-
shire, who married in 1770, John
the second earl of Buckinghamshire,
and had issue an only daughter, the
Jady Amelia Hobart, who married
jn 1797,Robertviscount Castlereagh,
son of Robert, earl of Londonderry,
in Ireland. 4th. Anne married
George Bing. esq. of the noble fa-
mily of Torrington, and has issue
George Bing, esq. M.P. for Mid-
diesex, who, by the late will of his
uncle, the right hon. Thomas Con-
nolly, succeeds to the large estates
of the Connolliecs in Ireland, and
the magnificent seat at Castletown.

30th. At her father’s seat, the
Priory, near Stanmore, co. Mid-
dlesex, in her 22d year, after a
short illness, of an inflammation of
the membrane which lies in the
wind-pipe, and which very suddenly
produced suffocation, lady Harriet
Hamilton, eldest daughter of the
marquis of Abercorn, She was to
have been married to the marquis of
Waterford in a few days; the ar-
ticles were drawn up, and the live-
ries made. Possessed of every re-
quisite to render her beloved by the
noble lord to whom she was be-
trothed; her person was beautiful,
but her mental qualifications were
eren superior; endowed with a

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

good understanding, she had de-
voted her time to continued aéts
of benevolence. The funeral of
this deservedly-lamented young lady
took place at 8 o’clock in the morn-
ing of May 6th.

Lately, at Placentia, the bishop
of that see, don J. Gonzales de San
Pedro, which he had filled 37 years,
and was a benefactor to the whole
country. }

In Frederick-street, Dublin, lady
Grace Queade, daughter of John,
first earl of Aldborough, sister to
the present earl.

May ist. At her house in Upper
Seymour-street, lady M. Milbourne,
At the same hour also, at her house
in Park-street, Grosvenor-square,
Mrs. E, Harvey, many years the
intimate friend of lady Milbourne.

2d. At Darn-hill, Sir George
Home, bart. of Blackadder, in
Scotland, vice-admiral of the blue.

4th. At his lodgings in Pad.
dington, Mr. John Joseph Merlin,
of Prince-street, Hanover-square,
the very ingenious mechanic. He
was born in September 1735, at
St. Peters, in the city of Huy, on
the river Meuse. He resided six
years in Paris, and came over with
the Spanish ambassador-extraordi-
nary, the count de Fuentes, to his
house in Soho-square, on the 24th
of May, 1760. Mr. Merlin, as an
ingenious mechanic, has been long
known to the public. He was
buried at Paddington.

5th. At Camelford-house, “need
65, Anne, dowager lady Camelford.
In the constant exercise of the most.
amiable qualities of the heart, she’
lived universally beloved, and dicd
as universally lamented. She was
daughter and co-heir of Pinkney
Wilkinson, esq. of Burnham, co.
Norfolk, and married, 1771, to

Thomas

tatn 7

.
y

CHRONICLE.
‘Thomas Pitt, lord Camelford, by

whom she has left one son and a
daughter, married in 1792, to Wil-
liam Wyndham Grenville, lord Gren-
ville.

7th. At Stratfield-say, Hants,
aged 83, George Pitt, lord Rivers,
a lord of his majesty’s bed-chamber,
and lord-lientenant and custos-rotu-
lorum of the county of Dorset, in
which he is succeeded by lord Dor-
chester, The peerage descends, in
the present instance, to his only son
George Pitt, who many years re-
presented the county of Dorset in
Parliament, but had latterly retired
from public life, and contingently
devolves to the male issue of Peter
Beckford, esq. of Stapleton, in Dor-
Setshire, his lordship’s son-in-law.
His remains were interred with great
funcral pomp, in the family-vault at

Stratfield-say.

Sth. Sir John Davie, bart. of
Creedy, having completed his 31st
year in January last.

9th. At Paris, sir Robert Cham-
bers, late chief-justice of the su-
preme court of judicature at Cal-
cutta.

10th. Lieut. col. George Smith,
of the 9th infantry, on the Madras
establishment.

15th, At Long Buckby, co. North-
ampton, in her 103d year, Mrs.

-Swinfen.

At Dublin, (where she had been
for some months ona yisit to her
daughter, Mrs, Lindsay), aged about

62, and much regretted, dame Mary

Hales, of Dean, near Wingham, in
Kent, relict of sir Thomas Pym H.
bart. of Howletts, in the same

county, who died in 1773. She was

only daughter and heiress of Mr,
Jervace Hayward, an opulent brewer
at Sandwich, in Kent.

16th. At the Bull and Punch-

507.

bow!, in Liverpool, aged 77, Bres-
law, the celebrated conjurer. He
was a native of Berlin.

20th. In London, of a typhus
fever, after 27 days illness, in her
16th year, Susannah, only daughter
of sir Thomas Guy Cullum, of Haw-
sted, Suffolk, bart.

25th. At Kensington, the hon.
Mrs. Luttrell, reli¢t of the hon.
Temple L. next brother of Henry,
earl of Carhampton. She was daugh-
ter of sir Henry Gould, knt. one
of the judges of the court of com-
mon pleas, in England, and sister
of Honoria, countess of Cavan.
She married, 1778, the hon. Tem-
ple Luttrell, by whom she had no
issue.

At Hazlewood, co. Sligo, Ire-
land, William Willoughby Cole, ear!
of Enniskillen, so created 1789.
He was on a visit, at the time, to
his son-in-law, Owen Wynne, esq.
His lordship had been attacked by
the influenza, but was considered.
as recovered, and was in the act
of putting on his coat when he
died.

At her house at St. Doulough’s,
near Dublin, lady Catherine Toole,
sister to the earl of Mountmorris ;
a lady of uncommon fascinating
charms and manners.

After a few hours illness, at
Ipswich, where he was with his
regiment, Edward Goate, esq. of
Brentley-hall, Suffolk, many years
colonel of the East Suffolk militia.

26th. In Bloomsbury-square, aged
88, dame Catherine Dukinfield, re-
lict of sir Samuel D. bart.

At Lydiard-Tregoze, near Woot-
ton Basset, the hon. Mr. St. John,
eldest son of lord viscount Boling-
broke.

2sth. At Exmouth, after a pain-
ful illness, the rey. Richard Hole,

rector.

508

rector of Faringdon and Inward-
leigh, co. Devon, who united to
the most amiable simplicity of man-
ners, extensive learning, an elegant
taste, the strictest integrity, and
the most cheerful, unaffected piety.
_ Klis heart and his talents were equally
unexceptionable ; and the deep re-
gret of his numerous friends, bears
the amplest testimony of their ex-
cellence. Mr. H. was the author
of many valuable works. When
the admiration of the poctry of Os-
sian was general, and no hesitation
respecting its early era was enter-
tained, he published a poetical trans-
lation of Fingal, laboured with no
common care, in lines scarcely less
flowing and elegant than those of

Pope. The suspicions of Mr. Mac-’

pherson’s conduct, in at least the
compilation, prevented, perhaps,
that version from being so gene-
ralfy read and warmly admired as it
deserves; but the * Ode to Imagi-
nation,’’ subjoined, claimed the most
general and eager applause, as high-
ly animated and poetical. Some
years afterwards, he published a
translation of Homers Hymn to
Ceres, of which there is a rival, but
a much inferior, version by Mr.
Lucas. The poem, if not Homer’s,
is certainly of very high antiquity,
and is translated by Mr. Hole,
with his usual spirit and elegance.
At no great distance, the epic ro-
mance of Arthur followed; of
which the wildness approaches
nearer the school of Ariosto, than
of Homer, though no one was a
more ardent admirer of the cor-
recter, and more chastened beau-
ties of the ancient epic, than Mr.
Hole. The poem, itself, displays a
warm imagination, and the lines are
Jess monotonous, the measure more

3

ANNUAL! REGISTER, 1803.

varied in its pauses, than those of
his former poctical works. The
notes, though short, are valuable,
and display a correct knowledge of
the northern mythology. When
Mr. Polwhele projected his publica-
tion of the Devonshire and Cornwall
poets, Mr, Hole could not be oyer- .
looked in his numerous applications 5
and some of the most highly finished
poems in that collection are from.
his pen. We. cannot’ enumerate
each ; but would particularly notice
the Odes to Terror and to Melan-
choly, as little, if at all, inferior to
those of Gray, Mason, or Akenside.
They seem, however, to have been
the production of an earlier period,
When the literary society at Exeter
was formed, Mr. Hole was one. of
its first members ; and his later ex~
ertions were chiefly communications
to that institution, To this society
he addressed the *¢ Remarks on
the Arabian Nights Entertainments,
in which the Origin of Sinbad’s
Voyages, and other Oriental Fie-
tions, is particularly considered,”
published separately, 1797, 12mo.
in which he endeavours to shew,
that the marvellous events in
those voyages were believed in the
east, and not so extravagantly in-
consistent, with what the observa-
tions of later travellers have suppli-
ed, as has been generally suppose,
In the published volumes of essays,
though no names are affixed, an hu-
morous poem on the origin of clubs,
and the ironical vindications of the
characters of Shylock and Iago, are
attributed to his pen. He was a
native of Exeter, and admitted of
Excter-college, where he proceeded
B;C. Ly lah
At Fir-grove, near Farnham, af-
tera few days illness, of an inflamma-
tory

tory sore throat, the lady of sir Nel-

son Rycroft, bart.

3ist. After a long illness, the

Tady of sir John Gillman, bart. of

* Gillmanville, in Ireland, daughter of
sir Thomas Miller, bart, of Froyle,
im Hampshire.

At his house, Black Rock, near
Dublin, Robert Jephson, esq. many
years master of the horse to the lord
fieutenant of Ireland, and a success-
ful dramatic writer. He was an
officer in the Irish army, and for-
merly M. P. in that kingdom, and

_ eelebrated for his convivial powers
and his felicity in ludicrous compo-
sition. He is said to have contri-
buted, during the administration of
marquis Townshend, to a periodical
publication, called, ‘* The Bache-
jor.’ His first dramatic piece,

_ Braganza,”’ was acted, for a sea-
son, with success, at Drury-lane,
and printed in 1775; but the plot
was thought to resemble Venice

_ Preserved, too nearly in some parts,
‘©The Law of Lombardy,” a tra-
gedy, with a similar relation to

_ Much Ado about Nothing, was aét-
ed nine nights at Drury-lane, and
then laid aside, and printed in 1779.
“© The ‘Count of Narbonne,” was
well received. He wrote also,
*¢ The Campaign, or.Love in the
East Indies,” an opera. ‘ Julia,
or the Italian Lover,” a tragedy, in
Janguage and sentiments often su-
blime. ‘* Two Strings to your

_ Bow,” a farce; and “* The Conspi-
racy.” In 1794, he published,
** The Confessions of James Bap-
tiste Couteau, Citizen of France,
written by himself, and translated
from the original French,” two vols.
12mo. A severe satire of his own

_ on the depravity of French man-

ners, but very reprehensible on
many accounts. In the same year,

4.

CHRONICLE.

509

*¢ Roman Portraits,” a pocm, in
heroic verse, with historical re.
marks and illustrations, in one yol,
Ato.

Lately, at Mockerkin, in the
parish of Loweswater, co. Cumber-
Jand, in his 49th year, J. Harrison,
esq. captain of the royal navy. He
had distinguished himself by his
courage and conduct in Keppel’s
engagement, off Brest, July 27th,
1777; under lord Howe, June 1,
1794; and in the action of lord
Bridport, off Port L’Orient, in which
last his clothes were set on fire by a
red hot ball.

At Bath, after a long and painful
illness, the wife of Wm. Burroughs,
esq. M.P. for the borough of En-
niskillen. :

June 2d. In Welbeck-strect,
Cavendish-square, aged 73, Mrs.
Catherine Trapaud, relict of the late
general Cyrus T. who died May 3,
1801, and aunt to the late duke of
Bridgewater; a lady deservedly Ja-
mented, and eminently distinguished
for humanity, benevolence, and po-
liteness. On her decease, Fran-
cis Plaistow, esq. of Devonshire-
street, Portland-place, and of Pot-
ter’s-bar, South Mims, Middlesex,
takes the names and arms of Tra-
paud.

3d. In Cavendish-square, in his
43d year, the right hon. and rev.
George Murray, D. D. lord bishow
of St. David’s, and brother to the
duke of Athol. His death was oc-
casioned by coming down, on a
damp, cold night, and waiting some
time for his carriage, from a com-
mittee in the house of lords: he felt
an immediate chill, which brought
on a violent fever, in a few hours.
that carried him off in three days.
leaving a widow and ten children.
He bad nearly effected his object,

that

510

that of raising his bishoprick. to the
immediate produce of 3500l. per an-;
num; and which see, in the course
of 17 years, is expected to net
16,0001. a year.

At Bath, the relict of Edward
Greaves, esq. of Calcheth, co. Lan-
caster, daughter of sir Darcy Lever,
of Arkrington.

4th. At Euston-hall, Suffolk, in
her 22d year, of a cold which sct-
tled in the chest, lady Caroline Fitz-

roy, sixth daughter to the duke ‘of.

Grafton.

At Forglen, in Scotland, Wm.
Ogilvie, lord Bamif.

5th. At the earl of Derby’s, in
Grosvenor-square, after a short ill-
ness, Mrs. Farren, mother of the
countess of Derby.

6th. At her apartments near
Kensington, the hon. Miss Lambe,
daughter of lord Melbourne, The
death of this amiable and accom-
plished young lady, is supposed to
have been occasioned by a_ cold
which settled in the chest, similar to
the complaint of which lady C, Fitz-
roy died, June 4th.

7th. At Edinburgh, major-gen.
George Coningham, late of the
Scots brigade,

9th. In Lower Groyesnor-street,
the right rev. Henry Reginald Court-
nay, D. D. lord bishop of Exeter,
son of sir Wm. Courtnay, of Pow-
derham, co. Devon, bart. brother to
the first viscount Courtnay, and un-
cle to the present. He was edu-
cated at Christchurch, Oxford; M.
A. 1766; D.C. L.1774; chaplain
to his majesty ; rector of St. George’s,
Hanover-square, 1774; and of Lee,
in Kent, 1775; and prebendary of
St. Andrew, in the cathedral of Ro-
chester. He was advanced to the
see of Exeter on the death of bishop
Buller, 1795; and married, 1774,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

Jady Elizabeth Howard, sister to
Thomas earl of Effingham, by whom
he had one-son, William.

At the Wheatsheaf-inn, near the
Virginia-water, in Windsor Great-
park, aged 46, Joseph Richardson,
esq. M.P. for Newport, in Corn-
wall, and one of the proprietors; of
Drury-lane theatre. He was suds
denly taken ul the night before ;
medica] assistance was soon procur-
ed, but in yain, for he expired in
the afternoon of the next day.—
Within the last three or four years
he had suffered several severe shocks,
by the rupture of a blood-yessel ;
but it-was hoped that the natural yi-
gour of his constitution would have
triumphed. He originally came
from Hexham, in Northumberland ;
and was entered at St. John’s-col-«
lege, Cambridge, in 1774. Dr.
Ferris, the present dean of Bath,
and doétor Pearce, now dean of
Ely, were his tutors at the univer-
sity. Under the superintendance of
those two excellent scholars, Mr. R,
acquired sound learning and a_ cor-
rect taste. He possessed, indeed,
an excellent understanding, and a
sort of intuitive knowledge of man-
kind. He distinguished himself, at
college, by the elegance, beauty, and
vigour of his prose and poetical
compositions ; a love of the muses,
very early in life, took possession of
his mind, and often interfered with
the laberious duties of his studies,
He entered himself a. student of the
Middle Temple, in 1779, and was
called to the bar in 1784. Literary
pursuits and political connexions
took uptoo much of his time to admit
of his pursuing, with sufficient dili-
gence, the study of the law ; other-
wise, it is highly probable, he would
have become a distinguished orna-
ment of the bar. The chief works

in

1
3

i

= Say

= me

LEBEN EID

CHRONICLE. 511

in which he was known publicly to
take a part, were, ‘* The Rolliad,”
and the ‘¢ Probationary Odes,” in
the composition of which his talents
were conspicuous. The comedy of
“ The Fugitive,” is highly credita-
ble to his dramatic genius. ‘The di-
alegue is peculiarly neat, spirited,
elegant, and classical, and the whole
manifests so much power of senti-
ment, wit, and humour, that the
public must regret that he did not
resume his dramatic studies. He
was brought into parliament by the
duke of Northumberland, in whose
friendship he held a distinguished
place : and by whose loan of 20001.
(which the duke has given up to his
family) he was enabled to. become
proprietor of a fourth part of Dru-
ry-lane theatre. He has left an ami-
able widow and four charming
daughters, to lament the loss of an
atiectionate and enlightened pro-
tector.

12th. At Florence, lady Cathe-
rine Burgess, sister to the duke of
St. Albans.

13th. Sir John Wedderburn,
_ bart. of Ballindean, Scotland.

15th. At his seat at Brome, in
Kent, in his Sist year, sir Henry
Oxendon, bart. he is succeeded by

his only son, now sir Henry.

At Raith, the wife of col. Fergu-
son, and daughter to sir Hector
Munro, K. B.

At her house, in Half Moon-
street, Piccadilly, aged 26, Mrs.
Pope, of Drury-lane theatre. Her
maiden name was. Campion, and she
was descended from a very old and
respectable family in the county of
Cork, Ireland. She made her first
appearance on the stage at Dublin,
in Monimia, ‘* The Orphan,” Feb.
17, 1790, Oct. 13th, 1797, she
Appeared at Covent Garden theatre
t 3

in the same character; and was
next year married to Mr. Pope.
The public will, no, doubt, regret
the loss of an actress who has so
much delighted them by the spirit,
feeling, and judgment with which
she performed. Her remains were
interred on the 25th, in Westmin-
ster Abbey, near those of the former
Mrs. Pope. °

16th. In St. James’s-place, Mrs.
Hale, relict of gen. Bernard H. and
sister of the late right hon. Richard
Rigby.

18th. In Wimpole-street, aged
15, Miss Emma Chaplin, second
daughter of Charles C, esq. M. P.

90th. At Bath, after a long ill-
ness, aged 66, the right hon, Na
thaniel lord Harrowby, so created
May 20th, 1776, being only son
of the late sir Dudley Ryder, kunt.
chief justice of the court of king’s-
bench. He represented the borough
of Tiverton in several parliaments,
and married, 1762, Hlizabeth,
daughter of bishop Terrick, by
whom he had issue, Dudley his
successor, born 1762, M. P. for
Tiverton ; Richard, born 17665
and Elizabeth, born 1767. His re-
mains were interred in the Abbey-
church, at Bath, on the 25th.

22d. At Stoke Edith, the hon.
Edward Foley, M. P. for Worces-
ter, uncle of lord F. and recorder
of Droitwich. He was born in
1747 ; married, 1778, lady Anne
Margaret, youngest daughter of
George William, present earl of
Coventry, by his first wife, Maria
Gunning.

The wife of Thomas Wilkinson,
esq. of Binchester, co. Durham,

daughter of the late hon. Mr.
Lyon.
25th. At Tyrella, near Down-

patrick, in Ireland, Mrs. Hamil-

ton,

512

ton, relict of the hen. baron Ha-
milton.

July \st. The infant son of Jord
George Cavendish.

At Belton, co. Leicester, the rev.
James Claybroke, vicar of that
parish, and minister of St. James’s,
Latchford, near Warrington, co.
Lancaster. He was zealous in the
ministry, and a sincere friend to the
establishment; in the support of
which, he more than once publicly
employed his pen. His ‘* Defence
of Infant Baptism,” in answer to
Gilbert Wakefield, will ever be
esteemed by all true members of the
church.

2d. At his lodgings, in Chapter-
house-court, after a short illness,
aged 64, Mr. Thomas Evans, for-
merly an eminent bookseller in Pa-
ternoster-row.

3d. In an advanced age, leaving
a very large fortune, brigadier gen.
Richard Smith, in the service of the
Kast India company, and formerly
M. P. for Wendover.

In Sackville-street, Dublin, sir
Anthony Brabazon, bart. of New-
park, co. Mayo.

6th. At his seat, at Velynydd,
co. Brecon, after a lingering illness,
in his 22d year, captain Thomas
Hughes Williams, of the 24th foot.
This truly amiable young man has
fallen thus early, a sacrifice to the
love of his country, which kindled
in his honourable mind the most ar-
dent thirst for military glory. Re-
gardless of the allurements of an
independent fortune, and the com-
forts of an extensive circle of re-
spectable relatives and friends, he
entered into the army at the age of
16° He had the gratification of
serving under sir Ralph Abercrom-
bie, in Egypt, and the honour of
sharing with his brave brethren in

”

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

arms, the never-fading honours ac+
quired in that memorable expedi-
tion. His zeal for the service
proved too powerful for his consti-
tution, which maturity of years had
not been permitted to strengthen ;
and his country is deprived of those
benefits, which such an’ uncommon
display of early worth gave reason
to expect, had he been suffered to
fall by the slow strokes of time.
8th. At Albano, near Rome, of
a severe attack of the gout, aged
73, Frederick Hervey, earl of Bris-
tol, grandson of the first earl, in
which title he succeeded his brother,
Augustus John, 1779, and bishop
of Cloyne, 1767; of Derry, 1768 ;
and a privy counsellor of lreland.—
He was born in 1730; educated at
Mr. Newcome’s school, at Hack-
ney; admitted of Corpus Christi
college, Cambridge, 1747, where he
took no degree: but the honorary
one of D. D. was conferred on him
by Mandamus. He was appointed
chaplain in ordinary to the king,
and a principal clerk of the privy
seal, both which he resigned when
appointed a bishop. He married)
Klizabeth, daughter of sir Jermyn
Davers, who died at Ickworth, Suf-
folk, Dec. 19th, 1800, by whom he
had two sons ; George, late captain
of the Zealous man of war, and Au-
gustus John :—and two;daughters :
Mary, married to John HErne, of |
Ireland ; and Elizabeth, married to
John Thomas Foster, esq. He was
among the leaders of the Irish pa-
triots during the American war,
and a member of the famous con-
vention of volunteer delegates held
in Dublin in 1782; on which occa-
sion he was escorted from Derry to
Dublin by a regiment of volunteer
cavalry, and received military ho-
nours in every town through ae |
~ €

CHRONICLE.

he passed in that long journey. His
lordship was building, at his seat at
Ickworth, a villa on the Italian
model, by Halian architects and ar-
tists of every class ; to which he had
appropriated 12,0001. annually, and
the ornaments of which are so ten-

_ der and sharp as to require covering

to preserve them from injury by ex-
ternal air. As an amateur, con-
noisseur, and indefatigable protector
of the fine arts, he died at his post,
surrounded by artists, whose talents
his judgment had directed, and
whose wants his liberality had re-
lieved. His love of the sciences was
only surpassed by his loye to his

_ country, and by his generosity to

the ai fortunate of every country :
neither rank nor power escaped his

resentment, when any illiberal opi-

nion was thrown out against kng-
Jand. At dinner with the late king
of Prussia, and the prince royal of
Denmark, at Pyrmont, in 1797, he
boldly said, after the conversation
about the acta sc ambition of Kugland
had been changed into enquiries
about the delicacy of a roasted ca-
pon, that he did not like neutral
animals, let them be ever so delicate.
In 1798, he was arrested by- the
French in Italy, and confined in the
castle of Milan; was plundered by
the republicans of a valuable and
well-chosen coliection of antiquities,

E _ which he had purchased with a view

wy tae 4

of transmitting to his native coun-
try ; and was betrayed and cheated

by many Ltalians, whose benefactor

he had been. But neither the in-

justice nor the ingratitude of man-

kind changed his liberal disposition,
He no sooner recovered his liberty,
than new benefactions forced even
the ungrateful to repent, and the
unjust to acknowledge his elevated
mind. The earl of Bristol was one

Vox. XLV. : .

' Alexander

513
of the greatest English travellers (a
capacity in which his merits have
been duly appreciated by the cele-
brated Martin Sherlock) and there
is not a country of Europe where
the distressed have net obtained his
succour, and the oppressed his pre-
tection. He may truly be said to
have clothed the naked, and fed the
hungry ; and, as osténtation never
constituted real charity, his left hand
did not know what his right hand
distributed. The tears and Jamen-
tations of widows and orphans have
discovered his philanthropy, when
he is no more: and letters from
Swiss patriots and French emigrants,
from ltalian catholics, and Germaw
protestants, prove the noble use his
lordship made of his fortune, indis-
criminately, to the poor, the desti-
tute, and the unprotected of alf
countries, of all parties, and of aik
religions.

At his lordship’s house, in Hert-
ford-street, aged 4 years, the young~
est daughter of lord Bruce.

12th. At Exeter, in an advanced
age, Mr. William Jackson, organist
of the cathedral in that city, and au-
thor of many deservedly celebrated
compositions.

17th. At Acten-burnell, co. Sa-
lop, the seat of sir Edward Smythe,
bart. Peter Holford, esq. of Woot-
ton-hall, co. Warwick, father of
Jady Smythe.

At his apartment, at Brixton;
causeway, Surry, in his 25th year,
Manners’ Leslie, | esq.
nephew to lord Newark.

{n Sackville-street, the lady of sir
C. Mitchell.

19th. in the New-road, Mary-
Ja-bonne, in his 76th year, sir
Charles Burdett, bart. He suc-
ceeded, 1760, his brother, Hugh,
vicar of N ewington, by Sitting-

Li bourne 2

514
bourne ; was married, had issue,
and lived, 1771, in North America.
He is succeeded by_ his eldest son,
Charles Wyndham B. captain of the
37th foot.

2iste At Cobham-place, in his
71st. year, sir W. Abdy, bart. a
captain in the royal navy. He
succeeded his elder brother, An-
thony, in 1775.

» 23d. Lieut. col. Lyde Browne,
of the 21st foot, who was killed by
the, rebels in Dublin, has left a wi-
dow and infant.daughter to deplore
his loss. Mrs. B. is sister of the late
gallant captain Edward Riou, of the
royal navy, who was killed at Co-
penhagen.

. Mr. Lee Lewes, the very eminent
comedian.

. 24th. Hon. Charlotte Yates,
wife of Joseph Y. esq. only son of
the late judge. Yates, and sister to
lord St. John, of Bletsoe.

At Cheltenham, after a few days’
illness, the lady of major-general sir
Eccles Nixon, of the Kast-India
company’s service.

27th. At his house at Murdos-
town, gen. James Inglis Hamilton,
colonel of the 2ist foot or royal
north fuzileers,

August 1st. In Queen-strect,
Westminster, after a week’s. illness,
in his 58th year, Mr. Wm. Wood-
fall, whose memory wil! long be
revered by a very large circle of
friends, and whose death is an irre-
parable loss to his family. Mr. W.
made himself so eminently useful, by
the employment of his talents as a
journalist, and by the character and
distinction which his reports of the
parliamentary debates acquired, that
the public will desire to possess the
history of a person who so long, so
zealously, and so largely contributed
to their information. He was early

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

placed by his father under Mr,
Baldwin, of Paternoster-row, to
learn the art of printing ; from whose
house he went back to his father’s
office, and assisted in the printing:
and editing of ‘* The Public Adver-:
tiser.’ He became so warm an
amateur of the drama, that, to gra-
tify his penchant for the stage, he
made an excursion to Scotland, and
performed several times, for his
amusement, in the company of Mr.
Fisher. He used to relate many
pleasant anecdotes of this jaunt, the
most fortunate event of which, how-
ever, because it constituted the fu-
ture happiness of his life, was his
marriage with a most amiable wo-
man, with whom he returned to the
metropolis, about 1772, and en-
gaged himself as editor of ‘* The
London Packet.” From this he
was called by: the proprietors of
“¢ The Morning Chronicle,” to the
double station of printer and editor,

‘which he filled, with much credit to

himself, until the year 1789, when he
commenced a paper, called ‘* The
Diary,” on his own account. Mr.
Woodfall had the merit of being the
first writer who undertook to detail
the reports of the debates in’ the
two houses of parliament, on the
night of the proceedings. Before his
time, a very short sketch of the de-
bate was all that the newspapers at~
tempted to give on the same night,
and the more detailed reports were
deferred to some subsequent day.—
Blest with a most retentive memory,
Mr. W. undertook the fatiguing and
difficult task of giving a detail of the
proceedings on the same night.
Without taking a note to assist his —
memory, without the use of an ama-
nuensis to ease his labour, he has
been known to write sixteen cos
lumns, after having sat in a crowded

gallery

_ an interval of rest.

“¢ Diary” to: expire.

CHRONICLE.

gallery for as many hours, without
He took pride
in this exertion, which brought him
more praise than profit. It wore
down his constitution, which was
naturally good; and when other
papers, by the division of labour,
produced the same length of details,
with an earlier publication, he
yielded the contest, and suffered his
Since that
time he employed his talents iti va-
rious publications. He sought, in
the decline of his life, to be appoint-

_ ed remembrancer of the city, an of-

fice for which he was peculiarly
qualified : but private friendships

- and superior interest prevailed.—
_ Mr. W. possessed all the virtues of

private life that endear a man to so-
ciety, and was particularly distin-
guished for his literary talents.—

Unfortunately for himself and his fa-
imily, he placed all his hopes on the
most precarious species of property,

and became the proprietor of a

newspaper, which his talents raised
_ to eminence :—the paper fell, and
-with it fell his hopes.

Though dis-

_ appointed, he was not to be diverted

‘
4

from his favourite pursuits. He was
constant in his attendance at the bar
of the house of lords, which he had
visited so lately as July 27. Al-

_ though he was far advanced in life,

é

he was active, animated, and in full

_ possession of his mental faculties,

ms

_ siderable waste

#

without the appearance of any con-
of his physical
Strength. To a large family, eftirely
dependent upon his industry, his

_ death is, therefore, an unexpected,

deplorable, and aflli¢ting event.—

s His remains were interred on the
¢ 6th, in St. Margaret’s church-yard,

*

_ yiear-chora) of the cathedral church

—-

‘estminster. ,
2d. Aged 68, Mr. John Saville,

515

of Litchfield. Pre-eminent were
his abilities as a vocal performer,
from the rare union of feeling with
science,—of expression with skill.
The commemoration of Handel, and
the remembrance of Saville, will
live together.

At Dorking, Surry, in his 76th
year, John Hoole, esq. of Tender-
den, Kent ; formerly auditor to the
Kast India company, but had re-
tired upon an annuity ; avery amia-
ble and estimable man in his private
character, a respectable member
of the republic of letters, a gen-
tleman of taste, a reputable author,
and a good scholar. He first dis-
played his poetical talents in an
elegy on the death of Mrs. Wof-
fington, the celebrated actress. He
translated the works of Tasso,
Ariosto, and Metastasio, if not
with congenial fervour of imagina-
tion, yet with correctness, elegance,
and taste. He was author of three
dramatic pieces, the tragedies of
‘6 Cyrus,” ‘* Timanthes,” and
‘¢ Cleonice, Princess of Bythinia.’?
The first two pieces were derived
from Metastasio. They were per-
formed with tolerable success, par-
ticularly the tragedy of ‘** Cyrus,”
the fable of which is very interest-
ing, aiid which was animated by
noble sentiments, well expressed.
This play had the advantage of be-
ing supported by the talents of

Powell, in the zenith of his fame ;
by those of Smith, when he wasagreat
favourite with the public ; and by
those of Mrs. Yates, when she was
in the maturity of beauty and thea-
trical repute. The tragedy of
** Cleonice” was by no means suc-
cessful. Indeed it fell ‘a victim to
severity of criticism, which has ca-
priciously suffered many worse per-
formances to enjoy a better fate.

Lb? Mr.

516

Mr. H. conducted himself very libe-
rally on this occasion, by returning
a considerable part of the money
which he had received for the copy-
right, alledging, that as the piece
was not successful on the stage, it
could not be very profitable to
the bookseller, and should not be
aloss. _

Ath. At Bath, in her 32d year,
the wife of the rev. doctor Edwards,
and niece of Jord chief justice Ellen-
borough.

In his Gist year, after a life of
dissipation and pain, at Newington,
Surry, the rev. William Collier,
senior fellow of ‘Trinity college,
Cambridge, where he was many
years a public tutor, rector of Or-
well, co. Cambridge ; Hebrew pro-
fessor 1771 to 1790. The distresses
in which he involyed himself com-
pelled him to leave the university,
and to publish, by subscription,
*¢ Poems on several Occasions, with
translations from Authors in diffe-
rent Languages; dedicated to Prince
Wn. of Gloucester ;”’ 2 yols. 12mo.
1800.

8th. At Edinburgh, major-ge-
neral I’. Halket, of the Scots bri-
gade.

9th. In Manchester-square, in

consequence of the sudden death
of her father, John Chalie, esq. of
Bedford-square, on the 5th instant,
the wife of Wm. Garthshore, esq.
M. P. for Weymonth.

10th. In an advanced age, in
Park-place, Mrs. Margaret Pocock,
sister to the late sir George Pocock,

12th. In St. James’s-square,
Bath, Mrs. Jervis, aunt to earl St.
Vincent.

14th. At his father’s house, in
Cavendish-square, aged five years,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

the youngest son of sir William
Langham.

Killed, at the re-taking of the
lord Nelson Indiaman, by a shot
from the Bellone French privateer,
near Ferrol, off the north-west
coast of Spain, lieut. col. Peter
M‘Gregor Murray. He was one
of the heads of the ancient unfortu-
nate house of M‘Gregor; and,
about 30 years ago, went out to
India in the humble capacity of a
surgeon’s mate. ‘The government,
seeing that he was a young man of
spirit, offered him a commission in
their service, which he accepted ;
and, by his merit, rose to the rank
of lieut. col. For many years, he
held the lucrative employment of
adjutant-general to the forces in
India, and is supposed to have ac-
quired a fortune of 200,000l.

-16th. In Welbeck-street, Ca-
vendish-square, after a _ lingering
illness, aged G4, major-general sir
John Brathwaite, bart. lately re-
turned from the coast of Coro-
mandel, where he long held the
chief command of the company’s
army, and received repeated testi-
monies of the approbation of go-
vernment, When retiring from this
distinguished situation, the general
and field-officers of the army re-
quested of him to accept the record
of their esteem, affection, and re-
spect, in a valuable service of plate,
which they presented to him. His
loss will be long deplored by those
friends who experienced the unde.
viating sincerity of his regard, as,
well as by a very numerous circle
of acquaintance, whom he ever en-
livened by the most pleasing conver-
sation, and received with the frank-
est hospitality. In public life, he |
was a strict observer of discipline ;

zealous,

CHRONICLE.

gealous, skilful, brave, and of un-
shaken fidelity.

T8th. At Aberdeen, in his 68th
year, James Beattie, L. L. D.
F.R.S. Edinburgh, one of the
professors of moral philosophy and
logic, in the Marischal college, and
member of several philosophical
societies. This very distinguished
writer was born in the county of
Kincardine, studied at Aberdeen,
and became a schoolmaster first at
Alloa, in Fife, and afterwards in
his native province ; thence he went
to Aberdeen, to assist as usher in
the grammar school of that place;
and, while in that situation, wrote
his celebrated ‘¢ Minstrel,” and
* married the daughter of the school-
master. He had before published,
1761, an octavo volume of ori-
ginal poems and translations; re-
printed in duodecimo; and, in 1766,
© The Judgment of Paris, a poem,”
in 4to. The first book of ‘* The
Minstrel,’ was published in 1770,
and the second in 1774. ‘The ele-
gance and feeling which characte-
rize this poem, derived from doétor
Percy’s Essay on the English Min-
Strels, prefixed to the first volume of
his “* Reliques of ancient Poetry,”
and written in imitation of Spencer,
have been generally acknowledged,
and it is to be regretted that it was
never finished. In his odes and ele-
gies he took Gray for his model.
His beautiful song, called “¢ The
Hermit,” and other poems, have
also obtained him distinguished ap-
plause. Mr. Hume having severely
criticised his poems, he determined
to seek his revenge in the character
of a christian philosopher, who had
penetrated the sophistry, and was
deeply alarmed at the consequences
ofhis reasonings. His ‘¢ Essay on
the Immutability of Truth, in Op-

517

position to Sophistry and Scépti-
cism, 1777,” 4to. conciliated to him
the friendship of doétor Gregory, of
Edinburgh, of lord Lyttleton, bi-
shop Hurd, and particularly of bi-
shop Portes. Ife was also ho-
noured with the esteem of the lord
Mansfield, of whom he has been
heard to declare, that he never con-
versed with any person who had
conceived such clear and just ideas’
of his philosophy.’”? He was pro-
moted to a professorship in Maris-
chal-college, through the favour of
the most noble family of Errol. Not
being in holy orders, he was recom-
mended to his majesty for a pension,
which he obtained and held for ma-
ny years. ‘lhe approbation of the
great charaéters above mentioned, is
a sufficient testimony in favour of
the Essay on Truth. His manner
of treating the sceptics of the day,
especially Mr. Hume, gave great of-
fence to many readers; and his
work was answered by Dr. Priest-
ly : but, from the clergy, in general,
it received the most decisive appro-
bation ; and they justly estimated
the nicrit of a writer who, on this
occasion, appeared an anxious pro-
moter of the best interests of man-
kind, a judicious philosopher, and
pertinent and captivating reasoner.
The quarto volume of * Essays,”
was published in that form at the
desire of many of the doctor's
friends, and contains a republication
of the “¢ Essay on Truth,” with the
addition of the other ingenious
<¢ Essays on Poetry and Music, as
they affect the Mind, on Laughter,
and ludicrous Composition, and on
the utility of Classical Learning,”
which were not originally designed
for the press, but which some of
those friends had seen and desired to
possess; and the suffrage of the

L13 world,

518

world, at large, has borne testimony
to their taste. WK

The “¢ Dissertations, moraland cri-
tical, 1783, one volume, 8vo.”” were
part of a course of lectures read to
ayoung gentleman, whom it was the
author’s business to initiate in moral
Science. The subjects are, Memo-
ry and Imagination, Dreaming, the
Theory of Language, Fable and Ro-
mance, the Attachments of Kin-
dred, and Illustrations on Sublimity.
They abound with criticisms, both
on books and men, and are enliven-
ed by many pleasing images and
scenes, aS well as anecdotes, and are
written in a style unaffected, sim-
ple, and perspicuous. Virtue is re-
commended, not in the dry and un-
interesting manner of didactic sys-
tem, but as she appears in human
form, in all the glowing colours of
every amiable and heroic affection
and passion. Such views of nature
are exhibited as amuse and elevate
the fancy, and such plain and prac-
tical truths as serve to direct the
conduct of life. ‘¢ The Evidences
of the Christian Religion, briefly
and plainly stated, 1786,’ two vols.
small 8vo. were drawn up at the
particular request of the present
bishop of London. ‘* Elements of
Moral Science,’”’ two vols. Syo. L.
1790, II. 1793, consist of the es-
Sence or substance of a series of
lectures delivered in the duty of his
professorship, comprising metaphy-
sics, rhetoric, politics, and natural
religion, as well as moral philoso.
phy, strictly so called, and display
good sense, extensive knowledge,
and able reasoning. Dr. Beattie ex-
perienced a severe calamity in the
death of his son, a youth of brilliant
talents and promising genius, March
14, 1796. The doétor printed
some memoirs of his life, to distri-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809.

bute amongst his numerous ace
quaintances, and not for general cir
culation. © He used to spend ‘his
summers in England, with. his early

patroness, Mrs. Montagu.
19th. At Cheltenham, John Top-
ham, ‘esq. F. R. 5S, and F. A. 8.
1767, and treasurer to the latter
society, on the death of the late Mr.
B, Bartlet. Mr. T. was a native of
Malton,; in Yorkshire ; and in an
humble situation, under the late P.
C. Webb, esq. solicitor to the trea-
sury, he acquired such a knowledge
of ancient hands and manuscripts, as
raised him; to a place in the state-
paper office, with his friends and pa-
trons, the late sir Joseph Aylotte,
bart. who died in his arms, and
Thomas Astle, esq. He was alsa
one of the gentlemen engaged in pre-
paring for the press the six) vo-
lumes of the rolls of parliament, an
office in which he succeeded his
friend Richard | Blyke, esq. with
whom, in 1775, he was joint. editor
of ‘* Glanville’s Reports on Con-
tested Eleétions,” 8vo. He was al-
so editor, if not translator, of an
English edition of sir John Fortes-
cue’s ‘* De Laudibus Legum Ang-
glie,” 1775, 8vo. On Mr. Webb’s
death, he entered himself at Gray’s-
inn; applied to the study of the law ;
was called to the bar, and appointed
a commissioner of bankrupts. He
succeeded doctor Lort, as keeper of
the archbishop of Canterbury’s li-
brary at Lambeth; was secretary to
the commissioners for selecting and»
publishing the public records of this
kingdom ; and registrar to the cha-
rity for the relief of poor widows and
children of clergymen, and treasurer
to'the orphan charity school. He
married, 1797, one of the coheiresses
of the late. Mr. Swindon, an emi,
nent and opulent schoolmaster | at
Greenwich,

CHRON

Greenwich, Kent. Mr. Topham’s
publications in the Archaeologia, are
vol. VI. p. 116, on Ksnecca, or the
King’s Yatcht; onacharter ef Hen-
ry LI. ibid. 179; on the picture in
Windsor-castle, representing the em-
barkation of Henry VIII. at Do-
ver, Vil. 337; ona subsidy roll of
51 Edward UL. The wardrobe ac-
count of 25 Edward Ll. was pub-
lished by the society in 1787, under
his direétions; and he was one of
the committee for publishing other
wardrobe accounts, in © A Collec-
tion of Ordinances and, Regulations
for the Government of the Royal
Household, in divers reigns, from
Edward-HI. to William and Mary,”
3790, Ato.

21st. At Teignmouth, Devon,
in his 75th year, Cornwallis Maude,
viscount Hawarden, and Baron de
Montalt, of Hawarden, in F'lint-
shire. He was thrice married; his
second lady was the niece of the late
Ralph Allen, esy. of Prior-park,
near Bath; and he is succeeded in
titles and estates by his son the hon,
Thomas Ralph. M.

-.25th. In Lower GS ienasisnis:
distect, | Mrs, Morton, relict of the
late on: John M, chief justice. of
Chester.

At St. Mary’s Isle, Miss Home,
eldest daughter of the, late vice-ad-
miral sir George H. bart. .

28th. At Alnwick Castle, Nor-
thumberland, in her 19th year, lady
Frances Percy, third «daughter of
the duke of Northumberland.

31st. Lieut. col. Browne, of
the Royal Montgomery militia.

Sept. 5th. At Richmond, of an
apoplectic fit, the -hon.- capt. Car-
penter, formerly a resident at Hull.

7th. At Bath, lieut. col. Mac-
donnel, of the 126th foot, and M. P:
for Yarmouth, in the Isle of Wight.

TICLE. 519

13th. At Cheltenham, aged about
50, of an inflammation inhis bow els;
chard Jolly, esq. He married’
the only daughter of sir Peter Flood,
who, by the death of her only bro-
ther, succeeded to an ample for-
tune, and by whom he has left threg

children.

14th. Killed, in gallantly boarding
a privateer off Civita Vecchia, the
hon. Henry Fitzgerald, son of lord
Lecale, brother to the duke of Lein-
ster, :

at In High-street, Hull, aged

» lady Standidge.

a At Margate, Nicolas Gay,
esq. F.R.S. a gentleman of mild;
amiable, and affectionate disposition,
and the most polished manners. He
had, for very many years, laboured
under the afiliétions of a truly un-
fortunate state of health; notwith-
standing which, after he had at-
tained his 50th year, he made, pro-
bably, the most extensive tour of
any man of his time, having visited
every town, and been introduced. at
every court in Europe; a cireum-
stance which Mr. Stockdale men:
tioned in a friendly dedication to
him, prefixed to: ‘¢ Statistical Tables
of. Murope.”’ ie. was: a native of
Ireland ; and,. in 1800,- published
some good-humoured stri¢tures ofi
the. Union, a measure'‘for which he
was a most zealous partizan. His ~
loyalty was unbounded, and his liz
berality far exceeded his means,
which, however, were far from nar
row. He had a very high sense of ~
honaur, and never would be in debt,
eyen for the most trifling amount,
as he truly said, that it tended to
lower the charaéter of a gentleman: °

22d. At Badminton, co. Glou:
cester, aged 17, lady Anne-Eliza-
beth Somerset, youngest daughter
of the duke of Somerset.

L14 23d. At

520

23d. At the Moravian school in
Mirfield, near Leeds, Christian My-
dowe, a native of the island of Ota-
heite, in the South Seas ; supposed
to be in the 17th or 18th year of
his age. It appears, from a number
of concurrent circumstances, that
he had lived some time with the mis-
sionaries at Mattayia Bay, previous
to leaying his own country, and had
received from them some. instruc-
tion, both in the use of letters, and
the principles of christianity.. ‘The
Cornwall, capt. Blyth, a south-

whaler, happening to touch at the

island, this young adventurer en-
tered on board, with a view, as he
expressed it, ‘¢ to visit the land
where the ships came from, and to
see king George.” Sailing from
thence, ‘they made to the Spanish
coast, and, on their return, touched
again at Otaheite, from whence they
brought also another native, of the
wyame of Oly (whose death is also
recorded in p. 521.), Shortly after
their arrival in England, Mydowe
madea voyage to the Cape of Good
Hope, and from thence to the South
Seas, On his return to England a
second time, he was fortunately
found and recognised by some of
the, missionary society in London,
who generously placed him, along
with his countryman Oly, under
tha care of the rev. doétor Okely,
at the Moravian school in Mirfield,
where he made considerable pro-
gress if learning. Some time pre-
vious. to, his death, he laboured under
a, variety of complaints (occasioned,
probably, by the, vicissitudes of our
climate), which, terminated a life
distinguished by. correct conduct,
and most amiable dispositions. T os
day before his, death, he was, at his
own request, initiated into, the chris-
tian church by- baptism, expressing

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

his faith and confidence in the ani
mating hopes inspired by the christian
religion.

28th. At Turnham-green, in his
83d year, Ralph Griffiths, esq.LL. D.
the original institutor of ‘* The
Monthly Review,” which, with unre-~
mitting perseverance, he conducted
for 54 years, assisted only by his son
in the latter period of his life. Dr. G.
was a steady advocate of literature ;
a firm friend, a cordial lover of the
enjoyments of domestic happiness,
and successful promoter of the charms
of social intercourse.

Oé. 1. At Barrogill castle, of a
fever, in her 17th year, the hon.
lady Helen Sinclair, second daughter
of the earl of Caithness.

2d. At New York, in his 82d
year, Mr. John Adams, one of the
first promoters of the American re-
yolution. The bells of the town
tolled for half an hour: and the
clergy, state-otheers, public func-
tionaries, were invited, by public
advertisement, to attend the funeral
procession, By his death the Ame-
rican states have lost one of the
oldest, most firm, and moderate sup-
porters of their independence, and
England one of its most steady
friends in that country. After the
death of general Washington, the
English party looked up to Adams
as their chief, though at the age of
82, at which he died, the energies
of most men are ended. Mr. A.
was the first American ambassador
in this country, where, with a true
republican simplicity, and in a man-
ner suitable to the embarrassed fis
nances of his country, he resided in
the first. floor of a bookseller in Pics
cadilly, and) afterwards as a lodger
in Leicester-fields, He was aman
of considerable abilities; and his
‘6 History of Republics,” if not

a first-

CHRONICLE.

a first-rate production, is full of in-
formation, and among the latter ef-
forts of that species ofliterature,ranks
high. Mr. A. died, justly regretted
and esteemed by all moderate men.
At Mirfield, near Leeds, in the
Moravian school there, in the 19th
or 20th year of his age, Joseph
Oly, a native of the island of Ota-
heite. It appears, from many cir-
eumstances, that he was a rela-
tion of Pomarré, (the Otoo of capt.
Cook), the king of the country ;
but, from the abominable levity of
sexual imtercourse in that island,
it is dificult to ascertain the exact
degree of consanguinity. However,
from his own account, and that of
his late companion, Christian My-
dowe, whose death we have already
announced, (see p. 520), as well as
other accounts come to hand, it ap-
pears, beyond a doubt, that he was
one of the areories or nobility of
that country. He lived, it seems,
some months, with the missionaries
at Mattavia Bay, with whom he was
well acquainted, and used frequently
to mention them by name, particu-
larly a Mr. Broomhall,in whose apart-
ment he resided. A Spanish brig,
prize to the Cornwall and Betsy,
south-whalers, belonging to the port
of London, touching at Otaheite,
in February 1799, on her way to
Port Jackson, he was persuaded to
embark in her, with another Ota-
heitean youth of the name of Di-
didee, who afterwards died -of a
spitting of blood in London. In
this ship he sailed to the whale-
fishery, and afterwards came to Lon-
don, from whence he made a voyage
to the West Indies; on his return,
he was found out by his countryman
Mydowe, who hearing from a sailor,
he accidentally met in Wapping,
that a countryman of his was. on

521

board a ship in the river, took a
boat, and, on meeting, they recog-
nized each other, and cdme together
to town, where Mydowe had already
met with friends in some members
of the missionary societies, After
a stay of some time in London, they
were both generously placed, by
that society, under the care of the
rev. doctor Okely, in Mirfield, with
a view to their instruétion in useful
branches of learning, and also in
the truths of the christian religion,
and finally to be sent home again,
qualified to be of use to their be-
nighted country. Their progress in
learning was pleasing ; but though .
they evinced sufficient, it may even
be said acute capacities, it was diffi-
cult to make them attend to those
minutie which children must go
through before they can read and
write, though there is every reason
to suppose, had Providence prolong-
ed their lives, this difficulty would,
in tine, have been overcome. Oly
had been, for some months back,
labouring wader a pulmonary con-
sumption, which bafited all the ef.
forts of art. He bore his illness:
with exemplary patience, and met
death with that serenity and com.
posure which nothing can give but
a truly christian and believing hope
in the efficacy of our holy religion,

3d. Mrs. E. Mathew, aunt to
the earl of Landaff, who succeeds:
to the lifesuse of 10,0001. of which
3,000]. is bequeathed to lady K.
Mathew ; and the remainder, a
landed estate, devolves, at his.lord-
ship’s death, to his second son, the
hon. col. Mathew.

Interred, in St. George’s-chapel,
Windsor, in the same grave with
her beloved husband, the hon. Anne
Brudenell, reliét of the hon, col.
Robert Brudenell, and one of the

bedchamber

522

bedchamber women to her majesty.
She died in her 75th year, sin-
cerely regretted by every one who
knew her.

In Somer’s Town, after a te-
dious illness, of a dropsy, Mr. Sedg-
wick, singer of Drury-lane theatre.

11th. Suddenly, at Felixton, in
Suffolk, at an advanced age, lady
Fludyer, relict of the late sir Sa-
muel F. of Leigh, in Kent, bart.
and alderman of London. She was
daughter of the hon. James Brude~
nell,

. At his seat at Badminton, co.
Gloucester, of the gout in his sto.
mach, in his 59th year, the most
noble Henry Somerset, duke of
Beaufort, marquis and earl of Wor-
cester, earl of Glamorgan, viscount
Grosmont, baron Herbert, lord of
Ragland, Chepstow, and Gower,
baron Beaufort, af Caldecot Castle,
baron Bettetourt (to which he suc-
ceeded on the death of his mother,
April 8, 1799), lord-lieutenant and
custos rotulorum of the counties of
Monmouth and Brecknock, and
K. G. He was born O¢t. 16,
1744; and was married April 2,
1766, to Elizabeth, youngest daugh-
ter of the late admiral Boscawen,
and sister to George Evelyn, vis-
count Falmouth, by whom he has
left eight sons and three daughters ;
the eldest of whom, Henry-Charles,
marquis of Worcester, and M. P.
for Gloucestershire, succeeds him in
his titles and estates. His grace
will be very much lamented by his
family, his friends, his neighbours,
and his numerous tenantry, in the
counties of Gloucester and Mon-
mouth, He maintained the dignity
of his station rather by the noble
simplicity of his manners, and his
provincial hospitality, than by at-.
tentions to exterior splendour and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

display of fashion.. It was not t¢
his taste, nor did it suit with his
fancy, to solicit notice by any of
those attraétions at which the public.
gaze with temporary admiration,
Grosvenor-square was not disturbed
by his festivities ; but at Badminton.
and 'Troy-house every visitor felt
the honour of his reception, and)
was delighted with the satisfaétion
that accompanied it. In politics he
supported a tranquil, dignified in-
dependence. He never engaged in
the ranks of opposition; and the
support he generally gave to his ma-'
Jesty’s ministers could never be justly
attributed to any motives, but such
as were perfectly consistent with
the integrity which distinguished
his honourable life. His remains
were, on the 20th, interred in the
family-vault at Badminton.

12th. Miss Jane Lyon, fourth
daughter of the late hon. Thomas L,-
of Hilton, Durham.

14th. At Canterbury, William
Scott, esq. of the ancient family of
Baliol Scotts, late of Scotts-hall, in
Kent. A long account of the fa-
mily, who traced their descent from
the Baliols, kings of Scotland,
may be found in Hasted’s History of
Kent.
_ At her house in Gay-street, Bath,
viscountess Northland, wife of lord
viscount Northland, of Ireland.

18th. At his hantona in Westmin-
ster, aged 94, capt. Thomas Bas-
ton, of the Royal Invalids.. He
was the oldest officer in his ma-
jesty’s service, and formerly of the
Coldstream regiment of foot-guards,
in which he lost an arm, at the battle
of Fentenoy, 1745.

19th. At Barbadoes, vide ta
the yellow-fever, general William
Grinfield,, commander of the treops
in the Leeward Islands, who sur-

rived

CHRONIC LE.

vived his lady only three days, and
a very intimate female acquaintance
of Mrs. G, By his will, his younger
brother, a clergyman in Bristol, he-
comes entitled to all his fortune, ex-
cepting a legacy to the late Mrs.
G.’s relations.

21st. At his house at Twicken-
ham, Middlesex, lord Frederick
Cayendish, uncle to the duke of De-
yonshire and lord G, H. Cavendish,
He was a man of a strong mind and
amiable manners; and _ enjoyed,
many years before his death, the
honour of being a field-marshal of
his majesty’s forces. He was, born
in August, 1729, and died in the
7Ath year of his age. . He was im-
mensely -rich ; and the bulk of his
fortune is left to lord G. H, Ca-
yendish, his nephew, to whom he
Was much attached, and had for
several years past received, with the
rest of his family, into his good
graces; and always promised, when
alive, that lady G. H. Cavendish
and her family, from her amiable
disposition, should share the bulk
of his fortune. Twickenham man-
sion and park, his favourite resi-
dence, devolve to sir Wm. Abdy.
His remains were interred in the
family-vault in Derbyshire.

The eldest daughter of Mr. W.
Tripp, grocer, at Bleadon, co. So-
merset, had her clothes unfortu-
nately set on fire, and was so dread-
fully burnt, that she died on the
spot in the greatest agony. Her
cousin, Mr. W. Tripp, aged about
20, was so deeply affected by the
melancholy event, as to be immedi-
ately seized with a most violent pa-
roxism of phrenzy, under the sad
influence of which he destroyed
himself.

24th. Of a fever, at Blatching-
ton-park, the seat of Arthur Annes-

523

ley, esq. in his 22d year, Mr. Dash-
wood, eldest son of sir Henry Wat-
kins, D. bart. of Kirtlington-park,
in Oxfordshire.

26th. Athis seat, Trentham-hall,
co. Stafford, in his 68th year, Gran-
ville Leveson Gower, marquis of
Stafford, earl Gower, viscount Tren-
tham, baron Gower, and K. G:, He
is succeeded by earl Gower, his eld-
est son, who was married, 1785, to
the countess of Sutherland, now
marchioness of Stafford. The late
marquis was born Aug. 4, 1721;
first married, in 1744, to Elizabeth,
daughter of Nicholas Fazakerley,
esq. ; secondly, Mar. 28, 1748, to
Louisa Kgerton, daughter of Scrope
duke of Bridgewater. His lordship
was allied to many of the principal
families in Great Britain, and for-
merly held some high situations of
honour and trust in his majesty’s
seryice.. In private life, he was
universally admired for his virtues,
and his loss will be very generally
regretted. He was the last of the
political knot, which, about forty
years ago, were denominated the
Bloomsbury gang, from their leader,
the old duke of Bedford. It con-

sisted of the duke of Bedford, lord

Weymouth, Jate marquis of Bath,
lord Sandwich, Mr. Rigby, and
earl Gower, afterwards marquis of
Stafford, powerfully abetted by the
side-wind politics of the then earl
Mansfield. They ruled his majesty’s
councils for many years, sometimes
with the sovereign’s choice, at others
by taking the cabinet by storm.
Junius came forth at the very mo-
ment this phalanx began to divide,
and, by his single hand, scattered
them so that they were never
able to rally. The present mar-
quis of Stafford is, probably, the
richest nobleman in England, having

joined

524

joined the Sutherland and the Eger-
ton estates to the vast inheritances
of his own family.

30th. At Bath, major-general
Ellis.

At Wonersh, near Guildford, co.
Sarry, aged 95, Grace dowager
lady Grantley, daughter of sir Wm.
Chapple, knt. judge of the king’s
bench; married, 1741, to sir
Fetcher Norton, afterwards created
Yord Grantley, by whom she had
four sons and one daughter.

After a few days illness, with
which he was seized while presiding
at the India house, sir Lionel Darell,
bart. one of the directors of the
East India company, and colonel of
the first regiment of loyal Kast India
volunteers.

Lately, at Vienna, aged 65, M.
Gabriel Senac de Mirlhan, son of
the late learned M. Senac, first phy-
Sician to Louis the 15th. He was
intendant cf Valenciennes before the
revolution. His essay, intituled,
*¢ Considerations sur L'Esprit et les
Moeurs,” gained him much repu-
tation. ‘The date empress of Russia,
Catharine EE. settled a pension on
him of 6000 roubles, which was
regularly paid him till his death,
and engaged him to write ‘¢ Annals
of Russia.”

At the prince William Ilenry
hotel, Plymouth-dock, aged 20,
Joseph Neville, esq. fifth son of
Neville, esq. of Badsworth-
hall, Yorkshire, a young gentleman
of perfect suavity of manners, and
beloved by all who had the pleasure
of his acquaintance. In the course
of afew short years, this unfortu-
nate family, as respectable as any
in the county of York, has lost

five sons anda daughter, arrived at

the age of maturity, viz: liewt. Ne-
ville, of the quecn’s, or 2d regiment

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

of foot, who fell in the battle of
the glorious first of June, under
earl Howe, when doing duty, as a
marine officer, with the 2d, or
queen’s regiment ; captains John and
Brownlow Neville fell, both belong-
ing to the guards, in Holland; capt.
Cavendish Neville, also of the
guards, was taken ill at Malta, on
his passage to Egypt, to join the
army there, but lived long enough
to arrive home and breathe his last
sigh in the arms of his sorrowing
family, at Badsworth-hall ; capt.
Martin Neville, who was promoted
to the rank of master and com-
mander, for his gallantry as lieut.
in boarding and carrying, with the
boats of the Urania, in the late war,
and some other ships’ boats, a
French ship of war, La Chevrette,
in which he received three severe
wounds ina personal conflict with
the French captaim, who fell in the
action; after which promotion he
sailed to the West Indies, with dis-
patches, in the Port Mahon, of 18°
guns, a few months since, and died’
in the’ Bay of Honduras, of the’
yellow fever, caught’ from some
French prisoners in that part of the’
world. A beautiful yoang lady, a
daughter of Mr. Neville, died'a few
years since of a fever.

Nov. 2d. At Laycock abbey,
the seat of the dowager coutitess
Shrewsbury, after a very short ill-
ness, sir Wm. Blount, bart. of Mor-
ley-hall, near Cleobury Mortimer,
co. Salop, and of Sodington, co: Wor-
cester. He was son to the late sir
Kdward (who died mm 1765) by
Mary, eldest daughter and coheiress
of James lord Aston, of Forfar, By
whom he had four sons, whereof
William, the second, born: 1768,
succeeded him. .

At Edinburgh, the hon, Mrs.

Mary

CHRONICLE.

Mary Elizabeth Forbes, danghter of
lord Forbes, sister to the duchess of
Athol, and wile to Joha Hay, esq.
banker of Edinburgh.

Sth. At Edmburgh, sir John
Gibson Carmichael, of Stirling, bart.

At his apartments, in Charles-
street, St. James’s-square, aged about
A8, George Biggin, esq. a gentle-
man of considerable literary and
scientific acquirements ; one of the
trustees of the opera-house, and of
Deury-lane theatre; and who seme
years ago ascended with Lunardi
and Mrs. Sage, in a balloon.

7th. At his house in Buccleugh-
street, Edinburgh, in his 41st year,
Alexander Thompson, esq. author
of poems entitled *¢ Whist,” 1791,
Svo; the ‘* Paradise of Taste ;” an
ingenious ‘‘ Essay en Neyels ;” and
** The German Miscellany,” a col-
lection of translations of dramas,
dialogues, tales, and novels.

Sth. Im Pall-Mall, aged 73,
after a long and lingering illness,
Mr. James Christie, many years
well known and justly celebrated as
an auctioneer, and the successful
disposer of property of every hind,
whether by public sale or private
contract. With an easy and gentle-
man-like flow of eloquence, he pos-
sessed, in a great degree, the
power of persuasion, and even tem-
pered this public address by a gentle
refinement of manners. His remaiis
were interred, on the 14th, in St.
James’s burial-ground.

10th. Mr, Simon, a respectable
hatter in Vere-street, Oxford-road.
Being acquainted with one of the
domestics, he went to the house of
the duke de Berri, in George-street,
Manchester-square; and being ac-
counted an excellent swordsman, the
domestic asked him if he would
take a foil, andindulge him with a

525
lesson im the small-sword exercise.
Mr. 5. replied, ‘‘ 1 am now very
stiff, and have had no exercise in
the small-sword for several months ;
but, to gratify your curiosity, PM
take a trial with you.” He stripped
off his coat; took the foil; and,
after a very grand introductory sa-
late, for which Mr. S. was counted
one of the first in England, pointed .
his guard; but, on the first parry,
he clapt his hand to his right breast,
and exclaimed, “‘ My God! iam
no more!” Instamtly the foil felt
from his hand; and, before he could
fall backwards, he was caught in
the arms of the gentleman with him,
and placed in a chair, where he ex-
pired in a few minutes.

16th. At Newcastle, Mrs. Dixon,
daughter of the late col. Gardner,
and sister of the present adm. lord
Gardner.

At Rome, in her 75th year} the
princess Matilda, of Este, sister of
the late duke of Parma.

At his apartments, in Greenwich
hospital, after a few days illness of
a paralytic stroke, in his 51st year,
John Willet Payne, esq. rear-adm.
of the red, yice-adm. of the coasts’
of Devonshire and Cornwall, trea-
surer of Greenwich hospital, comp-
troller of the household of his royal
highness the prince of Wales, and
lord warden of the stannaries. ‘The
professional and private character of
this gentleman have long stood so
high m the public estimation, that
they can gain no addition by any
eniogy. He began his career in the
navy, about the year 1769, on board
the Quebec, of $2 guns, commanded
by lord Ducie ; served as imidship-
man on board the Eagle, of 64 guns,
bearing the ilag of earl Howe, in the
American wart; whence he was made
lieutenant, and promoted to the
rapk

526

rank of post-captain, July 8, 1780;
and distinguished himself on several
occasions, particularly by his action
in the West Indies, 1783, with a
ship. of very superior force, the
Pluto. He also commanded the
Russell, one of the ships in carl
Howe’s memorable action on the Ist
of June, 1794. He was appointed
rear-admiral of the red, Feb. 14,
1799 ; and, in the following year,
on the resignation of lord Bridport,
succeeded him in the office of tréa-
surer of Greenwich hospital. He
had the honour to convey the prin-
cess of Wales to England, in the
Jupiter, of 50 guns. The high
station which this officer has long
occupied with so much credit in the
prince’s household, afforded scope
for the talents and courtesy of man-
ners which he possessed in an cmi-
nent degree. His judgment was
prompt and correct ; his wit,:though
brilliant, was never severe ; and his
benevolence, though unbounded,

was never exposed to the glare of

day. The prevailing -feature in
his character was an uniform mild-
ness and good-will for all. On the
25th, the remains of this worthy
and gallant officer were interred in
the vault at the north-west corner
of St. Margaret’s church, Westmin-
ster, with unusual tokens of respect
and marks of honour.

18th. At his seat, in Hampshire,
after a long and severe illness, in
his 81st year, William Hornby, esq.
formerly governor of Bombay, int
the East Indies.

At Pontefract, Mrs. Elizabeth
Wood, sister of the late sir F. W.
bart. of Hemsworth, co. York.

19th. . At his lodgings, in Craven-
street, Strand, sir Thomas Esmond,
bart. of Ballinastra, CO, . Wexford,
Ireland:

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

20th. At his seat, at Balbithan,
aged 84, general Benjathin Gordon,
lieuty col. of the 84th foot; who had
been many years engaged i in actual
service, often in very perilous situa-
tions, and always acquitted himself
with honour and propriety.

22d. At Bradley-hall; co. Staf-
ford, in her 15th year, ofa scarlet
fever, lady Harriet Stanhope, eldest
surviving daughter of the earl of
Chesterfield, who is ineonsolable.
She was his lordship’s only daughter
by his first wife, Anne, daughter of
Alexander Thistlethwaite, esq. of
Tuherley, co. Hants. She died
Oct. 20, 1798, having had four other
children still-born.

24th. ‘At Plesse, in Upper Sile-
sia, of a severe nervous fever, it
her 20th year, having been married
only three months, the reigning
princess of Anhalt Coether-Plesse,
born princess of Holstein-Beck.

25th. At his apartments, in.
Somerset-place, aged 82, Joseph
Wilton, esq. a royal academician,
and keeper of the academy; an
artist of very considerable merit, as
his public works, and detached sta-
tues and busts, in various parts of
the united kingdom, and the colo-
nies, abundantly testify. Mr. W.
was a pupil of Mr. Delvaux, a
Flemish statuary of eminence, who
resided in this country for some
time, and executed several works:
He finished his pupilage with him at
Newville, in Flanders ; from whence
he went to the Royal Academy at
Paris, and practised under that ex-
cellent sculptor, the late M. Pigal ;
from thence he removed to Italy,
and in Rome and Florence he con-
tinued many years, studying from
the antique, and copying busts and
statues for the nobility and gentry

O° - who

CHRONICLE. 527

‘who were then making the tour of
Europe. He was at Rome in the
jubilee year, 1750, and gained a
prize medal, given by Benedict the
XIVth, being said to be the first
Englishman that hadever obtained one
for sculpture. He returned home
in the year 1755, after an absence
of 16 years, in the company of those
eminent artists in their different
lines, the late sir Wm. Chambers
and Mr. Cipriani, with whom, and
sir Joshua Reynolds, he continued
on the most cordial terms of friend-
ship during the remainder of their
lives.

At Losely-hall, co. Leicester,
after a few days illness, lady Fowke,
widow of the late sir Thomas F.
knt. and one of the co-heiresses and
enly surviving daughter of the late

sir Isaac Woollaston, of the same

- his seventh wife.

place, bart.

27th. In Lancashire, the lady of
the hon. capt. Jones, brother of lord
viscount Ranelagh.

28th. Ofaconsumption, at her
father’s seat, at Wingerworth-hall,
near Chesterfield, co. Derby, Anne,
fourth daughter of sir Henry Hun-
loke, bart.

Dec. ist. In the commune of
Boeschepe, in the department of
North France, aged 85, Bonaven-
ture Lebayne. He had been mar-
ried seven times, and was father of
35 children, 17 of whom he had by
He had had a
wooden leg, ever since he was 28
years old.

At his house, at Battersea-rise,
Surry, in his 69th year, of a drop-
sical complaint, to which he had been
for some -time subject, Thomas
Astle, esq. F.. A. S: 1763, F. R.S.
1766, a gentleman well known for
his extensive and accurate acquaint-
auce with the history and antiquities

of his country ; keeper of the re-
cords in the ‘Tower, and late one of
the keepers of the Paper-office ;
trustee of the British Museum,
where, when a young man, he was
employed to make an index to the
Harleian catalogue of MSS.; F. R.
S. Edinb. Reg. Scient. Soc. Island.
Soc. Antig. Cassel. & Soc. Volsco-
rum Velitris sod. honorar. He was
son of Mr. Daniel Astle, keeper of
Needwood forest, co. Stafford, who
died 1774, and was buried in Yoxak
church, where a neat mural monu-
ment is erected to his memory (see
it in Shaw’s History of Staffordshire,
1. 101); and who appears to have
been descended from a family of that
name, resident at, and lords of, the
manor of Fauld, in Hanbury pas
rish, adjoining, the seat of Burton,
the Leicestershire antiquary. Mr.
Shaw had access to Mr. Astle’s li-
brary, and the use of several ma-
nuscripts, &c. for both volumes of
his Staffordshire; his MS. library
being accounted to exceed that of
any private gentleman in England,
and his liberal utility to men of sci-
ence their acknowledgments abuns
dantly testify. Mr. A. about 1763,
obtained the patronage of Mr. Gren-
ville, then first lord of the treasury,
and chancellor of the exchequer,
who employed him as well in his
public as private affairs, and joined
him in a commission with the late sir
Joseph Aylofie, bart. and Dr. Du-
carel, for superintending the regula-
tion of the public records at West-
minster. On the death of his col-
leagues, Mr. Topham was substi-
tuted, and both were removed by
Mr. Pitt during his administra-
tion. In 1765 he was appointed
receiver-general of six-pence in the
pound on the civil list. In 1766 he
was consulted by the committee of

the

528

the house of lords concerning
the printing of the ancient re-
cords of parliament. To the su-
perintendance of this work he intro-
duced his father-in-law, Mr. Mo-
rant; and, on his death, in 1770,
was himself appointed by the house
of lords to carry on the work; a
service in which he was employed
till its completion, five years after-
wards. He was then appointed, on
the death of Henry Rooke, esq. his
majesty’s chief clerk in the record-
office in the Tower of London ; and,
on the decease of sir John Shelley, he
succeeded to the office of keeper of
the records. Mr. A. was several
times on the continent on literary
pursuits. His publications were,
In the Archxologia, vol. 1V. p. 195,
On the events produced in Kng-
land by the grant of the kingdom
of Sicily to prince Edmond, with
remarks on the seal of that prince,
ef gold, weight eight pennyweights,
formerly in the earl of Oxford’s
collection, then of James West,
esq. whence it passed into that of
Gustavus Brander, esq. and was
bought in at 18]. 2s. at the sale of
his collection, by Mr. Gerrard, Fe-
bruary, 1790. VII. 348, On the
radical letters of the Pelasgians, and
their derivatives. X. 226, Obser-
vations on a charter in his library,
indorsed, in a hand coeval with it,
<< Hee est carta regis Nadgari de in-
stitutione abbatis Kliensis et dupli-
catus ;’? which he shews not to be
~go old as king Edgar. XII. On
the tenures, customs, &c. of his

manor of Great Tey, Essex, by _

onizell, i. e. ungeld, an arbitrary
taillage. XIII. 208. Observations
on stone pillars, crosses, and cruci-
fixes, from Mr. Anstis’s MS. in his
library, Ibid. 313. Copy of a
curious record of pardon in the
‘ 1

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Tower of London, 1357, of a wo-
man indicted for murdering her
husband, and remaining, withont
pleading, in prison 40 days without .
sustenance. ‘¢ The Will of King
Henry VII. 1775.” Ato. “A
Catalogue of the MSS. in the
Cottonian Library; to which are
added, many Emendations and Ad-
ditions : with an Appendix, contain-
ing an Account of the Damage sus-
tained by the Fire in 1731; and
also a Catalogue of the Charters
preserved in the same Library,”
was communicated by him to S$,
Hooper,who published them in 1777,
8vo. ‘¢ The Origin and Progress of
Writing, as well hieroglyphic as
elementary ; illustrated by Engray~
ings taken from Marbles, MSS. and
Charters, ancient and modern: also
some Account of the Origin and
Progress of Printing, 1784,’? 4to.—
A new edition was published this
year, with one additional plate from
a MS. in the British Museum, mark-
ed Nero, D. LV. ; and a portrait of
Mr. A. painted by Howard, and en-
graved by Shelton, in which the ac-
cidental loss of an eye when at school
is concealed. The Will of King
Alfred, found in a register of New-
minster, Winchester, in the posses-
sion of the rey. George North, and
given by Dr. Lort, his executor, to
Mr. Astle, 1769; was printed at
Oxford, with the illustrations of
Mr. Manning, under the superinten-
dance of sir H. Croft, 1788, 4to.
‘¢ An Account of the. Seals of the
King’s Royal Burghs and Magnates
of Scotland, with five Plates, 1793,”
fol. The Calender to the Patent Rolls
in the Tower of London, reaching
from 3 John to 23 Edward IV.
containing grants of offices and
lands, restitutions of temporalities
to bishops, abbots, and other eccle-

siastical

CHRONICLE.

siastical persons ; confirmations of
grants made to bodies corporate, as
well ecclesiastical as civil ; grants in
fee farm ; special licences ; grants of
offices ; special and general patents
of creations of peers; and licences
of all kinds which pass the great
seal: and on the backs of these
rolls are commissions to justices of
the peace, of sewers, and all com-
missions which pass the great seal.
The Calendar of these Rolls, pub-
lished by his majesty’s command, in
pursuance of an address of the house
of commons, on the report of the
commissioners for enquiring into the
state of the public records, is print-
ed from four MS. volumes, pro-
cured, in 1775, by Mr. Astle, for
public use, from the executors of
Henry Rooke, esq. his predecessor
in the office of keeper of the Tower
records, collated with two MSS. in
the Cottonian library, marked Titus
C. If. and ILf. which seem to have
been compiled in the reign of James
I. by some experienced clerk, who
seems to have selected from the re-
cords themselves what appeared to
him most useful and interesting.—
They supply many omissions and
deficiencies in the Tower copy;
and, after all, this Calendar, though
entitled to great merit, is only a se-
lection, various entries appearing on
the Patent Rolis not entered here :
and, therefore, though this work
will be found to yield abundant in-
formation, no one is to be deterred
from an examination of any record
meutioned elsewhere as being on the
Patent Roll, because it is not men-
tioned here. Mr. A.’s report on
the state of the records under his
_care will be found in the Report of
the Committee abovementioned.
Shot himself through the heart, in
@ bed-room at the White-horse, in
Vou. XLV.

529

the High-street, Canterbury, 2
young gentleman, named W. Craw-
ford, who, it appears, had been a
midshipman in the royal navy.

3d. At Dalmahoy, near Edin-
burgh, the widow of sir John Hai-
kett, bart. of Pitfirane.

At Spring-garcen ‘coffce-house,
Charing-cross, William Wilcox,
esq. a gentleman of iamily and for-
tune. He puta period to his exist-
ance, in a fit of insanity, by nearly
severing his head from his body.

7th. Interred, at’ St. Mary’s
(Scilly) under the discharge of mili-
tary honours, the body of Mr.
Henry Harland, a truly veteran
soldier, aged 78, in his majesty’s
service 55 years, the last 23 of
which he enjoyed the station of mas-
ter-gimner to that garrison, dwel-
ling in a comfortable house within
the line. During his arduous exer-
tions, in earlier days, his hair-
breadth escapes were many and va-
rious, two of which, the most dis-
tinguished and providential, may
suffice. At the still-to-be-regretted
defeat of general Braddock, he fell
near the side of a young America
officer; they both, while warm,
crawled from the spot a short. dis-
tance into the bushes, and thereby
escaped the death-stroke of the in-
dians.. After the action, the mother
of this officer sent servants, with
horses, to learn the fate of her son.
Fortunately they were descried
Pits together, just able to speak,
and were taken away together to
the mother’s house, where: the son
died ; but Harland recovered. The
late general Washington at this time
was major in the English service ;
and Harland has often been heard
to declare, that, had the general
embraced the major’s advice, as to
the mode of fighting the enemy, the

M m sad

530

sad disaster would have been pre-
vented., Ata later period, by the
powder barrels taking fire, while he
was above in the house, he was,
with the windows and roof, blown
into an orehard, and found hanging
in an apple-tree. [lis scars were
many, and a very large wound ac-
companied him to the grave.

7th. In Harley-street, Caven-
dish-square, the wife of gen. Ross,
M. P.
At her house, at Twickenham, in
her 79th year, Anne lady Mendip.

8th. In Yorkshire-place, Kings-
land-road, the hon. Mrs, Murray,
only daughter of the late lord John
M. and wife of col. M. of Banner-
eross, co. York.

At Barfield, in Berkshire, aged
about 75, the rev. Wm. Robinson,
lately rector of that parish, which he
resigned to his son about five years
ago, and formerly of Denton, near
Canterbury. He was fifth son of
Matthew R. esq. of West Layton,
in Yorkshire, and Monk’s Horton,
in Kent, by Elizabeth, daughter of
Robert Drake, esq. of Cambridge-
shire. — His elder brother, Matthew,
the Jate lord Rokeby, died Novem-
ber 30, 1800, and he succeeded, by
his will, to part of his estates in
Kent, Yorkshire, and Cambridge-
shire. In 1760, he married Mary,
only surviving daughter of Adam
Richardson, gent. and sister and
heir to Wm. Richardson, esq. of
Kensington. Mr. Robinson was
educated at Westminster, at St.
John’s college, Cambridge, of which
he was fellow, having proceeded,
B. A. 1750, M. A. 1754, and
where he became intimate with the
poets Gray and Mason, who cor.
responded with him, and occasion-
ally visited him at his seat at Den-
ton. Mr. Robinson’s sisters, Mrs.

-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

Scott, the widow of George Lewis
Scott, esq. and Mrs. Montagu, of
Portman-square, both well known
in the literary world, died, the for-
mer in 1795, the latter in 1800.—
Mr. R. has left a son and two
daughters, amongst whom his ample
fortune divides. His son is rector
of Barfield Coveney, with Maney
chapel, in Cambridgeshire; and his
youngest daughter is married to Sa-
muel Egerton Brydges, esq. of
Denton, in Kent.

At Edinburgh, Thomas Pringle,
esq. vice-admiral of the red.

12th. At her house, in Sey-
mour-place, in her 70th year, lady
Charlotte Tufton, aunt to the pre-
sent earl of Thanet, who obtains
20,0001. by herdeath. The house,
furniture, &c. in Seymour-place,
are willed to Mrs. Blackwell, an old
and intimate friend of her ladyship.
The remainder of her fortune de-
volves to lady Caroline Barham,
lord Thanet’s sister, but subject to
various legacies. The remains of:
lady Charlotte were interred, with
great funeral pomp, in the family-
vault at Rainham, Kent.

His royal highness prince Frede-
ric Adolphus, duke of Ostrogothia,
uncle to the king of Sweden, who
passed two years at Montpelier,
for the recovery of his health, and
lately made a present of a gold
snufl-box to each of his physicians,
with 12,000 livres for his perfect
cure.

At Rome, in his 51st year, the
Portuguese ambassador, Alexander
de Souza.

14th. In Weymouth-street, aged
12, Augusta Georgiana, 3d daugh-
ter of vice-admiral Parker, and
grand-daughter of admiral sir Peter _
P. bart.

16th, Unfortunately shot and

stoned

CHRONICLE.

stoned to death, by the insurgents,
near Dublin, capt. Dodson, eldest
son of the late bishop of Elphin,
who designed him for the church,
but he gave the preference to a
more active profession. He was an
amiable man in private life, 4 fond
husband, a good father, and an in-
telligent, courageous soldier. He
has left a pregnant widow and two
children, residing at Tooting.

_ 18th. In Portland-place, after a
Jong and severe illness, the wife of
Wm. Gosling, esq. and daughter of
Jady Cunliffe.

At Weimar, the rev. John George
Herder, superintendant-general of
the clergy of Saxe-Weimar, and one
of the most distinguished of the
German writers. He was born at
Morungen, in Prussia, August 25th,
1741, Lavater has given his por-
trait in the 3d part of his Physiog-
hnomy.

24th. Inhis 43d year, after a
long illness, his serene highness,
George duke of Saxe Meiningen ;
born Feb. 4, 1761. His duchess
(Christiana, daughter of the prince
of Hohenlhoe Langenbourg) has
been declarged regent.

25th. At Croydon-grove, Surry,

aged 79, the lady of sir John *

Bridger, one of the co-heiresses of
the late John Eliot, esq.

27th. At Spring-gardens, Char-
ing-cross, aged 80, lady Taylor, re-
liét of the late sir Robert T. knight,
and architect, and mother to Michael
Angelo T. esq.

28th.. At Buxton, whither she
went for the benefit of the waters,
the lady of sir Robert Peel, bart. of
Upper Grosvenor-street, and of
Drayton manor, co. Staflord.

At Vienna, of a paralytic stroke,
in his 79th year, the minister-pleni-
potentiary, from Hanover, baron

531

von Muhl, many years senior of the
diplomatic corps.

Aged 104, Mr. John Page, gar-
dener to the Asylum.

29th. At Corhampton, Hants,
Hester Countess Dowager Clanri-
carde, reliGt of John, 11th earl of
Clanricarde, mother of the present
earl, and grandmother to sir Francis
Vincent. She was youngest daugh-
ter of sir Henry Vincent, of Stoke
D’Abernon, and mother of two sons
and three daughters,

SHERIFFS appointed by his Ma-
gesty in Council for the Year 1803.

Bedfordshire. Godfrey Thorn-
ton, of Mogerhanger, esq.

Berkshire. Daniel Agace, of
Wingfield, esq.

Bucks. Joseph Franklin, of
Haddenham, esq.

Cambridge and Huntingdonshires.
James Duberly, of Gains-hall, esq.

Cheshire. John Fielden, of Great
Mor!ington, esq.

Cumberland. Robert Warwick,
of Warwick-hall, esq.

Derbyshire. Sir Robert Wilmot,
of Chaddesden, bart. age
Devonshire. Sir Stafford North-

cote, of Pynes, bart:
Dorsetshire. Josiah Wedgwood,
of Gunville, esq.
_ Essex. Stephen Frier Giluff, of
Shenfield, esq.
Gloucestershire. Samuel Wathen,
of Woodchester, esq.

Herefordshire. Benjamin Bid-
dulph, of Binghill, esq.
Hertfordshire. Henry Browne,

of North Mims-place, esq.

Kent. Christopher Cooke, of
Ash Grove, esq.
Leicestershire. James Vaun, of

Belgrave, esq.

Mm2 Lincolnshire.

532

Lincolnshire. Sir Henry Rel-
thorpe, of Sealby, bart.

Monmouthshire. George Jones,
of Major, esq.

Norfolk. 'Thomas Hare, of Stowe
hall, esq.

Northamptonshire. John Har-

vey Thursby, of Abington, esq.

Northumberland. Shaftoe Cras-
ter, of Craster, esq.

Nottinghamshire. William Coape
Sherbrook, of Oxton, esq.

Oxfordshire. James Taylor, of
Sandford, esq.

Rutlandshire. Joseph Cooke, of
Edith-Weston, esq.

Shropshire. Thomas — Kinners-
ley, of Leighton, esq.

Somersetshire. Sir Hugh Smith,
of Wraxhall, bart.

Staffordshire. George Birch, of
Hampstead, esq.

Southampton.
Bistern, esq.

Suffolk. Sir Harry Parker, of
Melford, bart.

Surry. John Pooley Kensing-
ton, of Putney, esq.

William Mills, of

Sussex. John Will, Commerell,
of Stroad, esq.
Warwickshire. Henry Greswell

Lewis, of Malvern-hall, esq.
Wiltshire. Thomas Henry Hele
Phipps, of Westbury Leigh, esq.
Worcestershire. John Phillips,
of Wynterdine, esq.
Yorkshire. Sir Henry Carr, Ib-
betson, of Denton, bart.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

SOUTH WALES.

Caermarthen. John Llewellyn,
of Castle Piggin, esq.

Pembrokeshire. George Bowen,
of Llwngwair, esq.

Cardiganshire,
Mabus, esq.

Glamorganshire.
of Claremont, esq.

Brecon. Sackville Gw ynne, of
Tremaur, esq.

Radnor. Thomas - Havell - Mar-
maduke Gwynne, of Llanelwyth,
esq.

John Lloyd, of

John Morris,

NORTH WALES.

Caernarvonshire. Gw yllim Lloyd
Wardle, of Wernfaw, esq.
Anglesea. William
Hughes, of Plasloch, esq.

Merionethshire. Sohn Forbes, of
Ofeebody, esq.
Montgomeryshire.
sor, of Vayner, esq.
Denbighshire. Henry Ellis Boate,
of Rose-hill, esq.
Flintshire. — Owen
Wynne, of Overton, esq.

Bulkeley

John Wind-

Molyneux

Suerirr appointed by his R. H. the
Prince of Wales in Council for the
Year 1803.

County of Cornwall. Thomas

Rawlins, of Padstowe, esq.

APPENDIX

fy $887 sc]

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Dispatch from Lieutenant General
Grinfield, Commander in Chief of
his Majesty's Troops in the Wind-
ward and Leeward Charibbee
Islands, to Lord Hobart, Prin-
cipal Secretary of State for the
War Department.

St. Lucia, June 22.
My lord,

T is with satisfaction I have the
honour to acquaint your lord-
ship, that this day the fortress of
Morne Fortunée was carried by
assault ; and the island of St. Lucia
is, in consequence, unconditionally
restored to the British government.
I have to state to your lordship,
that in consequence of his majesty’s
order, signified to me in your let-
ter, dated the 16th of May, and
received on the 14th instant, which
J immediately communicated to com-
modore Hood, he arrived at Bar-
badoes on the 17th: the troops,
stores, &c. were on board, or em-
barked on the 19th; sailed on the
20th. On the 21st, at day-break,
they were off the north end of St.
Lucia ; in the course of the day, the
greatest part of the troops were dis-
embarked in Choque Bay; about
half past five, the out-posts of the
enemy were driven in, the town of
Castries taken, and a summons was

sent to. the commander of the troops
of the French republic. In conse-
quence of the refusal of brigadier
general Nogues to accede to any
terms, and the expectation of ap-
proaching rains, it became necessary
to get possession of the Morne with
as little delay as possible. It was,
therefore, determined, this morn.
ing, to attack the fortress by as-
sault, which was done accordingly
at four o’clock; and it was carried
in about half an hour, and withless
loss, considering the resistance, than
could have been expected ; but the
loss has been chiefly among the
higher ranks of officers, and those
the most truly valuable ; but it is
yet to be hoped most of them will
recover, for the real benefit of his
majesty’s service. I cannot omit a
circumstance which reflects so much
credit, as well on the British nation,
as on the conduct of the soldiers
actually employed, that, notwith-
standing the severe and spirited re-
sistance of the French troops, yet,
no sooner were the works carried
by assault, and the opposition no
longer existed, than every idea of
animosity appeared to cease, and
not a French soldier was either
killed or wounded. The return of
the killed and wounded is herewith
inclosed, which, excepting the num-

Mm 3 ber

554

ber of officers of high rank, is not
equal to what might have been ex-
pected, and by far less than it would
have been, in all probability, had
a formal investment of the for-
tress taken place. ‘These dispatches
will be delivered to your lordship
by my aid-du-camp, captain Weir,
to whom I beg to refer your lord-
ship for any information you may
require.

Killed, Wounded, and Missing, of
the Troops in the Assault and
Capture of the Fortress of Morne
Fortunée, in the Island of St.
Lucia, in the Morning of the 22d
of June.

Royal military artificers, 1 ser-.
jeant killed.—2d battalion of royals,
1 serjeant, 8 rank and file killed ;
1 field officer, 1 captain, 2 ser-
jeants, 43 rank and file wounded ;
1 rank and file missing.—64th regi-
ment, 1 serjeant, 5 rank and file
killed ; 2 field officers, 1 captain,
1 subaltern, 2 serjeants, 31 rank
and file wounded ; 1 rank and file
missing.—3d West India regiment,
1 serjeant, 3 rank and file killed;
2 subalterns, 23 rank and file wound-
ed; 5 rank and file missing.—Staff,
1 field officer wounded. Total,
4 serjeants, 16 rank and file killed ;
4 field officers, 2 captains, 3 subal-
terns, 4 serjeants, 97 rank and file
wounded ; 1 drummer, 7 rank and
file missing.

Officers wounded.—2d battalion of
royals, lieut. col. Macdonald, se-
verely ; captain Chaloner, severely.
—64th regiment, lieut. col, Paken-
ham, severely ; major sir G.
Richardson, capt. Galway, lieut.
F. Rowan, slightly.—3d West In-
dia regiment, lieutenant Moultrie,
slightly ; ensign Fagan, slightly.—
Staff, lieut. col. Morden, deputy

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

adjutant-general, severely.—N. B.

Hospital mate Heyes, attached to

the 3d West India regiment, se-

verely wounded, not included above.

(Signed) W. Tatum, capt.
Assistant ajd. gen.

Letter from Commodore Hood, Com-
mander in Chief at the Leeward
Islands, to Sir E. Nepean, Bart.
dated on board the Centaur, in
Choque Bay, St. Lucia, June 22.

Sir,

I have the honour to acquaint you,
for the information of the jords com-
missioners of the admiralty, that,
oa my arrival at Barbadoes, on the
17th, late in the evening, having
consulted lieut. gen. Grinfield with
respect to the intended co-operation
of the army and navy, I instantly
took measures to prevent further
supplies being thrown into St. Lucia,
(the ships on this service, under the
orders of captain O’Brien, of the
Emerald, made some captures of
trading vessels), and every disposi-
tion was settled for embarking the
troops and light artillery on board
the ships of war, and the necessary
stores, &c. in small vessels, for the
expedition: by great exertions, the
whole was effected on the 20th, and
the arrangements completed. The
lieut. general having embarked with
the troops, I put to sea with the
ships named in the margin®* ; was
joined next morning by the Emerald
and Osprey, having brigadier gen.
Prevost on board, and were all an-
chored by eleven o’clock in this bay.,
There being a strong breeze, the
boats of the squadron had a heavy
pull with the first division of the
army, composed of the 2d battalion
of the royals, and two field-pieces,
under the command of brig. gen.

Brereton ;

* Centaur, Courageux, Argo, Chichester, Hornet, and Cyane.

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Brereton ; but, by the great energy
and excellent disposition made by
captain Hallowell, were landed in
good order about two P. M. and by
the perseverance of every officer and
man employed in landing the re-
mainder of the troops, the lieut.
general was enabled to make an ear-
ly arrangement for an attack on
that very important and strong post,
Morne Fortunée, where the force
of the enemy was assembled, which,
on the commandant refusing to give
up when summoned, was ordered to
be attacked with that decision and
promptitude which has always been
the characteristic mark of lieut. gen.
Grinfield, and carried by storm at
half past four this morning, with
the superior bravery which has ever
distinguished the British soldier :
this placed the colony completely
in our possession. ‘To captain Hal-
lowell’s merit it is impossible for me
to give additional encomium, as it is
so generally known; but I must
beg leave to say, on this expedition,
his activity could not be exceeded ;
and, by his friendly advice, I have ob-
tained the most effectual aid to this
service, for which he has been a vo-
lunteer, and, after the final disem-
barkation, proceeded on with the
seamen to co-operate with the ar-
my. The marines of the squadron,
by desire of the lieutenant-general,
were landed and ordered to take
post near the Ilet, to prevent sup-
plies being thrown into Pigeon
Island, which, on the fall of Morne
Fortunée, was delivered up. Weare
already occupied in re-embarking
troops and other necessary service
for future operations. Capt. Little-
hales, of this ship, is charged with
the dispatch, whose assiduity and

535

attention I with much satisfaction
acknowledge, and who will be able
to give their lordships any farther
information.

I am, &c. Sam. Hood.
Dispatch from Lieut. Gen. Grinfield,

Commander in Chief of his Ma-

jesty’s Troops inthe Windward and

Leew ard Istands*.

Scarborough, Tobago,
July 1.
My lord,

I have the honour. to report to
your lordship the surrender, by ca-
pitulation, of the fort of Scarbo-
rough, and the restoration of the
island of Tobago to the British go-
vernment. I have the satisfaction
to add, that this event appears to be
received by the colony, the inhabi-
tants of which are almost entirely
British, with the~ liveliest sense of
gratitude. The circumstances which
led to this fortunate and valuable
conquest were as follow: on the
25th, commodore Hood, with the -
fleet and troops, sailed from St. Luw--
cia, and yesterday, at day-break,
we made this island. About five in
the afternoon, having landed the
greater part of the troops, the two
leading columns marched towards
Scarborough, and, meeting with no
opposition in the defiles of St. Ma-
ry’s, advanced to Mount Grace ;
from which place I sent a summons
to the commandant gen. Berthier,
who returned an answer by propos-
ing terms of capitulation, which were
finally settled about four this morn-
ing, and at eleven possession of the
fortress was given to the British
forces; the French garrison march-
ing out with the honours of war,
and laying down their arms, after

passing

* To lord Hobart,

Mm4

536

passing the guard of honour, under
the orders of brigadier-general Pic-
ton. The fort having surrendered
without resistance, I can only speak
in» general terms of the excellent
discipline and good conduct of the
officers and soldiers in this expedi.
tion. There is no doubt, had the
French garrison been sufficiently
strong to have hazarded resistance,
they would have met with as obsti-
nate an attack as was experienced
by the garrison of Morne Fortunée.
It is next to impossible for me to say
too much in praise of the co-opera-
tion of the navy. The troops are
in the highest degree indebted to
commodore Hood, for the accommo-
dation afforded to them on board,
and to the judicious arrangements
and execution in the embarking and
disembarkation of them by captain
Hallowell. 1 take the liberty to in-
close a copy of the orders given to
the troops. I likewise inclose a list
of the troops of the French republic
who Jaid down their arms in conse-
quence of the capitulation ; also the

return of ordnance and military.

stores taken in the fort and other
batteries in this island. Capt. Dra-
per, my aid-de camp and secretary,
returning to England, will have the
honour to deliver this dispatch to
your lordship. I beg leave to re-
commend him to your notice, as an
intelligent, diligent, and active of-
ticer. Iam, &c.
W. Grinfield,
Lieut. gen.

Terms of Capitulation agreed upon
between Gen. Grinfield and Com-
modore Hood, and General Rer-
thier, dited Providence House,
June 30.

Article I. To deliver up to the
commander in chief of his Britannic

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

majesty’s forces, the fort of Scarbo-
rough in the same state in which it
now is, together with the artillery
and military stores. Agreed to.

If. The garrison shall march out
with all the honours of war, drums
beating, and taking their arms and
baggage, with one piece of field ar-
tillery. Agreed to. The British
troops being permitted, at eleven
o'clock to-morrow morning, to have
possession of the fort of Scarbo-
rough ; and the French garrison, at
the same time, to march out with
the honours of war, drums beating,
arms and baggage, and one piece of
field artillery ; but the arms are to
be laid down, and the field-piece
given up, as soon as they shall have
passed the glacis.

III. The captain-general, his staff,
all the officers, all the persons in
military or civil employments, with
all the soldiers, seamen, servants,
and generally all the French attach-
ed to the service of the republic,
with their wives and children, shall
be embarked within a month, and
sent back to France at the expence
of his Britannic majesty. Agreed
to. And shall be sent within the
time, or as soon after as possible.

IV. A proper vessel shall be fur-
nished, as soon as possible, for the
conveyance of the captain-general,
his family, staff, and other persons
in his snite, with the goods and ef-
fects belonging to them. Agreed to.

V. The sick and wounded shall
be attended to in the military hospi-
tal of Scarborough, at the expence
of his Britannic majesty, and sent to
France when cured. Agreed to.
And they shall be sent to France as
soon as they may be recovered.

VI. The property of every kind
belonging to the inhabitants of the
colony shall be respected; their

laws,

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 537

laws, customs, and usages, will be
preserved, as they have hitherto
been, by the French government.
Agreed to. The colony will have
the laws existing when under the
British government previous to its
last cession to the French republic.

Vil. The captain-general, Cesar
Berthier, shall immediately dispatch
the national brig Souffleux, now at
Scarborough, to apprize his govern-
ment of this capitulation. ‘he ne-
cessary passport for this purpose
shall be given by the commander of
the naval forces of his Britannic ma-
jesty. Agreed to by me, but subject
to the commodore’s opinion. An
unarmed vessel may be sent ta
France, and if the Souffleux is dis
armed, she may be sent to France.

VIII. The French merchant ves-
sels now in Scarborough Roads, un-
der the batteries of the fort, shall
be allowed to sail for such port of
Europe or America as they shall
think proper. A. Requires to be
referred to the commodore. Pro-
vided the property does not belong
to persons who have come to the
island since its cession to the French
republic.

1X. None of the inhabitants
shall be molested on account of the
conduct they may have held, or
opinions they may have professed,
under the French government.—
Agreed to.

X. During the space of two years,
to commence this day, it shall be
permitted to such inhabitants as
are desirous of quitting the island,
to dispose of their properties, and
remoye the amount to whatever
place they please. Agreed to.

{ Here follow the general orders
of the commander in chief, in which
he highly compliments the whole
of the forces, and attributes their

success principally to the steady co-
operation of commodore Hood and
captain Hallowell. He compliments
the alertness of the artillery and ar-
tificers, and attributes the speedy
surrender of the colony to the ad-
vance march of the first column,
consisting of two companies of the
64th regiment, and five companies
of the 3d West India regiment, un-

der brigadier-general Pi¢ton. |

Return of the French troops and
sailors in Fort Scarborough, in the
island of Tobago, at the time of its
surrender to the British forces, on
the 1st of July, 1803.—3 captains,
2 serjeant-majors, 8 serjeants, 16
corporals, 73 grenadiers, 9 drum-
mers, 120 sailors.—Total- 228. The
general and staff officers not in-
cluded.

(Signed) C. Luxembourg,
Capitaine commandant.

[ Next is a return of the ordnance
and stores found on the island, and
amongst which are avast quantity of
ammunition, and several pieces of
artillery of different calibre, in very
good order. |

Dispatch from Commodore Hood,
Commander in Chief of his Majes-
ty’s Ships and Vessels at the Lee-
ward Islands, to Sir Evan Nepean,
Bart. dated the 1st of July.

Centaur, Great Courland Bay,
Tobago, July 1.
Sir,

Having sailed from St. Lucia on
the evening of the 25th of last
month, accompanied by his majesty’s
ships Centaur, Argo, Ulysses, Chix ©
chester, and Hornet, with lieut. gen.
Grinfield, and troops for the attack
of Tobago, embarked on board,
and several small ordnance and pro-
vision vessels, we arrived off the
island yesterday forenoon, and were

joined

538

joined by his majesty’s ships Venus
and Port Mahon, neither of which
having troops, I directed captain
Graves to anchor close to the battery
on the east point of Courland Bay,
and commence the attack, that the
first division of the army (composed
of two companies of the 64th regi-
ment, and five companies of the 3d
West India regiment, commanded
by brigadier-general Piéton, and
conduéted by captain Hallowell, of
the Argo, might be covered in pro-
ceeding to land in the bay, and cap-
tain Nevill to run in with the Port
Mahon close to the back of the bat-
tery, to cover the landing ; and as
soon as the two companies of the
64th were in the boats, I bore up
with the Centaur, with an intention
of supporting the ship and sloop ;
but the steady and judicious conduct
of these officers in the execution of
this service, was so completely ef-
fective, that the battery was soon si-
Jenced by the fire of the Venus, and
the Port Mahon drove them from the
back, landed and took possession
without any loss, by which the troops
weredisembarked unmolested. From
the superior energy of lient. general
Grinfield, the rapid movements of
the army were such as to cause ge-
neral C, Berthier to propose for the
surrender of the fort of Scarbo-
rough the same evening, and the ar-
ticles of capitulation, a copy of
which I have the honour to inclose*,
were completed by half past four
this morning. I should do great
injustice to the lieutenant-general,
and the several officers and soldiers
under his cammand, if I did not
mention the most cordial goad un-
derstandiag which has subsisted be-
tween us during the whole of our

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

operations, as I should also do to
the several captains, officers, petty
officers, seamen, and royal marines,
of the several ships, for their unre-
mitted attention and good conduét.
The royal marines, and a body of
seamen, were landed to co-operate
with the army, under the command
of capt. Hallowell; and it is scarce.
ly necessary for me to add, his zeal
and exertions were equally conspi-
cuous as on the late expedition to
St. Lueia. He is charged with this
dispatch, and will give their lord-
ships any further information they
may desire on the subject.
Iam, &c. Sam. Hood.

The following Returns of Troops
and Stores taken at St. Lucia, to-
gether with the General Orders
éssued by Lieutenant General Grin-
Jield upon that Occasion, have been
received by this Opportunity.

1 Brigadier-general, 1 lieutenant-
colonel, 1 major, 10 captains, 8
lieutenants, 12 second lieutenants,
1 surgeon-major, 1 surgeon, 1 as,
sistant-surgeon, 13 serjeant-majors,
77 serjeants, 74 corporals, 18 drum-
mers, 402 privates, 11 women, 9
children. Total, 640...N. B. One
hundred and sixteen of the prisoners
included in the total are returned
sick. ‘Taken from the prefeét’s re-
turn.

William Tatum,
Capt. assistant adjutant-gen,

[Here follows a return of ord-
nance, ammunition, and stores,
found at Morne Fortunée, and bat-
teries adjoint, by which it appears
there were thirty-two iron and two
brass guns, of different calibre,
with four brass and iron mortars,
&e. |

Letter

* See licutenant general Grinfield’s dispatch.

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE,

Letter from Captain Malbon, com-
manding his Majesty's Ship Au-
rora,

On the 30th of June, about four
o’clock in the morning, I made the
island of Peter’s; and at five sent
the large cutter and launch, manned
and armed with a twelve-pound car-
ronade, under the command of lieut-
Richard Longfield Davies, and lieut.
Baillie, of the marines, to oblige the
town to surrender, or begin the at-
tack. Between six and seven o'clock
they entered the harbour, under a
very thick fog, and, perceiving a
boat crossing from one side to the
other, brought her to, in which
they found the commissary, who
acted as governor. The confusion
that the place was thrown into from
‘the sudden attack, prevented the in-
habitants from assembling together ;
and at half past seven the commis-
sary surrendered the island, by deli-
yering the colours to lieut. Davies,
From what has been since Jearned,
there is no doubt, that, if the inhabi-
tants could have had time to have
collected themselves from their dif-
ferent situations, they would haye
made a strong resistance, having
since discoyered upwards of 100stand
of arms‘among them. Knowing the
small force in the boats, I used my
utmost efforts to get his majesty’s
ship into the harbour, but was as
frequently prevented by thick fogs,
About eleven, it being somewhat
clear, I entered under a very heavy
press of sail between the rocks,
which were not a cable’s length
across, and at two P. M. brought-
to with the best bower in fifteen
fathom water. Found here a French
merchant brig (La Reine des Anges)
and a schooner (Le Prevoyier),
with eleven small schooners, and
upwards of one hundred battves,

539

The island contained fish, stores,
salt, and merchandize of various de-
scriptions, and, upon a rough sur-
vey, about 220 men were upon the
island and in the boats; but they
being so detached, several got away
in the small craft, one of which, [
have since been informed, was taken
off Liverpool, in Nova Scotia, and
another at St. Lawrence, in New-
foundland. On every thing being
secured, I ordered one of the fishing
schooners to be fitted as a tender 3
and, having her manned and armed
with a twelve pound carronade,
gave the command to lieut. Davies,
with directions to scour the coast,
and take possession of the islands
of Great and Little Miquelon,
which he did, but no mhabitants
or stores were found at either of
those places.
J. Malbon.

Dispatch from Lieut. Col. Nicholson,
to Gen. Grinfield, Commander in
Chief in the Windward and Lee-
ward Charibbee Islands.

New Amsterdam, Berbice,
Sept. 25.
Sir,

Agreeably to your orders of the
19th inst. I proceeded with the
troops under my command, and ar-
rived off the river Berbice on the
23d inst. in the morning, where the
ships of war and transports came to
anchor: as it was from thence capt.
Bland and myself agreed to send
brigade-major Armstrong and lieut.
Pardoe, in a flag of truce, witha
summons to the provisional govern-
ment, the naval and military.com-
manders, to surrender the colony of
Berbice to his majesty’s forces under
ourcommand. The Hag of truce re-
turned early the next morning, hay-
ing on board a committee of the

provisional

540

provisional government, a captain
of artillery, and a lieutenant of the
Batavian navy, to treat for the sur-
render of the colony, which was
done, and the articles of capitula-
tion signed; but as the commander
of the Batavian troops would not
santion the surrender, without con-
sulting the officers under his com-
mand, it was agreed that the Netly
schooner, with the smallest of the
transports, should pass over the bar,
there anchor, and wait till the flag
of truce returned from the fort with
the commandant’s answer; which
not arriving as soon as was expected,
the Netly and the transports got
ander way, and were proceeding to
pass the forts, when the flag of
truce returned, with a captain of
artillery, to signify the comman-
dant’s approval of the terms, but
requesting the British troops might
not land until this day, which was
complied with, and they remained
on board the vessels, at anchor off
the town, until noon this day, when
the troops landed and took posses-
sion of the forts, &c. of the Batavian
garrison, consisting of upwards of
600 men, who were made prisoners.
The steady and active co-operation
of capt. Bland, and the officers, sea-
men, and marines, employed on this
service, demand my warmest ac-
knowledgments ; and it is my duty
to report to you how much I am
satisfied with the zeal and active ex-
ertions of licut. col. M‘Creagh, of
the 7th West India regiment, and
all the officers and every individual
of all the corps employed on this
service. I am engaged in prepar-
ing the returns of ordnance and
stores of every description found in
_the enemy’s forts and magazines,
which I shall have the honour of
presenting to you on my return
t

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

to Demarara, which I expeét will be —
in three days from this date. Here-
with [ inclose a copy of the sum-
mons and articles of capitulation,
and have the honour to remain, &e.

(Signed) R. Nicholson,

Lient. col. 1st battalion of Royals.

Return of prisoners of war who
surrendered at Demarara and Esse-
quibo, on the 20th September :—1
lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 10 cap-
tains, 26 lieutenants, 1 adjutant,
1 quarter-master, 1 serjeant-major,
3 surgeons, 5 assistant-surgeons,
174 serjeants and corporals, 1 ar-
mourer, 27 trumpeters and drum-
mers, 685 privates.

Surrendered in the colony of Ber-
bice on the 25th September :—1
lieutenant-colonel, 4 captains, 10
lieutenants, 6 second Jieutenants,
1 quarter-master, 1 surgeon, 1 as~-
sistant-surgeon, 1 cadet, 26 ser-~
jeants and corporals, 10 trum-
peters and drummers, 563 pri-
vates. :

Total. 2 lieutenant-colonels, 1
major, 14 captains, 36 lieutenants,
6 second lieutenants, 1 adjutant,
2 quarter-masters, 1 serjeant-ma-
jor, 4 surgeons, 6 assistant-sur-
geons, 1 cadet, 200 serjeants and
corporals, 1 armourer, 37 trum-
peters and drummers, 1248 pri-
yates.

Dispatches from commodoreHood,
of the same date, contain a spirited
eulogium on the bravery of, and
good understanding between, the
land and sea forces: they also con-
tain a letter from capt. L. O. Bland,
of the Heureux, who Janded the
marines to second the efforts of the
military. He observes, ‘* the gar-
rison did not join in the capitula-
tion till we arrived with the British
land and sea forces nearly within
gun-shot of their works. Sceing

we

APPENDIX

we were determined, a boat was
hurried off to inform us they
would surrender if we would wait
till next day ; which was agreed,
on our being allowed to go into
the harbour that night, and take
possession of the shipping.”

Return of shipping found in the
river Demarara :—Hippomenes Ba-
tavian corvette, pierced for 18 guns;
Sophia, a ship claimed as English
property; Rotterdam, ditto; Diana,
ditto; Elbe, detained by the Dutch
before our arrival, under British co-
lours ; Nile, ditto; Admiral Kings-
bergen; Aurora; Leestield; Maria;
Wilhelmina, ditto; Boodes Welfee-
ren, and Wilhelmina, Dutch mer-
chant ships.

At Berbice.—Serpent national
schooner, and five merchant vessels.

Total 19.

Extraét of a Letter from Rear-Ad-
miral Sir J. T. Duckworth, K. B.
Shark, Port Royal, Jamaica,
Sept. 29.

Understanding from gen. Dessa-
lines, that it was his intention to
summon the town of St. Marc im-
mediately, which was reduced to
the last-extremity, I was strongly
induced to urge him not to put the
garrison to death, which he con-
sented to: and I stipulated with
him, that, if they surrendered, he
should march them round to the Mole
in safety, and that [ should appear
off the Bay, and take possession of
the shipping, one of which I knew

to be a ship of war.

Vanguard, of Cape Nicola Mole,
Sept. 9.
Sir,
I received gen. Dessalines’ dis-
patches about 8 o’clock at nigltt of
the 31st of Oégtober, and got under

to the CHRONICLE.

54)

weigh at 1 A. M. At day-light we
chased a man of war brig off St.
Marc, but the wind being light and
partial, she got into that place. in
the afternoon we perceived a flag of
truce coming out, but a heavy squal!
of wind and rain obliged them to re-
turn. The following morning they
came on board, and brought a letter
from Gen. D’Henin, which [ an-
swered by making several distin¢t
propositions, and sent them in the
ship’s boat as a flag of truce, with
an officer, and Mr. Cathcart had the
goodness to take charge of tlem:
about 5 o’clock the same day the
general himself came on board in
the boat, and we agreed to a con-
vention: the next day and part’ of
the night we were busily employed
in effecting the embarkation of the
garrison, &c. and the whole being
completed, gen. D’Henin and his
staff came on board the Vanguard
at 3 o’clock in the morning of the
Ath, and we made sail out of the
bay. ‘Lhe situation of this garrison
was the mest deplorable it is possible
to imagine ; they were literally re-
duced to nothing, and long subsisted
on horse-flesh. I forgot to mention,
that on the first we captured the
same schooner we had taken on the
26th past, with 25 barrels of flour
going to St. Marc, which I took
out; and transferring her people,
with 15 soldiers she had on board,
to a small sloop we took at the
same time, sent her away, and kept
the schooner, as she might be even-
tually useful to us; and she is the
vessel I have made over to gen.
DHenin. ‘The vessels delivered to
us consist of the Papillon corvette,
pierced for 12 guns, but only mount-
ing 6, having 52 men on board,
commanded by monsieur Dubourg,
lieutenant de vaisseau ; the brig Les

‘Trois

54g

Trois Amis, transport, nothing in ;
and the schooner Mary Sally, who
has between 40 and 50 barrels of
powder. Gen. D’Henin has given
me regular receipts for the garrison,
which amounts in all to 850 men.
I have farther to inform you, Sir,
that on the 5th we captured the na-
tional schooner Le Courier de Nantes,
of 2 guns and 4 swivels, and 15
men, commanded by an ensign de
vaisseau, from Port-au-Prince, with
a supply of 30 barrels of flour and
sundry other articles, for St. Marc.
LT inclose a weekly account, and have
great satisfaction in stating, that we
are almost well again: not one of
the men who came from the hospi-
tal has died.—I am, &c.

Jas. Walker.
Rear-Adm. Duckworth, &c.

Letter from Capt. Bligh to Admiral
Duckworth.
Theseus, Port Dauphin, St. Do-
mingo, Sept. 8.
Sir,

Having found extreme difficulty
in preventing small vessels from
passing into Cape Frangois, with
provisions, from the little ports on
the northern part of the island, in
consequence of their finding a safe
retreat from our pursuit under the
batteries of Port Dauphin, and con-
ceiving that port to be of the utmost
importance to the enemy, I deemed
it necessary to make some efforts for
the reduction of the place, and the
capture of a ship at anchor there.—
As soon as the sea-breeze, this
morning, rendered it impossible for
the enemy’s frigates to leave their
anchorage, I proceeded to Mancher-
mel Bay, leaving the Hercule and
Cumberland on their station. The
water being sufliciently deep to als

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

low me to place the ship within
musket-shot of Fort Labouqie, si-
tuated at the entrance of the har-
bour, our fire was so well directed,
that it was impossible for the guns
of the battery to be. pointed with
any precision, the colours of which
were struck in less than. half an
hour. Another fort in the harbour,
and the ship, being the next objects
of our attention, the Theseus enter-
ed the port, with the assistance of
the boats; and, having fired a few
shot at the ship of war, she hauled
her colours down, and proyed to be
La Sagesse, mounting 20 eight-
pounders on the main-deck, and 3
four-pounders on the quarter-deck
and forecastle, commanded by lieut.
J.B. Baruesche, and having only
75 men on board. The command-
ant, conceiving the place no longer
tenable after the loss of the ship, and
being under some apprehensions of
being exposed to the rage of the
blacks, whom he considered as a
merciless enemy, claimed British
protection, and surrendered the
fort and garrison at discretion,—
Having spiked the guns and destroy-
ed the ammunition, the garrison and
inhabitants, many of whom were
sickly, were embarked, and landed
under a flag of truce at Cape Fran-
cois. Being informed, by the pri-
soners, that their gen. Dumont and
his suite had lately fallen into the
hands of the blacks, and that they
were in the most imminent danger, ©
I was induced, from motives of hu-
manity, to solicit their freedom from
the chief of those people; and I
had the satisfaction of having my
request immediately complied with :
they accompanied the rest of the
prisoners into Cape F'rangois.
Tam, &e . John Bligh.

Letter

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Letter from Admiral Duckworth,
detailing the Particulars of a Ne-
gotiation with General Rocham-
beau, for the Surrender of the
French Force in St. Domingo.
Dated Sloop Shark, Port Royal,
November 30.

Sir,

_ I transmit you inclosures, for the

information of the lords commission-

ers of the admiralty, stating an at-
tempt at capitulation made by gen.

Rochambeau on the 19th instant,

from which I hope the period is not

far distant, when it will be brought
to a proper issue fer the whole of
$t. Domingo.

J. T. Duckworth.

[ TRANSLATION. |
Army or St. Domryeo.
Head-quarters at the Cape, 27th
Brumaire, 12th Year of the
French Republic.

The General in Chief to Commodore
Loring, commanding the Naval
Forces of his Britannic Majesty,
before the Cape, §c.

Sir,

In order to prevent the effusion
of blood, and to preserve the scat-
tered remnant of the army of St.
Domingo, I have the honour to send
to you two officers, charged with in-
structions from me to enter into an
accommodation with you. The ge-
neral of brigade, Boyer, chief of the
staff, and captain Barré, are charged
to transmit my letter to you; and
they are also the officers whom I
haye chosen to treat with you.

I have the honour to be, &c.

D. Rochambeau.

Copy of the Propositions made by
the General Rochambeau, to eva-
cuate Cape Francois, St, Domingo.

4

543

i. The general Rochambeau pro-
poses to evacuate the Cape ; himself
and his guards, consisting of about
4 or 500 men, to be conveyed to
France without being considered
prisoners of war.-—Not granted.

Il. The Serveillant and Cerf to
be allowed to carry him and suite to
France.—Not granted.

(Signed) John Loring.

Bellerophon, off Cape Frangois,
November 19.
Sir,

I have to acquaint you, on the
subject communicated to me by ge-
neral Boyer and.commodore Barré,
of your desire to negotiate for the
surrender of Cape Frangois to his
Britannic majesty, that I send for
the purpose, and to know your final
determination, capt. Moss, of his
majesty’s ship Le Desirée, in order
to agree with your wishes, insomuch
as is consistent with the just rights
of his Britannic majesty on that
point. I have also to inform you,
my instructions confine me to the
French officers and troops in health
being sent to Jamaica, and the sick
to go to France or America, the
transports to convey them being
first valued, and security given by
the commander in chief, for the due

payment of the valuation by the

French republic. The white inha-
bitants of the Cape will not be per-
mitted to go to Jamaica. Such are
the parts of my instructions, with
which I am bound to comply in any
agreement for the surrender of Cape
Francois.
I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) J. Loring.

Gen. Rochambeau, Commander
in Chief.

[ TRANSLATION. ]

544

[ TRANSLATION. |
Cotony oF Sr. Domineo. -
Head-quarters at the Cape, 28th
Brumaire, An. 12.

The General in Chief of the Army of
St. Domingo, Captain General of
the said Colony, Commander of the
French West India Islands, Sc.
&c. §c. to Commodore Loring,
Commander of the Naval Forces
of his Britannic Majesty, before
the Cape, Sc.

Sir,

I have received the letter which
you have done me the honour to ad-
dress to me. As your propositions
are inadmissible, I request you will
consider my preceding letter as
amounting to nothing.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

with great consideration,
D. Rochambeau.

Port Royal, Dec. 18.

Sir, 7
Having, in my letter No. 3, by

this conveyance, stated to you, for

the information of my lords commis-
sioners of the admiralty, that gen.

Rochambeau had made proposals for

capitulating, which, though inad-

missible, | thought soon must lead
to others more reasonable ; the event
has justified my opinion ; but I am
sorry to say, that officer, whose ac-
tions are too extraordinary to ac-
count for, had, on the 19th ultimo,

‘(previous to his proposals to captain

Loring, through the general of bri-

gade, Boyer, and commodore Barré)

actually entered into a capitulation
with the black general Dessalines,
to deliver up the Cape to him, with
all the ordnance, ammunition, and
stores, on the 30th; I conclude, fiat-
tering himself that the tremendous
weather, which our squadron was
then and had been experiencing for

ANNUAL REGISTER; 4803:

three wecks, would offer an opening
for an escape, but the perseverance
and watchfulness thereof precluded
him from even attempting it. On
the 30th, the colours of the blacks
were displayed at the forts, which
induced capt. Loring to dispatch
capt. Bligh, to know gen. Dessa-
lines’ sentiments respecting gen.
Rochambeau and his troops ; when,
on his entering the harbour, he met
commodore Barré, who pressed him,
in strong terms, to go on board the
Surveillante, and enter into some
capitulation, which would put them
under our protection, and prevent
the blacks from sinking them with
red-hot shot, as they had threaten-
ed, and were preparing to do;
which capt. Bligh complied with,
when they hastily brought him a few
articles they had drawn up, which he
(after objecting to some particular
parts, that they agreed should be al-
tered, to carry his interpretation on
their arrival at Jamaica) signed, and
hastened to acquaint gen. Dessa-
lines, that all the ships and vessels in
port had surrendered to his ma-
jesty’s arms; and with great diffi-
culty he obtained the promise to
desist from firing, till a wind offered
for carrying them out (it then blow-
ing hard directly into the harbour) ;
this promise he at length obtained,
and the first instant the land-breeze
enabled them to sail out under
French colours, which, upon a shot
being fired athwart them, the vessels
of war fired their-broadsides, and
hauled down their colours, except
the Clorinde, a large frigate of 38
guns, who unluckily took the ground
abaft, and was forced to throw most
of her guns overboard, and knocked
her rudder off, when there was great
apprehension for her safety ; and I

‘ aot

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

am informed, by the captains of the
squadron, that we must attribute
the saying her (apparently without
farther damage) to the uncommon
exertions and professional abilities of

acting lieut. Willoughby, with the

boats of the Hercule, who, I trust,
will be honoured with their lordships’
proteciion. Capt. Loring, after see-
ing the generality of the prizes taken
possession of, left the Theseus aud

Hlercule to fix a temporary rudder

to the frigate, and bring the remain-
der with them, bearing away for the
Mole, and on the 2d summoned the
general of brigade, Noailles, who
commanded there, to capitulate :
this he declined doing, asserting he
had provisions for five months ; and
herewith | transmit a copy of his
letter.—Fhe numerous and crowded
state of the prisoners on board all
the prizes, and their being without
provisions, making it necessary for
capt. Loring to proceed to Jamai-
ca, he arrived here the 5th, with the

Elephant and Blanche, also the Sur-

veillante and Vertu 38 gun frigates,
and various other prizes, leaving the
Pique to blockade the Mole, who
anchored in this port the 8th, and
acquainted me that gen. Noailles
had evacuated the night he refused
to capitulate, bringing in with her 5
out of the 6 vessels in which the
garrison had embarked, a brig with
the general on board only escaping.
1 send a vessel of war to England,
with gen. Rochambeau, and those
Officers who are said to have partici-
pated in his cruelties at the Cape.

Lam, &c. J.T. Duckworth,
Sir Evan Nepean, bart. Sc.

[ TRANSLATION. |
-Rrentr Divisron or toy Norru.
General Noailles to Commodore
Loring.

Vor. XLV.

545

Mole, 10th Frimatre, An. 12.
Sir,

I have received the letter which
you have done me the honour to
address to me, under the date of the
10th Frimaire.- I request you will
inform me of the terms upon which
you propose to treat with me.

I have the honour to be, with the
highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient humble servant,

(Signed) Noailles.
Shark, Port Royal, Jamaica,
Dee. 20.
Sir,

Accompanying this, you will re-
ceive, for the information of the
lords commissioners of the admi-
ralty, she of yarious letters, &c.
Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, relative to
the proceedings of capt. Loring, of
his majesty’ s ship Bellerophon,
while senior officer of the squadron
blockading Cape Francois.

J.T. Duckworth.
Sir Evan Nepean, bart. &c.

Bellerophon, off Cape Frangois,
Nov. 23:

Sir,
Having received information that
gen. Rochambeau’s intentions are to
Githety our to make his escape in a
schooner, and observing, yesterday
afternoon, several boats pass and
repass between the Surveillante and

-an armed schooner laying in the

Carocal Passage, I made the signal
for the launches armed to assemble
on board the Blanche, and ordered
capt. Mudge to proceed with them
off the entrance of the passage, to
intercept her, should she attempt to
come out. I directed the launches
to act under the command of licut.
Pilch, of the Bellerophon, and at 2 |
A. M. she was, very judiciously ©
Na oarded

546

boarded and taken by the launches
of the Bellerophon and the Ele-
phant, without the loss of a man
killed or wounded, though, for a
short time, under a very smart fire
from the enemy’s great guns and
small arms: she proves to be the
French national schooner La De-
couvert, commanded by Monsieur
Froyan, enseign de vaisseau; she
had mounted six six-pounders, and
six brass swivels, and 52 men: the
enemy had two men wounded.—
The officer commanding the De-
sirée’s launch, being anxious to se-
cure the passage, got so far to the
eastward of the entrance, as not to
observe the motions of the other
boats, that he unfortunately could
not join them, or get near the
schooner till daylight, or, I am sen-
sible, from the character he bears,
would haye been as vigilant as the
other boats.
I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) J. Loring.
Str J. T. Duckworth.

Bellerophon, off Fortuda,
Nov. 30.
Sir,

I have to inform you of the sur-
render of Cape Frangois to the gen.
Dessalines, onthe 18th inst. when
he attacked it at the head of the ar-
my, and agreed with the general in
chief, Rochambeau, for ten days. to
complete the evacuation, Not hay-
ing received a second proposition.
from Rochambeau, during the sus-
pension of hostilities between the
two parties, 1 endeavoured, if pos-
sible, to learn the disposition of
Dessalines, seeing his flag displayed
on the forts, as to the ships of war
and other vessels in the harbour;
and you will see, by his letter to me
ef the 27th, which J herewith trans.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

mit, as well as a copy of mine to
him, the indefinite mode of expres-
sion he makes use of. I therefore
sent capt. Bligh to explain with
him. On his arrival at the Cape,
he met, on the part of Rochambeau,
a strong desire to agree for the ser-
render of the ships and vessels,
which, from his declaration to de-
stroy them, 1 had no reason to ex-
pect. The articles of agreement
which were entered into I herewith
inclose, and hope they will meet
your approbation. Capt. Bligh
immediately made known to Dessa-
lines the surrender of the frigates
and merchant-vessels to his Britan-
nic majesty, and requested he
would give orders to prevent firing
on them, which till then was his in-
tention ; and, after some hesitation,
gen. Dessalines reluétantly com-
plied. This morning the Surveil-
Jante, Cerf brig, an hospital ship,
and three or four neutral schooners,
came out; the whole were under.
weigh in the harbour, but, owing to
the sudden change of wind, they
were prevented from proceeding. —
I am sorry to say, the Clorinde is
on shore under Fort St. Joseph,
and I fear will be totally lost. I
have taken possession of the vessels
that are out, and left capt. Bligh
with the Hercule, Desirée, and
Pique, to complete the evacuation
of the Cape and Monte Christie.—
When the Elephant joins with the
Vertu and merchant-vessels I left
in the Cape, I shall proceed with
her and prizes to Port Royal, leay-
ing the Tartar to blockade the
Mole.
I am, &c. John Loring.
His Majesty’s Ship Bellerophon.
Sir, me,
Not having had the honour to re-
ceive

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

teive your answer to my letter of
yesterday, I beg to represent, that,
from the tenor of yours of the 22d,
I did hope to see your flag flying
this morning at Fort Picolet.. As £
have full confiderice you will not
rescind the agreement with general
Rochambeau, who intends, if pos-
sible, to have more time granted
him to escape, and that you will
have possession of the town, and its
forts, this afternoon ; I shall then be
much obliged if you will send me
some experienced pilots, to conduét
a part of my squadron into the har-
bour, to take possession of the

shipping.
General Dessalines.

John Loring.

[ FRANSLATION. |
LIBERTY OR DEATH.
Head-quarters, 6th Frimaire,
An. 12.

The General in Chief of the Indige-
nous Army to Capt. Loring, com-
manding the Naval Forces of his
Britannic Majesty before the Cape.

Sir,

Tamaccused by you of the receipt
of a letter which I never had the ho-
nour td receive. You may be as-
sured that my favourable disposition
towards you, and hostility towards
general Rochambeau, are unaltera-
ble. I shall enter the Cape to-
morrow morning at the head of my
army. Itis a matter of great regret
to me [ cannot send. you-the pilots
which you require. I presume you
will have no occasion for them. I
Shall force the French ships to quit
the road, and you will do with them
as you may judge proper.

Dessalines.

[Here follows the capitulation

547

agreed upon by captain Bligh and
general Boyé, by which the French
naval and military forces were sur-
rendered to his ‘majesty’s squa-
dron. |

Bellerophon, off Cape Nicola

Mole, Dec. 2.
Sir,

From general Rochambean’s ex-
traordinary conduct on the public
Service, neither captain Bligh nor
myself have had any thing to say to
him farther than complying with his
wishes in allowing him to remain om
board the Surveillante until her ar-
rival at Jamaica, which I very rea-
dily agreed to, as also the commo-
dore. I have general Boyer, with
about 22 officers, and 190. soldiers
and sailors, en board the Bellero-
phon, and 60 more on board the
Hercule that were taken out of the
Surveillante; the Blanche has on
board all the crew of the Cerf. I
had began this letter yesterday, to
have dispatched the Blanche early
this morning, but, seeing the Desirée
coming down with six sail, waited
until she joined, and am happy to
inform you, that, through the exer-
tions of lieut. Willoughby, the Clo-
rinde is afloat again with the loss of
her rudder, and captain Bligh is pre-.
paring a temporary one to bring
her down; the Vertu and other
ships are out, and I am in hourly
expectation of seeing them with the
Elephant. I have sent captain Ross
into the Mole, to summon that gar-
rison to surrender; and shall dis-
patch the Blanche immediately [have
general Noailles’s answer.

Half past four. Captain Ross has
this instant returned with the in-
closed answer; and I dispatch the
Blanche in consequence, and shall
follow soon after. The Elephant,

Nn2 Vertu,

548 ANNUAL RE

Vertu, and ten sail of various de-
scriptions of vessels, are now joining.
Lam, &c. John Loring.
Rear-admiral sir J. T.
Duckworth, K. B. com-
mander in chief, Se.

Shark, Port Royal, Dec. 20.
Sir,

Feeling that the lords commis-
sioners of the Adiniralty would wish
to be acquainted with the articles of
capitulation between the general Ro-
chambeau and. Dessalines, for the
surrender of the Cape, and having
just obtained a copy thereof, L
herewith transmit the same for
their lordship’s information.

lam, &c. J.T. Duckworth.
Sir Evan Nepean, bart. &c.

[ TRANSLATION, |
Frencn Anp Lypigrnous Anmirs.
27th Brumaire, Anno 12,
19th November.

Adjutant commander Duveyrier,
charged with due powers by general
Rochambeau, commander of the
French army, to treat for the sur-
render of the Cape, and J. Jacques
Dessalines, general in chief of the
indigenous army, have agreed to the
following artlcles :

I. The town of the Cape, and the
forts which belong to it, shall be
surrendered in ten days, from the
28th of the present month, to the ge-
neral in chief Dessalines.

4]. The ammunition and warlike
stores in the arsenal, the arms and
the artillery which are in the town
and in the forts, shall be left in their
present state.

Tif. All the ships. of war, or
others, which shall be judged neces-
sary by general Rochambeau for
transporting the troops, and the in-

GISTER, 1809.

habitants who may wish to depart
from the island, shall be at liberty
to sail on a day to be appointed.

iV. The officers, civil» and mili-
tary, the troops composing the gar-
rison of the Cape, shall depart with
the honours of war, carrying with
them their arms, and the effects be-
longing to their demi-brigade.

V. The sick and wounded are
especially recommended to the hu-
manity of gen. Dessalines, who en-
gages to embark them for France on
board neutral vessels.

VI. Gen. Dessalines, in giving
the assurance of his protection to
the inhabitants who may continue
in the country, relies on the justice
of gen. Rochambeau to set at li-
berty all men belonging to the coun-
try, of whateyer colour they may
be; and that none of them shall,
under any pretence, be compelled to
embark with the French army.

Vil. The troops belongmg to
the two armies shall remain in their
respective positions until the tenth
day fixed for the evacuation of the
Cape.

-Vilf. Gen. Rochambeau shall
send, as a security for the fulfil-
ment of the present convention,
the adjutant-commandant. Urbain
de Vaux ; in return for whom, gen.
Dessalines shall send an officer of
egual rank.

Done in good faith, at the head-
quarters of Ilaut du Cap, the
same day, month, and year,
above stated.

(Signed) | Dessalines.
a Duveyrier.

Shark, Port Royal, Dec. 23.

Sir,
Accompanying this you will re-
ceive, for the information. of the
lords

- APPENDIX

fords commissioners of the Admiral-
¢y, an account of yessels captured
and destroyed by his majesty’s
squadron under my command, since
the return made in November last.
* Lam, &e, J.T. Duckworth.
Sir Evan Nepean, bart. &c. &c.

{Here follows a list of 37 ships
and vessels captured, detained, and
destroyed, by his majesty’s squa-
dron employed at Jamaica, the Ba-
hama islands, under the orders of

J. T. Duckworth, K. B. |

. B. There has been destroyed

since last return 30 sail of small
craft of various descriptions at Cape
Francois, “Monte Christe, and the
Mole, &¢. Ke,

Extract of a Dispatch from Gover-
nor the Hon. Frederick North,
to the Right Hon. Lord Hobart,
one of his Majesty's Principal Se-
cretaries of State, dated Columbo,
8th July, 1803.

1 inclose to you the deposition of

a person, stating himself to be an

eye-witness of one of the most a-

trocious acts of perfidy and cruelty

ever committed. Every particular
of the narration may not be true;
but it appears that Candi was at-
tacked in the midst of a truce, by
the first Adigaar, on the 23d (or I
rather believe on the 24th) ultimo;
that major Davie, commanding the
garrison there, capitulated on the
following day ; and that, after he
left the fort, all the English soldiers
who accompanied him were treache-
rously murdered in cold blood. I
cannot believe that major Davie
would have consented to evacuate,
on any terms less fayeurable than
those stated in the deposition ; viz.
of being allowed to proceed with
arms and ammunition, and without

to the CHRONICLE.

549

molestation, to Trincomalée, and
that care should be taken of the sick
whom he left behind ; for the fort
was rendered, in the opinion of most
military men, tenable against any
force that was likely to be brought
against it, and large supplies of pro-
visions had been sent thither, in ad-
dition to those which licut. colonel
Barbot declared to be sufficient for
six months’? consumption, 2 months
ago. Lieut. Husskisson was also on
the road from ‘Trincomalée (as ma-
jor Davie must have known) with
100 doolies, under an escort of 150
Malays: and when I heard of the
breach of the truce, I ordered lieut.
col. Hunter to proceed from Trin-
comalée with 200 of his majesty’s
9th regiment, and 50 Malays, to se-
cure the evacuation, which (had it
been delayed for a fortnight) would
have been safely effected. But what
I can still less account for is, that
major Davie, having obtained such
terms, should have consented to lay
down his arms, when he must have
felt that the person who insisted on
such an infraction of agreement
could have no other design but that
of murdering him and his men, and
when he must, in common with all
the army, have known that a corps
of forty Europeans in good health,
and of 200 Malays, might Git
their way through any army of

_Candians to any part of the island.

Indeed, captain Mudge, late com-
mandant of f ort Macdowall, brought
off his men in circumstances of a&
great difficulty ; and a sinall detach-
ment of 22 invalid Malays, 14 con-
valescents of the 19th regiment from
Candi, and 60 sepoys under lieut.
Nixon, ensign Grant, and ensign
Smellie, defended themselves in a
miserable little fort of fascines at
Dembadenia, for more than a week,

Nag against

550

‘against an immense multitude col-
lected by the second Adagaar, after
they had expended their ammuni-
tion, till they were relieved by a
detachment of 50 Europeans and as
many sepoys, whom [I sent under
the command of captain Blackhall
of the 51st to bring them down, in
which he has succeeded without
loss. Under the oppression of so
dreadful a misfortune, it is satis-
factory to me to state, that an opi-
nion formed of a spirit of defection
in his majesty’s Malay regiment is
perfeéily unfounded. Some indivi-
duals of that corps had, indeed, de-
serted from Candi; but the great
majority, including all officers of
influence and respectability, were
staunch to the end. Those who,
after the English were separated
from them, were forced into the
Candian service, are certainly not
blameable ; and of those, five have
already escaped and arrived here,
who say that all the others are rea-
dy to follow their example. ‘The
princes of that nation, who ave set-
tled at Columbo, waited on me, as
soon as the melancholy intelligence
arrived, to assure me of their regret
and indignation at hearing that any
Malays had deserted, and of their
invariable attachment to the British
government.

Deposition of the Lascoryn, arrived

from Candi.

Milihinage Joannes, of the re-
formed religion, being duly sworn,
deposeth, that, the 6th of last
month, he was sent, along with 12
other Lascoryns, by the town-major
to Candi; that he passed at Ne-
gumbo, where doolies were put un-
der their charge; and that he ar-
rived at Candi, after a route of
about 12 days; and that the Las-
coryns delivered up the doolies and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

other stores which were under their
charge, to the English gentlemen.
After remaining there three days,
they were ordered to return to Co-
lumbo with 12 doolies, in 11 of
which were sick Kuropeans, and one
which contained baggage. These
doolies, with 12 European soldiers
as an escort, passed the river, and
stopped upon the opposite side;
that the same day he heard firing at
Candi; that a great many Coolies,
upon hearing the firing, attempted
to pass the river, but were stopped
by a Malay sentry. Several Candi-
ans approached the place where the
doolies and the sick were, and fired
upon them, which were returned by
the Europeans and 12 Malays, who
were posted there. They fired till
their ammunition was expended,
when the Malays jumped into the
river, and the European officer who
commanded the detachment did the
same. He does not know what be-
came of all the European soldiers, of
whom he only saw 3 cross the river,
and 1 killed by the Candians. ‘That
the lascars, who seryed the cannon
at that post, threw the cannon into
the river, and passed to Candi, and
that he followed their example and
escaped to Candi; that he does not
know what became of the sick wha
were in the doolies. He went first
to the mandore, where he had been
before ; but, finding many Candians
there, he got into the palace, and
remained in the court where the
Malay soldiers were. The firing
continued until two o’clock, when
a white flag was hoisted from the
palace, and the firing ceased. That
major Davie, the captain of artil-
lery, and an European Malay officer,
who spoke Malay, and two or three
Malay native officers, went to the
Adagaar, and returned soon after

with

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

with an ola from the Adigaar, which
he himself read, importing that the
whole might proceéd to Trincoma-
lée without receiving any molesta-
tion ; and that the sick should be
taken care of, and have medicine
given to them until they were well,
when they might either go to Co-
lumbo, or stay at Candi. The gar-
rison set out on Friday, with their
arms and ammunition, at five in the
evening, to Allungantotte, where
they remained all night, exposed to
a very heavy rain, he the deponent
being with them. On Saturday
morning, major Davie ordered a
raft to be made, to pass the river:
several Candians came, and de-
manded Mootoo Sawmy, who, they
said, was not at Candi. ‘They seiz-
ed upon him, and carried him off.
Mootoo Sawmy gave his sword to
major Davie. ‘The Candians told
major Dayie, that it was unnecessary
to make rafts, as next day a num-
ber of doneys would be procured, in
which they might all pass. Next
day, however, Sunday, no doneys
came, and it was proposed to send
some person across the river to
fasten a cord by which they might
pass; that he, the deponent, swam
across the river, and fastened a cord
to the other side, after which he re-
turned, but while he was doing so,
a Candian cut the cord. Soon af-
terwards there came an order from
the Adigaar to major Davie, to
make his men lay down their arms,
and return to Candi, which, after
some time, they did; that, between
Candi and Allungantotte, there is a
village called Geventotte, where
two cannons were placed, and where
the Malays were ordered to sepa-
rate from the rest, and proceed to
Candi, which they all did, exeept
four native officers, who remained

551

with major Davie. Soon afterwards
all the prisoners were taken, two by
two, and delivered over to Candi-
ans, who took them to a litile dis.
tance and cut their heads off; that
they were likewise going to kill the
women, but this was put a stop to
by order of the Adigaar. Major
Davie, with the captain of artillery,
with the four Malay officers who
had not followed their countrymen,
were carried off, as he supposes, to
the Adigaar. The sepoys and Bens
gal lascars were not put todeath. A
Malay servant of capt. Nouradin,
whom he saw, told him that the two
English officers, and the four Ma-
lays were with the Adigaar. Upon
Monday he saw the two English of-
ficers, and was told they were to be
carried to Hargaroonketti, where
the king was. In the evening of
that day the Adigaar collected all the
effects which the English had left,
and ordered the cannon to be fired
without ball, as a mark of rejoicing:
That, having heard afterwards that
the Coolies, Lascoryns, &c. might
return, heset out on Friday night,
and came to Columbo yesterday
evening, the 5th of July.

Taken down by me from the in
terpretation of Mr. Jonville
and the Mahamodliar,

(Signed) Robert Arbuthnot,
Chief secretary to government.

Columbo, 6th July, 1803.

(A true copy,)
(Signed) Richard Plasket,
” Assistant to the chief secre.
tary to government,

A Dispatch, of which the following ts
a Copy, has been received this
Day, by his Excellency the Most
Noble the Governor General, from
Nn4 his

552

his Excellency the Commander in

Chief.

To his Excellency the Most Noble
Marquis. Wellesley, | Governor
General, &c. &c¢. &e.

Fort William, Scpt. 23, 1803.
My lord,

I have the satisfaction to inform
your lordship, that, after a march of
eighteen miles, this morning I learnt,
that the enemy, in great force, un-
der Mr. Louis, had crossed the
Jumna from Delhi, with the inten-
tion of attacking us,

When we had encamped, we
found our posts were attacked by a
body of the enemy. On _ recon-
noitering to our front, I found that
the enemy’s whole army were drawn
up in order of battle ; I immediate-
ly ordered out the whole line, and
advanced to attack them in front.

The enemy opposed to us a tre-
mendous fire from a numerous artil-
lery, which was uncommonly well
served, and caused us considerable
loss in officers and men; but I have
the satisfaction to add, that our ad-
vance under a most heavy cannon.
ade, and actual charge of the enemy,
at about one hundred paces distant,
caused a most precipitate retreat,
and left in our possession the whole
of their artillery.

The cavalry pursued the fugitives
to the Jumna, making great havoc,
and numbers were drowned in at-
tempting to cross.

In short, I have only to express
my entire approbation of the gallan-
tey of the troops under my com-
mand, during the whole of this most
brilliant action: and shall have the
honour to detail it more particu-
larly to-morrow, which the lateness
of the hour prevents me doing at
present.

The whole army was under arms

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

from three this morning till this
moment.
I have the horfour to be,
My lord,
Your lordship’s most faithful
Jiumble servant,
(Signed) G. Lake.

Head Quarters, Camp opposite
Dethi, half past seven P. M.
Sept. 11, 1803.

Published by command of his
Excellency the most noble the
governor general in council.

J. Lumsden,
Chief sec. to the govt,

A Dispatch, of which the following is
a Copy, has been received this
Day, by his Excellency the Most
Noble the Governor General, from
his Excellency the Commander in
Chief.

To his Excellency the Most Noble
Marquis Wellesley, &c. &c. &c.

Fort William, Sept. 24, 1803.
My lord,”

My letter of yesterday will have
informed your lordship of the total
defeat of the force under Mr. Louis.
The lateness of the hour prevented
my detailing the operations of the
day as fully as I could haye wished.

! cannot find terms sufficiently
strong to express the high sense I
entertain of the gallant services per-
formed by the whole of the officers-
and men in the army under my
command.

When the length of our march
(upwards of eighteen miles,) is con-
sidered, the fatigue the whole army
underwent, and that we were ex-
posed to a most galling fire from the
cnemy, of grape and chain shot,
while advancing in line, the opera-
tions of yesterday must ever reflect
the highest credit on all descriptions
of troops engaged ; and cannot fail

of

— OE Le eee ee

hs
a
¢

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE,

of striking the enemy with a dread
of our army; and prove to them,
that opposition to such superior
discipline and courage, is useless.

To major-general Ware, who
commanded the right wing, and to
the hon. major-general St. John,
who commanded the left, L feel my-
self under infinite obligations. The
former, | am sorry to say, received
avery severe contusion, while ad-
vancing with the right wing.

Major-general St. John was op-

posed to the enemy’s right ; the stea-
diness and ability displayed by the
hon. the major-general, quickly
surmounted every difiiculty, and
forced the enemy to retire in disor-
der, with very heavy loss.
_ To col. St. Leger, who com-
manded the cavalry, my warmest
praises are due; the steadiness and
gallantry of the whole corps, both
Europeans and natives, under a for-
midable fire of artillery, does them
infinite honour.

After the gallant and steady
charge of his majesty’s 76th regi-
ment, led by capt. Boyce, and the
whole of the infantry line, who ad-
yanced to within one hundred paces
of the enemy, without taking their
firelocks from their shoulders, when
they fired a volley, and rushed on
with the bayonet, with a determina-
tion nothing could resist ; had forced
the enemy to abandon their formi-

‘dable artillery, col. St. Leger, with

the cayalry under his command,
moved rapidly forward, when a
dreadful slaughter ensued. By a
well-timed manceuvre of the colo-
nel’s, in intercepting their retreat to
the Jumna, much execution was
done: the enemy’s confusion was
such, that many were drowned, in
attempting to cross the river.

To col. Horsford, and every of-
ficer of the corps of artillery, I feel

d53

myself infinitely indebted for their
meritorious services on the occasion,

The number of the enemy’s guns
already collected, is between fifty
and sixty ; and I expect more before
the evening. I shall have the ho-
nour to forward a regular return of
the enemy’s ordnance to-morrow.

I have to lament the loss of many
officers and men killed and wounded
in this action, returns of which shall
be transmitted for your lordship’s
information.

From the extreme heat and fa-
tigue that both oflicers and men ex-
perienced, 1 have to regret the loss
of major Middleton, of the 3d na-
tive cavalry, and cornet Sanguine,
of the 27th light dragoons, as well
as of seyeral European soldiers, who
fell, from the effects of the sun.

I have to lament the loss of capt.
Robert M‘Gregor, (Persian inter.
preter in the field) who fell, when
advancing in a gallant style.

The consequences of this victory,
are the evacuation of the city and
forts of Delhi, and the dispersion of
the enemy in all directions.

At the earnest request of his ma-
jesty, who is anxious to put himself
under the protection of the British
government, I shall cross the river
with my army, as soon as a sufficient
number of boats can be procured.

My staff, as usual, conducted
themselves to my entire satisfaction,
and merit my warmest approbation.

I have the honour to be,

My lord,
Your lordship’s most faithful
Humble servant,
(Signed) G. Lake.
,Head Quarters, Camp, Delhi

Ghaut, Sept. 12, 1803.

Killed by the effects of the sun.—
Major Middleton, 3d native cavalry.
Cornet Sanguine, 27th light dra-
goons,

Killed

554

Killed in action.—Capt. M‘Gre-

or ; lieut. Hill, 12th native infantry.

Tiewt. Preston; 15th native infantry,
fieut. Alden.

Wounded.—Capt. Covell, 27th
light dragoons. Cornet Crowe, 2d
native cavalry. Cornet Mather, 2d
native cavalry. Cornet Swindell, 3d
native cavalry. Lieut. M‘Donald,
76th foot. Lieut. Wrotesley, 2d
battalion 2d regiment. Capt. Mat-
thews, artillery.

The above is the most correct re-
turn that has yet been received.
Published by command of his

Excellency the most noble

governor general in council,

J. Lumsden,
Chief sec. to the govt.

A Dispatch, of which the following
is a Copy, has been received this
Day, by his Excellency the Most
Noble the Governor General, from
his Excellency the Commander in
Chief.

To his Excellency the Most Noble
Marquis Wellesley, Governor Ge-
neral, &c &e. &e.

Fort William, Sept. 23, 1803.
My lord,

For your lordship’s information,
T have the honour to enclose a list
of the killed and wounded, officers
and men, of the army under my
command, in the action of the 11th
instant.

Your lordship will perceive that
our Joss has been very great; but
when I consider, that we moved on
against an immense artillery, of
nearly one hundred pieces of can-
non, and many of a very large cali-
bre, under as heavy a fire as I have
ever been witness to, and that this
fire was direéted against a line, con-
sisting, on the most correct calcula-
tion, of not more than four thou-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

sand five hundred men, including
cavalry, artillery, and infantry ;
and that we were opposed by up-
wards of four times that number, it
is no longer a matter of surprise.

It is necessary to remark, that we
had only one brigade of cavalry ;
consisting of the 27th light dra-
goons, and the 2d and 3d regiments
of native cavalry ; the other bri-
pades being detached for the protec-
tion of our own provinces.

The more ! reflect on the glorious
affair of the 11th, the more forcibly
I feel the bravery and intrepidity
displayed by every individual com-
posing my army. I cannot find
words to express my feelings on
this occasion, nor can I sufficiently
lament the loss of many brave fel-
lows who have fallen.

I have the honour to be,

My lord,
Your lordship’s most faithful
Humble servant,
(Signed) G. Lake.
Head Quarters, Camp, near
Dethi Ghaut, Sept. 13, 1803.

Return of the Killed, Wounded, and
Missing, in the Action of the 11th
September, 1803.
27th dragoons.—Killed—1 cor-

net, 1 quartermaster, 1 serjeant, 9

privates—horses, troop 22, oflicer’s

1, quartermaster’s 1.—Wounded—

1 captain-lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 17

privates—horses, troop 22, officer’s

1.— Missing — 1 private— horses,

troop 24, officer’s 3.—Total killed,

wounded, and missing,—men 32,

horses 74.

Artillery.—Killed—1 serjeant, 1
corporal, 1 matross, 1 lascar.—
Wounded—1 captain, 1 serjeant, 1
corporal, 2 gunners, 8 matrosses, 2
serangs, 13 lascars.—Missing—1
gunner, 1 lascar.—Total, 34.

2d regiment

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

9d regiment native cavalry.—
Killed—15 horses.—W ounded—2
cornets, 1 naik, 14 privates, 16
horses.—Missing—5 horses.—Total

killed, wounded, and missing—

Men, 17, horses 36.
_ 3d regiment native cavalry.—

Killed—1 major, 1 havildar, 5
troopers, 28 horses.—W ounded—1

cornet, 1 jemadar, 1 naik, 9 troop-
ers, 20 horses. —Missing—12 horses.
—Total killed, wounded, and mis-
sing—Men 19, horses 60.

76th foot.—Killed—2 serjeants,
3 corporals, 29 privates.— W ounded
—1 lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 3 corpo-
rals, 93 privates.—Missing—1 cor-
poral, 5 privates—Total killed,
wounded, and missing, 138.

2d battalion 4th regiment.—
Killed—2 havildars, 1 naik, 9
sepoys.— W ounded—1 lieutenant, 2
subadars, 2 havildars, 4 naiks, 1
drummer, 69 sepoys.—Total killed
and wounded, 91.

2d battalion 12th regiment.—
Killed—1 lieutenant, 1 subadar, 2
havildars, 1 naik, 3 drummers, 11

_ sepoys.—Wounded—1 subadar, 1

a ee

havildar, 2 naiks, 32 sepoys, 1
bhisty.— Total killed and wounded,
56.

Ist battalion 15th regiment.—
Killed—1 subadar, 3 sepoys.—
Wounded—3 havildars, 1 naik, 8
sepoys.—Total killed and wounded,
16.

2d battalion 15th regiment.—
Killed—1 lieutenant, 1 drummer, 5
sepoys.—W ounded—9 sepoys.
Total killed and wounded, 16.

Ist battalion 2d regiment.
Killed—1 havildar, 1 naik, 1 sepoy,
—W ounded—1 lieutenant, 1 hayil-
dar, 1 naik, 12 sepoys.—Total
killed and wounded, 18.

2d battalion 2d_ regiment.
Killed—2 havildars, 4 sepoys,—

555,

Wounded—2 lieutenants, 1 havil-
dar, 1 naik, 18 sepoys.—Total killed
and wounded, 28.

ist battalion 14th regiment.—
Wounded—1 havildar, 12 sepoys.

‘Total. Europeans.—Killed — 1
major, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1
cornet, 1 quartermaster, 4 serjeants,
4 corporals, 39 privates. —W ounded
—1 captain, 1 captain-lieutenant, 4
lieutenants, 3 cornets, 3 serjeants,
4 corporals, 2 gunners, 118 pri-
vates.—Missing—1 corporal, 1 gun-
ner, 6 privates.—Total killed,
wounded, and missing, 197.

Total. Natives.—Killed—2 sub-
adars, 8 havildars, 3 naiks, 38 pri-
vates, 3 drummers, 1 lascar.
W ounded—3 subadars, 1 jemadar,
9 havildars, 11 naiks, 191 privates,
1 drummer, 2 serangs, 13 lascars, 1
bhisty.—Total killed and wounded,
288.

Horses.—K illed—67.—W ounded
59.—Missing—47.—Total, 173.

Names of Officers killed and wounded
in the Aétion of the 11th Instart.
Killed—Major Middleton, 3d re-
giment cavalry. Capt. M‘Gregor,
Persian interpreter in the field.
Lieut. Hill, 2d battalion 12th regi-

ment. Lieut. Preston, 2d battalion
15th regiment. Cornet Sanguine,
27th dragoons, quartermaster

R. Richardson, 27th dragoons.
Wounded — Major-general Ware.
Capt. Matthews, artillery. Capt.
lieut. Covell, 27th dragoons. Lieut.
M‘Donald, 76th regiment. Lieut.
Wrottesley, 2d battalion 4th regi-
ment. Lieutenants Alden and Har-
riot, 2d battalion 2d regiment. Cor-
nets Crowe and Mather, 2d regiment
cavalry. Cornet Swindell, 3d regi-
ment cavalry.

(Signed)

J. Jerrard,
Adjutant General.
Published

556

Published by command of his
Excellency the most noble the
governor general in council.

J. Lumsden,
Chief sec. to the govt,

Fort William, Oét. 30, 1803.
Dispatches, of which the following
are Hutracts, have been received
this Day by his Excellency the
- Most Noble the Governor General,

from the Hon. Major General
Wellesley.
Camp at Assye, Sept. 24,
My lord, 1803.

I was joined by major Hil), with
the last of the convoys expected
from the river Kistna on the 1$th,
and, on the 20th, was enabled to
move forward towards the enemy,
who had been joined in the course
of the last seven or eight ‘days by
the infantry under col. Pohlman, by
that belonging to Beguin Sumroo,
and by another brigade of infantry,
the name of whose commander |
have not yet ascertained. The ene-
amy’s army was collected about Bo-
Kerdun, and between that place and
Jaflierabad.

J was near colonel Stevenson’s
corps on the 2ist, and had a con-
ference with that officer, in which
we concerted a plan to attack the
enemy’s army with the divisions
under, our command on the 24th in
the morning, and we marched on
the 22d, col. Stephenson by the
western route, and I by the eastern
route, round the hills. between Bud-
napur and Jalna,

On the 23d L arrived at Naul-
niah, and there received areport that
Scindiah and the rajah of Berar had
moved off in the morning with their
cavalry, and that the infantry were
about to follow, but were still in

ANNUAL REGISTER, -1803.

camp at the distance of about six
miles from the ground on which
had intended to encamp. It was
obvious that the attack was no
longer to be delayed; and, having
provided for the security of my
baggage and stores at Naulniah, L
marched on to attack the enemy.

J tound the whole combined army:
of Scindiah and the rajah of Berar
encamped on the bank of the Kaitna
river, nearly on the ground which I
had been informed that they oecu-
pied. Their right, which consisted
entirely of cavalry, was about Bo-
kerdun, and extended to their corps
of infantry, whieh were encamped
im the neighbourhood of Assye.
Although I came first in front of
their right, I determined to attack
their left; as the defeat of their
corps of infantry was most likely:
to be effectual: accordingly Ef
marched round to their left flank,
covering the march of the column of
infantry by the British cavalry in
the rear, and by the Marhatta and
Mysore cavalry on the right flank.

We passed the river Kaitna at a
ford heyond the enemy’s left flank,
and | formed the infantry immedi-
ately in two lines, with the British
cavalry, as a reserve, in a third, in
an open space between that river
and a nullah running parallel to it.
The Marhatta and Mysore cavalry
occupied the ground beyond the
Kaitna on our left flank, and kept
in check a large body of the ene-
my’s cavalry, which had followed
our march from the right of their
own. position.

‘Lhe enemy had altered. the po-
sition of their infantry previous to
our attack ; if was no longer, as at _
first, along the Kaitna; but extend.
ed from that river, across to the vil-
lage of Assye, upon the nullah which

was

OE ee ee

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE,

vas upon our right. We attacked
them immediately, and the troops
advanced under a very hot fire
from cannon, the» execution of
which was terrible. ‘The picquets
of the infantry, and the 74th regi-
ment, which were on ‘the right of
the first and second lines, suftered
particularly, from’ the fire of the
guns on the left of the enemy’s po-
sition near Assye. The encmy’s
cavalry also made an attempt to
charge the 74th regiment, at the
moment when they were most ex-
posed to this fire, but they were
cut up by the British cavalry, which
moved on at that moment. At
length, the enemy’s line gave way
in all directions, and the British ca-
valry cut in among their broken in-
fantry; but some of their corps
went off in good order, and a fire
was kept up on our troops from
many of the guns from which the
enemy had been. first driven, by in-
dividuals who had been passed by
the line under the supposition that
they were dead.

‘Lieut. col. Maxwell, with the
British cavalry, charged one large
body of infantry which had retired,
and was formed again, in which
operation he was killed; and some
time elapsed before we could put
an end to the straggling fire which
was kept up by individuals from
the guns from which the enemy
were driven, ‘The enemy’s cavalry
also, which had been hovering round
us throughout the action, was still
near us. At length, when the last
formed body of infantry gave way,

the whole went ott, and left in our

hands ninety picces of cannon.
yr: . - .
This victory, which was certainly
complete, has, however, cost us
dear. Your excellency will per-
ceive, by the enclosed return, that

557

our joss, in officers and men, has
been very great; and in that of
lieut. col. Maxwell and other offi-
cers, whose names are therein in-
cluded, greatly to be regretted.

1 cannot write in too strong
terms of the conduct of the troops ;
they advanced in the best order,
and with the greatest steadiness,
under a most destructive fire,
against a body of infantry far supe-
rior in numbers. who appeared’ de-
termined to contend ‘with them to
the last, and who were driven from
their guns only by the bayonet ;
and, notwithstanding the numbers
of the enemy’s cavalry, and the re-
peated demonstrations they made of
an intention to charge, they were
kept at a distance by our infantry.

I am particularly indebted to
licut. col. Harness, and lieut. col,
Wallace, for the manner in which
they conducted their brigades ; and
to all the officers of the staff for the
assistance [ received from them.
The officers commanding brigades ;
nearly all those of the staff, and the
mounted officers of the infantry,
had their horses shot under them.

I have also to draw your excel-
lency’s notice to the conduct of the
cavalry, commanded by lieutenant
colonel Maxwell, particularly of
that of the 19th dragoons.

The enemy are gone off towards
the Ajuntee Ghaut; and I propose
to follow them as soon as I cait
place my captured guns and the
wounded in security.

1 have the honour to be,
My lord,
With the greatest respect,

Your excellency’s most obedient,

And faithful humble servant,
(Signed) Arthur Wellesley.

Colonel, Stevenson arriyed — this
morning af Bokerdun, and I ima-

gimme

558
gine that he will be here this even-

ing.
His Excellency the governor
general, &c. &c. §e.

A Return of the Killed, Wounded,and
Missing, of the Detachment under
the Command of Major General
ihe Honourable Arthur Wellesley,
at the Battle of Assye, against
the Army of Dowlut Rao Scindiah,
on Friday the 23d of September,
1803. ,

Europeans killed.—1 lieut. cel.
6 captains, 2 capt. lieuts. 12 lieuts,
1 volunteer or cadet, 1 lieut. and
adjutant, 1 non-commissioned staff,
12 serjeants, and 162 rank and file.

Natives killed.—5 subidars or sy-~
rangs, 3 jemidars or Ist tindals, 13
‘havildars or 2d tindals, 4 trumpeters
or drummers, 195 rank and file; 8
gun lascars, 2 puckallies or beasties.
—Total 428.

Europeans wounded.—1_lieut.
col. 2 majors, 4 captains, 2 captain
lieuts. 17 lieuts. 3 cornets or en-
signs, 1 lieut. and quartermaster, 1
non-commissioned staff, 34 serjeants,
6 trumpeters or drummers, and 371
rank and file.

Natives wounded.—12 subidars
or syrangs, 16 jemidars or Ist tin-
dals, 30 havildars or 2d tindals, 6
trumpeters or drummers, 586 rank
and file, 35 gun lascars, 2 puckal-
lies or beasties.—Total 1138.

, Missing. —16 rank and file, and

2 gun lascars.

Horses.—325 killed; 111 wound.
ed; and 2 missing.

List of Officers Killed and Wounded.
His majesty’s 19th light dragoons.

—lieut. col. Maxwell, commanding

the cavalry, and captain R. Boyle,

killed ; captains Cathcart and Sale,
lieuts. Wilson and Young, wounded.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

4th native cavalry.—Captain H:
Mackay, agent for public cattle,
killed; cornet Meredith, wounded.

5th native cavalry.—Captain J.
Colebrooke, wounded; lieutenant
Bonomi, adjutant, killed); lieuts.
Macleod, quartermasten, and/Darke,
wounded.

7thnative cavalry. —Capt.M‘Gre~
gor, wounded.

Ist battalion artillery.—Captains
lieutenant Steele and Fowler ; lieuts.
Lindsay and Griffith, killed,

His majesty’s 74th regiment.—
Captain D. Aytone, A. Dyce, R.
Macleod, paymaster of the regi-
ment, and J. Maxwell; lieutenants
J. Campbell, J. M. Campbell, J.
Grant, R. Neilson, L. Campbell,
and M. Morris; volunteer G. Tew,
not on the strength, but recom-
mended for an ensigncy, killed ;
major §. Swinton, capt. lieut. N. J.
Moore, lieutenants J. A. Mein,
M‘Murdo, and M. Shawe, ensign
B. Keirnan, wounded.

His majesty’s 78th regiment.—
lieut. J. Douglas, killed; captain
lieut. C. M‘Kenzie, lieutenants J.
Kinlock and J. Larkin, ensign J.
Bethune, acting adjutant, wounded.

lst battalion second native infan-
try.—Lieut. Brown, killed.

[st battalion fourth native infan-
try.—Lieut. Mayor, killed.

Ist battalion eighth native infan-
try.—Lieuts. Davie, Fair, Hunter,
and Desgraves, wounded.

Ist battalion tenth native infan-
try.—Lieut. Perrie killed; lieut.
Taylor, wounded.

2d battalion twelfth native in-
fantry.—Lieut. col. Macleod, ma-
jor M‘Cally, lieuts. Bowdler, Har-
vey, Smith, and De Crez, wounded.

(Signed) R. Barclay.

Deputy adjutant-gen. in Mysore.

Camp,

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Camp, Sept, 30, 1803.
My lord,

I have the honour to enclose. an

~ account of the ordnance taken from
the enemy in the action of the 23d

instant.. 1 have reason to believe
that there are still four more guns,
which were thrown into the river
by the enemy in their retreat.

We have taken seven stand.of co-
Jours, and the enemy lost all their
ammunition, although the tumbrils
having blown up, some during the
action, and others during the suc-
ceeding night, we have got nothing
but the shot. The ordnance is very
fine ; but I have destroyed the iron
guns, and shall put the brass guns in
a place of security.

The enemy lost twelve hundred
men killed in the field of battle, and
their wounded are scattered in all
parts of the country. It is report-
ed that Jadoon Row, Scindiah’s
principal minister, received a wound,
of which he died the day before
yesterday. Their army are in the
greatest confusion and retiring to
Burhaunpoor. Col. Stevenson has
followed them down the Ajuntee
Ghant, and I propose to descend
the Ghauts, as socn as I shall have
placed the wounded soldiers in se-
curity.

I have the honour to be,
My lord,
With the greatest respect,

Your excellency’s most obedient,

And faithful humble servant,

(Signed) Arthur Wellesley.

His Excellency the governor
general, &c. Sc. &e.

A Return of Ordnance taken from the
Enemy in the Battle of the 23d
September, 1803.

Two 24 pounders, eight 18 ditto,
ten 16 ditto, three 12 dilto, one
4

559

10 ditto, four 9 ditto, three 8 ditto,
twenty-seven 6 ditto, eight 4 ditto,
twelve 3 ditto, nine 24 ditto, four
i ditto, two 8 inch, ditto, two 52
ditto, one 5,ditto. Total 98.

The number of tumbrils, and
quantity of ammunition aud stores
taken, cannot be ascertained, as,
atter the action, and during the
night, a great number of tumbrils
were blown up.

(Signed) M. Beauman,

Capt. com. artillery.
Camp, Assye, 29th Sept. 1803.
Published by command of his
excellency the most noble the
governor general tr council,
J. Lumsden,’

Chief sec. to the govt.

Fort William, Nov. 15, 1803.
A Dispatch, of which the following és

a Copy, has this Day been received

from his Excelleney the Comman-

der in Chief, by his Excellency
the Most. Noble the Governor Ge-
neral,

To his Excellency the Most Noble the

Marquis Wellesley, &c. &c. &c.

My lord,

In my dispatch of yesterday’s
date, I did myself the honour to
state, for your lordship’s informa-
tion, some particulars of the march
of the army from Agra to the camp
it now occupies, together with the
general result of the action which
took place yesterday. Inow have
the honour to send your excellency
amore detailed account of that affair.

After a forced march of 25 miles,
which was performed by the cavyal-
ry in a little more than six hours,
I came up with the enemy, who ap-
yeared to be upon their retreat, and
in such confusion, that I was tempt-
ed to try the effect of an attack upon

him

560

him with the cavalry alone. By
cutting the embankment of a large
reservoir of water, the enemy had
rendered the road very difficult to
pass, which caused a considerable
delay in the advance of the cavalry ;
of this the enemy had availed him-
self to take an advantageous post,
having his right upon a rivulet,
which we had to cross, and his left
upon the village of Laswaree ; the
whole of his front was amply pro-
vided with artillery. I was pre-
vented from discovering this change
in the situation of the enemy by the
quantity of dust which, when once
clear of the water, totally obscured
him from our sight; 1 therefore
proceeded in the execution of my
design, by which I hoped to pre-
vent his retreat into the hills, and
secure his guns ;,directing the ad-
vanced guard, and first brigade, com-
manded by col. Vandeleur, upon
the point where I had observed the
enemy in motion, but which proy-
ed to be the left of his new position ;
the remainder of the cavalry I or-
dered to attack in succession, as
soon as they could form after pas-
sing the rivulet.

The charge of the advanced guard
under major Griffith, and that of
the first brigade, led by colonel
Vandeleur, was made with much
gallantry ; the enemy’s line was
forced, and the cavalry penetrated
into the village; they still, how-
ever, continued to be exposed to a
most galling fire of cannon and
musquetry, which, as it was impos-
sible under such circumstances to
form the squadrons for a fresh at-
tack, determined me to withdraw
them. The guns which had fallen
into our hands could not be brought
away, from the want of bullocks.
In this charge, colonel Vandeleur

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

fell, mortally wounded ; in him the
service has lost a most valuable of-
ficer.

The attacks of the other brigades
were conducted with the same spirit,
but after taking several of the ene-
my’s guns, being still fired upon,
without being able to discover the
enemy, they retired in good order,
retaining possession of a part of the
artillery. In the performance of
this service, the third brigade, con-
sisting of his majesty’s 29th regi-
ment, and the 4th regiment of na-
tive cavalry, under the command of
that meritorious officer, colonel
Macan, met my entire approba-
tion.

The infantry having marched at
three, A.M. arrived upon the banks
of the rivulet about eleven o'clock.
After so long a march, it was abso-»
lutely necessary to allow some time
for the men to refresh themselves,
during which the enemy sent in to
say, that if certain terms were al-
lowed them, they were willing to
surrender their guns. Anxious to
prevent the further effusion of
blood, I directed a letter to be
written, asquiescing in their pro-
posals, and allowing them an hour
to decide ; in the mean time, the
several columns for the attack were
formed. The infantry formed in
two columpvs upon the left; the
first, composed of the right wing,
under the command of major-ge-
neral Ware, was destined to gain
the enemy’s right flank, which he
had thrown back since the morning,
leaving a considerable space between
it and the rivulet, and to assault the
village of Laswaree: the second,
composed of the left wing under
major-general St. John, Was tosup-
port the first column. ‘The 3d bri-
gade of cavalry, under col. Macan,

3 was

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

was io Support the infantry; the
2d brigade under lieut. col. Van-
deleur, was detached to the right,
to be ready to take advantage of
any confusion in the enemy’s line,
and to attack him upon his retreat ;
the brigade under colonel Gordon
composed the reserve, and was form-
ed between the 2d and 3d brigades.
As many of the field-pieces as could
be brought up, with the gallopers
attached to the cavalry, formed four
different batteries.

At the expiration of the time
which I had allowed the enemy to
decide, I ordered the infantry to ad-
vance; as soon as they became ex-
posed to the enemy’s guns, the four
batteries commenced their fire, and
continued to advance, though op-
posed by a great superiority, both
in number and weight of metal.

When the 76th regiment, which
headed the attack, had arrived at
the point from which I intended to
make the charge, they were so
much exposed to the enemy’s fire,
and losing men so fast, that I judged
it preferable to proceed to the at-
tack with that regiment, and as
many of the native infantry as had
closed to the front, to losing time
in waiting until the remainder of
the column should be able to form,
the march of which had been re-
tarded by impediments in the ad-
vance.

As soon as this handful of heroes
were arrived within reach of the
enemy’s canister shot, a most tre-
mendous fire was opened upon them.
The loss they sustained was very
severe, and sufficient alone to pre-
vent a regular advance; at this
moment, the enemy’s cavalry at-
tempted to charge, but were re-
pulsed by the fire of this gallant
body ; they, however, rallied at a

Vou, XLY.

56}

short distance, and assumed so me-
nacing a posture, that I thought it
adviseable to order them to be at=
tacked by the cavalry ; this service
fell to the share of his majesty’s
29th regiment, commanded by capt.
Wade (major Griffith having, at
that. instant, been unfortunately
killed by a cannon shot) and was
performed with the greatest gallan-
try, and’ in a manner which entitles
capt. Wade, and every officer ‘and
soldier in the regiment to my warm:
est acknowledgments. ‘The re-
mainder of the first column of in.
fantry arrived just in time to join in
the attack of the enemy’s reserve,
which was formed in the rear of his
line, with its left upon the village of
Laswaree, and its right thrown
back.

About this time, major-general
Ware fell dead, his head being car-
ried off by a cannon shot. He was
a gallant officer, and one whose loss
I deeply lament. On his death, the
command of this column devolved
upon col. M‘Donald, who, though
wounded, continued to acquit him-
self, in this important command,
very much to my satisfaction.

The enemy opposed a vigorous
resistance to the last, and it was not
until he had lost his guns, that he
abandoned his post. . Even then his
left wing did not fly, but attempted
to retreat th good order ; in this,
however, they were frustrated by
his majesty’s 27th regiment, and the
6th regiment of native cavalry, un-
der the command of lieut. col. Van-
deleur, who broke in upon the co-
Jumn, cut several to pieces, and drove
the rest in prisoners, with the whole
of the baggage.

Severe as the loss has been which
we have sustained in the achieve-
ant of this complete victory, that

rs)

562

of the enemy has been far greater.
With the exception of upwards of
2000 who have been taken prisoners
(of which number I have onlydetained
- the principal officers, amounting to
forty-eight), I have reason to be-
lieve that very few ,escaped the
general slaughter.

Jt, would be a, yiolation of my

feelings were I to close my dispatch
without bearing testimony to the
gallant conduct of major M‘Leod
and capt. Robertson of his majesty’s
76th regiment, and of every oflicer
and soldier of that inestimable corps,
in the attack of the village of Las.
waree. Major Gregory, too, at
the. head of the 2d battalion 12th
regiment of native infantry, in the
same service, displayed a, conduct
highly meritorious.
. In the list of. those officers who
particularly distinguished themselves,
I cannot omit the names of lieut.
Wallace of his majesty’s 27th regi-
ment, who was entrusted with the
command of a battery of gallopers,
nor that of lieut. Dixon of the 6th
regiment native cavalry, who was
employed in the same service,

‘The whole of my staff upon this,
as upon every former occasion, are
entitled to a large share of praise,
and to my warmest gratitude. The
zeal which they displayed upon this
memorable day, is too plainly
proved by the enclosed returns of
the killed and wounded. I have
sustained a great loss by the death
of major William Campbell, the de-
puty quartermaster-general, and by
that of my aid-de-camp, lieutenant
Duval, of his majesty’s 19th light
dragoons, who was a young man of
great promise.

Herewith I haye the honour to
enclose returns of the ordnance and

3

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

colours which were captured upow
this occasion. i
I have the honour to be, .
My. lord,
Your lordship’s most faithful
And humble servant,
(Signed) G. Lake.
Head quarters, Camp, near

Laswarec, November 2,

1803.

P.S.. In the hurry which I wrote
my dispatch of yesterday’s date, I
fear I did not explain to your lord-
ship, that the enemy’s corps, which
we have, defeated, | comprized., the
whole of the fifteen regular batta-
lions which had been,sent, from the
Dekan, under .the,, command, of
Monsieur. Duderneg, ,.and., two bat-
talions, of, the same description,
which had escaped, from.Delhi,. 1,
therefore, have the ‘satisfaction, of
congratulating your excellency, up-
on the annihilation of the whole of
the regular force.in Scindiah’s ser-.
vice, commanded by French, officers.

(Signed) G.L.
Return of Officers and, Men, Killed
and Wounded in the Action of the

ist Nov. 1803.

Killed.—.1, major-general, 1. col.
2 majors, 1 captain, 4 lieutenants,
2 quartermasters, 2 .cornets, 11
serjeants, 4 matrosses, 67 rank and
file, 1 subadar, 7 hayildars, 6
naicks, 60 privates, and ,3 lascars.
— Total 172.

Wounded.—1. colonel, 2 lieut.
cols. 2 majors, 7 captains; 12 lieua-
tenants, 3 quartermasters, 1 cornet,
l ensign, 27 serjeants, 6 matrosses,
248 rank and file, 1 drummer, 4
subadars, 7 jemadars, 26 havildars,
19 naicks, 279 privates, 5 lascars,
and 1 beasties—Total 652.

Horses. —277 killed, 154 wound-
ed, and 122 missing.

List

yy ‘

- Mylne, capt.

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

List of Officers Killed in the Action
of the 1st of Nov. 1803.

Major-general Charles Ware.

Genera! staff.— Major William
Campbell, deputy quartermaster ge-
neral; liewt. Duval, aid-de-camp to
the commander in chief.

His majesty’s Sth regiment light
dragoons.—Colonel T. P. Vandeleur,

‘eaptain Story.

Hlis majesty’s 29th regiment light
dragoons.—Major Grillith, cornet
Fitzgerald, quartermaster Philley,
quartermaster R. M*Goughy.

Ist regiment native cavalry.—
cornet Coxwell.

His majesty’s 76th regiment foot.
—Licut. and adjutant Meulh, lieut.
Hurd.

Ist battalion 15th regiment native
infantry.—Lieut. Lambert.

List of Officers Wounded in the Ac-
tion of the \st Nov. 1803.
~ General staff.— Lieutenant-colonel
Gerard, adjutant-general ; major
G. A. F, Lake, secretary to the
commander in chief; captain’ J.
Campbell, gram agent attached to
head-quarters ; lieutenant Ashhurst,
commanding the escort with his ex-
cellency the commander in chief.

His majesty’s 8th regiment light
dragoons. — Lieut. Lyndon, since
dead ; lieut. Wellard.

His majesty’s 27th regiment light
dragoons, — Capt. White, capt.
Sandys, and lieut.
Gore, major of brigade.

His majesty’s 29th regiment light
dragoons.—Lieut. Holstead, since
dead ; capt. Sloane, lient. ‘Thorne,
and quartermaster Tallen.

- Ist regiment native cavalry.—
Lieut. Cornish.

4th regiment native cavalry.—

Lieut. Read.

563 .

6th regiment native eating"
Cornet Dicksom,

His majesty’s 76th regiment fits
—Capt. Robertson, lieut. Marston,
lieut. Wibmer, and lieut. Sinclair, _

ist battalion 12th regiment of na
tive infantry.—Ensign Dalton.

2d battalion 12th regiment native
infantry.—Major Gregoty, captaig
Fletcher, and lieut. Ryan.

Ist battalion 15th regiment native
infantry. —Colonel M‘Donald.

2d battalion 16th regiment native
infantry.—Lieut. col. White, ensign
G. Deane Heathcote.

(Signed) J. Gerard,
Adj. general.

Report of the Ordnance, &c. captured
at Laswaree,on the 1st November,
1803.

71 pieces of cannon of differént
calibres. The whole mounted om
field carriages, with limbers | and
traces complete.

64 Tumbrils complete, laden idle
ammunition, and 44 stand of co-
Jours.

Ditto ditto blown up on the field
of battle, the number not ascer-
tained. :

The whole of the above-mention-
ed ordnance, except eight, appear
serviceable.

The iron guns are of Europe ma-
nufacture. The brass guns, mor-
tars, and howitzers have been cast
in India, one Dutch six-pounder ex~
cepted, ‘The dimensions are, im ge-
neral, those of the French. ‘The
mortars and howitzers are furnished
with elevating screws, made by 4
simple and ingenious adjustment, to
give either of them the double ca-
pacity of mortar and howitzer, The
ammunition is made up in the same
manner as that taken at Delhi.

57 carts or hackrees laden with

O02 matchlocks

564

matchlocks, musquets, and stores,
also 12 artificer’s carts.’
(Signed) J. Gerard, adj. gen.
J. Robinson, capt.
wi Com. the art.
Published by Command of his
Excellency the most noble the
, governor generalin council,
J. Lumsden, chief sec. to
the govt.

Correspondence between his Majesty,
the Prince of Wales, the Duke of
York, and Mr, Addington, respect-
ing the Offer. of Military Service

‘made by his Royal Highness the

Prince of Wales.

(COPY.)
Carlton-House, July 18, 1803.
Sir, ;

‘The subject on which I address
you presses so heavily on my mind,
and daily acquires such additional
importance, that, notwithstanding
my wish to avoid any interference
with his majesty’s ministers, I find
it impossible to withhold or delay an
explicit statement of my feelings, to
which I would direct your most se-
rious consideration.

- When it was officially communi-
cated to parliament, that the avow-
ed object of the enemy was a de~
scent on our kingdoms, the question
became obyious that the circum-
stances of the times required the vo-
huntary tender of personal service 5
vehen parliament, in consequence of
this’ representation, agreed to ex-
traordinary measures for the de-
fence of these realms alone, it was
evident the danger was not believed
dubious er remote.—Animated by
the same spirit which pervaded the
nation atlarge, conscious of the da-
ties which I owed to his majesty and
the country, I seized the earliest

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

opportunity to express my desire of
undertaking the responsibility of a
military command ; I neither did,
nor do presume on supposed ta-
Jents as entitling me to such an ap-
pointment. I am aware I do not
possess the experience of actual
warfare ; at the same time I cannot
regard myself as totally unqualified
or deficient in military science, since
Ihave long made the service my
particular study. My chief preten-
sions were founded on a sense of
those advantages which my example
might produce to the state, by ex-
citing the loyal energies of the na-
tion, and a knowledge of those ex-
pectations which the public had a
right to form as to the personal exer-
tions of their princes at a moment
like the present. The more elevated
my situation, in so much the efforts
of zeal became necessarily greater 5
and, I confess, that if duty had
not been so paramount, a reflection
on the splendid achievements of my
predecessors would have excited in
me the spirit of emulation; when,
however, in addition to such recol-
lections, the nature of the contest
in which we are about to engage
was impressed on my consideration,
I should, indeed, have been devoid
of every virtuous sentiment, if I
felt no reluctance in remaining a
passive spectator of armaments,
which have for their object the very

existence of the British empire.
Thus was { influenced) to make
my offer of service, and I did ima-
gine that his majesty’s ministers
would have attached to it more va-
Iue. But when I find that, from
some unknown cause, my appoint-
ment seems to remain so long unde-
termined; when I feel myself ex-
posed to the obloqny of being re-
garded by the country as passing my
time

. APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

time indifferent to the events which
menace, and insensible to the calls
of patriotism, much more of glory,
it then behoves me to examine my
rights, and to remind his majesty’s
ministers that the claim which I have
advanced is strictly constitutional,
and justified by precedent ; and that,
in the present situation of Europe,
to deny my exercising it is fatal to
my own immediate honour, and the
future interests of the crown.

I can never forget that I have so-
lemn obligations impesed on me by
my birth, and that I should ever
shew myself foremost in contributing
to the preservation of the country.
The time is arrived when l may
prove myself sensible of the duties

-of my situation, and of evincing my
devotion to that sovereign, who, by
nature, as well as public worth,
commands my most affectionate at-
tachment.

I repeat, that I should be sorry
to embarrass the government at any
time, most particularly at such a
crisis. But, since no-event in my
future life could compensate for the
misfortune of not participating in
the honours and dangers which await
the brave men destined to oppose an
invading enemy, I cannot forego
the earnest renewal of my application.

AJl I solicit is, a more ostensible
situation than that in which I am at
present placed; for situated as I
am, as a mere colonel of a regiment,
the major general commanding the
brigade, of which such a regiment
must form a part, would justly ex-
pect and receive the full credit of
pre-arrangement, and _ successful
enterprize.

[ remain, sir,
Very sincerely, your’s,
(Signed) GP;
Right Hon. Henry Addington, &¢,

565

This topic was further urged by
the same personage, July 26, ina
letter to Mr, Addington, who, in
reply, briefly alluded to similar res
presentations, which, in obedience to
the commands of his royal highness,
had been laid before his majesty
upon former occasions.

The prince then desired his note
of the 26th of July, to be laid be-
fore his majesty, which was accord-
ing done.

His majesty referred, in Mr.
A.’s answer, to the order he had
before given Mr. Addington; with
the addition, ‘‘ that the king’s opi-
nion being fixed, he desired that no
farther mention should be made to
him on the subject.”

The following letter was then
written by the prince.
To the King.
Sir,
A correspondence has taken

place between Mr. Addington and
myself, on a subject which deeply
involves my honour and character.
The answer which I have received’
from that gentleman, and the com-
munication which he has made to the
house of commons, leave me no’
hope but in an appeal to the justice
of your majesty. I make that ap-
peal with confidence, because I feel
that you are my natural advocate,
and with the sanguine hope that the
ears of an affectionate father may
still be opened to the supplications
of a dutiful son.

I ask to be allowed to display the
best energies of my character; to
shed the last drop of my blood in
support of your majesty’s person,
crown and dignity ; for this is nota
war for empire, glory, or dominion,
but for existence. In this contest,
the lowest and humblest of your-ma-

O03 jesty’s

566

jesty’s subjects have been called on ;
it would, therefore, little become
me, who am the first, and who
stand at the very footstool of the
throne, to remain a tame, an idle,
and lifeless spectator, of the mis-
chiefs which threaten us, uncon-
scious of the dangers which surround
us, and indifferent to the conse-
quences which may follow.—Ilano-
ver is lost—England is menaced with
invasion—Ireland is in rebellion—
Europe is at the foot of France. At
such a moment, the prince of Wales,
Yielding to none of your servants in
zeal and. deyotion—to none ef your
subjects in duty—to none of your
children in tenderness and afjection,
presume; to approach you, andagain

to repeat those offers which he has

already made through your majesty’s
ministers. A feeling of honest am-
bition; a sense of what L owe to
myself and to my family; and,
above all, the fear of sinking in the
estimation of that gallant army
which may be the support of your
majesty’s crown, and my best hope
hereafter, command me to perse-
vere, and to assure your majesty,
with all humility and respect, that,
conscious of the justice of my claim,
no human power can ever induce me
to relinquish it.

Allow me to say, sir, that I am
bound to adopt this line of conduct
by every motive dear to me as a
man, and sacred to me as a prince,
Ought 1 not to come forward in a
moment of unexampled difficulty and
danger? Ought I not to share in
the glory of victory, when I have
every thing to lose by defeat? The
highest places in your majesty’s ser-
viee are filled by the younger
branehes of the royal family ; to me
alone no place isassigned. Iam not
thought worthy to be even the junior

ANNUAL REGISTER;

1805.

major-general of your army. If
could submit in silence to such in-
dignities, I should, indeed, deserve
such treatment, and prove, to the
satisfaction of your enemies, and my
own, that I am entirely incapable of -
those exertions, which my birth and
the circumstances of the times pecu-
liarly call for. Standing so near the

\ throne, when I am debased, the cause

of royalty is wounded ; | cannot sink
in public opinion, without the par-
ticipation of your majesty in my de-
gradation. ‘Therefore every motive
of private fecling, and of public du-
ty, induce me to implore your ma--
jesty to review your decision, and to
place me in that situation which my
birth, the duties of my station, the
example of my predecessors, and the
expectations of the people of Eng-
land, entitle me to claim.

Should I be disappointed in the
hope which I have formed, should .
this last appeal to the justice of my
sovereign, and the aflection of my fa~
ther, fail of success, 1 shall Jament
in silent submission his determina-
tion; but Europe, the world, and
posterity must judge between us.

I have done my dniy; my con-
science acquits me; my reason tells
me that 1 was perfectly justified in
the request which I have made, be-
cause no reasonable arguments have
ever been adduced in answer to my
pretensions. ‘The precedents in our
history are in my favour; but if they
were not, the times in which we
live, and especially the exigencies of
the present moment, require us to
become an example to our posterity.

No other cause of refusal has or
can be assigned, except that it was
the will of your majesty. To that
will and pleasure I bow with every
degree of humility and resignation ;
but I can never cease to complain |

of

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

of the severity which has been exer-
cised against me, and the injustice
which | have suffered, till I cease to
exist. I have the honour to sub-
scribe myself,

| With all possible devotion,

Your majesty’s
Most dutiful and affectionate
Son and subject,
(Signed) G. se

Brighthelmstore, Aug. 6, 1803.

Answer, from the King.
. Windsor, 7th August.

My dear son,

Though Tf applaud your zeal and
spirit, of which, I trust, no one can
suppose any of my family wanting,
yet, considering the repeated decla-
rations I have made of my determi-
nation on your former applications
to the same purpose, I had flattered
myself to have heard no farther on.
the subject. Should the implacable
_ enemy so far succeed as to land,
you will haye an opportunity of
Shewing your zeal at the head of
your regiment. - It will be the duty

-of every man to stand forward on,

such an‘occasion; and [I shall- cer-
tainly think it mine to set an exam-
ple in defence of every thing that is

~ dear to me and to my people. I

ever remain, my dear son,
— Your most affectionate father,

(Signed) G.R.

From the Prince to the King.

Brighthelmstone,

Sir, 23d Aug. 1803.

I have delayed thus long an an-

swer to the letter which your ma-
jesty did me the honour to write,
from a wish to refer to a former
correspondence which took place
between us in the year 1798. These

567

letters were mislaid, and some days
elapsed before I ‘could discover
them: they have since been found.
Allow me, then, sir, to recal to your
recollection ' the expressions you
were graciously pleased to use, and °
which I once before took the liberty
of reminding you of, when I soli-
cited foreign service, upon my first
coming into thearmy. They were,
sir, that your majesty did not then
see the opportunity for it; but if
any thing was to arise at home, I
ought to be ‘ first and foremost.’?
There cannot be a stronger expres-
sion in the English Janguage, or one
more consonant to the feelings -
which animate my heart. In this I
agree most perfectly with your ma-
jesty—** I ought to be the first and
foremost.” It is the place which
my birth assigns me—which Europe
—which the English nation expect
me to fill—and which the former as-
surances of your majesty might na-
turally have led me to hope I should
occupy. After such a declaration,
I> could hardly expect to be told,
that my place was at the head of a
regiment of dragoons.

J understand from your majesty,
that it is your intention, sir, in pur-
suance of that noble example which
you have ever shewn during the
course of your reign, to place ydur-
self at the head of the people of En-
gland. My next brother, the duke
of York, commands the army ; the
younger branches of my family are
either generals or lieutenant-gene-
rals ; and I, who am the prince of
Wales, am to remain a colonel of
dragoons. There is something so
humiliating in the contrast, that
those who are at a distance would
either doubt the reality, or suppose
that to be my fault, which is only
iny misfortune. |

O04 Whe

508

Who could imagine, that I, who
am. the oldest colonel in the service,
had asked for.the rank of a general
officer in the army of the king my

‘father, and that it had been refused
me!

I am sorry, much more than
sorry, to be obliged to break in,
upon your leisure, and to trespass
thus a second time on the attention
of your majesty. But I have, sir,
an interest in my character more va-
luable to me than the throne, and
dearer, far dearer to me than life.

1 am called upon by that interest to |

persevere, and I pledge myself never
to desist till [receive that satisfaction.
which the justice of my claim leads
me to expect.

In these unhappy times, the
world, sir, examines the conduct of
princes with a jealous, a scruti-
nizing, a malignant.eye. No man
is more aware than I am of the ex-
istence of sucha disposition, and no
man.is, therefore, more determined
to place himself above all suspicion.

In desiring to be placed in a for-
ward situation, I have performed
one duty to the people of England ;

{ must now perform another, and ~

humbly supplicate your majesty to
assign those reasons which have in-
duced you to refuse a request which
appears to me and to the world so
reasonable and so rational.

I must again repeat my concern
that 1 am obliged to continue a cor-
respondence which, I fear, is not
so grateful to your majesty as I
could wish. I have examined my
own heart—I am convinced of the
justice of my canse—of the purity
of my motives. Reason and honour
ferbid me to yield : where no reason
is alledged, 1 am justified in the con-
clusion that none can be given.

In this candid exposition of the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

feelings which have agitated and
depressed my wounded mind, I
hope no expression has escaped me
which can be construed to mean the
slightest disrespect to your majesty.
I most solemnly disavow any such
intention ; but the circumstances of
the times—the danger of invasion—
the appeal which has.been made to
all your subjects, oblige me to re-
collect what I owe to my own ho-
nour and to my own character, and
to state to your majesty, with
plainness, truth, and candour, but
with the submission of a subject,
and the duty of an affectionate son,
the injuries under which I labour,
which it is in the power of your
majesty alone at one moment to
redress. i
It is with the sentiments of the
profoundest veneration and respect,
that [ have the honour to subscribe
myself,
Your majesty’s most dutiful
And most affectionate
Son and subject,
(Signed) G; RB:

Brighton, 2d O&t. 1803.
My dear brother,

By the last night’s Gazette, which
1 have this moment received, I per-
ceive that an extensive sa tieatiarh
has taken place in the army, where-,
in my pretensions are not noticed; a
circumstance which, whatever may
have happened upon ther occasions,
it is impossible for me io pass by, at
this momentous crisis, without ob-
servation.

My standing in thé army, accord-
ing to the most ordinary routine of
promotion, had it been followed up,.
would haye placed me either at the
bottom of the list of generals, or at.
the head of the list of lieutenant ge-
nerals, Wher the younger poate

o

y
i

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

of my family are promoted to the
__ highest military situations, my birth,
" according to the distinctions ‘usually

' conferred on it, should have placed
me first on. that list.

i hope you know me too well, to
imagine that idle inactive rank is in
my view ; much less is the direction
and patronage of the military de-

_ partments an object which suits my

place in the state, or my inclinations;
but, in a moment when the danger
of the country is thought by go-
~vernment so urgent as to call forth
the energy of every man in its de-
fence, I cannot but feel myself de-
graded, both as a prince and as a
soldier, if 1 am not allowed to take
a forward and distinguished part in
the defence of that empire and
crown, of the glory, prosperity, and
eyen existence of that people in all
which mine is the greatest stake.
To. be told I may display this zeal
solely and simply at the head of my
regiment, is-a degrading mockery.
If that be the only situation al-

' loted me, I, shall certainly do my

duty, as others will; but the consi-
derations to which 1 have already
alluded. entitle me to. expect, and
bind me in every way to require, a
situation more correspondent to the
dignity of my own character and to
the public expectations.

It is for the sake of tendering my
services in a way more formal and
official than 1 have before pursued,
that I address this to you, my dear
brother, as the commander in chief,

‘by whose counsels the constitution
presumes that the military depart-
ment is administered.

If those who have the honour to
advise his majesty on this occasion,
shall deem my pretensions, among
those of all the royal family, to be

the. only one. fit to be rejected. and,

569

disdained, I may at least hope, as a
debt of justice ‘and honour, to have
it explained, that I am laid by in
virtue of that judgment, and not in
consequence of any omission or want
of energy on my part, &c. &c. &e-.
(Signed) G. P) W
His Royal Highness the Duke of
York, &c.

Horse Guards, Ott. 6, 1803:
Dearest brother,

Nothing but au extraordinary:
press of business would have pre-
vented me from acknowledging
sooner your letter of the 2d instant,
which I received, while at Oatlands,
on Monday evening.

I trust that you are too well ac-
quainted with my affection for you,
which has existed since our most
tender years, not to be assured of
the satisfaction I have-felt, and ever
must feel, in forwarding, when in
my power, every desire or object of
your’s; and, therefore, will believe
how much I must regret the impos-
sibility there is, upon the present
occasion, of my executing your
wishes of laying the representation
contained in your letter before sn
majesty.

Suffer me, my dearest premier
as the only answer that I can pro-
perly give you, to recal to your
memory what passed upon the same:
subject soon after his majesty was’
graciously pleased’ to place me at
the head of the army; and [ have
no doubt that, with your usual
candour, you vil yourself see the
absolute necessity of my declining
it.

In the year 1795, upon a gene--
ral promotion taking place, at your
instance, I delivered a letter from
you to his majesty; urging your
pretensions: to, promotion in the,

army 5

570
army; to which his majesty was
pleased to answer, that before he
had appointed you to the command
of the 10th light dragoons, he had
caused it to be fully explained to
you what his sentiments were with
respect to a prince of Wales en-
tering into the army, and the pub-
lic grounds upon which he could
never admit of your considering it
as a profession, or of your being
promoted in the service. And his
majesty, at the same time, added
his positive command and injunctions
to me, never to mention this sub-
jeét again to him, and to decline
being the bearer of any applica-
tion of the same nature, should it
be proposed to me; which mes-
sage I was, of course, under the ne-
cessity of delivering to you, and
have constantly made it the rule of
my conduct ever since; and, in-
deed, I have ever considered it as
one of the greatest proofs of af-
feétion and consideration towards
me, on the part of his majesty,
that he never allowed me to become
a party in this business.

Having thus stated to you, fairly
and candidly, what has passed, lL
trust you will see that there can
be ne grounds for the apprehen-
sion expressed in the latter part
of your letter, that any slur can
attach to your character as an offi-
cer—particularly as I recollect your
mentioning to me yourself, on the
day on which you received the noti-
fication of your appointment to the
10th light dragoons, the explanation
and condition attached to it by his
majesty ; and therefore, surely, you
must be satisfied, that your not be-
ing advanced in military rank, pro-
ceeds entirely from his majesty’s
sentiments respecting the high rank
you hold in the state, and not from

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

any unfavourable to
you.
Believe me ever, with the greatest

truth,

impression

Dearest brother,
Your most affectionate brother,
(Signed) Frederick.
His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales.

Brighton, Oét. 9, 1803.
My dear brother,

I have taken two days to consider
the contents of your letter of the
6th inst. in order to be as accurate
as possible in my answer, which
must account to you for its being
longer, perhaps, than I intended,
or I could have wished.

I confide entirely in the personal
kindness and affection expressed in
your letter, and am, for that reason,
the more unwilling to trouble you
again on a painful subjeét, in which
you are not free to aét, as your in--
clination, [I am sure, would lead
you. But, as it is not at all im-
probable, that every part of this
transaction may be publicly can-
vassed hereafter, it is of the utmost
importance to my honour, without
which I can have no happiness, that
my conduct in it shall be fairly re-
presented, and correétly understood.
When I made a tender of my ser-
vices to his majesty’s ministers, it
was with a justand natural expecta-
tion, that my offer would have been
accepted, in the way in which alone
it could have been most beneficial to
my country, or creditable to my-
self: or, if that failed, that at least
(in justice to me) the reasons for a
refusal would have been distinétly
stated; so that the nation might
be satisfied, that nothing had been
omitted on my part, and enabled to
judge of the validity of the reasons

assigned

— =."

assigned for such refusal. In the
_ first instance, I was referred to his
_tmajesty’s will and pleasure; and
now I am informed, by your letter,
; that before ‘‘ he had appointed me
to the command of the 10th light
dragoons, he had caused it to be
_ fully explained to me, what his sen-
timents were with respeét to a
Fs prince of Wales entering into the
~ army.”
_. It is impossible, my dear brother,
that I should know all that passed
: between the king and you; but, I
perfectly recollect the statement you
made of the conversation you had
_ had with his majesty, and which
_ Strictly corresponds with that in
_ your letter now before me. But
_ I must, at the same time, recal to
_ your memory, my positive denial,
_ at that time, of any condition or
stipulation having been made, upon
' my first coming into the army ; and
Lam in possession of full and com-
| plete documents, which prove that
no terms whatever were then pro-

_ might have been the intention: and
_ the communications which I have
_ found it necessary subsequently to
make, have ever disclaimed the ex-
istence of such a compromise at any
_ period, as nothing could be more
_ averse to my nature, or more re-
_ mote from my mind.-

_ As to the conversation you quote
_ in 1796 (when the king was pleased
_ to appoint me to succeed sir Wil-
‘liam Pitt), I have not the most
slight recolleétion of its having taken
place between us. My dear bro-
ther, if you date it right, you must
_ be mistaken in your exact terms,
_ or, at least, in the conclusion you
_ draw from it; for, in the intimacy
and familiarity of private conversa-
4 ang it is not at all unlikely that [

Sone

Re

APPENDIX?’ to the CHRONICLE.

57%

should have remembered the coms
munication you made me the year
before ; but, that_I should have ac-
quiesced in, or referred to a com-
promise, which | never made, is ut-
terly impossible.

Neither in his majesty’s letter to
me, nor in his correspondence with
Mr. Addington (of which you may
not be fully informed), is there one
word, or the most distant allusion
to the condition stated in your let-
ter ; and even if I had accepted the
command of a regiment on such
terms, my acquiescence could only.
have relation to the ordinary situa-
tion of the country, and not toa
case so completely out of all con-
templation at that time, as the pro-
bable or projeéted invasion of this
kingdom by a foreign force, suffi-
cient to bring its safety into ques-
tion. When the king is pleased to
tell. me, ‘ that should the enemy
land, he shall think it his duty to
set an example in defence of. the
country ;” that is, to expose the
only life which, for the public wel-
fare, ought not to be hazarded, I
respeét and admire the principles
which dié¢tate that resolution ; and
as my heart glows with the same
sentiments, I wish to partake in the .
same danger, that is, with dignity
and effect. Wherever his majesty
appears as king, he a¢ts and com-.
mands ; you are commander in chief 5
others of my family are high in mi-
litary station ; and even by the last
brevet a considerable number of ju-
nior officers are, put over me. in
all these arrangements, the prince of
Wales alone, whose interest in the
event yields to none but that of the
king, is disregarded; omitted; his
services rejected. So that, in faét,
he has no post or station whatsoever,
in a contest, on which the fate of

; the

572 ANNUAL RE
the crown and the kingdom may de-
pend. 3

I do not, my dear brother, won-
der. that, in the hurry of your pre-
sent occupations, these considera-
tions should have been overlooked ;
they are now in your view, and i
think cannot fail to make a due im-
pression.

As to the rest, with every degree
of esteem possible for your judg-
ment of what is due to a soldier’s
honour, ‘I must be the guardian
of mine to the utmost of my power,
&e. &e. (Signed) G..P.
dis Royal Highness the

Duke of York.

Horse Guards, Oét. 11.
My dear brother,

I have this moment, upon my ar-
rival in town, found your letter,
and lose no time in answering that
part of it which appears to me
highly necessary should be clearly
understood.

Indeed, my dear brother, you
must give me leave to repeat to
you, that, upon the fullest con-
sideration, I perfeétly recollect your
having yourself told me, at Carlton-
house, in the year 1793, on the
day on which you was informed of
his majesty’s having acquiesced in
your request of being appointed to
the command of the 10th regiment
of light dragoons, of which sir Wil-
liam Pitt was then colonel, the mes-
sage and condition which was de-
livered to you from his majesty, and
which his majesty repeated to me,
in the year 1795, as mentioned in
my letter of ‘Thursday last: and [
have the fullest reason to know,
that there are others to whom, at
that time, you mentioned the same
circumstance ; nor have I the least
recollection of your having denied

GISTER, 1803.

it to me, when I delivered to you
the king’s answer, as I should cer-
tainly have felt it incumbent upon
me to recal to your memory, what
you had told me yourself in the
year 1793.

No conversation whatever passed
between us, as you justly remark,
in the year 1796, when sir William
Pitt was promoted to the king’s
dragoon guards, which was done
in consequence of what was ar-
ranged in 1793, upon your first
appointment to the 10th light dra.
goons; and I conceive, that your
mentioning in your letter my having
stated a conversation to have passed
between us in 1798, must have
arisen from some misapprehension,
as do not find ¢hat year ever ad-
verted to in my letter.

I have thought it due to us both,
my dear brother, thus fully to reply
to those parts of your letter, in
which you appear to have mistaken:
mine; but, as I am totally unac-
quainted with the correspondence
which has taken place upon this sub-
ject, I must decline entering any
further into it.

1 remain ever, my dear brother,

With the greatest truth,
Your most affectionate brother,
(Signed ) Frederick.
i

Brighton, Oé¢. 12, 1803.
My dear brother,

By my replying to your letter of
the 6th instant, which contained no
sort of answer to mine of the se-
cond, we have fallen into a very
frivolous altercation, upon a topic
which is quite foreign to the pre-
sent purpose: indeed, the whole .
importance of it lies in a seeming
contradi¢tion in the statement of a
fact, which is unpleasant, even upon
the idlest occasion.

I meant

4
vn

i;

+
+

{

_ in 1795, and possibly before.

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

I meant to assert that no pre-

_ vious condition to forego all pre-

tensions to ulterior rank, under

_any circumstances, had been im-

posed upon me, or even submitted
to me, in any shape whatsoever, on
my first coming into the service ;
and with as much confidence as can
be used in maintaining a negative, I
repeat that assertion.

' When I first became acquainted
with his majesty’s purpose to with-
hold from me further advancement,

it is impossible to recolleét; but

that it was so early as the year
1793, I do not remember ; and if
your expressions were less positive,
I should add, or believe ; but I cer-
tainly knew it,.as you well know,
We
were then engaged in war, therefore
I could not think of resigning my
regiment, if, wnder other circum-
stances, I had been disposed to do
it; but, in truth, my rank in the
nation made military rank, in or-
dinary times, a matter of little con-
Sequence, except to my own pri-
vate feelings. This sentiment I con-
veyed to you in my letter of the
second, saying, expressly, that mere
idle, inaétive rank, was in no sort
my object.

But upon the prospeét of an
emergency, where the king was to
take the field, and the spirit of
every Briton was roused to exer-
tion, the place which I occupy in
the nation, made it indispensible to
demand a post correspondent to that
place, and to the public expeéta-
tion. This sentiment, I have the
happiness to be assured, in a letter
on this occasion, made a strong im-
pression on the mind, and commanded
the respect and admiration of one

_ very high in government.

The’ only purpose of this letter,
1

573

my dear brother, is to explain, since
that is necessary, that my former
ones meant not to give you ‘the
trouble of interceding as my advo-
cate for mere rank im the army.
Urging further my other more im-
portant claims upon government,
would be vainly addressed to any
person, who can really think that
a formal refusal of mere rank, un-
der circumstances so widely dif.
ferent, or the most express waving
ef such pretensions, if that had
been the case, furnishes the slightest
colour for the answer which I have
received to the tender I have now
made of my services.

Your department, my dear bro-
ther, was meant, if I must repeat
it, simply as a channel to convey
that tender to government, and to
obtain either their attention to it,
or an open avowal of their refusal,
&e. (Signed) G.P.
To His Royal Highness

the Duke of York.

Horse Guards, Oét. 13.
Dear brother,

I have received your letter this
morning, and am sorry to find, that
you think that I have misconceived
the meaning of your first letter, the
whole tenor of which, and the mili-
tary promotion which gave rise to it,
led me naturally to suppose your de-
sire was, that I should apply to his
majesty, in my official capacity, to
give you military rank, to which
might be attached the idea of sub-
sequent command.

That I found myself under the
necessity of declining, in cbedience
to his majesty’s pointed orders, as I
explained to you in my letter of the
6th instant ; but, from your letter
of to-day, I am to understand that
your object is not military rank,

but,

574

but, that a post should be allotted to
you, upon the present emergency,
suitable to your situation in the
state.
This I conceive to be purely a po-
litical consideration, and, as such,
totally out of my department; and,
as I have most carefully avoided, at
all times, and under all circumstances,
ever interfering in any. political
points, I must hope that you willnot
call upon me to deviate from the
principles by which I have been in-
variably governed.
Believe me, my dear brother,
Your most affectionate brother,
(Signed) Frederick.
His’ Royal Highness the
3» 9Prince of Wales.

Carlton House, Oét. 14.
My dear brother,

It cannot but be painful to me to
be reduced to the necessity of fur-
ther explanation on a subject, which
it was my earnest wish to have
closed, and which was of so clear
and distinct a nature, as, in my
humble judgment, to have preclud-
ed the possibility of cither doubt or
misunderstanding.

Surely there must be some strange
fatality to obseure my language in
statement, or leave me somewhat
deficient in the powers of explana-
tion, when it can lead your mind,
my dear brother, to such a palpable
misconstruction (for far be it from
me to fancy it wilful) off my mean-
ing, as to suppose for a moment I
had unconnected my object with
efficent military rank, and transfer-
red it entirely to the view of a poli.
tical station, when you venture to
tell me “‘ my object is nof military
rank, but that a post should be al-
jotted to me, upon the present
emergency, suitable to my situation

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803:

in the state.” Upon what ground
you can hazard such an assertion,
or upon what principles you can
draw such an inference, [ am utter-
ly at a loss to determine. For I
defy the most skilful logician, in
torturing the English language, to
apply with fazrness such a construc-
tion to any word or phrase of mine,
contained in any one of the letters
I have ever written on this, ¢o me,
most interesting subjeét.

I call upon you to re-peruse the
correspondence. In my letter of
the 2d instant, I told you unequi-
vocally that I hoped you knew me
too well to imagine, that édle, znac-
tive rank was in my view; and thaé
sentiment, I beg you carefully to
observe, L have, in no instance what-
ever, for one single moment, relin-
quished or departed from.

. Giving, as 1 did, all the consider-
ations of my heart to the delicacy
and difficulties of your situation,
nothing could have been more re-
pugnant to my thoughts, orto my
disposition, than to have imposed
upon you, my dear brother, either
in your capacity as commander in
chief, or in the near relationship
which subsists between us, much
less the expectation of causing you
to risque any displeasure from his
majesty, by disobeying, in any de-
gree, his commands, although they
were even to militate against myself.
But, with the impulse of my feel-
ings towards you, and quickly con-
ceiving what friendship and aflec-
tion may be capable af, I did not,
I own, think it entirely impossible
that you might, considering the mag-
nitude and importance which the
object carries with it, have officially
advanced my wishes, as a matter of
propriety, to mélitary rank and sub-
sequent command, through his ma-

jesty’s

ATES

jesty’s. ministers, for that direct
purpose; especially when the ho.
nour of my character and my fu-
ture fame in life were so deeply in-
volved in the consideration. For,
I must here emphatically again re-
peat, ‘‘ idle, inactive rank was never
in my view; and.that military rank,
with its consequent command, was
_ NEVER oud of it.”
~ Feeling how useless, as well as
ungracious, controversy is, upon
every occasion, and knowing how
fatally.it operates on human friend-
ship, I must entreat that our cor-
- respondence on this subject shall
' cease here; for nothing could be
_ more distressing to me, than to pro-
Jong a topic, on which, it is now
_ clear to me, my dtar brother, that
_ youand I can never agree, Ke. |
(Signed) G,.P.
His Royal. Highness the
_ Duke of York.

$

Copy of a Leiter from the Right Hon.
Henry Addington, dated Richmond
Park, Oct. 23, 1803.

Sinai bu

In consequence of some intelli-

~ gence which has reached me, I am

impelled, by a sense of duty to your
royal highness, and to the public,

_to express an earnest and: anxious

hope, that you may be induced to

postpone your return to Brighton
~ until I shall have had an oppor-

_ tunity of making further inquiries,

and of stating the result of them to

your royal highness.

I have the honour to be, with

_the utmost deference and respect,’

4 ; Sir,
_ Your royal highness’s faithful _
And most humble servant,
7: Henry Addington,
The Prince of Wales.
P

: APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

STS

Answer.
Carlton House, OG. 24,
Sir,

By your grounding your letter
to me upon intelligence which has
just reached you, | apprehend that
you allude to information which
leads you to expect some immediate
attempt from the enemy. My wish
to accommodate myself to any thing
which you represent as material to
the public service, would, of course,
make me desirous to comply with
your request ;, but if there be rea-
son to imagine that invasion will
take place direcily, I am bound, by
the. king’s precise order, and by
that honest zeal which is not allow-
ed any fitter sphere for its. aétion,
to hasten instantly to my regiment.
{f 1 learn that my construétion of
the word intelligence be right, I
must deem it necessary to repair to
Brighton immediately, &c. &c.

(Signed) G. P.
Right Hon. Henry Addington. z

Correspondence between the Right
Hon. the Lord Chancellor of Tree
land and the Earl of Fingalt.

(No. 1.)
From the Right Hon. the Lord Chan-
cellor of Lreland, to the Right Hon.

the Earl of Fingall.
Ely Place, Dublin,
My lord,” Aug, 18, 1803.

According to your lordship’s re-
quest, I have signed, with great plea-
Sure, a warrant for your lordship’s
appointment to be a justice of the
peace for the county of Meath.

At this moment, my lord, it is
peculiarly important that every per.
son entrusted specially with the

preser-

576

preservation of the public peace
should, know, and conscientiously
pursue, the strict line of his duty.
Your lordship’s distinguished loyal-
ty, at all times, and on all occasions,
leaves me no room to doubt that you
will exert yourself to the best of
your judgment for this important
purpose; and the same distinguish-
ed loyalty has, probably, marked
out your lordship, as one to whom
nothing could safely be uttered,
tending to demonstrate any dispo-
sition towards the rebellious out-
rages, which of late produced such
dreadful effects, and excited so much
alarm, but I fear there have been
teo many, in whose presence and
hearing, demonstrations have been
mnade, and words uttered, which
ought to have alarmed the minds of
loyal men; and induced them to
eominunicate the ground for that
alarm, to those in authority under
the government, and especially to
the justices of the peace in their se-
veral districts; but who hare
thought fit to retain the impression
made in their minds within their own
breasts ; and to leave the chance of
discovery to othcr means, ‘The per-
sons to whom [ allude have princi-
pally been persons professing to hold
the same religious faith with your
lordship, and over whom I most sin-
cerely hope your lordship’s high
character may give you that influ-
ence which justly belongs to it.

It will be highly important, there-
fore, that your lordship, in the dis-
charge of your duty as a magistrate,
should take every opportunity of
clearly stating, and most strongly

inculcating and enforcing, the great~

duty of allegiance ; and that that duty
is not coniined to forbearance from
epen rebellion, or even from acts

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

tending towards rebellion; that
true allegiance is an active duty, re-
quiring every man not only to sup-
press rebellion when it shall shew it-
self in violence, but to disclose to
that government under which he
lives, (whether he bea natural born
subject of that government, or a'so-
journer only under its proteétion,)
every thing which can raise ground
for such suspicion of disloyalty in
others ; and it is particularly im-
portant that your lordship should,
as a magistrate, state and enforce,
that persons knowing of a treason-
able \purpose who do not disclose
it, are guilty, in the eye of the law,
of that crime which has been deno-
minated misprision of treason’; and
if they yield any kind of assent to
the intended treason, they become
traitors themselves. Your lord-
ship’s enlarged and liberal mind,
distinguishing clearly between spiri-
tual. and temporal concerns, must
feel that there can be no duty of re-
ligion cOntrary to the duty of alle-
giance ; and, indeed, no man, how-
ever ignorant or prejudiced, can
read the holy scriptures, without
finding that the duty of allegiance
to a Pagan government was strong-
ly and repeatedly enforced by Christ
and his apostles, and especially the.
latter, who found the christians of
their times, too much disposed to
consider their faith in Christ as ab-
solving them from their allegiance
to the country in which they lived,
I am truly sorry to say, that I fear,
in this country, all who profess to
be ministers of the gospel of Christ,
do not teach Christ’s doctrine of al-
legiance to their flocks; and I par-
ticularly lament to find in the minds
of men, who assume the highest
rank amongst the ministers of the

Romar

hy Wo ae
aks

Ga’ 5

es Se ocean eine

bel

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Roman persuasion, the frequent use
of language tending to raise in the
minds of the ignorant, am opinion
that none are to be considered as
members of the catholic church of
Christ; that none, therefore, are
to be esteeined brethren in Christ,
but those who profess adherence to
the see-of Rome. Until the minds
of men shall be brought to a differ-
ent temper, until the priests of the
Roman persuasion shall cease to in-
culeate, that all who. differ from
them in religious opinions are to be
considered as guilty of defeétion
from the see of Rome, - that is, as
guilty of rebellion, including his
majesty’s sacred person in that de-
scription, it cannot be expected that
vulgar men should think themselves
bound by any tie of allegiance to
a king thus represented to them, as
himself guilty of a breach of what
is termed a higher duty of -allegi-
ance. That liberty of conscience
which those of the Roman persua-
sion desire for themselves, | they
ought to allow to others; and they
do not allow that liberty of consci+
ence, but, on the_contrary, sanétion
the worst of persecutions, whenever
they treat any- man sincerely believ-
ing in Christ, the Redeemer of man-
Kind; as not a member of the catho-
lic or universal church formed by
Christ and his apostles, because that
oe te not believe, all that they

re of the see of Rome, and of
the doétrines taught by it. I.can
consider no man, whatever his pro-
fessions of loyalty may be, as truly
the loyal subject of a king, whom
he thus holds up to his people as an
object of disafleétion, nay, of ha-
tred, because that king holds a dif-
ferent opinion in matters of religion

from those who adhere to the see: of

Rome, and because he refuses any
Vou, XLY,

ITT

obedience in matters Paton or
spiritual to that see.

It will be your duty, my lord, as
a justice of the peace, to watch ‘the
preservation of the peace with the
most anxious attention ; to réspect
no man whose conduct shall tend to
disturb it; to exhort all- men; by !pa~
tience and forbearance, as well. as
by exertions to use their utmost.en-
deavours to preserve it. And, :how-
ever anxiously they may wish. for a
change in the establishment provided
by the law of the land for the: main-
tenance of religion ; however con
scientiously they may think that thé
end of religion would be better an-
swered, by. putting those of the
Roman persuasion in the place of
those of the-protestant faith ; they
cannot, consistently with the duties
of their allegiance, pursue that purs
pose; by abetting or even by-declins
ing to-resist and suppress the rebels
lious conspiracy formed -for that
purpose. 1 have no doubt that the
firm and distinguished loyalty, which |
has marked your lordship’s characs
ter in every other situation: in-life,
will guide your steps inthe discharge
of,your duties of a magistrate. May
God, to whom alone all our errors
and imperfections are known, -pros
tect and guard you, and lead you-to
that end which will:most accord. with
the beneficent purpose for which
the office of magistraey was intend-
ed; and for-which-alone I am-per-
suaded you prevail on yourself to
undertake so. arduous a charge under
circumstances of so much difficulty.

I have the honour to be, with ihe
most sincere respect and pris Ee

My lord,
- Your lordship’ s faithful humble
‘Servant, - Redesdale. .

To the Right Hon. the weet
Earl of Fingall, &c. &c. &c. et

Pp o. 2,

578

No. 2.
Answer to the foregoing, by the Right
| Hon, the Earlof Fingall.

Great Denmark Street,
My lord, 4X8 42 1803.

T have the honour to receive your
tordship’s letter, and am much o-
bliged to you for appointing me a
magistrate of the county of Meath,
at a time when the task is so ardu-
ous. I-must beg leave to assure
your lordship, that nothing but my
most anxious desire to be useful, by
every means in my power, would
have induced me to solicit the com-
mission of the peace.

Permit me to return your lordship
my best thanks, for the very able
and excellent instructions contained
in your letter: it shall be my un-
ceasing endeavour to prove myself
not unworthy the trust confided to
me, for which I should feel myself
very ill qualified, if I did not under-
stand the duties of active loyalty, to
be exaétly such as they are laid
down by your lordship. I have al-
ways been taught, that that man was
a traitor, and violated his allegiance,
who concealed any plot against the
state: to this opinion, all those who
profess the same religious faith that
i do, are bound by the most solemn
pledges: I am very sorry any have
deviated from it; they cannot be,
J am persuaded, those remarkable

for their religious and good con- -

duct. It gives me much concern,
and I should be extremely sorry,
were it generally conceived that
your lordship, the person to whom
the catholics of another part of the
united kingdom never cease ex-
pressing their obligations ; with your
superior talents; enlightened and
Niberal mind; holding the high si-
tuation you do in this country, with

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1863.

so much credit to yourself, and ad-
vantage to the public, should have
an opinion, in any degree, unfa-
vourable to the Irish catholics.

My lord, the catholic religion is
the same every where. I very re-
luctantly enter on the subject. Re-
ligious disputes I have always con-
sidered the greatest misfortune any
country could experience. J must,
however, beg leaye to state to your
lordship, what I have always found
to be the conduct and faith of the
catholic. J need not speak of his
attachment to, and respect for, an
oath: were he less delicate, why
should he labour under any exclu-
sion now, or have suffered many
years of penal restriction? I must
say, I never heard a catholic wish
for the overthrow of the protestant
establishment, and setting up in its
place one of his own religion. ‘This
was not, as is well ascertained, the
object of the promoters of the re-
bellion in 1798; nor do f believe it
was that of the ruffians and mur-
derers who disgraced this country
on a late occasion. The catholic is
ready at this moment to sacrifice his
life, his property, every thing dear
to him, in support of the present
constitution ; in defence of that be-
loved sovereign to whom your lord-
ship does not seem to think we look
up, with that veneration, grati-
tude, and attachment, which, I as-
sure you, we do. The ‘catholic
wishes no other family on the
throne, no other constitution ; but
certainly wishes to be admitted,
whenever it shall be deemed expe-
dient, to a full share in the benefits
and blessings of that happy consti-
tution under which we live; a par-
ticipation which I trust we have,
and shall continve to prove our-
selyes not undeserving of. Catholic

loyalty

gE ery

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

loyalty and allegiance, I need not
tell your lordship, would oblige
every one of that persuasion to re-
sist and repel even the head of the
see of Rome, were it possible to
suppose that the usurper, who now
disturbs the peace of the world,
could send him hither with his invad-
ing armies. My lord, the doétrine
of allegiance is perfectly understood,
and unceasingly preached by the
catholic clergy. have just seen an
address in the newspapers, from

- doctor Coppinger to his flock at

Cloyne, in which catholic principles
and allegiance are much more ably
and fully explained and inculcated,
than I could attempt doing. The
late exhortation of the rev. doctor
Troy, in Dublin, your lordship has
probably seen, and his character for
distifguished loyalty is known to
every one. In the year 1796, when
Hoche’s fleet was in Bantry Bay,
the rev. doctor Moylan published
an address to his people, for which,
had the French landed, he would
undoubtedly have lost his head.—
Surely, my lord, solemn pledges,
and distinguished acts of loyalty, are
the best proofs that can be given.
I have, my lord, taken the liberty
of stating to your lordship what I
consider catholic principles, and ca-
tholic conduct. Standing in the si-
tuation I do, I feel it my duty to
vindicate the catholics from any un-
favourable opinion entertained of
them. That your lordship should
know, and properly appreciate their
sentiments and conduct, is my only
aim; and would, 1 am sure, be
highly gratifying to them. I beg
pardon for trespassing so Jong on
your lordship; but when there is
question of the conduct and opinion
of so large a portion of his majesty’s
Subjects, at the time every arm is

579

wanting to defend the empire, you
will, I trust, excuse me. 1 think I
could not give your lordship a better
proof that I shall endeavour to merit
the good opinion you are so kind as
to entertain of me, and which I hope
I shall never forfeit.
1 have the honour to be, &c. &c.
Fingal.
To the Right Hon.
Lord Redesdale, &c. &c. §c.

(No. 3.)
From the Right. Hon. the Lord
Chancellor to the Earl of Fingall.
Ely Place, Aug. 21, 1803.
My lord, ‘
Many parts of your lordship’s
letter have given me much pain. JI
have no doubt that your lordship
has every feeling of christian charity
towards those who differ from you
in religious opinion ; but I have daily
experience, that the same charity
does not prevail amongst a great
many who profess to be of the same
religious persuasion with your lord-
ship. I am fully persuaded that the
want of true christian charity, one
towards the other, has been the real_
cause of all the unfortunate events
which have of late disgraced this
country : and I think it the duty of
every man, however he may differ in
points of faith from others, to endea-
vour to impress the great do¢trine
of christian charity on the minds of
all, as the only means of restoring.
peace to this distracted country.—
Your lordship seems to imagine that
those inhabitants of Ireland, who
adhere in matters of faith to the
doctrines of the see of Rome, are
disposed to discontent, because,
as your lordship is pleased to ex-
press yourself, they are not ad-
mitted to a full share of the bene.
fits and blessings of the happy con-
Pp2 stitution

580

stitution under which they live. If
your lordship means they are dis-
contented, because they are not ad~-
mitted to be members of either
house of parliament, or to hold cer-
tain great offices; or because they
are excluded from the throne; [
must confess, I cannot believe that
the lower orders of the people in
Treland, amongst whom. the ferment
principally prevails, have any anxi~
ety on the subject, except as it may
be raised in their minds by others :
and your lordship must allow that
no disturbances, of the same descrip-
tion, are excited..amongst the
quakers, who certainly are liable to
more disabilities, for conscience-
sake, than those of which your lord-
ship complains. I am afraid, or,
rather, 1 am ‘persuaded, that the
difference arises from the different
temper given to their minds by their
religious instructors : that the quaker
is taught to live in charity with all
men, whilst those who follow the
see of Rome are unfortunately
taught a very confined charity,
being told they are exclusively mem-
bers of the church of Christ: and
those whose minds have not been
enlarged by education or habit, feel
it difficult to conceive how. those

whom they are taught to consider as,

not members of the church, can be
deemed christians: and, accordingly,
your lordship will find, upon en-
quiry, that, the appellation of hea-
then is applied by those to, every
protestant. If those who are con-
sidered as holding a higher rank in
_the priesthood, used their influence
to correct this impression on the
minds of the lower orders, we might
hope, that, by degrees, they might
be taught to consider all who believe
in Christ as their redeemer, though
uot adhering to the sec of Rome, as

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

their brethren in Christ ; but, un-
fortunately, that is not, the case.
Dr. Troy, in his pastoral instrac~.
tion on the duties of christian citi-
zens, published in 1793, holds up
high the exclusiye doctrine; which
those who think humility a christian
virtue, in all respects, most becom-
ing.so weak and fallible a creature
as man, cannot bnt consider as sas
vouring, of presumption, Dr, Hus-
scy,, in his pastoral letter, published
in 1797, expresses himself in a
stronger language: and, indeed, it
is dificult for a loyal subject to read
that publication without feeling, that,
especially at the time of its appear-~
ance, it could. not tend to produce
loyalty, or even submission to the
government of the country, -in the
minds of those to whom it was ad~
dressed. . Whilst such impressions,
so excited, are rankling in. the
minds of men, very little regard cam
be paid to addresses of the nature,
to which your lordship , refers, me,
They are given to the winds, as long
as the priests of the see of Rome
shalk think fit to hold up to their
flocks, that all who do not yield
obedience’ to that see, are guilty of
rebellion against it; are not to be
considered as members of the church
of Christ; and, therefore, are not
(in the eyes of the vulgar at least)
to, be considered as christians, Lam _
fully persuaded, that those who
listen to their doctrines, will never
bear christian charity towards those
whom so represented, and will never
be loyal and dutiful subjects of a
king, thus held out to them as him-
self.a rebel. In fine, my lord, those
who clamour for liberty of con-~
science, (which in truth they have, )
must be taught to allow liberty of
conscience to others; and those whe
desire complete participation, must
2 treat

APPENDIX td the CHRONICLE.

treat those, with whom they desire
io participate, as brothers. Until,
therefore, the priests of the Romish
persuasion shall think it their duty
to préach honestly and conscienti-
ously, the great doctrine of wniver-
sal charity in Christ’ until they
shall, in all their instructions to those
under their care, represent, honest-
ly and conscientiously, all'who ‘sin-
ceerely believe in Christ, the redeemer
of mankind, to be brethren in
Christ, however mistaken they may
Suppose any of them to be in certain
points of faith; until they Shall
teach their flocks, that desiring liber-
ty to think for themselves, they
ought also to permit others‘to think
for themselves, and not to murder
them because they differ in religious
opinions ; peace never can be esta-
blished in the land; and the loyal
addresses of doctor Troy and doctor
Coppinger, will, as I have before
said, be given to the winds. They
can have no effect; they may, in-
deed, reach the eyes or the’ ears,
but never will enter the hearts of
those to whom they are addressed.
There are parts of your letter to
which I will not advert, because I
cannot without pain, or without
giving pain.
~ LI have the honour to be, &c. &c.
y _ Redesdale:
‘To the Right Hon.
' The Earl of Fingall, &¢c. §¢.

(No. 4.)
Answer from the Earl of Fingalt.

Aug, 27, 1803.
My lord,

T feel, indeed, much concern, that
any part of the letter [ had the ho-
nour of addressing to your lordship,
should have given you pain. You
need not, Lhope, my lord, amy as.

581
surance that nothing could be more
foreign to my intentions. This I
took the liberty of requesting Mr.
Wickham, whom J had the honour
of seeing this morning, to do me the
favour of mentioning to your lord-
ship on the earliest occasion,
merely stated to your lordship what
my own feelings were, and what I
have always found to be the opinion
of the, catholics.’ I do not appre-
hend, |that, in expressing, any fur-
ther wish of the catholic body,
which it is impossible should not be
entertained, I hinted at any discon-
tents; on the contrary, I did assure,
and do now assure your lordship, we
are now ready to make eyery sacri-
fice, encounter every danger, for
the defence of the king and consti-
tution, and for the preservation of
the peace. Those who are most af-
fected, by any remaining restric-
tions, it is well known have never
excited clamour or tumult, but have
always been foremost in opposing
them. I cannot. attempt to vindi-
cate all those who have at different
times addressed the catholics; but
the late exhortations, I must beg
leave to say, are intended and cal-
culated to inspire sentiments of loy-
alty, obedience, and christian cha-
rity : and they will, I trust, have
that effect. Such have been the in-
structions I have constantly heard
given by the catholic clergy to their
flocks.— Nothing to excite ill-will or
dislike to any person, on account
of his religious belief, but the most
perfect brotherly love and affection
to all. Your lordship will, I hope,
allow me to repeat my regret that
any thing I have written should have
given you pain, or me reason to feel
it, which I should, ina very high
degree, indeed, if J was conscious
of having intentionally advanced any

Pps thing

582

thing that would appear improper
or unreasonable to your lordship.
I have the honour to be, &c.
Fingall,
To the Right Hon.
Lord Redesdale, &c. &c.

APY (No. 5.)
From the Right Hon. the Lord Chan-
cellor to the Earl of Fingall.

Ely-Place Dublin,

My 16rd, Aug. 28, 1803.

The high respect and esteem I bear
for your lordship, whose loyalty
and humanity have been at all times
conspicuous, and the manner in
which your lordship, in the letter
with which I was honoured yester-
day, has expressed your regret, that
any part of your former letter
should have given me pain, com-
pel me again to trouble your lord-
ship with a few words. ‘The pain
I felt arose from an apprehension,
that I could not hope for such a
change in the sentiments of those of
the people of Ireland, who adhere
to the see of Rome, towards those
who refuse obedience to it, as might
lead to their living together in
peace. In some parts of Europe,
misfortune appears to have produced
so much of humility, that the per-
sons who have occupied the choice
of that see, have been inclined to
bend towards countries, in which
some of its most important preten-
sions have been rejected ; and in
this state of humiliation, it might
have been hoped that a sense of the
weakness and imperfections of man
might have been so far felt, as to
lead the adherents to that see, in
Jreland, no longer to teach their
followers a doctrine so repugnant
(as it appears to me) to the repose
of mankind, as that to which I had

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

alluded in my letter. I conclude,
from your lordship’s letter to me,
that there is no person amongst the
adherents of the see of Rome, in
Ireland, whose mind, however cul-
tivated, however liberal in other
respects, can be thought to con-
sider any persons as christians, who
refuse obedience to that see. I
conclude, also, that the priests of
that persuasion still teach their
flocks, that all who refuse obedience
are guilty, of a wicked rebellion
against divine authority, which must
produce their eternal damnation in
the next world, and render them
objects of horror and dislike in this,
As long as this doctrine (which,
with all humility 1 say it, appears
to me to be repugnant to every
idea of christian charity, taught by
the Scriptures) shall be preached to
their congregations ; and until those
congregations shall be taught that
protestants of every description, al-
though in their opinion in error on
certain points, are to be considered
as members of the church of Christ,
and their brethren in the faith of
Christ, it seems to me, that there
can be no hope that exhortations
to loyalty and obedience to a pro-
testant government will have- any
effect. Men of education and”pro-
perty may feel loyalty and obe-
dience to such a government to be
proper, or, at least, expedient ;
but preaching to men of the lower
orders, and especially to those with-
out property, loyalty, and obe-
dience, under such circumstances,
cannot be sincere, without supposing
their minds of a refinement of which
they are utterly incapable; and
seems, therefore, to me, to be either
mockery or folly. Perhaps I am
too presumptuous in forming this
opinion, but it seems to me con-

firmed

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

firmed by recent events, and I can-
not otherwise account for the fact
so generally asserted by the priests
of the Romish persuasion, that,
during the late rebellion, their ex-

- hortations to loyalty and obedience

had no effect. I find it also con-
firmed by the circumstances, that
those priests were, I presume, ut-
terly ignorant that those under their
instructions had ever conceived in
their minds the horrid purposes
which they manifested on the 22d of
July, and which persons came from all
parts of Ireland with design to effect.
I have the honour to be,
With much respect,
My lord,
Your lordship’s obedient humble
Servant, Redesdale.
The Earl of Fingall,
Sc. Fe. FC.

(No. 6.)
Answer from the Earl of Fingall.

Great Denmark Street,
My lord, Sept. 4, 1803.

I must beg your lordship will be
kind enough to excuse my not hay-
ing sooner acknowledged the re-
ceipt of the last letter you did me
the honour to address me, which
has been occasioned by my absence
from town for some days past. Ho-
noured as I must feel by your lord-
ship’s correspondence, and the ex-
pressions of personal regard towards
me contained in your letters, Iam
the more anxious to impress your
lordship with that favourable opi-
nion of the persons in this country
who profess the same religious faith
I do myself, which it has been my
endeavour to prove to your lord-
ship they are deserving of. No-
thing but my wish to procure for
them an object so desirable, and

583

my high respect for your lordship,
would have induced me to touch at
all on a discussion of religious sub-
jects: and not having been, I fear,
fortunate enough to satisfy your
lordship’s mind, as to the objec-
tions you make to our religion, I
should be glad, with your lord-
ship’s permission, to state them to
some of our superior clergy, who
would, I am pretty certain, enable
me to convince your lordship, that
our religious doctrine preaches cha-
rity and brotherly love to al/ man«
kind, without distinction of reli-
gion; true and sincere allegiance
to our good king; inviolable at-
tachment to the constitution and
our country; from an honest and
conscientious conviction that such
is the duty of a good subject, and a
good catholic, be the religion of the
monarch what it may. For my
own part, my lord, I cannot at-
tribute the unfortunate situation of
this country to any thing Zonnected
with matters of religious faith ; Ja-
cobinism and French principles and
politics, the want of morality, and
the depraved state of the human
mind, are, I conccive, the sources
of our misfortunes ; religion may
have been made a tool by wicked
and designing people: this has often
happened in every country, and is
easily effected when religious dif-
ferences exist. The distracted and
melancholy state we are in, every
body must lament; how it is to be
mended is a matter for the states-
man; and surely it would be difii-
cult to find an object more worthy

‘of your lordship’s high talents and

abilities.
1 have the honour to be, &c. &c.
Fingall,
To the Right Hon.
Lord Redesdale, §c. &e. &e.

Ppa From

68

ee CNoe 7 ye
From the Right Hon. the Lord Chan-
~ cellor tothe Earl of Fingall.
. Ely Place,
>8MEy lord; Sept. 6, 1803.

I find myself as little qualified as
your lordship represents yourself to
be, to discuss with the persons to
whom you refer me on the points you
mention. I can only say, that the
impression made on the minds of
those of the lower orders, certainly
does not correspond with the doc-
trines which your lordship repre*
sents to be the doctrines of the re-
ligion you profess. I have no doubt
that ‘your lordship heartily and
conscientiously embraces and acts
upon those doctrines—the ‘whole
tenor of your life shews that you
have done so; but the whole tenor
of the conduct of the lower orders
of ‘the people of the Romish persua-
sion shews, that such doctrines are
not effectyally taught to them ; and,
if I am to judge from the writings,
as well as the conduct* of some of
tlie higher orders of the laity as
well as of the clergy, T cannot be-
lieve that they are thoroqughly im-
pressed with the feclings which ap-
péar to guide your lordship’s liberal
and beneficent mind. On the con-
trary, in many instances, it appears
to me, that the conduct of some,
high amongst the priesthood, is cal-
culated to excite in the minds of
those under their care, hatred to

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803:

their protestant fellow-subjects, and
disloyalty to their government. 1
am assured; from’ very high and
very respectable authority, that (at
least in one district) the’ priests
who were instrumental in saving the
lives of ‘the loyalists. in’ the’ late
rebellion, are universally discoun-
tenanced by their superior;* and
that a priest proved to have been
guilty of sanctioning the murderers
in 1798, transported to Botany
Bay, and since pardoned by the
mercy of government, has been
brought back in triumph by the
same superior, to what, in defiance
of the law, he calls ns parish, and
there placed as a martyr, in a man-
ner the most insulting to the feel-
ings of the protestants, to the jus-
tice of the country, and to that
government, to whose lenity he
owes his redemption from the pu-
nishment due to his crimes.
It is strongly reported, that the
successor to Dr. Hussey, (whose
disaffection was so manilest, that,
perhaps, government consulted its
disposition to Jenity much more
than its duty, when it permitted
him to return to Jreland) is’ to be
a man also notoriously disaffected.
If the appointment. is to be made
in the usual manner, at the recom-
mendation of the higher order of
your clergy, I cannot think that
much of loyalty is to be expected
from those who recommended such
aman.+ If the authority of the sce
. of

!

bi Tn the district alluded to, the “ Superior” selected for his vicar-general, (the
highest situation in his power to bestow) aclergyman, who, in the year 1798, had
been happily instrumental in saving the life of a respectable gentleman, by putting

him on his guard against an assassin.

t.The successor to Dr. Hussey is not yet named, and it was impossible that the
noble writer could have accurate information on the subject. The recommendation
to Rome is in the bishops of the province—of whom one is Dr, Moylan, and an-
ether Dr, Coppinger ; both have eminently distinguished themselves by their per-

sonal

of Rome supersedes: the ordinary
recommendation, it. must) be recol-
lected, that that authority is now in
_ the hands of France ; indeed it can-
_ not be. forgotten, that your. whole

priesthood acknowledge obedience

to one who is the vassal of France,
__ who exists as a temporal prince at
least only by the permission of
France, the avowed enemy of the
government, under which we live.
Under such circumstances, it cannot
be believed, that any fonest and
conscientious means have been or
will be taken by the priests of
the Romish persuasion, to make
the lower orders of the peoples
composing their congregations, loyal

of AEP ORS ES 3 :

ment of this country.
I have the honour to be, with
the sincerest respect and esteem,
My lord,
Your lordship’s most obedient,
And humble servant,
Redesdale.*

To the Earl of Fingal,
Gt. Ge.

Important Considerations for the
People of this Kingdom.

At a moment when we are enter-
ing on a scene deeply interesting,
not only to this nation, but te the
whole civilized world ; at a moment
when we all, without distinction of
rank or degree, are called upon to
rally round, and to range ourselves
beneath the banners of that sove-
reign, under whose long, mild, and

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

subjects of the protestant govern-

535

fostering reign, the far greater part
of us, capable of bearing arms, haye
been born and, reared up to man-
hood; at a moment, when we are,
by his truly, royal and paternal ex-
ample, incited te make every sacri-
fice and every exertion ina war, the
event of which is to decide, whether
we are still to enjoy, and bequeath
to our children, the possessions, the
comforts, the liberties, and. the na~
tional honours, handed down to us
from generation to generation, by
our gallant forefathers ; or whether
we are, at once, to fall from this fa-
voured and honourable station, and
to become the miserable crouching
slaves, the hewers of wood, and the
drawers of water, of those very
Frenchmen, whom the valour of our
fleets and armies have hitherto taught
us to despise; at such a moment, it
behoves us, calmly, and without dis-
may, tO examine our situation, to
consider what are the grounds of
the awful contest in which we are
engaged ; what are the wishes, the
designs, and the pretensions of our
enemies ; what would be the conse-
quences, if those enemies were to
triumph over us; what are our means,
and what ought to be. our motives,
not only for frustrating their; mali-
cious, intentions, but for infiiéting
just and memorable chastisement on
their insolent and guilty heads.

The grounds of the war are, by
no means, as our enemies pretend,
to be sought for in a desire enters
tained by his majesty to keep the
island of Malta, contrary to the
treaty of peace, or to leave unful-

° filled

sonal attachment to the British government, and by their pathetic and nervous ex-
hortations addressed to their clergy, for the purposes of exciting and maintaining
loyalty and good conduct in their respective districts.

__ + * This letter was not answered. But, after some interval, the correspondence
recommenced, and four letters were interchanged; but, as the latter have not
got into circulation, the same motives do not exist for their publication, as for that
:

series now laid before the public.

586
filled any other part of his sacred
engagements: they are to be sought
for in the ambition of the consul of
France, and in his implacable hatred
of Britain, because, in the power
and valour of Britain alone, he finds
a check to that ambition, which
aims at nothing short of the con-
quest of the world. Ifis majesty,
ever anxious to procure for his peo-
ple prosperity and ease, eagerly
seized the first opportunity that of-
fered itself for the restoration of
peace ; but not without remember-
ing, at the same time, that their
safety, for which it was his peculiar
duty to provide, was not to be sa-
crified to any other consideration.—
This peace he concluded with the
most sincere desire that it might be
durable, and that the conduct of
France would be such as to autho-
rize him to execute, with scrupulous
punctuality, every one of the stipu-
Jations of the treaty: but scarcely
was that compact concluded, when
the first consul, at the very time that
his majesty was surrendering to
France and Holland, the great and
numerous conquests he had made
from them during the war, began a
new sort of hostility upon the weak
and defenceless states on the conti-
nent of Europe : Piedmont, a coun-
try equal-to all Scotland, was added
to France; Holland, which had, at
the making of the peace, been re-
cognized as an independent nation,
became, more than ever, the object
of French rapacity and despotism ;
was compelled to furnish ships and
stores for French expeditions, and
to feed and clothe French armies ;
the only use of which was, to keep
her in a state of slavish subjection,
and to render her shores an object of
serious alarm and real danger to
Great Britain ; Switzerland was in-

ANNUAL REGISTER, - 1803.

vaded by a French army, which
compelled the people of that once
free and happy country to submit
to a government framed at Paris ;
the members of which government
were chiefly composed of men, who
had betrayed the liberties of their
country, and who were nominated
by the consul himself. Notwith-
standing, however, all these and
several other acts of aggression and
tyranny, some of which were highly
injurious to Great Britain, and were
shameful violations of the treaty of
peace, still his majesty earnestly en-
deavoured to avoid a recurrence to
arms; but the consul, emboldened
by our forbearance, and imputing to
a dread of his power, that which he
ought to have imputed solely to our
desire to live at peace, manifested
his perfidious intentions, again to
take possession of Egypt, whence
we had driven him in’ disgrace ;
again to open a road to our posses-
sions in India, there to destroy one
of the principal sources of our
wealth and our greatness. _

Not contented with thus prepar-
ing for our destruction from with~-
out, endeavouring to cut off our in-
tercourse with the rest of the
world, shutting, as far as he was
able, all the ports of other countries
against us ; gradually destroying our
navigation, commerce, and trade ;
hemming us up in our own island,
and exposing our manufacturers,
artizans, and labourers to the danger
of starving for want of employment ;
not contented with these malignant
endeavours, and seeming to regard
us as already within his grasp, he
audaciously interfered in the ma-
nagement of our domestic concerns ;
required us to violate our laws, by
banishing those subjects of the
French monarch, who had fled hither

for

.

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

for shelter from his unjust and ty-
rannical government ; demanded of

us the suppression of the liberty of
speech, and of the press ; and, ina
word, clearly demonstrated his reso-

Jution not to leave us a moment’s
tranquillity, till we had surrendered
our constitution, till we had laid all
our liberties at his feet, and till,

_ like the Dutch, the Italians, and the
Swiss, we had submitted to be go-
_ verned by the decrees sent us from
_ France.

Besides the motives of ambition,

_ the desire to domineer over, and to
_ trample upon, all the rest of man-
_ kind, the first consul has a reason,

peculiar to himself, for wishing to

reduce us to a state of poverty,

weakness, submission, and silence:
which reason will be at once eyvi-

dent, when we consider the origin of
his authority and the nature of his
government. u
_ through a long course of-perfidious
_and bloody deeds, im usurping the

Having’ succeeded

throne of his Jawful sovereign ; hay-
ing, under the nawe of equality,

established, in his own person and

family, a government the most pom-
pous and expensive, while the peo-
ple are pining with hunger, and in
rags; having, with the word déberty
continually on his lips, erected a
despotism the most oppressive, the
most capricious, and the most cruel
that the Almighty, in his wrath, ever
suffered to exist; having, by such
Ineans, Obtained such an end, he
feared, that while there remained
upon the earth, and especially with-

in a few leagues of France, a people

enjoying, under a mild and legiti-

mate sovereign, all the blessings of

freedom ; while there remained such

a people, .so situated, he dreaded,

and not without reason, that their

sentiments and their example would,
1 :

587

by degrees, penetrate through his
forests of bayonets, his myriads of
spies, and would, first or last, shake
the foundation of his ill-gotten
power. He could not, indeed, im-
pute, either to our sovereign or to
his subjects, any design, much less
any attempt, to disturb him in the
exercise of his usurped authority.—
We never have interfered, nor have
we ever shewn any desire to inter-
fere, in the concerns of the consul
or his pretended republic; and his
majesty, even after all the acts of
provocation, al! the injuries and in-
sults committed against himself and
his people, has now solemnly re-
newed his declaration, that his ob-
ject is not to destroy or change any
thing in the internal state of other
countries, but solely to preserve, in
his own dominions, every thing dear
to himself and his subjects.

This, however, is not sufficient to
satisfy the consul of France; it is
not sufficient that we abstam, both
by actions and by words, from ex-
citing discontent amongst those who
have the misfortune to be subjected
to his sway; we must not afford
them an example, we must not re-
main free, lest they should learn
Jessons of freedom ; we must destroy
our ancient and venerable mo-
narchy, lest they should sigh for a
lawful and merciful king ; we must
not be happy,'lest they should covet
happiness ; we must not speak, lest
our voice should disturb the peace of
Bonaparte ; we must not breathe,
we must cease to exist, because our
existence gives umbrage to a man
who from the walls of Acre fled, in
shame and disgrace, before a hand.
ful of Britons.

Such being the grounds of the
war, such the wishes and designs,
such the preposterous and insolent

pretensions

588
pretensions of the enemy, it next
behoves us to consider, what will be
the consequence to ourselves, what
will be our wretched lot, if that ene-
my should succeed in the inyasion:
and subjugation of our country.—
Of what the French would, in such
a case, do here, we may ferm some
judgment, from what they have done
in all those countries, where the re-
missness of the government,-together
with the pusillanimity of the people,
have given them the predominance.
There is no country, into which
they have been able to enter, where
their footsteps have not been marked
with blood ; where they have spared
either high or low, rich or poor, sex
or age; where terror has not been
their forerunner, and where desola-
tion and misery have not marched in
their rear. In the long and black
catalogue of French cruelties to-
wards’ the people of other countries,
those of the first consul, and of the
generals and soldiers immediately
under his command, first present
themselves to our attention. In
1796, Bonaparte, at the head of a
numerous French army, invaded
Italy, declaring to the people, that
he came as their friend and their bro-
ther, to deliver them from taxes and
slavery, and promising them safety
for their persons, security for their
property, respect for their laws, and
reverence for their religions They
listened, they believed ; they threw
open their gates, they laid down
their arms, they received the Gallic
serpent to their bosom ; ‘and fatal,
indeed, were the effects of their cre-
dulity.. His reverence for their re-
ligion he displayed, by giving up alt
their places of worship to indiscri-
minate plunder, and by defiling them
with every species ef sacrilege ; his
respect for their laws’ was_ evinced,’
eet ionos A

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1863.

_ hot only by the abrogation of these

laws, but by the arbitrary enforces
merit of an unconditional sibniission
to the mandates’ of himself and his
generals ; the security which he pro-
mised to their property was exhi-
bited in enormous contributions, in
the seizure of all the public funds,

as well as those of every charitable 9

foundation, not excepting schools,
hospitals, or any other resource for
the support of the poor, the aged,
and the helpless ; and, as to the per-
sons of the unfortunate people, he
provided for their safety, by laying
the whole country under the se-
verest military execution ; by giving
up the towns and villages to fire and
sword, and by exposing the imhabi-
tants to be pillaged and murdered by
his rapacious and inhuman soldiers,
whom he authorised and even orders
ed to shoot every manghat attempt-
ed to resist them, whatever niight be
the crimes in which they were en-
gaged.

On his return from Italy, which
he left in a state of beggary and irre-
trievable ruin, he prepared for the.
invasion of Egypt, a country which
was at peace with France, and
against the people, or the governs
ment of which, France had no cause
of complaint; but the conquest of
this country was necessary, in order
to open a road to the Indian pos+
sessions of Great Britain. In pur-
suit of this object, Bonaparte invaded
Egypt, where he repeated his pros
mises to respect religion, property,
and persons, and where, the more
effectually to disguise his purposes,
he issued a proclamation, declaring
himself and his army to be true .
Mahometans ; and boasting of hav-.
ing made war upon the christians,
and destroyed their religion. One
of his first deeds, after this act of

apostacy,

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

ostacy, was to massacre almost

all the inhabitants of the populous
city of Alexandria. ‘‘ The people,”
says one of his generals, ‘* betake
themselves to their prophet, and fill

_ their mosques ; but men and women,
old and young, and even babes at
the breast, all are massacred !”—
Some time after this sanguinary
transaction, Bonaparte, haying made
‘Prisoners of three thousand eight
hundred Turks, in the fortress of
_ Jaffa, and wishing to relieve himself
_ from the trouble and expence of
_ guarding and supporting them, or-
_ dered them to be marched to an
_ open. place, where part of his army
fired on them with musguetry and.
_ grape-Shot, stabbing and cutting to
_ death the few who escaped the fire,
_ while he himself looked on, and re-
_joiced at the horrid scene. Nor
- were his cruelties, while in Egypt,
confined to those whom he called his
enetnies ; for finding his hespitals at
Jaffa crowded with sick soldiers,
and desiring to disencumber himself
_of them, he ordered one of his phy-
sicians to detroy them by poison.—
_ The physician refused to obey ; but
an apothecary was found willing to
th perpetrate the deed: opium was
mixed with the food; and thus. five
hundred and eighty Frenchmen pe-
rished by the order of the general,
under whose banners they had
fonght ; by the order of that very
man, to whose despotic sway the
whole French nation now patiently
submits! Let them so submit, but
Jet us not think of such shameful,
_ Such degrading submission. Let us
_ recollect that this impious and fero-
cious invader was stopped in his ca-
reer of rapine and blood, by a mere
handful of Britons; and was finally
_ induced to desert his troops, and to
flee from the Jand he had invaded, at

6S ine i ae

+E “ost

te

589
the approach of that gallant British
army, by which Egypt was delivered
from the most odious and most de-
structive of all its plagues. This it
is for us to recollect ; and so recol«
lecting, shame and disgrace upon our
heads, if we do not resist, if we do
not overcome, if we do not chastise
this rapacious, this bloody-minded
tyrant, who has now marked out
our country for subjugation, our
fields for deyastation, our houses for
pillage: and who, in the insolence
of his ambition, has held us forth in
the world, as a meek, a feeble, and
cowardly race, destined to grace his
triumphal car, and to augment the
number of his slayes.

Not, however, to the deeds of
Buonaparte alone, must our recol-
lection be confined. Not only
Italy and Egypt, but Holland,
Switzerland, and Germany, and,
indeed, almost every country in
Europe have been the scenes of
French rapine, insult, and cruelty.
Holland, formerly the seat of free-
dom, commerce, industry, and af.
fluence, presents at this moment,
the sad spectacle of a country di-
vided against itself, torn to pieces
by factions, contending not for the
suffrages of the people, but for the
favour of France; a country go=
verned by the haughty mandates of
aforeign power; awed by foreign
arms; holding the remains of its
wealth, together with the residue of
its military and naval means, in con-
stant readiness to. be disposed of
in the service of another nation, and,
that nation its ancient and impla-
cable enemy, and now its inexorable
oppressor. When the French are
mies entered the territories of Hol-
land, their motto was, ‘+ War to the
palace, but peace to the collage.”
They came to deliyer the people
from

590

from their rulers, and from the bur-
thens which those rulers imposed.
The Dutch, like the Italians, lent
an ear to these artful and perfidious
declarations, believing that their cot-
tages would be spared, and ‘careless
of the fate of the palace. But, alas!
they soon found, that the French
rapacity, like the hail and the thun-
der, fell alike on the thatched roof,
and the gilded dome. ‘The palaces
once seized on, the cottages soon
followed ; while all those who were
found in the intermediate space, the
merchant, the manufacturer, the
farmer, and the tradesman, were
sunk in one common ruin ; happy,
if, by the loss of their property,
they had the good fortune to pre-
serve their lives, Bonaparte is, in-
deed, now, not only the sovereign
of the country, not only does he ex-
ercise the powers of dominion, but
he is, as to every practical effect,
tie master and the owner of all the
property, and of all the péople in
Holland. These miserable beings
possess nothing of their own; they
can acquire nothing with the hopes
of enjoying or bequeathing it; they
can make no provision for the weak.
ness of disease, the feebleness of old
age, or the helplessness of infancy ;
they are the mere political drudges
of a hard-hearted tyrant, who suf-
fers them to live, only while their
labours administer to his projects of
ambition, and who, when his pur-
poses demands it, puts an end at
once to their toils, and their exist-
ence,

In Switzerland, where high rank
and great riches were unknown,
where men were nearer upon an
equality than in any other country
in the world; in a country having
no commerce, scarcely any manu-
factures, and possessing few of the

ANNUAL REGISTER, -1803.

sources of wealth and distinction ;\—
a country of shepherds and labour-
ers; a country which might be truly
said to contain a nation of poormen;
in such a country, to cry ** war to
palaces,” seemed useless and absurd.
Yet did the French find a pretext for
war with this poor and harmless
race, and for invading and laying
waste their territory. The Swiss,
from their anxiety to preserve peace,
consented to every sacrifice demand-
ed of them by, France: they expos-
ed themselves to the hostility of other
nations, by sending away the ambas-
sadors of those nations; they broke
off their connexion with some of
their most powerful allies ; they ba-
nished the loyal subjects of their an-
cient protector the king of France,
men whom the ties of gratitude and
the Jaws of hospitality bound them
to cherish ; and when they had thus
exhausted the source of concession,
when they could grant no more, be-
cause France could find nothing
more to demand ; when they had
hwnbled themselves in the dust, and
degraded the character of their coun-
try in the eyes of all Europe; when
they had thus done and thus suffer-
ed, rather than see their country the
scene of war, then did the French
invade their territory; then did
these restless disturbers of the world
march an army into the heart of
Switzerland, in order to compel the
people to change the nature and
form of their government, and to
commit it to the hands of traitors,
who had been chosen by France,
and by the assistance of whose trea-
chery the French invasion had been,
effected.

After haying, by means of an
armistice, joined to the most solemn
promise of respect for persons and
property, lulled the people into a

state

>»
-
-

AY

hy

=

i:
?

4

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

state of imaginary security, the ar-
mistice was broken, and the French
pushed on their forces, when those
of the Swiss were dispersed. Resist-
ance on the part of the latter, whose
numbers did not amount to a tenth
of those of their flagitious’ ene-
my, now became hopeless: and
though the little army was brave,
though the people were faithful and
active, though the Jast battle was
long, obstinate, and bloody; though
the Swiss achieved wonders, and
though the women fought by the
sides of their husbands, inciting
them to victory or death, all was in
vain; hundreds and thousands pe-
rished by the sabres of the French,
and while the earth was strewed with
their dead bodies, and while the
flames ascended from the once happy
dwellings of this valiant and innocent
people, the hard-earned and long-
preserved liberties of Switzerland
expired.
Germany, which closes this awful

_ Jesson, was invaded by the French
_ in 1796 and 1798.

There invasions
were attended with crimes too atro-
cious to be credited, were they not

proved by indisputable evidence, and

_ did they not accord with the general

practice of the inhuman wretches by

whom they were committed. In
adverting to these detestable acts of
oppression and cruelty, we must

_ recollect, that they were perpetrated
upon a people, who had made no
_ resistance of any sort against the in-
_ vaders, and who in every instance
_ had entered into an agreement with
_ the French generals, to pay them

great sums of money, in order to
preserve their country from plunder.

_ In consequence of the ransom thus

wrung from the people, the inya-
ders declared, by public proclama-
tion, that the persons and property

59)

of the inhabitants should be strictly
respected; and that their rights,
usages, laws, and religion, should
remain inviolate and undisturbed.
On these assurances, thus solemnly
made, the credulous people all im-
plicitly relied; while some of the
poorer classes regarded the French,
not as enemies, but as their deli-
verer from taxes and labour. No
sooner, however, had the invasion
taken place, no sooner had the
French become masters of the coun-
try, than they spread themselves
over it like beasts of prey, devour-
ing and destroying every thing be-
fore them. They spared neither ci-
ties nor towns, neither villages nor
hamlets, nor solitary houses; from
the church to the cell, from the cas-
tle to the cottage; no state of life,
however lofty or however humble,
escaped their rapacious assaults ; no
sanctity excited their veneration ;
no grandeur their respect; no mi-
sery their forbearance or their pity.
After having plundered the houses
of the gentry, the clergy, and the
tradesmen; after haying pillaged the
shops, warehouses, and manufacte-
ries, they proceeded to the farm-
houses and cottages; they rifled
the pockets and chests of the inha-
bitants, cut open their beds, tore
up the floors of their rooms, dug
up their cellars, searched the newly
made graves, and broke open the
coffins in hopes ‘of finding secreted
money. They sometimes threatened
people with immediate death, some-
times put them to the torture, some-
times lacerated and crippled them,
in order to wring from them a dis-
covery of their little pittance of
ready money. ‘The deepest and
most apparent poverty was no pro-
tection against their rapacity ; grey
hairs and lisping infancy ; the sick,

the

£92

the dying, women in child-bed, were
alike exposed to the most inhuman
treatment ; dragged from their beds,
Kicked, wounded, and frequently
Killed, under pretence that they
were the keepers of concealed trea-
sure. The teams anddlocks, cattle
of every kind, the marauders drove
off, cut to pieces onthe spot, or
left in a state of mutilation ; corn,
hay, and straw, they wasted or
burnt; they demolished the house-
hold furniture, destroyed the uten-
sils af the dairies, the barns, and
the stables; tore down thie gates,
fevelled the fences, In many places
they stripped the cloaths from the
backs of the people, set their liquor
flowing in the cellar, burnt their
provisions to ashes. The churches,
whether Romish or Protestant, they
rendered a. scene of indiscriminate
robbery, of sacrilege, and blasphe-
my, too shocking to describe. To-
wards womenof all ages and al! con-
ditions, they were guilty of bruta-
lity never before heard of: neither
extreme youth nor extreme age ;
neither weakness nor deformity ;
nor the most loathsome disease ;
neither the pangs of labour, nor the
agonies of death, could restrain
them; shrieks, tears, supplications
were of no ayail; and where fathers,
husbands, or brothers. interfered,
murder seldom failed to close the
horrible scene. To spread naked-
ness and hunger, to introduce mi-
sery and disease amongst all ranks,
seems to. have been their uniform
desire ; but the lower orders of the
people, the artisans and the labour-
ers, were the objects of their direct
malignity : against them was direct-
ed. the sharpest bayonet; for their
bodies the choicest torment; for
their minds the keenest anguish was
reserved; from one end of the coun.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

try to the other, we trace the mer-
ciless ruffians through a scene of
conflagration and blood; frequent~
ly we see them butchering whole
families, and retiring by the light
of their blazing habitations; but
amongst the poor alone, do we
find them deferring the murder of
the parents for the purpose of com-
pelling them to hear their children
shriek amidst the flames !
Such are the’ barbarities which-
have been inflicted on other nations.
The recollection of them. will never
be effaced ; the melancholy, story
will be handed down from genera-
tion to generation, to the everlast-
ing infamy of the republicans of
France ; and as an awful warning
to all those nations whom they may
hereafter attempt to invade. We
are one of those nations; we are the
peeple whom they are now prepar-
ing to invade: awful, | indeed, is
the warning, and, if we despise it,
tremendous will be the judgment.
The same generals, the same commis
saries, the same oflicers, the same sol-
diers, the very same rapacious and
sanguinary host, that now hold
Holland and Switzerland in chains,
that desolated Egypt, Italy, and
Germany, are, at this moment,
preparing to make England, Ireland,
and Scotland, the scenes of their
atrocities. For some time past,
they have had little opportunity to
plunder: peace, for a while, sus.
pended their devastations, and now,
like gaunt and hungry wolves, they
are looking towards the rich pas-
tures of Britain: already we hear
their threatening howl; and if, like
sheep, we stand bleating for mercy,
neither. our innocence nor our timi-
dity will save us from being torn to
pieces and devoured. The robbe- |

. Bies, the barbarities, the brutalities ©

they

ae er

« <a

their armies or their fleets.

expect at their hands?

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

- they have committed in other coun-

tries, though, at the thought of
them, the heart sinks, and the blood
runs cold, will be mere trifles; to
what they will commit here, if we
suffer them to triumph over us. The
Swiss and the Suabians were never
objects of their envy ; they were
never the rivals of Frenchmen, either
on the land or on thesea; they had
never disconcerted or checked their
ambitious projects, never humbled
their pride, never defeated either
We
have been, and we have done all
this: they have long entertained
against us a hatred engendered by
the mixture of envy and of fear ; and
they are now about to make a great
and desperate effort to gratify this
furious, this unquenchable, — this
deadly hatred. What then, can we
What but
torments even surpassing those
which they have inflicted on other
nations. ‘They remained but three
months in Germany; here they
would remain for ever; there, their
extortions and their atrocities were,
for want of time, confined to a part
of the people; here they would be
universal ; no sort, no part, no par-
ticle of property would remain un-
seized; no man, woman, or child
would escape violence of some kind
or other. Such of our manufacto-
ries as are moveable, they would
transport to France, together with
the most ingenious of the manufac-
turers, whose wives and children
would be left to starve. Our ships
would follow the same course, with
all the commerce and commercial
means of the kingdom. Having
stripped us of every thing, even to
the stoutest of our sons, and the most
beautiful of our daughters, over all
that remained they would establish
Vor. XLV.

593

and exercise a tyranny, such as the
world never before witnessed. All
the estates, al] the farms, all’ the
mines, all the land and the houses,
all the shops and magazines, all the
remaining manufactories, and alk
the workshops of every kind and
description, * from the greatest to
the smallest ; all these they would
bring over Frenchmen to possess,
making us their servants and their
labourers. ‘To prevent us from
uniting and rising against them, they
would crowd every town and village
with their brutal soldiers, who
would devour aJl the best part of
the produce of the earth, leaving
us not half a suiliciency of bread,
They would, besides, introduce
their own bloody laws, with addi-
tional severities : they would divide
us into separate classes ; hem us up
in districts; cut off all communica-
tion between friends and. relations,
parents and children: which latter
they would breed up in their own,
blasphemous principles ; they would
affix badges upon us, mark us in the
cheek, shave our heads, split our ears,
or clothe us in the habits of slaves !—
And, shall we submit to misery and
degradation like this, rather than
encounter the expences of war: ra-
ther than meet the honourable dan-
gers of military combat ; rather than
make a generous use of the means
which Providence has so bounteously
placed in our hands? The sun, in
his whole course round the globe,
shines not on a spot so blessed as

this great, and now united king-

dom. Gay and produétive fields and
gardens, lofty and extensive woods,
innumerable flocks and herds, rich
and inexhaustible mines, a mild and
wholesome climate, giving health,
activity, and vigour to fourteen mil-
lions of people; and shall we, who

Qq are

594

are thus favoured and endowed ;
shall we, who are abundantly sup-
plied with iron and steel, powder
and lead; shall we, who have a fleet
superior to the maritime force of all
the world, and who are able to bring
two millions of fighting men into
the field; shall we yield up this
dear and happy land, together with
all the liberties and honours, to
preserve which, our fathers so often
dyed the land and sea with their
blood ; shall we, thus, at once, dis-
honour their graves, and stamp dis-
grace and infamy on the brows of
our children; and shall we too,
make this base and dastardly sur-
render to an enemy, whom, within
these twelve years, our countrymen
have defeated in every quarter of
the world! No; we are not so mi-
serably” fallen; we cannot, in so
short a space of time, have become
so detestably degenerate: we have
the strength and the will to repel the
hostility, to chastise the insolence of
the foe. Mighty, indeed, must be
our efforts, but mighty also is the
meed. Singly engaged against the
tyrants of the earth, Britain now
attracts the eyes and the hearts of
mankind; groaning nations look to
her for deliverance ; justice, liberty,
and religion, are inscribed on her
banners; her success will be hailed
with the shouts of the universe,
while tears of admiration and grati-
tude will bedew the heads of her
,sons, who fall in the glorious con-
test*,

Trial of Colonel Marcus Despard.

The commission appointed to try
col. Despard, was opened before

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

lord chief justice Ellenborough, Mr.
justice Le Blanc, Mr. justice Cham.
bré, and Mr. Garon Thompson. The
grand jury being sworn, lord Ellen-
borough addressed and informed
them that they were assembled for
the purpose of entering upon trials
for high treason and misprision of
treason. He said that the statute of
the 36th of the present reign parti-
cularly applied to the case about to
be considered : it provides, with pe-
culiar care, for the safety of his
majesty’s person. A statute of the
37th of the present king was enacted
to punish the seduéiion of any of his
majesty’s forces from theirallegiance,
or their incitement to rebellious mect-
ings: and another statute, of thesame
year, to prohibit the administering
of unlawful oaths. ‘The law had
guarded, with the most zealous anx-
iety, against every attempt to in-
jure the person of his majesty, and,
therefore, the operations of the
mind, the secret workings of male-
volence, which indicate a disposi-
tion hostile to the existence of the
king, is, by law, equally regarded
with the perpetration of the crime,
and any attempt to subject the king’s,
person to restraint, or to depose
him from his authority, implied the
most flagitious purpose of treason,
and also that any consultation, a-
greement, or resolution, to effect
this design, although nothing was
actually done, was yet demonstra-
tive of treasonable intentions.

The bill of indiétment being found,
on Feb. 5, col. Despard was brought
to the bar and arraigned. The indict-
ment consisted of three counts, set-
ting forth eight distinct and separate
overt acts,

The first stated, that the prisoner

and

* This admirable Philippic was published July, 1803, and s2nt round to the
officiating minister of every parish in England.

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

gad others conspired to seduce’ se-
veral soldiers, tor the purpose of
‘subverting the government, and with
intent to destroy the king.

The second set forth the adminis-
tration of ilicgal oaths, in order ta
bind certain persons to effect the
aforesaid purpose.

The third charged the possession
of printed forms of an oath, binding
the conspirators nat to give evidence
of each other.

The fourth charged the adminis-
tration of the said oath to ‘Thomas
Blades, &c.

The fifth eharged the prisoners
with meeting to concert on a plan
to assassinate the king, &c.

The sixth charged them with a
conspiracy to seize on the bank, the
tower, &c.

The seventh charged the prisoners
with meeting, the better to effect the
murder of the king.

The eighth and last, charged them,
generally, with the intent of shooting
the king on the day he should meet
his parliament, &c. &c.

On Monday, Feb. 7, 1803, the
court met, and proceeded to try E.
M. Despard. The attorney-gene-
ral addressed them, observing, that
there were three counts in the in-
dictment, charging the different acts
to have been done with three several
intentions :—that the prisoner, in
conjunction with others, had estab-
lished a society professedly for the
extension of liberty, had frequently
attempted to seduce soldiers into the
association, and that he had printed

_ gopies of an oath to be administer-

ed to their proselytes, and had
formed a plan to destroy his majes-
ty on the 16th of. November: to
prove which, he called the following
witnesses.

Ist. John Stafford.—He, together

595

with a number of police officers,
went, on the 16th November, to the
Oakley Arms, Lambeth, where they
found col. Despard and several
others. On the floor of the room in
which they were, three printed pa-
pers were found—they were as
follow:

‘© Constitution! The indepen-
dence of Great Britain and Ire.
land—an equalization of civil, poli-
tical and religious rights—an ample
provision for the wives of the HE-
rors who shall fall in the contest-—
a liberal reward for distinguished
merits. These are the objects for
which we contend ; and to obtain
these objects, we swear to be united
in the awful presence of Almighty
God!”

Form of the Oath.

** J, A. B. do voluntarily declare,
that I will endeavour, to the ut-
most of my power, to obtain the
objects of this union, namely, to
recover those rights which the Su-
preme Being, in his infinite bounty,
has given to all men: that neither
hopes, fears, rewards, nor punish
ments, shall ever induce me to give
any information, direétly, or indi-
rectly, concerning the business, or
of any member of this, or any simi-
lar society. So help me God.”

These faéts other police officers
attested. ‘Thomas Windsor, a pri-
vate in the guards, was called, and
swore, that he received printed pa-
pers from John Francis, who told
him that the object of those con-
cerned with him was to unite in
overturning the present tyrannical
system of government, to unite in
different companies, and to get
arms ; that they met frequently, and,
to avoid deteétion, at different pub-
lic houses. The objeét of the mem-
bers was to unite, to raise subscrip-

Qq2 tions,

596

tions, to pay delegates to go into the
country, and to defray the expence
of printing their affidavits; and their
principal purpose was to overturn the
present. system of government, and
to destroy the royal family. The
persons belonging to these socicties
were to be divided into companies ;
each consisting of ten men, with an
eleventh, who took the command,
and was called captain of the com-
pany of ten. ‘The next order was,
that the oldest captain of five com-
panies, took the command of these
fifty men, and was called the colo-
nel of that sub-division. Encou-
ragements were hed to get as
many recruits as possible, and cards
were to be distributed through the
country for that purposeé.—On the
12th of November, at the Flying
Horse, at Newington, he first met
col. Despard, at which meeting, it
was recommended to the col, to
have a regular organization in Lon-
don ; to which he objected, because
it lay under the eye of government ;
but in the country it was necessary,
and, he believed, general, particular-
ly at Leeds, Shetheld, Birmingham,
and the other great towns, and now
was the moment. He then said
that the attack was to be made upon
the parliament house, and that the
king must be put to death. He
further said, that he had weighed
the matter well, and his heart was
callous. After the destruction of the
king—the mail coaches were to be
stopped, as a signal to the people in
the country, that the revolt had
taken place in town. He then de-
sired Windsor to meet him, in order
to consult about the best manner of
taking the tower, and securing the
arms. He observed to the witness,
that they had been deceived as to
the number of arms in the bank,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

there being only 600 stand there, and
that they had taken out the ham-
mers to nender them useless.

He then privately informed wit-
ness, that the king must be put
to death the day he ~vent to the
house ; and then the people would
be at liberty. He said he would,
himself, make the attack upon his
majesty, if he could get no assist-
ance, on the Middlesex side of the
water,

John Embly, another witness, de-
posed nearly to the same effect, but
more circumstantially. He met col.
Despard at the Flying Horse, who
said, that it seemed the wish of a
great number of people, that an cf-
fort should be made to endeavour to
recover some of their lost liberty ;
that a considerable force, he had
been given to understand, was ready
to act, constituted by great numbers
of the army and great numbers of
the people, particularly in Birming-
ham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield,
and other great towns; and that, in
London, and near it, people were
every where ripe, and anxious for the
moment of attack; that the attack
must not be made in London and
the country on the same day, but
that, by stopping the mail and stage
coaches, it would be a signal to the
country. He clenched his right
hand, and swore that no good
would be done, unless the whole
family were secured, which might
be effected by shooting the fore horses
of the king’s carriage, which must
of course stop, and then seize the king
directly, as he returned from the
parliament house, which he would
do with his own hand. <A subse-
quent plan, was to Joad the great
gun in the park, with four balls
or chain-shots, and fire it at the
coach in which the king return-

ed

+

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

ed from the house. ‘This was the
substance of the evidence for the
crown.

Mr. Serjeant Best, on behalf of
the prisoner, addressed the court,
and acknowledged the enormity of
the crime with which his client was
charged, but contended, that, the
faéts urged were not made out by
clear and satisfactory testimony, and
that the law required, as a proof of
guilt, that the treason should be
made out by printing or writing,
or some oyert act or deed, and that
the evidence of witnesses was not
alone sufficient. In support of this
opinion, he cited an apposite pas-
sage from Montesquieu. He allowed
that co]. Despard had attended the
before-mentioned meetings, and that
it is swgrn that he had spoken ob-
noxious words—but it had not been

proved that he knew it was a trea-
sonable meeting, or that he attend-

edit for treasonable purposes ;— that
there was no testimony to shew that
the prisoner was in any shape con-
nected with the printed cards which
had been distributed, except the
testimony of one witness, who was
acknowledged to be one of the most
infamous men living. He contended,
that the case was totally unlike any
other case which had been decided
since the revolution. He next con-
tended, that it was a most important
rule of evidence, that the case should
be made out by credible witnesses ;

_and being, itself, a most improbable

one, it required the most cogent and
decisive evidence. The case was,
fourteen or fifteen men, at acommon
tap-room, with no fire-arms but
their tobacco-pipes; men of the
Jowest order, without mind or intel-
ligence ; were to seize the king, the
bank, the tower, and the members
of both houses of parliament. Their

597

means were an exchequer of fifteen
shillings and \ sixpence—without a
pike, pistol, or rusty ‘musket. The
tower, defended by a brigade of
guards, was to be taken ; the king’s
person seized, in the midst of his
guards; which ‘last aétion was’ to
be performed by therprisoner him-
self, if the witnessesrwere to be be-
lieved. The witnesses were; ‘he
said, most infamous charatters: one
of them, Windsor, had: once, as a
soldier, taken the oath of allegiance
to his king, and afterwards had
taken another to bind himself in a
conspiracy to destroy him: he again
swore against those whom he had
himself seduced. With respeét to
Francis, he was the most infamous
and incredible of mankind. He
had sworn that, ‘‘ refusing to be a
member of that nefarious society, he
told col. Despard that his principles
were opposite; yet, that, witha rash-
ness and madness incredible, notwith-
standing col. Despard told him all their
plans, persuaded him to join them,
and wondered how he could have
principles so opposite from those of
his brother.” He finally concluded
with a hope, that, for the true in-
terest of the country, the jury
woud, by lenity, endeavour to at-
tach men, rather than by fear.

Lord Nelson, on the part of the
prisoner, bore the most honourable
testimony to his character. ,They
were on the Spanish main together,
in 1799; together in the enemy’s
trenches, and had slept in the same
tent ; that he was a loyal man anda
brave officer.

Sir Alured Clarke gave nearly
the same evidence in favour of col.
Despard. After My. Gurney, the
other counsel for the prisoner, had
spoken at some length, lord Ellen-
borough asked col. Despard if he

Qq3s would

598

would himself add any thing to what
had been said by his counsel, which
he declined: ‘‘ his counsel having ac-
quitted themselves with so much
ability, and so entirely to his satis-
faétion, that he had no wish to say
any thing himself.” .

Mr. solicitor-general, on the part
of the crown, replied. He reviewed
the whole evidence, and insisted that
the words, which were mere loose
arid idle words, although they could
not be treason, yet, if they excited
and stirred up others to commit acts
of treason, then they became trea-
son themselves. ©

Lord Eienborough began to sum
up nearly as follows: ** Gentlemen
of the jury, the evidence, on both
sides, and the arguments of counsel
being concluded, it only now re-
mains for me to discharge my duty.
An irksome duty it certainly is:
but considermg with what minds
you come prepared, for J have ob-
served your deep attention to all
parts of the cause, it will facilitate
my means of doing it. Those
means are, by a faithful detail of the
evidence, and such faithful observa-
tions upon it, as I am dest able to
make. Gentlemen, the prisoner
stands charged with high treason, of
three sorts, not very different in
their nature: Ist. For compassing
the death of the king; next, for
compassing to seize his person; and,
3dly, for conspiring to depose him.
The first of these is treason, by the
statute of Edward III.; the two
Jast, by a recent statute of the pre-
sent reign. Fight distinét overt
acts are stated as evidences of this
intention. It is not necessary to
do more than to state the substance
of them, Gentlemen, the overt
acts are the holding conversation for
effecting those malignant purposes of

}

ANNUAL REGISTER, is03.

the heart. Before I state the evi.
dence of the overt aét, I think fit
to say a word or two on the topics
urged respecting the nature of the
proof. It is said, by the defendant’s
counsel, to consist only of loose
words, the ebullition of an irritated
or crazy mind, it would not be
treason, because it would be too
much to infer such a purpose as the
destruction of the king from words
so spoken. But when words are
spoken at a public meeting, and ad-.
dressed to others, exciting and per-
suading them to that purpose, it
never was doubted by any one Eng-
lish lawyer; it never will be doubt-
ed but that they amount to treason,
Another subjeét, upon which I wish
to say a few words, is, the nature of
evidence by accomplice :—that he is
a competent witness, upon whose
testimony you may found a conclu-
sion, cannot be doubted. If it
were not so, it would be a derelic-
tion of duty in the judges sitting
here, and those who have formerly
sat in courts of justice, not to have
repelled witnesses from the oath,
and have told the jury, that they
were not fit to be credited : but they
are always received, and although
sullied with the contamination of
the crime which they impute to
others, they are credible, though
their testimony must be received
with caution and attention. ‘They
may be confirmed by various cir-
cumstances, by the clearness of their
own narration, or by the narration
of others. They may be confirm-
ed by the coincidence of external
circumstance, and broken in upon
by no one fact of adverse circum-
stance. In the case before us, when
so many scenes are laid, all of which,
if untrue, may be falsified, and it is
falsified in no one instance, if a per-

son

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

,
son so fortified is not to be beliey-

ed, it would form a case by which
conspiracies would always be pro-
teéted, because conspiracies can never
be known but through some who
were participators in the crime.
But the case would be otherwise, as
it regarded some who are not striétly
accomplices. Such, as I take it, is
the case of Windsor. I do not
think, strictly, that he can be called
an accomplice; though, without
question, a’ great degree of blame
attaches to him for his conduct in
repeatedly going to these meetings.
Gentlemen, having made these ob-
servations, that if each evidence is
confirmed, is consistent, is uncon-
tradicted, and more especially con-
firmed from pure sources, it ought
to be credited, I shall now proceed
to detail the evidence itseif. His
lordship here read, verbatim, the

_ whole of the evidence taken through-

out the day. In commenting upon
the form of oath, he observed, that
it appeared, on the face of it, to have
an ulterior purpose, which was to be
carried by the conflict of arms, and
not of reason, or argument, or why
was there a provision to be made
‘ for the families of the heroes who
should fall in the contest?’ and if
Despard was found distributing those
papers, and acting with those ynited
in this bond, it formed stronger in-
diciz of the purposes of his mind.
Having gone through the evidence,
his lordship continued: Gentlemen,
this is the whole of the evidence,
and you have been properly told,
there is no question of law in the
case. It is admitted, that a traito-
rous scheme did exist, but it is de-
nied that it was the prisoner’s. If
it was not his treason, whose was
it? If the witnesses, produced upon
their oath, were not to be believed,

599

it was open to impeach them ;. but
no such thing is done. Then with
respect to accomplices, we find in
the law-books, particularly in the
case of King, Charnock, and ano-
ther, that. the evidence was whelly
that of aecomplices, without half so
many circumstances of corrobora-
tion as are found in this case. The
main circumstance of the case is con-
firmed ; that of treason. Then who
is the traitor? The prisoner is found
in the society of those most unfit for
his rank and situation; no account
is given why he attended these meet-
ings; we find him sitting down and
associating with common soldiers,
and partaking of their ordinary fare.
No other explanation is given of this
but his former character. Happy,
indeed, would it haye been for him,
if he had preserved that character
down io this moment of peril.
Now, Gentlemen, this is the whole
evidence on the one side and on the
other: see how it applies to the
charge. First, with respect to an
overt aét, committed within the
county. It is proved at the Oakley
Arms, and at the Flying Horse ;
that point of law is, therefore, sa-
tisfied. The only remaining consi-
deration is, whether you will he-
lieve the evidence of Blades, Wind-
sor, Emblyn, andFrancis, or@itheror
any of them? If you have any hesita-
tion, you will look at the circum-
stances,—the confirmation. When
he was taken with them, they had
about them the mischievous furni-
ture of their designs; 1 mean the
printed papers.—He was found al-
most in the aét of command, and
they of obedience. ‘* Follow me,
one and all,” was the language he
used. It was.dw.confirmation that
he was at. the Coach and Horses,
in Whitechapel, by Campbell and

Qq4 Dean

600

Dean, two’ soldiers totally uncon
nected with the conspirators, and
indifferent witnesses. ‘Their testi-
mony perfectly agreed with that of
Windsor. If you, therefore, be-
lieve Emblyn and Windsor, there is
an end of the question. You have
also-heard the high chara¢ter given
him by a man, on whom, to pro-
nounce an eulogy, were to waste
words ; -but you are to consider
whether a change has not taken
place since the period he speaks of.
lf you do not believe the witnesses,
then he will stand exempted from
the consequences of the charge im-
puted to him ;
them, as there is no question upon
the law, so here will be none upen
the aét. Gentlemen, you will con-
sider of your verdiét.”’

The jury withdrew for about half
an hour: when they returned, Mr.
Knapp, having called them over by
their respeétive names, to which
they answered—

ile then said—** How say you,
Gentlemen, are you agreed in your
verdict ? Is Marcus Edward Des-
pard guilty of the treason where-
with he stands charged, or not
guilty 2”

The foreman replied,
but we earnestly recommend him to
mercy, on account of his former
good charaéter, and the services he
has rendered his country.”

Lord Ellenborough bowed.

After the verdiét was given, there
‘was a silent pause for a few mo-
ments; after which, the prisoner
was ordered to be taken away, and
the court was adjourned about three
in the morning.

The prisoner, during the whole of
the trial, appeared very composed ;
nor nt he exhibit any marks of

¢ ouilty 5

ANNUAL REGISTER,

but if you do believe ©

Jicio,

1803.

agitation when the Sonia was (res
turned.

The court was seh
crowded, but the speétators behav-
ed, the whole day, with great deco
rum and attention,*

Trial of Jean Peltier, for publishing
in phe: a Periodical Work,

a Libel on Napoleon Bonapar te,

First Consul of the French Res

public. Tried in the Court of

King’s Bench, Westminster; Feb.

21, 1803, before Lord Ellenbo-

rough and a Special Jury.

The information was filed by his
majesty’s attorney-general, ex of-
and stated, ** That peace
existed between N, Bonaparte and
our lord the king; but that M.
Peltier, intending to destroy the
friendship so existing, and to de.
spoil said Napoleon of his consular
dignity, did devise, print, and pub-
lish, in the French language, to the
tenor following,” &c. which words,
translated into English, will be found
in the attorney-general’s speech.

The attorney-general- began by
observing on the degree of curiosity
which had crowded the court with
an extraordinary audience, He
should be very sorry if that cu-
riosity was excited by any view it
was supposed he might take of the
words upon which he had founded
the indictment : nothing of | that
kind was in his intention. He should
go into a dry discussion ; and the
principles to which he should refer
were obvious and simple. After
passing a number of high encomiums
on the counsel for defendant, he

doubted whether it was in the
power of that gentleman (Mr.
Mackintosh )

= Fide C Renee, for the execution and behaviour of the culprit, and “ Cuanacrers”
for some further account of hin, ,

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Mackintosh) to gratify the curio-
sity so visible in the audience. For
the points to be argued were’ no-
thing more than the fact of publi-
cations; and the intention and ten-
dency ofthe same; and if it should
occur to my learned friend, he con-
tinued, from the instruction of his
client, that the legal proceedings of
the first court of justice in this
country shall be made the vehicle
of slander, or means of aggravating
that offence, and giving greater
weight and extension to the libel
1 prosecute,—lI think I should ill
discharge my duty, if [ did not
press it to the consideration of the
court in inflicting that punishment
—that where the proceedings of a
court of justice were made the ve-
hicle of that mischief they were in-
tended to repress, the punishment
inflicted should mark, not only to
France, but to all the nations of
Europe, and to the world, that a
British court of justice will not,
with impunity, allow its proceed-
ings to become the means of such
extended defamation. Gentlemen,
I say so, because from this consi-
deration I am much led to suppose
that even the expectation that has
been excited by my learned friend
will be disappointed. But, to be
sure, the disappointment or grati-
fication of curiosity is no part of
our business; our business is nei-
ther to satisfy nor disappoint cu-
riosity; our business is to satisfy
justice, and to take care, as far as
we can, that the law shall not be
disappointed. And with that view
I am desirous of stating to you,
not only what this present pro-
secution is, but what this prosecu-
tion is not. This is not the prose-
cution of a publication, which may
be laying before the world an his-
1

scenes.

60!

torical narration of events which
may have taken place in a neigh-
bouring country, where those events
may, or may not, be accompanied
with circumstances, with just re-
flections on the conduct and cha-
racters of, the persons w ho. may
have been the actors in the different
This is not a prosecution
meaning to bring to punishment
the author of a narration of his-
torical truth, which should not be
complained of when written in the
spirit of history, though it may give
pain to others—if it be written with
an honest zeal, though even with
some degree of freedom approach-
ing to licentiousness. Nor is it a
prosecution for a piece of flippancy,
of insolence, or impudence, on those
who are the subjects of it, and on
which account it might be treated
with contempt. But it is the case
of a prosecution bringing into no-
tice a publication, which, as it seems
to me, must be considered originally,
and from the first, as a libel and de-
famation—that has defamation for its
sole object, or at least for its best ob-
ject, and its general object. The
farther object of it, I think I shall
satisfy you, is to excite the subjects
of that magistrate whom our coun-
try recognizes, and with whom our
country is at peace, to excite the sub-
jects of that country to rebel against
their chief magistrate, de facto, and
farther to excite them to his assassi-

nation and to his murder.
Gentlemen, that being the gene-
ral object and character, which I
ascribe to- the publication I prose-
cute, I have to state to you, more
particularly, that it is charged by this
prosecution as having been published
with the intention of traducing and
defaming Napoleon Bonaparte; who
is stated, as he is known to be, the
first

602

first consul and chief magistrate of
France; between whom and_ this
country, at the time of the publica-
tion, there was, and continues to
‘be, peace and amity. That it was
published with the intention of
bringing him into hatred and con-
tempt, not only with the subjects
of this country, but with the sub-
jects of his own; and for the pur-
pose of exciting the subjects of that
country to rebel against him, and
to remove him from the situation
of power which he held; and far-
ther, that it was published with
the intention of exciting to his as-
sassination and his death, and like-
wise with the intention of disturb-
ing and interrupting that peace
which exists between that country
and this. With this intention it is
charged to have been published ;
with this tendency it is characterized
as having been published. The of-
fence here charged to have been
committed by the defendant is this,
that his publication is a direct in-
citement and exhortation to the
people of the French republic to
rise up in arms against their first
consul and chief magistrate, to ar-
rest the power from the hands, in
which, de faéto, it is placed, and
to take away the life of the man
who presides over them. Is it pos-
sible we can have any difficulty in
supporting this proposition, that
such a publication is an offence
against the laws of this country ?”

The case of lord George Gordon,
for a libel on the queen of France,
and that of John Vint, for a libel
against the emperor of Russia, are
exactly in point: the defendants
were both found guilty.

Gentlemen, I shall now call your
attention a little more particularly
to the libel itself, which is the sub-

ANNUAL: REG ISTIER,( 1803...

ject of prosecution. | And I ‘do not
think it material to go over all the
circumstances stated in the libel.
My tearned friend, by his opening
of the pleadings, has rendered that
unnecessary. Attending to the na-
ture of it, and of its object. and
general tendency, it is “proper: I
should tell you that there are two
of these compositions, which I charge
as being direct exhortations to the
assassination of Napoleon Bona-
parte himself. They are contained
in the first number of the Ambigu.
The publication. is called T'he Am-
bigu, or atrocious and amusing Va-
ricties. At has on its frontispiece a
sphynx, with a great variety of
Egyptian emblematical figures, the
meaning of which may not be very
easy to discover, or material to en-
quire after. But there is a circum-
stance, that marks this publication,
namely, the head of the sphynx,
with a crown on it. It is a head,
which I cannot pretend to say, ne-
ver having seen Bonaparte himself,
but only from the different pictures
of him, one cannot fail, at the first
blush, to suppose it was intended
as the portrait of the first consul.
Whether it is like him or not, I do
not know, nor is it material. It
is sufficient it was intended to be
so. It is like the pictures, and
the representations which the En-
glish have sold as being likenesses
of Bonaparte, and therefore the
head of the sphynx, in the frontis-
piece, points pretty clearly to the
first consul. It begins, like most
other publications, with a prospec-
tus, and the close of it I shall just
bring to your knowledge. He says,
he will add but one word more,
and that he will so manage all the
materials which he may employ in
the edifice he is about to erect, to

the

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

the glory of Bonaparte ; that he will
fake care they shall be worthy of
the temple.

Now I think, looking at the pic-
ture at the head of the prospectus,
and also taking the close of the
prospectus, there can be no doubt
that the object of this publication
was Bonaparte, and the whole ob-
ject and tendency of it to villify
him in the eyes of Europe and of the
world. Gentlemen, there are two
of these numbers that have been
made the subject of prosecution ;
these are the first and the third.
I shall direct your attention first to
that, which is to be found in the
third number of the Ambigu. That,
gentlemen has for its title, in the
Ambigu itself, the harangue of Le-
pidus against Sylla paredied, and is
addressed to the people of France.
It begins with stating the mildness
of character and probity of the peo-
ple, and expresses an apprehension
that they, from their habits, would
rather wish to live quietly under
despotism than to vindicate their
just rights and liberties, and avenge
themselves on their oppressor. The
sentiments contained in this part of
the publication, lead them directly
to revenge themselves. They are
sentiments that would naturally
lead them to act in their defence.
I shall not read the whole of this
speech, but leave it to my learned
friend to detail. I shall only point
out particular passages, which seem
to me clearly to indicate the inten-
tion of the writer. After having
stated the names of a great num-
ber of old families in l’rance, and
expressed his astonishment that
such persons should have made a
sacrifice of their own liberty, he
goes on to say—‘* They chuse ra-
ther to hurt their fellow-citizens than

608

to reclaim their most sacred rights”,
~—he asks them, ‘* Wherefore have
we fought against Prussia, Austria,
Italy, “England, and the whole of
Germany and Busia, if it be not
to preserve our liberty, and our
properties, and to the end that we
might obey no one, -but the laws
alone? And now this tiger, who
dares to call himself the founder,
or the regenerator of France, en-
joys the fruit of your labours as
spoil taken from the enemy. ‘This
man, sole master in the midst of
those who surround him, has or-
dained lists of proscription, and put
in execution banishment without
sentence, by means of which there
are punishments for the French who
have not yet seen the light. Pro-
scribed families give birth out of
France to children oppressed be-
fore they are born; their misery
has commenced before their life.
His wickedness increases every day:
in spite of the security he enjoys,
he enters into new passions; and,
as to you, far from daring to re-
claim your liberty, the fear of ag-
gravating your slavery freezes you,
and you are subjected to the deepest
terror.”

Having roused their passions by
this address, he says on: ‘¢ You
must act, citizens, you must march,
you must oppose what is passing,
if you wish that he should not seize
upon all that you have. Above all,
no delays, no useless wishes ; reckon
only upon yourselves, unless, in-
deed, you have the stupidity to sup-
pose, that he will wantonly ex-
pose himself to danger by abdicat-
ing, through weariness, or shame of
tyranny, that which he holds by’
force of crimes.”

Gentlemen, we are not consider-
ing what it is he holds. He is de

facto

604

fatlo the chief magistrate, or first
consul of France. He has been re-
cognized by us in that character,
and in that character we made
peace with him. | Is it possible then
that such a publication can be in-
nocent or inoffensive ?

He then goes on to state—‘¢ But
he is advanced to such a point, that
he looks no more towards glory, but
to his own security, and that he
esteems nothing honourable, but
what conduces to the preservation
of hispower. It is thus that he has
organized a company of Mamelukes,
as they are called, composed of
Greeks, Maltese, Arabians, and
Copts; a collection of foreign ban-
ditti, whose name and dress re-
calling the mad and disastrous Egyp-
tian expedition, serve to cover him
with shame; but who, not speak-
ing our language, nor having any
point of contact with the army,
will always be the satellites of the
tyrant, his mutes, his cut throats,
and his hangmen.. 'That tranquillity
then, and that Jeisure adorned with
liberty, which many good men pre-
fer to an honourable resistance,
exist not. I*renchmen, it is at this
moment that you must resolye to
serve or to command, to receive
terror or to inspire it, Are we
not reduced to extremity? What
human institution can stop the ty-
rant ?” ’

He states, that the ‘¢ laws, jus-
tice, the finances, the administra-
tion, the sovereigns of Europe; in
fine, the liberty and the life of the
citizens, are all in the power of
one man. You see, at every mo-
ment, arbitrary arrests, judges pu-
nished for having acquitted citizens,
individuals put to death after having
been already acquitted by a lawful
sentence, and sentences of death ex-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

torted from judges by threats. Re-
mains there for men, who would
deserve that name, any thing else to
do, but to avenge their wrongs, or
to perish with glory ???—And then,
detailing a great number of other
circumstances, which reflect on the
character and credit of the first con-
sul; he concludes with this indig-
nant piece of irony. —** If you
would enjoy peace and concord,
approve ofall the revolutions, and
all the murders that have taken
place in the republic ; sanction the
laws that have been imposed on
you; receive tranquillity with sla-
very, and shew to posterity, by
your example, that a man may
make himself master of the Roman
people, by causing them to spill
their own blood. As for me, if
I have ever sought. to be any thing,
it is in order to defend the liberty,
and the dignity of the people, and
the sacred rights that our fathers
have left us. J have never sought
to make a disgraceful fortune, and
L have preferred the storms of a
liberty, difficult of attainment, to
the deadly tranquillity of slavery.
If you are of my opinion, French-
men, present yourselves ; and after
having invoked the assistance of the
gods, name Camille your consul,
and your chief in the bold enter-
prize of the recovery of your li-
berty.”

Gentlemen, having read_ these
passages to you, let me ask you,
whether I characterize this publica-
tion too strongly, when I describe
it to be not only a gross libel against
the chief magistrate of France, but
a direct exhortation to that coun-
try to rebel against him? That is
the character | ascribe to this pub-
lication.

With regard to the other two

publica~

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

publications, which are contained
in the first number of the Ambigu,
they describe the character of Bo-
naparte himself, and convey a direct
exhortation to assassinate that ge-
neral. The first is an ode, and there
are passages extracted from it. It be-
gins with a description as if all na-
ture were in a storm; or as if the
elements of nature were breaking
loose ; and there is excited in the
author an expectation and hope that
the heavens mean to revenge the
cause of liberty. And there is an
address to the gods of an oppressed
people, and a prayer that they
would ** avenge this august vic-
tim of the audacious attempt, which
on the unhappy days of Brumaire,
the laws in their sanctuary, saw
completed by a soldier,” namely,
the attempt which put him at the
head of the French republic. He
falls back again into despair.—
“¢ Too vain hope of vengeance!
Nations given up to oppression,
have you in your sufferings only
your arms for deliverers? Heaven
is blind or cruel, and when its thun-
der flies, carried by chance upon
the winds, whether it lays waste the
plains, or strikes the arid mountains,
it respects tyrants.”

This reflection is illustrated by
the circumstance of storms and tem-
pests dashing to pieces the vessels of
merchants and navigators, and spar-
ing what it describes as the guilty
ship of that rebel Corsican, sailing
tranquilly through the ocean, and
announcing to the world the fortune
and designs of Cesar.

The defendant, in this publica-
tion, points to that to which I wish
to direct your attention, namely, a
comparison between the state of
Rome and the state of France, when
Cesar was dictator; and when Bo-

605

naparte was consul. It begins with
these words :—** Oh eternal dis-
grace of France! Cesar on the
banks of the Rubicon has against
him, in his quarrel, the senate, Pom-
pey, and Cato, and in the plains
of Pharsalia, if fortune is unequal,
if you must yield to the destinies,
Rome, in this sad reverse, at least,
there remains to avenge you a po-
niard among the last Romans. But
under what vile fetters is our va-
lour fallen! What! The universe
beholds us slaves, without our hay-
ing combated ; in the bosom of a
parricide senate, black treason pre-
sides still fierce at our misfortunes ;
power, without support and with-
out force, falls at its voice, and
it is from a Corsican that the
Frenchman receives his chains. Al-
ready, in his insolent rage, the des-
pot dares to menace, but the foam-
ing wave of the sea breaks itself
against the rock. Is it to give
you a master? Is it to crown a
traitor, that France has punished
her kings? No; guilty ambition
Shall know that there is nothing in-
violable but the rights of the people,
and their laws !”

Now, gentlemen, let me ask any
man of common sense, who looks
at what is represented in this poem ;
let me ask, whether any body can
disguise from himself the object of
the author, in writing this contrast
of Rome and Bonaparte. I would
ask any honest and unprejudiced
mind, whether he could have done
it with any other view, than to point
out to the people of France the
example of assassination and of mur-
der?

The next publication, which is
charged as being libellous, is en-
titled ‘‘ The Wish of a good Pa-
triot on the 14th Day of July.” It

concludes,

606

concludes, as if it were a prayer,
with the emphatical word, ‘¢ Amen.”
This wish concerns the fortunes of
Bonaparte, takes him up from the
first: from being a Corsican, he be-
comes a Frenchman, his new coun-
try adopts him, nourishes him in
the rank of its children, and already
promises him the greatest destinies.
*¢ A storm arises. By the force
of the tempests the state is over-
turned, the most noble persons fall!
every thing is broken. The un-
happy Frenchman regrets, with
sighs, his error and his wishes. Na-
poleon appears.” ‘The author de-
scribes him as flying from one vic-
tory to another in Italy, in Egypt,
and traces him back again to France.
Then he becomes consul, and forces
from their hands the sceptre and the
censer ; and then he describes him
as already seated on the throne, and
wanting nothing to complete his
wishes. He makes and unmakes
Kings, indifferent as to what he does,
provided he is but feared, and pro-
vided he exercises despotic power
over a people degraded even to the
rank of slaves. ‘* Kings are at his
fect begging his favour. He is de-
sired to secure the supreme autho-
rity in his hands. The French, nay,
kings themselves, hasten to congra-
tulate him, and would take the oath
to him like subjects. He is pro-
claimed chief consul for life. As
for me, far from envying his lot,
let him name, I consent to it, his
worthy successor. Carried on the
shield, let him be elected emperor!
Finally (and Romulus recals the
thing to mind) I wish that on the
morrow he may have his apotheosis,
Amen.”’

Now, gentlemen, he says, Romu-
lus suggests that idea. The fate that
is ascribed to him is well known to

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

all of us. According to ancient hiss
tory, he was assassinated. This
publication is entitled, ** The Wish
of a good Patriot on the 14th Day
of July, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and
twa,” and holds out to the people
of France, what it is a good patriot
should do, and how he should act,
by representing to their minds the
fate of Romulus ; and presents that
as an example for their imitation ;
they are to act on that as an exam-
ple. I think you will not be induced
to believe 1 am describing it by an
improper character, when I say it is
the publication of a most infamous,
gross libel, which is disgraceful to
the English press, and contains, at
the same time, an exhortation to the
people of France to rebel against
him, and to assassinate him.
» Gentlemen, if my learned friend
meets me on these points ; and if he,
by any ingenuity, can induce you to
believe this is all historical narra-
tion, that it is only free, legal dis-
cussion, we meet fairly on that plain
issue, which you are to decide be-
tween us, But let me not be told £
am an enemy to the liberty of the.
English press, when I prosecute the
abuse of it, to protect it from igno-
miny and disgrace, and to check its
licentiousness, when applied to such
base purposes as that of instigating
to assassination.

Gentlemen, I shall not. trouble

you with many farther observations.

on the subject. I stated to you, at
first, what I conceived to be the ob-
ject and tendency of this work ; and

now let me put it to you, whether.

you do not think, with me, this is
a crime in this country—whether the
exhortation to assassination, in time
of peace, is not a very high offence?
If it were in time of war, I should

have

~

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

haye no: difficulty in stating, that
there is something so base, so dis-
graceful ; there is something so con-
trary to every thing that belongs to
the, character of an Englishman ;
there is something so immoral in the
idea of assassination, that the exhor-
tation to assassinate this, or any
other chief magistrate, would be a
crime against the honourable feelings
of the English law. What effect,
then, must it have, when, instead of
being at war, we are at peace with
that sovereign.

Do not let any idle declamation on
that denomination impose upon your
minds. Whether the present libel
was directed against a monarch sit-
ting on his throne, from Jong here-
ditary descent, or whether he be a
person raised to this power by the
revolution, from the choice of that

country, or from any other cause,
it makes no difference. He is de
facto the chief magistrate, and is to,

be respected by those who are the.

subjects of that country, who owe a
temporary allegiance to him. He is
to be respected as if his ancestors
had enjoyed the same power for a
number of generations. Perhaps I
may hear of publications in the Mo-
niteur reflecting on our government.
What have we to do with that? I
am standing here, for the honour
of the English law, and of the
English nation. I state this to
be a crime, and as such have
brought it before an English jury ;
and if any other country think
that they can prosper by such pub-
lications as this, let them have
the benefit of it, but do not let us
have the disgrace.

John Gage was called to prove
the publication of L’Ambigu, No. 1
and No. 3; he bought them at
Mr. De Bofle’s, severally, on the

607

16th and 26th August Jast. Mr,
Garrow put in the London Gazette
of April 26, proving the treaty of
peace, and that Bonaparte is consul!
of France. Mr. Mackintosh ad-
mitted these.

Joseph De Boffesworn. He was
informed by Mr. Ferguson that he
need not answer, He is a booksel-
ler ; deals much in French publica~-
tions ; is acquainted with Peltier ;
was employed to sell this work, as
well as other booksellers, for M.
Peltier.

Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Mackin.
tosh told the witness he need not an-
swer any question tending to crimi-
nate himself, upon which the court
observed, the act of selling or pub-
lishing, was suflicient proof; and
that the witness, having suffered
judgment to go by default, was
plainly apprised of his situation.

The witness always understood
M. Peltier to be the author ; he ac-
counted to the defendant for all the
copies sold.

Mr. Mackintosh interposed, upon,
Mr. Garrow putting his questions
in a new shape, so as to draw a
confession of the fact of publica-
tion. Lord Ellenborough said, as
he hath been apprised, I understand
him adyisedly to answer. He is
not under compulsion, but if he
does reply, I must take it. The
office of a judge is to suggest so
much to a witness; and if a judge
were not to remind a witness of that
circumstance, he would negleét his
duty : he has been told before.

Charles Broughton proved - the
translation into English. He read
the words charged as a libel, in
French ; the title in English, was
‘¢ The Ambigu, or amusing and
atrocious varieties ; a Journal of the
Egyptian kind.” The last para-

graph

608
graph of the prospectus he rendered
thus ;—‘* We shall not extend this
prospeétus any farther ; we would
rather promise little, and perform
much, than the contrary. We shall
add only one word, to say, that the
materials which we shall employ for
the construction of the edifice we
are raising to the glory of Bona-
parte, shall be worthy of the temple.”

Lord Ellenberough doubted the
application of the inuendoes ; but
which might be inferred from the
context.

Defence.—Mr. Mackintosh ad-
dressed the jury.—I beg leave, on
the part of the unfortunate gentle-
man who is the defendant, to begin
by making a few remarks on the
speech of my friend the attorney
general. Whatever my talents may
be, in his opinion, I am incapable
of lending them to the passions of
any client, nor will I make this
court subservient to political pur-
poses. Although feeling strongly
the momentous occurrences that
deeply interest the quiet, the liberty,
nay, the safety of mankind, I shail
restrain those feelings with an equal
regard for sincerity and for pru-
dence. But whatever risk there
may be in discussing a subject so
surrounded with invidious topics, I
hold myself exonerated from their
consequences, because unsought for
by me, they being dragged into this
court, and forced upon us by the
prosecutor. Here | find them, and
here it is my duty to deal with them
as the interests of M. Peltier seem
to require. I will not betray his
confidence, nor that zealousness in
his cause which he has a right to
expect.

Gentlemen of the jary, the real
prosecutor in this cause rules the
greatest empire the civilized world

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

ever saw, while my client is a poor
proscribed emigrant: for when the
revolution, which had driven from
France the magistrates, the priests,
and proprietors of land, relaxed in
its severities; many among these
suffering royalists deemed the com-
pliances required of them incom-
patible with their consciences, with
their dearest attachments, and their
most sacred duties. Among these
is M. Peltier. Consider, gentlemen,
that if we ourselves were, by any
unforeseen revolution (I trust and
hope such an event will never hap-
pen) but if such an event were to
place us ina state of dependence and
destitution, in a foreign land, we
should not wish to be judged too
unfavourably. This man, having
from his youth devoted himself to
literary employments, exerted his
talents in the same line here, and
produced a variety of works. After
the peace, he abstained from all se-
rious politics, and contented himself
with the publication of this obscure
journal before you, which, if the
jealousy of power could ever be at
rest, appeared under circumstances
the least calculated to give disquiet.
It could not be read here, for it was
not in the language of the country.
It could not be read in France, for
we do not understand that the police
is supine or negligent in the execu-
tion of the prohibition against the
adinission of periodical papers from
England. Under these circum-
stances, this work was issued, for
the purpose of amusing and con-
soling the fellow-sufferers of M.
Peltier, by occasional rcfleétions on
the factions which divide, and the
disturbances which agitate, the land.
from which they are exiled. It was
intended as a consolation and amuse-
ment to them to whom no consola-
tion

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

4jon flow remains, but in contem-
‘plating the instability of human af-
fairs, and seeing that those by whom
they were expelled were often the
victims of fortune as well as they.
This was the only journal that dared
Still to speak of a family once the
most august in Europe. ‘This court
affords an instance of the instability
of human grandeur in that family ;
and it is not a little remarkable,
that the last instance of a prosecu-
tion by the French government, as
cited by my learned friend, was for
a libel on that princess who has been
since butchered and massacred by her
own subjects. I say this not for the
purpose of disputing the principle
laid down by my learned friend,
that no government recognized by
our sovereign is to be libelled with
impunity. 1 agree with him, that,
in this respect, all governments are

on the same footing, whether they

are governments of yesterday or go-
yernments confirmed by a succession
of ages. I admit, that if lord Cla-
rendon had published some parts of
his history at Paris, in the year
1656 ; if the marquis of Montrose
had published his sonnets there; if
Butler had published his Hudibras ;
Cowley, those works in which he so
ably maintained the cause of his

_ King against usurpers—the president

Du Morlaix would have been bound,

_ on the complaint of the English am-

bassador, to prosecute them for li-

_bels against a government recog-

nized by France. I mention this,
that my client may feel the less re-
pugnance at coming into this his
last asylum upon earth; and it is,
perhaps, owing to his majesty’s mi-
nisters, that he enjoys even this. If
it be so, I owe them my thanks for
their honourable and dignified con-
duct, in refusing to yiolate the hos-
Vou. XLV,

609

pitality due to .an unfortunate
stranger, who now appears in your
presence, as the only place in which
his prosecutor and he can be upon
equal terms. Certainly, circum-
stanced as he is, the most refreshing
prospect which his eye can rest up-
on is an English jury ; and he feels,
With me, gratitude to the Ruler of
empires, that, after the wreck of
every thing else ancient and venera-
ble in Europe—of all established
forms and acknowledged ‘principles
—of all long subsisting laws and sa-
cred institutions—we aré met here,
administering justice after the man-
ner of our forefathers, in this her
ancient sanctuary. Here then par-
ties come to judgment; one, the
master of the greatest empire on the
earth: and the other, a weak, de-
fenceless fugitive, who waves his pri-
vilege of having half his jury com-
posed of foreigners, and puts him-
self with confidence upon a jury en-
tirely English.—Gentlemen, there is
another view in which this case is
highly interesting, important, and
momentous; and, I confess, | am
animated to every exertion that I can
make, not more by a sense of my
duty to my client, than by a persua-
sion that this cause is the first of a
series of contests with the freedom
of the press. My learned friend, E
am sure, will never disgrace his ma-
gistracy, by being instrumental to a
measure so calamitous. But view=
ing this as I do, as the first of a series
of contests between the greatest
power upon earth, and the only
press that is now free, I cannot help
calling upon him and you, to pause
before the great earthquake swallow
up all the freedom that remains
among men; for though no indica~

tion has yet been made of a disposi-«

tion to attack the freedom of the
Rr press

610

press in this country, yet the many
other countries that have been de-
prived of this benefit, must forcibly
impress us with the propriety of
looking vigilantly to ourselyes,—
Tolland, Switzerland, and the impe-
rial towns, participated with us the
benefit of a free press. Holland ang
Switzerland are now no more, an

near fifty of the free imperial towns
of Germany have vanished since the
commencement of this prosecution.
Now that all this is gone, there is no
longer any control but what this
country afiords. Eyery press on
the continent, from Palermo to
Hamburgh, is enslaved ; one place
only remains where the press is free,
protected by our government and
our patriotism. It is an awfully
proud consideration, that venerable
fabric, raised by our ancestors, still
stands unshaken amidst the ruins
that surround us. You are the ad-
vanced guard of liberty: permit me,
therefore, to remind you of some of
the principles on which our ances-
tors acted, with respect to foreign
powers, in cases like the present.
Mr. Mackintosh here stated that the
law was not exactly defined, so as
to ascertain the Jimits that distin-
guished history and fair observation
from libel. It was left to juries to
determine, in every single instance,
by the malicious intention that may
appear in the publication; and this
confidence, so reposed by the legis-
Yature, had never once been abused
since the revolution. It was the
happiness of this country, that the
Jawest individual had a right to dis-
cuss the public measures of his time ;
and though it may, in some in-
stances, be conceived that this was
injurious in times of domestic dissen-
tion, it could not be denied that it
was always beneficial when applied

“ -

~

ANNUAL REGISTER, i803.

to foreign affairs. Here Mr. Mack-
intosh went into the particulars of
M. Petter’s publication, extending
the liberty of historical discussion to
the detail not only of events, but of
the probable causes and conse-
quences of these events. M. Pel-
tier was at liberty to detail the
views of the factions into which the
French republic was divided, and for
this purpose to republish the writ-
ings of these factions. It was even
justifiable in him to expose the prin-
ciples of these factions, by writing in
their spirit, and imputing to them
expressions deducible from their
principles. It was very likely that
Chenier did, in fact, write the ode
given under his name, and in that
case, even though it should be se-,
vere and libellous on Bonaparte,
could it be called a libel in M. Pel-
tier to republish it here? If it was,
why were the English newspapers
suffered every day, for ten years
back, to republish volumes of
abuse and calumny against this
nation and its government in the
French journals, and lately in a
style particularly malignant and
atrocious in the official journal the
Moniteur. No criminality was by
any person supposed to attach to
the newspapers, because there was
no criminal intention in the republi-
cation, which was made only to ex-
cite the detestation and horror ne-
cessarily consequent to such flagi-
tious abuse of our national character
and our. government. Why pass
over the republication of an article
in which a most gallavt officer was
charged with exciting to assassina~
tion ; and why suffer English news-

papers to republish, without the

imputation of a crime, the most in-
famous libels on a prince who had
passed though a reign of forty-three

years,

:

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

years, beloved and respected by his
people, and without a single stain
on his character? On the same
principle that the English newspa-
pers were in all these cases innocent
and unaccused, Peltier was equally
‘innocent in this publication. [f it
was, in fact, only the republication
of the work ot another writer, the
republication was certainly blame-
less ; and if it was even written by
M. Peltier, with a view to givea
dramatic character of the faction,
by putting its principles in their na-
tural language in the mouths of its
leaders, he was equally innocent ;
or if there was any crime, it was a
libel against Chenier or Ginguenet,
to whom the article was imputed,
and not against the first consul. It
was natural to think that a remnant
of the jacobin faction still existed in
France ; it was known that it did
exist, and it was the nature of that

faction to seek a refuge from the

maledictions of those whom it had
formerly oppressed and tortured, in
the resumption of his former power.
The faction was active, and sucha
piece as this might well be among

_ the means it employed.—Mr. Mack-

intosh having, in the course of this
Jast argument, used the word re-
publican in a sense which appeared
to convey some censure, explained :
he did not use the term as meaning
citizens of republican governments,

many of which he respected, and

particularly a new republic of Bri-
tish growth. Neither did he mean
it as any imputation on those whose
political opinions favoured a repub-

_ lican form of government; but asa

just sarcasm on those pretended re-
publicans of France, who used the

name to cover the worst and most
fatal hostilities to freedom.—It was

evident, from the context, thatthe

611

ode in question was not the work of
M. Peltier. It appeared, from the
passage already cited, and of which
a poetical translation had been read,
that it was written by a fanatical
republican, once hostile to England,
now a little corrected in his judg-
ment, but not yet perfectly recon-
ciled. It speaks of the people rest-
ing on the law, resisting and setting
at defiance the exertion of regal
power. ‘This certainly could not be
mentioned with praise by the roy-
alist Peltier. My learned friend,
said Mr. Mackintosh, cannot forget
that Swilt did not mean, by his ar-
cuments in defence of atheism, real
ly to support that doctrine ; but,
on the contrary, by that unrivalled
specimen of irony, to ridicule and
shame all such unprincipled tenets.
Such were the motives of Butler for
putting such odious sentiments in
the mouths of Hudibras and his
Squire: and such were Peltier’s for
putting such sentiments, as in some
places he did, into the mouths of the
jacobins. Not that even they, bad
as they are, can be suspected by me
of any design se shocking to human
nature as assassination: and I own
I am surprised to hear my learned
friend say so seriously, that any al~
lusion to theapotheosis of Romulus,
or to the affair of Brutus and Cesar,
must necessarily have such a shock-
ing and abominable object; as if
these events, so much the themes of
school-boy declamation, were not
too familiar to excite any extraordi-
nary propensity to imitation. With
respect to that part of the paper
which alluded to the assassination of
Cxsar, Mr. Mackintosh denied that
when that event was spoken of,
every man who used it intended to
recommend or justify assassination.
He stated a variety of cases, in

Rr which

619

which that event had been alluded to
in many authors, who were never
suspected of a wish to excite the
commission of assassination. Nor
could itbé more safely inferred from
the allusion ta the apotheosis in use
among the Romans. It might be
that a man, disgusted with the nu-
merous addresses which had been
poured from all quarters, might
fairly say, 1 even wish him the apo-
theosis as soon as he can have it.
Many of the Roman emperors re-
ceived the honours of a divinity, and
yet lived; their apotheosis did not
always imply their death. He next
adverted to the imputation of free
discussion, and elucidated this part
of his argument, by precedents
drawn from our own history. At
the time when queen Elizabeth, that
wise and patriotic princess, was be-
set with formidable enemies, a
powerful faction in the heart of her
Kingdom, and no resources but in
her own mind, she, and it was a
‘curious piece of history, published
the first newspaper. ‘Her gazettes
were still preserved, and, by means
of that dissemination of public opi-
nion, she roused the feelings of her
subjects to a pitch equal to withstand
any attempts that could be made
upon them. Since that period,
newspapers had multiplied, and dis-
cussion had become more extended.
During the reign of Louis XLV. who
had formed the most gigantic plans
of guilty ambition, he w ho attacked
a free nation merely for his glory ;
he who had made subservient to his
interests, the guilty and infamous
prince who then governed England;
even his conduct was most freely
canvassed. Nor did a venal court
dare to stop the inquiry and investi-
gation of free minds, even when
Jefferies disgraced the bench which
Ay

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

his lordship adorned: not even then
did a venal judge and corrupt court
dare to attack the freedom of the
press. In latter times, to come to
the partition of Poland; did that
infamous transaction and public rob-
bery pass without examination and
censure? We loudly spoke our in-
dignation, though the-robbers were
our. great allies ; but our free presses
spoke of them, not as according to
their greatness, but as to their crimes.
I will putit to the attorney general to
say, whatwould have been hisconduct,
if we had been at peace with France,
during part of the awful crisis which
had convulsed her. When Robes-
pierre presided over the committee
of public safety, was not an Eng-
lishman to canvass his measures ?
Supposing we had then been at peace
with France, would the attorney
general have filed an information
against any one who had expressed
due abhorrence of the furies of that
sanguinary.monster ? When Marat
demanded 250,000 heads in the
Convention, must we have contem-
plated that request without speaking
of it in the terms it provoked?
When Carriere placed five hundred
children in a square at Lyons, to
fall by the musquetry of the soldiery,
and from their size the balls passed
over them, the little innocents flew
to the knees of the soldiery for pro-
tection, when they were butchered
by the bayonet! In relating this
event, must man restrain his just
indignation, and stifle the expression
of indignant horror such a dreadful
massacre must excite? Would the
attorney general in his information
state, that when Maximilian Robes-

_pierre was firstmagistrate of france,

as president of the committee of
safety, that those who spoke of him
as his crimes deseryed, did it with a

wicked

” weak and defenceless
_ put the case of that Swi iss patriot, ; de-

years ago,
ed ineffectually to defend.
_ were to come to this country, the
_ only asylum now left upon earth;
_ if he were here, to weep over the

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

wicked and malignant intention to
defame and vilify him? ‘The only

| restraint upon great criminals was,

in a great degree, to let loose the
_ passions of the gerd; to prey on the
1 will again

scended from the hero of Switzer-
Jand ; he, whose ancestor support-

ed the liberties of his country ; who

conquered that pile five hundred
he of Jate had endeavour-
If he

ruins of his country, must he be
told that he must deplore his fate in
silence ;
Better by far

to a state of absolute barbarism,

_ than thus have our feelings paralysed
_ to all moral distinctions.
and trust that a British jury will

I hope

never be a party to such purposes.

_ They never had dene it, and, in for-
' mer times, when all other parts of

_ the state had been corrupted, juries

yet maintained their virtue and their
independence. In the days of Crom-

' well, he twice sent a satirist upon

his government to be tried by a jury,

who sat where this jury now sit.
The scaffold on which the blood of
the monarch was shed, was still in
their view. The clashing of the
bayonets which turned out the par-
liament, was within their hearing 5
yet they maintained their integrity,
and twice did they send his attorney
general out of court with disgrace

and defeat.

What could be such a tyrant’s
means of overawing a jury? As
jong as their country exists they are
girt round with impenetable armour ;
till the destruction of their country,

7

that he might groan deep,
but not be loud?
_ would it be, that we should revert

613

no danger can fall upon them for’

the performance of their duty ; and
I do trust that there is no Knglish-
man so unworthy of life as to desire
to outlive England. But if any of
us are condemned to the cruel pu-
nishment of surviving our country—
if, in the inscrutable counsels of
Providence, this favoured seat of
justice and liberty, this noblest work
of human wisdom and virtue, be
destined to destruction, (which I
shall not be charged with national
prejudice for saying, would be the
most dangerous wound ever inflicted
on Civilization) at least let us carry
with us, into our sad exile, the con-
solation that we, ourselves, have
not violated the rights of hospitality
at we have not torn
from the altar the suppliant who
claimed protection as the voluntary
victim of loyalty and conscience !

Gentlemen, I now leave this un.
fortunate gentleman in your hands.
His character and his situation might
interest your humanity; but, on
his behalf, I only ask justice ‘from
you. I only ask a favourable con-
struction of what cannot be said to
be more than ambiguous language,
and this you will soon be told, from
the highest authority, is a part of
justice,

Mr. attorney general, in reply,
said, notwithstanding the most bril-
liant speech he had ever occasion to
hear, had occupied his attention, and
dazzled the understandings of the
jury, for three hours, he did not find
much to answer. Many topics were
irrelevant: he said it without dero-
gation: to the remainder he would
reply.

As to the prosecutor, my honour-
able friend is wrong in attributing
that to the first magistrate of France ;
the prosecutor of this information

3 is

ro

614

is the chief magistrate of this coun-
try, who is unworthily represented
in this court by me: it is the prose-
cution of the king of Great Britain.
—The defendant has received every
protection he could hope for, not
as an emigrant merely, but as an
English subjest. My learned friend
has enquired respecting the policy
of permitting other publications to
pass unnoticed: he will reflect that
a considerable difference exists: it
will be for you to say, whether the
paper under consideration excites to
assassination? Now, gentlemen,
put yourselves fora moment as the
subjects of another country, and
then ask, whether such a publication
as that, coming from this country,
would have no influence on your
minds; whether it would appear in-
different, or whether it would not
excite indignation against England
itself ?

With respect to the object of the
publication under our consideration,
you must coilect it from the publi-
cation itself; and .that, if you have
not evidence from which a contrary
inference is to be collected, you must
find them in the temper, mind, and
intention of the person who pub-
lishes it. My friend has told you,
the republication of a writing, ori-
ginally .a libel, is necessarily libel-
lous: but I think it behoves the
republisher of that, which is deem-
ed to be originally libelious, to put
himself in-a condition of shewing,
that he republished it with some
other view ; and to rescue himself,
he must shew that he did it with
another intention, and thai he did
not intend the effect to be produced,
which was natural from the Iibel he
republished. And if you had your
attention directed to the introduc-
tion of this work, and saw what it

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

is, I think you will find no reason
to lead you to believe, that it was
republished with a different inten-
tion on his part, than to vilify and
defame the character of the person
against whom it is directed.

From the passages you have heard
read, gentlemen, you are to collect
the purpose and intention of the
writer. The passage I originally
introduced, shews there is no one
part of any description he is to bring
forward, which is not to refer to
the object I alluded to. I shall re-
peat his words:—‘* We shall add
but one word more, We shall so
manage matters, that all the mate.
rials which we shall employ in the
edifice that we are about to erect
to the glory of Bonaparte’’—W hat
is this, gentlemen? What are we
to understand by the edifice he is
about to erect to the glory of Bona-
parte ? Dogs not this clearly shew
Bonaparte is to be the object of it?
‘¢ shall be worthy ofthe temple?”

Having, by all these introductory
passages, shewn the intention of the
author, it is hardly necessary to
comment on the passages themselves,
which have been selected, and which
are to be found in the information,
My friend seems to admit, that
there is much libellous matter in
these publications; but, he says,
they are not libels against Bona.
parte, and that they were only
meant to reflect disgrace on certain’
factions that existed in France.—
Now it is rather extraordinary, that
my friend should have observed, in
the course of his speech, that Bona.
parte was the author of this prose-
cution, if it was not a libel against
him, bata libel on certam parties at
Paris, who were his enemies. That
is a part, which, I think, is not
very easily to be reconciled,

Can

:
\

ing

re.

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Can you conceive a more noxious
and a more offensive publication ?
It is written in a language calcu-
lated for its circulation through
every corner of France, and its ob-
ject is manifestly to vilify and de-
fame the first magistrate of that
country, not only in France, but
throughout all Europe. ‘This seems
to be the end and necessary couse-
quence of this publication in this
place: and if you view it in that
light, and if you are satisfied that

- is the fair interpretation of it, there

is no question of difficulty between
us. Weare both agreed as to the
illegality of printing, and the ille-
gality of publishing, libels against
those with whom we are at peace:
the only question, then, for you to
decide, is this, whether or not these
publications, such as they are;
whether these papers were or were
not published, with an intention of
vilifying the French consul! My
friend tells you, if that is your
judgment—he tells you, that if that
was really the intention of the pub-
lication, that then the defendant is
to be delivered up to your verdict,
and that you cannot rescue him
from the consequences ; but should
you be satisfied that it was not pub-
lished with any intention of vilify-
ing and defaming the first consul of
France, but that it was written in
the spirit of history, and that it
comes under the description of free
discussion; if you can, in your con-
sciences, really believe that this
comes fairly within the range of free
discussion, or that if comes within
the scope of historical privilege,
then 1 do not ask your verdict :
but if you are satisfied, in point of
fact, that it was published with the
libellous intention J impute to it,
do not be driven from your pur-

615

pose by any theoretical or declama-
tory address, or be led to appre-
hend you are doing wrong, by act-
ing on the clear principles of public
law, on a case fairly brought before
you, It is your province, and
your duty, to act on the question
before you, ou true and clear prin-
ciples, and not to look to those
cases which are to follow.» It will
be time enongh to stir up an Eng-
lish jury, when some unprecedented
proceedings take place, and it will
be time enough then that the ad-
dress of my friend should be re-
peated to them. And if that pe-
riod is about to approach, I have
only to lament, in common with
you all, in common with every man
who has heard that speech, that
most eloquent, most able, most ir-
resistible address, which has been
applied to such a case as this, was
not reserved for that occasion, to
which it might, with more proprie-
ty, have been applied.

Lord Ellenborough, in his address
to the jury, said, the matter in is-
sue, included three things, Ist, the
fact of the publication; 2dly, the
truth of the allegations on the re-
cord; and, 3dly, the nature and
quality of the papers themselves. As
to the first thing, the aét of publica-
tion, that seemed to be proved by
the evidence of- Mr. De Boffe, who
published the work, aad a¢ted un-
der the orders of M. Peltier, the
defendant. That Napoleon Bona-
parte was the first consul and chief
magistrate of Irance, both at the
time the definitive treaty of peace
was signed, and also at the time
when these papers were published,
was admitted ; and, indeed, if it had
not, it was capable of easy proof
from the notoriety of it. The next
and only remaining material point

Rr4 for

616

for the consideration of the jury,
was, as to the nature and quality of
the papers themselves. ‘The de-
fendant, by his very learned coun-
sel, endeavoured to shew that these
papers were written against some
particular factions in France, and
not against the character and person
of the first magistrate in that coun-
try. It would be for the jury to
say, on the fullest consideration of
the circumstances, whether they
were not satisfied these papers con-
tained matter highly refleéting on
that magistrate, and were a direct
incitement and encouragement to as-
sassinate his person. Every publi-
cation that had a tendency to pro-
mote public mischief, by refleéting
on the characters of magistrates and
others in high and eminent situations
of power and dignity, and in such
terms, and in such a manner, as had
a direct tendency to interrupt the
amity and friendship that subsisted
between the two countries, was
what the law called a libel. If there
were contained in any publication, a
plain and manifest incitement and
persuasion to assassinate or destroy
the persons of such magistrates, and
if the tendency of such publication
was to interrupt the harmony that
subsisted between different nations,
the libel was still more criminal.—
ff they looked at the ode attributed
to Chenier, it would be for the gen-
tlemen of the jury to say, whether
this did not import a direét incite-
ment to the assassination of the first
magistrate of France-—** Oh! eter-
nal disgrace of France! Cesar, on
the Bank of the Rubicon, has
against him, in his quarrel, the se-
nate, Pompey, and Cato; and the
plains of Pharsalia. If fortune is un-
equal—if you must yield to the des-

tinies, Rome, in this sad reverse, at”

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

least, there remains to avenge you
a poignard among the last Ro-
mans !””

Now, said his lordship, did not
that express a wish, on the pari of
this person, that it was necessary
they should use a -poignard against
the supposed oppressor and usurper.
of their government, which had been
used with effeét against Cesar, the
usurper of the Roman government ?
—And, in another part of this pub-
lication, he says, ‘* as for me, far
from envying his lot, let him name,
I consent to it, his worthy succes-
sor. Carried on the shield, let him
be elected emperor. Finally (and
Romulus recals the thing to mind,)
I wish he may have this apotheosis.”
This, his lordship thought, imported
a wish, on the part of the publisher,
that, if he should be eleéted empe-
ror of that country, of which he
was then, and still is, the chief ma~ —
gistrate, that his death should im-
mediately follow on the next day.
Every body knew the supposed
story of Romulus ; he disappeared,
and his death was supposed to be
the effeét of assassination.

His lordship said, he could not,
therefore, in the correét discharge
of his duty, do otherwise than state,
that these publications having such
a tendency, with respect to the cha-
racter and person of a foreign ma-
gistrate, and being published within
this country, and the consequence of,
such publications being a direct ten-
dency to interrupt and destroy the
peace and amity now happily sub-
sisting between the two cotntries,
that they were, in point of law, a
libel: and he was certain, no recol-
lection of the past, nor expectation
of the future, would warp the minds
of the jury from the straight and
eyen course of justice. Their ver-

dict

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

dict would be founded on the real
facts of the case, without looking
to any other circumstance: they
would consider the necessary effect
of plans of assassination and mur-
~der, and how dangerous projects of
that sort were; and if they were

617

not discountenanced and discou-
raged in this country, they might
be retaliated on the safety of all that
was most dear to us.
The jury immediately found the

defendant guilty.

A GENERAL

~

618 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

A GENERAL BILL

OF
CHRISTENINGS AND BURIALS;

From Decemser 14, 1802, to Decemner 13, 1803.

; Males......11014 mi . Males......9799
Christened owt e eit 20983. Buried Females. brer 19502

Increased in Burials this Year, 203.

Died under 2 years ......... 5355 | 40 and 50......... 2265) } 100i ee, 1
Between.,... 2 and 5... 2077 | 50 and 60......... 2044 | 101.0004 0
5 and 10......... 790 | 60 and 70......... 1580.4 LOS, 2 scence 0
40/and’20:..:,...: Bak |e Or any GOs. 1038] LOT. eens. 1
20 and 30......... 1829 | 80 and 90......... ee Mia fs ke oy Sp 0
30 and 40......... 2025 | 90 and*100......... 64°} 120......ic00 0
DISEASES. Cow Pox... 1 | Lunatick...........185 | CASUALTIES,
Cramypragtiisesse 3 | Measles ............ 438
AportTIve and Groupee tes 25 | Miscarriage...... 3 | Broken aoa 3
still born........568 | Dropsy .......000 879 | Mortification....388 | Broken Neck... 1
EMME PSY. asses 1| Palpitation of Bridsed siiescses 4
BVA: srcckes bcerere 1 is hyd eee e 1") Bornts seacoast: 33,
All Fevers..:..2526 |, Palsy «.ccscscvsse 130 | Choaked .......... 2
Apoplexy and PIseplaces.t ste J QR UCB Lhe. ttcctedes 1} Drowned ......... 115
sudden.........0¢ BOT ENE 2s hci 9 | Pleurisy........... 23 | ExcessiveDrink-
Asthma and | | French Pox...... 53 | QuINSY....ccsssseee Als NAPs ecreeromenae
Phthisic.......... 745| GaolDistemper 2 | Rheumatism..... 5 | Bxecuted™ gcc. 13
Bedridden.......... AN GONE, wastetcaiaker LOS |OGUTVY Rarcestes sss 3 | Found dead....... a1
MBG eee terete 2| Gravel, Stran- Sinall Pox.......1202 | Fractured ........ 4
Bleeding.......... » 16} guary, and Sore Throat... 14 | Frighted............ 3
Bursten and rup- Stowe senveaces 18 | Sores and UI- Killed by Falls,
CURE a stcccessecois BA! Grief. takes WW Gerster V.|- Setaaanen 65
GBHCer sie. cnscensrse 64| Head-ach......... 1} St. Anthony’s ars by Fight-
Gankerne2s.u5 1 | Headmouldshot, Pine ik isacetsthe 2h) ) Map teetey
Carious Spine... 1} Horshoehead, SPasm ......scs0ee 15 Killed them-
Chicken Pox...... 2} and Water in Stoppage in Sto- SElVeSirrervete- 40
Childbed............ 250| the Head.....104] mach............. 12 | Murdered......... 3
Im posthume.... 2} Teeth occ 363 | Poisoned........... 2
Colick, Gripes, Jaundice... SS} Mhrush vets 78 | Scalded..........):. 2
QUE scitiactyatine 19 | Jaw Locked..... 7) Vomiting and PONG Le -reeseuckeveneees 3
Consumption...4076 | Inflammation ...710 | Looseness.... 1] Starved ..,...+00 1
Convulsions.....3493 | Influenza........... Ba WOrinis s..scrsiess 4 | Stifled......secsereee 1
Cough & eta fret! cae eae 1 Strained .......000 1
ing Couvh....... 6 | Livergrown....... 9 Suffocated,....... 1

* There have been executed in Middlesex and Surrey 30, of which number 13 only have been
reported to be buried (as such) within the bill: of mortality. 3
PRICE

619

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

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APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 621

Year 1803.

NAVY, &c.

December 2, 1802.

_ That 50,000 men be employed for the sea service, for

the year 1803; including 12,000 marines.

For wages for ditto ei 5 5
For victuals for ditto A “ 5s
For wear and tear of ships in which they are to serve

For ordnance sea service on board such ships -

December 14.
For the ordinary of the navy, including half-pay to sea
and marine officers for 1803 -
For the extraordinary establishment of ditto -
For the hire of transports = = ‘
For defraying the charge of prisoners of war in health
Ditto. ...of sick prisoners of war - -

March 14, 1803.

That an additional number of 10,000 men be employed
for the sea service, for eleven lunar months, com-
mencing 26th February, 1803, including 2,400 ma-
rines.

For wages for ditto” = “ “ z

For victuals for ditto i 2 E 4

For wear and tear of ships in which they are to serve

For ordnance sea service on board such ships -

June 11.

~ That a further additional number of 40,000 men be

‘employed for thesea service, for seven Lunar months,
commencing 12th June, 1803, including 8000 Royal
marines.

For wages for ditto wt s aia “
For victuals for ditte - .- -

SUPPLIES granted by Parliament, for the

ee 8. ds
1,202,500 O O
1,235,000 0 0
1,950,000 O 0
162,500 0 O
1,228,238 13. 1
901,140 0 9O
590,000 O O
22,000 O @

5,000 0 O
903,500 0 0.
209,000 0 O
330,000 0 O
27,500 O O
518,000 O O

532,000 O O
For

622 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

=,
For wear and tear of ships in which they are to serve 840,000
For ordnance sea service on board such ships - 70,000
For the further hire of transports for the year 1803 100,000
For the further charge of prisoners of war in health 65,000
Ditto. .-.of sick prisoners of war - - 20,000
£.10,211,378

ARMY.

December 9, 1802.

That a number of land forces, not exceeding 66,574 ef-

fective men,. be employed in the united kingdom of

Great Britain and Ireland from 25th December,

1802, to 24th December, 1803.
For guards, garrisons, and other land forces, in Great

Britain and Ireland Ral 2,322,700
For forces in the plantations, incl uding Gibraltar, in the

Mediterranean, at Ceylon, and New South Wales 1,129,976
For five troops of dragoons, and seventeen companies

of foot, stationed in Great Britain for recruiting re-

giments serving in Kast India - - - 28,632
For contingencies and allowances for the land forces in

Great Britain and Ireland - 4 - | 173,841
For general and staff officers, and officers of hospitals

in Great Britain and Ireland . - - 58,468
For allowance to the principal officers of several public

departments in Great Britain and Ireland - 127,512

For the increased rates of subsistence to be paid to
inn-keepers and others on quartering soldiers, and

allowances to land forces for small beer in Ireland 200,645
Upon account of reduced officers of land forces and
marines - - - - 358,152
For half pay and allowances to the reduced officers of
* his majesty’s British American forces - - 52,000
On account of officers late in the service of the states- ;
general - ae a= - - 1,000
For pensions to widows of officers of the land forces in
Great Britain and Ireland - - - 26,883
For the barrack department in Great Britain and Tre-
land - - - - - 513,440
For foreign corps - - - 159,672

For medicines, bedding, and hospital contingencies, for
the forces in Ireland, and for the royal military in- .
firmary in Dublin - - - - 18,461

Sid.
0 0
OBUO
0 0
OF 0
OG
irs ot ta |
Ors
19 4
My Sa
7250
0 10
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5 betes 4
10 11
0 0
0 O
16 0
7 10
1 ee
10 10

March

:

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

March 3, 1803.
For defraying the extraordinary expences of the army
from 25th December, 1801, to 24th December,
1802 > - - : =

June 7.
For defraying the charge of full pay to supernumerary
officers, from 25th eee 1802, to 24th De-

' cember, 1803 - - =
For defraying the charge of re in and out pensioners
of Chelsea and Kilmainham hospitals - -

Ditto....of the royal military college, for 1803 -

For defraying the expences expected to be incurred on
account of the royal military asylum

For defraying the charge of one regiment of light drat
goons, and one West India regiment, and of an
augmentation to the dragoon, and foot guards in
Great Britain and Ireland 2 = 7

For defraying the charge of additional general and ge-
neral staff officers in Great Britain and Ireland for
1803

Ditto. ...of effective captains, from 25th May to 24th
December, 1803 -

For defraying the further charge of ‘the barpack de.
partment for 1803 - = 4

June.ll.
For the further charge of the barrack department in
Ireland = % 2s fe a

June 18.
Towards defraying the extraordinary service of the
army in Great Britain for 1803 - -
Ditto in Ireland - - - s

623
£. s. dy

3,082,151 4 8

29,337 0 0
266,004 14 1
8,110 211
31,000 0 0

218,270 11 1

31,000 0 0
35,751 17 10

58,333 0 0

54,907 7 9

1,400,000 0 0

600,000 0 0

£.8,935,753°12 3

MILITIA AND FENCIBLE CORPS.

December 9, 1802. .

For the volunteer corps of cavalry and infantry in
Great Britain and Ireland, from 25th December,
1802, to 24th December, 1803 - - -

. April 7, 1803.

Making provision for defraying the charge of the pay

of the militia of Ireland for 1803.

99,169 4 8

Ditto

624. ANNUAL REGISTER,

Ditto... of allowances to certain subaltern officers of
the militia of Ireland during peace.

Ditto.._.for the pay and clothing of the militia of
Great Britain.

June 2.
For making allowances to adjutants and serjeants of
the militia disembodied, for 1803.
Ditto... of allowances to subaltern officers of the mi-
litia in time of peace.

* June 7.

For defraying the charge of the embodied militia of
Great Britain and Ireland, and of the royal corps of
miners for several periods ‘in 1803 a é

For defraying the charge of contingencies for the em-
bodied militia of Great Britain and Ireland for 1803

Ditto... of cloathing for the embodied militia of Great

Britain, and royal corps of miners <
Ditto... of subsistence and allowance for small beer
for the embodied militia of Great Britain @

Ditto... of the supplementary militia of ditto =
For defraying the further charge of volunteer corps

June 11.
Making provision for defraying the charge of the
cloathing of the militia of Ireland for 1803.

1803..

&, 8, d,

1,747,570 0

38,345 12

145,000
416,000

8
7
143,891 5 O
0
0
300,000 )

ooo

—-

£. 2,889,976 2 11

ORDNANCE.

December 9, 1802.
For ordnance oe service in Great Britain, for 1803
Ditto... .in Ireland - - .: -
June 7, 1803.
For defraying the further charge of ordnance land sér-
vice in Great Britain = -

For the payment of outstanding chins on the late
board of ordpance in Ireland - - -
For defraying the further charge of ordnance in Ire-

land = ® = = = =

637,947 12 7
150,000 0 O

282,065 10 11

38,900 11 0°
20,000 0 O

\ —— —_—

#£. 1,128,913 14 6

MISCELLANEOUS

aS eNN

ee

a RA I OT OE, thm Oe Be

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

MISCELLANEOUS SERVICEs.

December 14, 1802.

To make good the like sum paid for bounties on corn,
&c. to 10th October 1802 - - -
For defraying the probable amount of bills drawn, or
to be drawn, from New South Wales, in 1803 -
Ditto....the expence of confining and maintaining

conyicts at home - - - -
For relief of the suffering clergy and laity of France,
Toulonese, and Corsican emigrants, &c. -

_ To make good money issued for making enquiries re-

specting the state of the collieries ~ >
To make good money issued to the secretary to the

commissioners for ascertaining boundaries of New

Forest - - - .
Ditto....to Mr. Baldwyn for his services in Egypt
Ditto....to Mr. Palmer, commissary at New South

_~ Wales, for half freight of a vessel - -
Ditto....for making indexes to the journals of the
house of lords, - - -
Ditto....to the chairman of the committees of the
-house of peers - - - -
Ditto... .for expences at the parliament office -

Ditto... for preparing a model of a bridge, &c. by
direction of the committee for the improvement of

the port of London - a =
Ditto....to pay persons employed in preparing ab-
stracts of population - . - -
Ditto....to discharge expences in making abstracts
of the cultivation of England and Wales -
Ditto. _- in surveying the straits of Menai -
Ditto. __ for additional allowance to the clerks in the
office for auditing the public aecounts - -

Ditto....to discharge fees on passing accounts
through the offices of the Treasury and Ex-

chequer = = S Es z
Ditto....to the secretary to the American com-
missioners, for expences of the commission -

December 16.
Ditto....pursuant to addresses = = - a

February 8, 1803,

To be paid to the board of first fruits in Ireland, for
building and re-building churches, from 5th January
1803 to 5th January 1304 - - -
Vou, XLY. Ss

524,573
25,000
40,847

191,584

219

300-

1,086

324

146-

$14

7,134

3,000

1,060

15,160

4,615

625
19 7
0 0
9 0
17 6
7 0
0 0
1 6
10 0
18 0
9 0
18 2
7 6
0 0
a
8 6
te 4
0 0
8 6
0 6
ht gs

626 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. |

For defraying the probable daperice of civil cere
in Ireland -

Ditto....the expence of printing and Bilidiiie 250 co-
pies of acts of the third session of the united parlia-

ment ~ - - = = e
Ditto... of proclamations and advertisements in the
Dublin gazette, &c. -
Ditto... -of printing, stationary, and other atsparsee
ments for the public offices in Ireland : “
For defraying the probable charges of Treasury inci-
dents re ae
Ditto... ..of apprehésuling public offenders in Ire-
Jand - . - - es
Ditto....of criminal prosecutions in Ireland =
To be, paid to the trustees of the linen and hempen
manufacturers in Ireland u
For defraying the we: of pratique in the port of
Dublin, - - f -
To be paid to the ackountant general for preparing
and stating the public accounts of Ireland -
Ditto. .-.to the deputy accountant general ~
Ditto....to the paymaster of corn bounties in Ire-
land . - - = =
“Ditto... to the examinator-.- -. Ditto 4 a
Ditto. ...to the inspector Flot of DO and ex-
ports of Jreland =
Ditto....to the first blorks in the ofitce of ditto -
Ditto....to the examinator Of excise in Ireland -

Ditio.._-_to the assistant ditto =
Ditto... .to, the clerk in the Office of euditor of the

exchequer - =
To be applied in working a gold mine in the county of
Wicklow . = hard =

Yor defraying the expence of printing an index to
the acts of the two last sessions of the ce of
Ireland -

Ditto... .of eelting: law offices in Trelend. -

For defraying the charge of the incorporated society
in Dublin for promoting English protestant schools

in Ireland - - - *
Ditto... of the office of secretary to the commissioners
of charitable donations - - =

For defraying the charge of the society for
discountenancing vice, and promoting the
knowledge and DRAMA of the christian
religion - - 623 1 6}

Ditto....of the fannie orphan house near
Dublin, for deserted female children 445 5 14

Ly Gi Oe
23,076 18 6
830 15 5
6,485 19 11
18,8540 0 O
13846 3 1
2,307 13 102
18,461 10 9£
19,938 9 3
966.18 72
aho ve: i
byl ea 0 ak
ose 9 3:
184-12 4
230 15..5
184 12 4
184 12 4
158 9° 3
184 12 4
1,647 1 4
288 9 3
3,692 6 2

19,442 11 11

369 4 72

For |

, APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 627

For defraying the charge of fitting up and support-
ing a peaeahary in Dublin for young crimi-

nals “
Ditto....of the ae hospital i in Dublin -
Ditto. ._.of the Hibernian marine society -
_ Ditto....of the Hibernian school for soldiers chil-
dren ,
Ditto of bivporting the Westmorland ‘Jock hospital & in
Dublin - - »
Ditto....of the fever hospital bubba be wi
Ditto of the house of industry in Dublin = ~
Ditto....of the Roman catholic seminary at May-
nooth - < ~ Z
To be paid to the commissioners for making wide and
convenient streets in Dublin - - -

Ditto....to the corporation for paving, &c. Dublin
Ditto....to the Dublin society for- EeomOHlG hus-
bandry and other useful arts

"To be applied towards completing additonal buildings

_ at the repository of the ee as and botanic
gardens - =
For defraying the expences of the farming society of
Ireland = 5 - 5

March 7.

For paying off treasury bills that will become due

25th March 1803 = J iJ
March 24.

| For expences of the commission for the reduction of the

national debt - - a

_ To oflicers of the exchequer for extra trouble -
_ For discount on loan for 1802 - -
To the Bank for receiying contributions to ditto -

For business relative to American claims -
_ For incidental expences attending the lotteries for
1802 - = - -
April 7.-
For compensation to Mr. Martin, junior, for his losses
as an American loyalist <
For defraying the charge of the society for rioniotien:
the knowledge and practice of the pice religion
in Ireland - - a
Ditto. ...of the female orphan house, near . Dublin te
Ditto....of the Dublin lying-in hospital -

$s2

£. ¢$. d.

4,153 16 11
5,903 1 62
475 16 3
17,321 15 6
7,384 12 4
4,153 16 11
9,230 15 5
5,076 18 6
4,153 16 1%
1,846 3 1
356,538 9 3
1,910 10 0
500 0 0
22:564 13 6
22,538 2 3
371 17 O
3,600 0 °0
12,626 14 0
993:'1 6
903 6 5
2,492 6 2
June

628 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

June 16.
For defraying the expence of roads and bisdiges i in the
Highlands of Scotland 4 fn

June 18.
For defraying expences incurred in pene of the Fleet
prison a
Ditto... in grinding the 56th Talus of ike journals
of the house of commons and indexes -
Ditto... in fitting up a house in Abingdon street for
depositing the journals, and for the residence of the
clerk of the journals - - -
To complete the purchase of certain buildings for
the accommodation of the two houses of parlia-

ment. - - - - -
For defraying the expence of works. done at the audi-
tor’s office, &c. Somerset-place - * ‘

Ditto....of works done at the two houses of parlia-
ment, and at the house of the speaker of the house
of commons, to 3ist May, 1803 - s

For foreign and other secret services for 1803 -

For defraying expences under the commission pur-
suant to the sixth and seventh articles of the Ame-
rican treaty . -

Ditto... .the charge of ‘thé works. aud aes of the
military roads in North-Britain - -

Ditto... .the extraordinary expences incurred for pro-
secutions, &c. relating to the coin in 1802 *

Ditto... of the superintendance of aliens . a

To make good money issued for additional allowances
to clerks in the office for auditing the public ac-

counts - -
Ditto. ...to pay a bill of exchange for the repairs of
Port Patrick - - - -
Ditto....to Mr. Clementson for expences incurred by
him in removing from his.official house -
To make good money issued to lieutenant Grant fox
. certain losses sustained by hin ~ -

Ditto....for sundry articles provided for the use of
the convicts embarked on board the Glatton for New
South Wales

Ditto.._.to defray the passin to N ew South Wales
of the lieutenant governor and others - ~

Ditto. -~.to repay the expences incurred by sir George
Yonge in consequence of orders directing his imme-
diate return to England - -

Ditto....for defraymg the expences of. surveys,
reports, and designs for bridges over the Straits of
Menai a : _ “ ‘

£.
20,000

&h xd:
0 0

1,760 19 114

4,500 13 23

1,281 4 Oo!
14,369 4 0
8,771 .7,,.BF
21,434 0 0
150,000 0 O
340,000 0 O
5,000.0 0
2,661 17 8
7,620 0 O
5,100 18 3
558 17 5
177 6 0
98 13,3
291 8 3
634 13 0
1,060 7 6
657 11 4

Ditte

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Ditto....for expences incurred in a journey to Ban-
gor, &c. respecting the Straits of Menai -
Ditto. ...for publishing the average price of sugar =
Ditto. ...to discharge fees on passing public accounts
Ditto....for expences attending the surveys of
the intended pw roads in Sree and
Caithness
For civil establishment of Upper Canada.i in 1803

Ditto....of Nova Scotia - ~ =
4 | Ditto....of New Brunswick - ~
= | Ditto....of Prince Edward’s island -
b= é Ditto....of Cape Breton - - -
= ) Ditto.._.of Newfoundland - -
Fs Ditto... .of the Bahama islands - -
Ditto....of the Bermudas, or Somers islands
Ditto... of the island of Dominica - -
Ditto....of New South Wales - -

To the East India Company_on account of expences
incurred by them in the public service during the

late war - “ - a
Towards defraying the civil contingent expences for
the service of Ireland in 1803 - -
June 30.
Towards defraying the expence of making an inland
navigation in Scotland - - .
July 2.
For repairing, maintaining, and supporting the British
forts and settlements on the coast of Africa -
To make good the like sum issued pursuant to ad-
dresses - - - -

To make good the deficiency of last year’s grants

July 26.
To enable his majesty to take such measures as the
“exigency of affairs may require
To be applied for the benefit of the house iee Orange
For granting a Yearly sum of £16,000 out of the
consolidated fund of Great-Britain towards the sup-
port of the house of Orange.

July 30.

To make good the like sum issued to Mr. Martin for
expences incurred in an ath into the mendicity
of the metropolis -

Ditto....to Mr. Cracklow, for loss sustained by
erecting temporary buildings at a Marshalsea -

s3

629
. eee Pe:
1173-51359
429 14 Q
3,000 0 0
229 18 -6
8,900 0 O
7,665 O O.
4,650 0 0
2,214 4 114
1,840 0 0
1,515 0 O
4,100 0 O
580 O O
600 0 O
9,124 17 6
1,000,000 0 O
50,000 0
20,000 0 @
16,000 0

)
12,314 16 O
i

171,431 11

2,000,000 0 O
60,000 0 0

630 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1808.

Ditto....to Mr. Chinnery, for articles supplied con- B-- HOU,

victs at Portsmouth and New South Wales - 822 9 1
Ditto....to pay a bill drawn by Mr. Broughton at

Norfolk island - - - A471 5 0
For defraying the expence of printing journals, &c.

of the house of commons - - - 15,000 0 0

For discharging arrears of expences of the seven

police offices for the ion ending 5th ee

1802 - 960 8 6
For defraying expences incurred by Mr. Soane, in

making designs, &c. for alterations proposed in the

house of lords in 1794 and 1795 - 1,000 0
For repaying the deposit money made on forty tickets
of the lottery of 1801, which were forfeited - 204 0 0

To reimburse Dr. Jenner the amount of fees paid
by him on the receipt of the sum granted by act *

last session - - - 725 10 €
For the board of agriculture - - - 3,000 0 0
For the British museum - - - 3,000 0 0
For the veterinary college - - > 1,500 0 0
; August 2.
To make compensation to Mr. Dubois for his losses as

an American loyalist - - - §,320 .0. O

—

£ 5,440,441 13 95

EXCHEQUER BILLS.

December 2, 1802.
For paying off exchequer bills made out per act 41

Geo. III. - - - - 2,798,532 15 Qt
December 14.
For paying off exchequer bills made out per act of last
session for raising the sum of 1,500,000 - 1,500,000 O @

March 24, 1803.

For paying interest on exchequer bills made out per
acts'39 and 40, and 41 and 42 Geo. III. - 868,923 8 OF
July 2.
For paying off excheapen bills made out by act of last
session a ° ° 5,000,000 0. 6

10,150,456 3 3

RECAPITU.

a a Se a ee

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 631

RECAPITULATION. ©

£. ah. de
Navy - vic - » 10,211,378 13 1
Army : - » ee 8,935,753 12 3
Militia, &e. = - - - 2,889,076 2 iE
Ordnance - - . - 1,128,913 14 6
Miscellaneous services Ps = 5,440,441 .13 95
National debt - - - ss 200,000 0 O
Exchequer bills - - - - 10,150,456 3 3

Total of supply _— - > 38,956,919 19

9
Excess of ways and means for the year 2,406,272 16 3

#€ 41,363,192 16 1}

S64 WAYS

63@ + ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

WAYS and MEANS for raising the SUPPLY.

GRANTS.
‘December 6, 1802.
For continuing the duties on malt, mum, cyder, and £ a. Ge
perry - - - - 750,000 0 0
For raising four shillings in the pound upon pensions,
offices, and personal estates - -

For continuing certain duties on sugar, malt, tobacco, 20024009 1:0
and snuff - a

For raising £.5,000,000 by loans or exchequer bills 5,000,000 0 Q

December 13.
For applying #.4,000,000 out of the monies that
shall arise of the surplus of the consolidated fund - 4,000,000 O O

March 28, 1803
For raising €.4,000,000 by loans wr exchequer bills 4,000,000 0 O

June 2.
That the charge of the pay and clothing of the militia
of Great Britain be defrayed out of the land tax.

June 14.
For raising the sum of .12,000,000 by annuities,
whereof the charges of £.10,000,000 are to be
defrayed on the part of Great Britain, and of
x€ 2,000,000 on the part of Ireland - ~ 12,000,000 0 0

June 16.

That the allowances to adjutants, &c. of the militia,
disembodied in pursuance of aét 39 and 40 Geo. III.
be defrayed out of the land tax.

’ That the allowances to certain subaltern officers of the
militia in time of peace be detrayed out of the land tax.

That the charge of the pay and clothing of the militia
of Ireland be defrayed out of the consolidated fund
of Ireland.

That the allowances to certain subaltern officers of the
militia of Ireland be defrayed out of the consolidated
fund of Ireland,

June 27.

For raising £.1,052,333 6s. 8d. by three lotteries,
whereof £.701,555. 11s. 1d. shall be for the service
of Great Britain, and £.350,777. 15s. 7d. for the
service of Ireland - - - - 1,052,333 6 8

July

ot ee ee EF a ge LR ae,

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 633

July 2.
For raising -€.5,000,000 by loans oe exchequer bills - 5,000,000 0 @
For applying £.612. 16s. 3d. of the monies reserved
for payment of the judges’ salaries - - 612.16 3
For applying #.37,169. 14s. 8d. of the monies re-
served for payment of bounties on hemp and

: , : - 387,169 14
Tuli
For: raising =€.923,076. 18s. 6d. by treasury sg for
the service of Ireland - « 923,078 13.6
July 26.

For raising £.1,500,000 by loans or exchequer bills 1,500,000 0 O
For raising £.2,000,000 by loans or exchequer bills,
to be charged on the first aids to be are in the

next session of parliament - 2,000,000 0 @
For applying ©.2,500,000 out of the surplus of the
consolidated fund - - - 2,500,000 O @
J ae 30..

For applying £.600,000. (Irish currency) of the mo-
nies arising of the surplus of the consolidated fund
of Ireland - - - - - 600,000 0 O

Total ways and means = #.41,363,192 16 1

Taxes imposed in the Year 1803.

‘March 7, 1803.
For continuing the duty of six shillings and sixpence per barrel cam cure
rency) on malt made in Ireland.

June 14.
For granting ceriain duties upon the annual value of property in land,
&c. and on the annual amount of the profits and gains in public pilines,
or by persons exercising professions, trades, &c.

June 14.

For granting additional duties of customs on goods, wares, and mer«
chandize, imported into Great Britain, not being imported by the
East-India company.

For allowing an additional drawback on the exportation of sugar.

For allowing an additional bounty on the exportation of refined sugar.

For granting additional duties of customs on certain goods, wares, and
merchandize imported by the East-India company.

Ditto on the exportation of certaia goods, wares, and merchandize,
tto.
Fer

634 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

For granting additional duties of customs on certain goods, wares, and:

merchandize, carried coastwise.
Ditto - - - - on the tonnage of ships and vessels entering inwards or

outwards (except-in ballast)

June 14,
For granting additional duties and drawbacks of excise on certain goods,
wares, and merchandize.
For repealing the duties on stamps, and granting other duties in liew
thereof.

June 21.
For granting additional duties of customs on certain goods, wares, and
merchandize, and additional duties upon wine, spirits, and malt, im

~ Jreland..
\

, June 23.
For granting certain other duties on wine and countervailing duties upom
spirits and beer in Ireland.

July 2.
For granting a countervailing duty on malt made in Great Britain, and
imported from thence into Ireland.
For repealing certain duties on silk and refined sugar, being the manufac
ture of Great Britain, and imported from thence into Ireland.
For granting countervailing duties on certain articles of the manufacture of
Great Britain imported into Ireland.

nt,

gland, Wales, and Berwick upon
Tweed; and certain duties on sue
gar, malt, tobacco, and snuff, for
the service of the year 1803.

For raising the sum of 5,000,000I.
by loans or exchequer bills, on the
credit of such aids or supplies as have
been, or shall be granted by parlia«
ment, for the service of Great Bri-«
tain for the year 1803.

The following Bills received the Royal
Assent in the Course of the Second
Parliament of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, com-
mencing on the 16th Day of No-
vember, 1802, and ending on the
12th Day of August, 1803.

Dec. 17, 1802.

An act for continuing and grant-

ing to his majesty certain duties
upon malt, mum, cyder and per-
ty, for the service of the year
1803.

For continuing and gtanting to
his majesty a duty on pensions,
offices, and personal estates, in nx

For further suspending, until the
expiration of six weeks after the
commencement of the next session of
parliament, the operation of two
acts, made in the 15th and 17th
years of the reign of his present
majesty, for restraining the nego-

tation

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

tistion of promissory notes and bills
ef exchange, under a limited sum,
within that part ef Great Britain
called Engiand.

To indemnify such persons as have
emitted to qualiiy themselves fer
efiices and employments ; and to in-
demnify justices of the peace and

ethers, who have omitted te register

er deliver in the qualifications with-
in the time directed by law; and
for extending the time limited for
those purposes until the 25th Dec.
1803; to indemnify members and
officers in cities, corporations, and
berough towns, whose admissions
have been omitted to be stamped
according to law, or, having been

. stamped, have been lost or mislaid,

and for allowing them until the 25th
December, 1803, to provide admis-
sions duly stamped; and to permit
such persons as have omitted to
make and file affidavits of the ex-
ecution of indentures of clerks to
attornies and solicitors te make and
file the same on or before the first
day of Michaelmas, 1803.

For jthe more speedy and effec-
tual enrolment of the militia of
Treland, and for filling up vacancies
therein.

Dec. 29.

For discontinuing certain draw-
backs and bounties on the exporta-
tion of sugar from Great Britain,
and for allowing other drawbacks
and bounties in lieu thereof, until
the 15th Jan. 1804.

For discontinuing certain draw-
backs and bounties on the exporta-
tion of sugar from Ireland, and
for allowing, until the 15th Jan.
1804, other drawbacks and bounties
in lieu thereof.

To amend an act made in the

. 87th year of the reign of his pre-
4

635

sent majesty, intituled, “ An act
to provide for the more speedy pay-
ment of all navy, victualling, and
transport bills, that shall be issued
in future.”

For appointing commissioners to
inquire into any irregularities, frauds
or abuses, which are, or have been,
practised by persous employed im
the several naval departments there-
in mentioned, and in the business of
prize agency, and to report such ob.
servations as shall occur to them 3
for preventing such irregularities,
frauds, and abuses; and for the bet.
ter conducting and managing the bu-
siness of the said departments, and
of prize agency in future.

To amend so much of an act,
made in the 42d year of the reign
of his present majesty, intituled,
*¢ An act for amending the laws re-
lating to the militia in England, and
for augmenting the militia,” as re-
Jates to the exemption of licensed
teachers of any separate congrega-
tion from serving in. the militia.

To rectify a mistake made ia an
act the 42d year of the reign of his
present majesty, intituled, ** An
act for defraying the charge of the
pay of the militia of Ireland, until
the 25th March, 1803; and for
holding courts martial on serjeant~
majors, serjeants, corporals, and
drummers, for offences committed
during the time such militia shall
not be embodied ;” relative to the
pay of serjeants, corporals and drums
mers. :

For continuing until the Ist July,
1803, an act made in the 42d year
of the reign of his present majesty,
intituled, ‘‘ An act for regulating,
until the 15th Feb. 1803, the prices
at which grain, meal, and flour,
may be exported from Great Bri-
tain to Ireland, and from Ire-

lanal

636

land to Great Britain; and for
permitting, from and after the pas-
sing thereof, until the Ist of July,
1803, the exportation of seed-corn
from Great Britain to Ireland, and
the importation of malt into Great
Britain from Ireland.

To continue until the Ist Jan.
1804, so much of an act made in
the 41st year of the reign of his pre-
sent majesty, as relates to the pro-
hibiting the exportation from Ire-
Jand of corn or potatoes, or other
provisions, and for permitting the
importation into Ireland, of corn,
fish, and provtsions, without pay-
ment of duty.

Yo continue until the 1st Jan.
1804, several laws relating to the
prohibiting the exportation, and per-
mitting the importation of corn ;
and for allowing the importation of
ther articles of provision, without
payment of duty; to the relief of
captors of prizes, with respect to
the bringing and landing certain
prize goods in this kingdom; and
to the regulating the trade and
commerce to and from the isle of
Malta.

To facilitate and render more easy
the transportation a offenders.

For reviving and continuing for
five years from the passing thereof,
and from thence to the end of the
then next session of parliament, cer-
tain acts passed in the parliament of
Ireland, for regulating the baking
trade in the city and county of Dub-
tin ; and for indemnifying all persons
who have acted in pursuance of any
of the provisions of the said acts, or
any of them.

Feb. 28, 1803.

To amend and continue until the
expiration of six weeks after the
commencement of the mext session

5

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

of parliament, the restrictions con.
tained in several acts of the 37th and
38th years of the reign of his present
majesty, on payments of cash by the
Bank.

March 24.

For enabling his majesty to settle
an annuity on his royal highness the
prince of Wales, to continue until
the 5th July, 1806, and for repeal-
ing so much of an act, made in the
35th year of the reign of his pre-
sent majesty, as directs the annual
payment of 13,000]. out of the re-
venue of the duchy of Cornwall, to
the commissioners appointed by the
said act.

For granting to his majesty Seve-
ral duties therein mentioned, to be
levied by the commissioners for ma-
naging the stamp duty m Ireland.

For granting to his majesty cer-
tain duties upon certificates with re-
spect to killing of game in Ireland.

For granting to his majesty cer-

tain duties on licences to persons
selling hats, and on hats sold by re-
tail in Ireland.
' For continuing until the 25th
March, 1804, several acts for grant-
ing and continuing duties to his ma-
jesty in Ireland.

For punishing mutiny and deser-
tion, and for the better payment of
the army and their quarters.

For the regulation of his ma-
jesty’s royal marine forces while on
shore,

To authorize the training and exe
ercising the militia of Great Britain,
for 28 days.

For better securing the freedom
of elections of members to serve in
parliament for any place in Ire-
land, by disabling certain officers
employed in the collection or ma-
nagement of his majesty’s revenues

in

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

in Treland from giving their yotes at
such elections.

April 7.

To repeal certain parts of an act,
passed in the present session of par-
liament, intituled, ‘‘ An act for the
more speedy and effectual enrol-
ment of the militia of Lreland, and
for filling vacancies therein,’ and
for making other provisions in licu
thereof.

For allowing vessels employed
in the Greenland whale fishery to
complete their full number of men
at certain ports, for the present
season.

To intitle Roman catholics taking
and subscribing the declaration and
oath contained in the act of the 31st
year of the reign of his present ma-
jesty, intituled, ** An act to re-
lieve, upon condition, and under re-
strictions, the persons therein de-
scribed from certain penalties and
disabilities to which papists, or per-
sons professing the popish religion,
are by law subject,” to the benefits
given by an act of the 18th year of
the reign of his present majesty, in-
tituled, *‘ An act for relieving his
majesty’s subjects professing the poe
pish religion from certain penalties
and disabilities imposed on them
by an act, made the 11th and 12th
years of the reign of king William
the Third, intituled, an act for the
further preventing of the growth of
popery.”’

To continue until the 8th July,
1803, an act made in the 42d year
of the reign of his present majesty,
intituled, ** An act to continue un-
til the 8th April, 1803, an act passed
in the last session of parliament for
staying proceedings in actions, un-
der the statute of king Henry VIII.
for abridging spiritual persons from

3

637
having pluralities of livings, and of
taking oi farms; and also to stay pro-
ceedings in actions, under anact of the
13th yearof queen Elizabeth, touch-
ing leases of benefices, and other ec~
clesiastical livings with cuge.”

Fer establishing certain regula«
tions in the office of surveyor-ge-
neral of his majesty’s woods, forests,
parks, and chases.

For vesting certain lands and he-
reditaments in trustees, for further
promoting the service of his majes-
ty’s ordnance at Woolwich.

For raising the sum of four mil-
lions by loans or exchequer bills,
for the service of the year 1803.

To enable his majesty to grant a
certain annuity to rear-admiral sir
James Saumarez, bart. and knight of
the most hen. order of the Bath, in
consideration of the eminent services
which he has performed on various
occasions,

To provide, until the 25th March,
1804, for the more speedy and effec-
tual completion of the establishment
of officers in the militia of Great
Britain, and for facilitating the fill-
ing up vacancies therein.

For appointing commissioners for
distributing the money stipulated to
be paid by the United States of
America, under the convention made
between his majesty and the said
United States, among the persons
haying ciaims to compensation out
of such money.

May 17.

To continue, until the 29th Sept.
1804, several acts of parliament,
for the better collection and se-
curity of his majesty’s revenues in
Ireland, and for preventing frauds
therein.

. Toamend and continue, until three
months after any restriction imposed

by

638

by an act of the present session of
parliament on the Bank of England
from issuing cash in payments shal]
cease, an act made in the parliament
of Ireland, in the 37th year of the
reign of hig present majesty, for con-
firming and continuing the restric-
tions on payments in cash by the
Bank of Ireland.

To continue, until the 25th March,
1804, so much of an act, made in
the 41st year of the reign of his pre-
sent majesty, relating to certain du-
ties on sugar and coffee exported,
for permitting British plantation
sugar to be warehoused, and for
regulating and allowing drawbacks
on sugar exported, as relates to
repealing the duties on sugar and
coffee exported, and allowing Bri-
tish plantation sugar to be ware-
housed.

For enlarging the period for the
payment of part of certain sums of
money, advanced by way of loan, to
several persons connected with, and
trading to, the islands of Grenada,
and St. Vincent.

For the more effectually pre-
serving the peace, and securing the
freedom of election in the tow n of
Nottingham, and county of the said
town.

For increasing the rates of sub-
sistence to be paid to innkeepers
and others, on quartering soldiers.

May 27.

For consolidating and amending
the several laws for providing relief
for the families of the militia men of
England, when called out into ac-
tual service.

-To enable the East India com.
pany to defray the expenses of cer-
tain volunteer corps raised by the
said company.

To amend so much of several

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

acts passed in the 6th and Vth
years, and in the 7th and 8th
years ef the reign of king William
III. as relates to the a
of silver bullion.

For the more effectual prevention
of frivolous and vexatious arrests
and suits, and to authorize the levy~
ing of poundage upon executions in
certain cases,

June 11. ‘

To enable his majesty more effec-
tually to provide for the defence and
security of the realm during the pre-
sent war, and for indemnifying per-
sons who may suffer in their pro-
perty by such measures as may be
necessary for that purpose.

To render more effectual an act
passed in the 42d year of his pre-
sent majesty’s reign, for consolidat-
ing the provisions of several acts
passed for the redemption and sale
of the land-tax.

For more speedily completing the
militia of Great Britain, raised under
two acts, passed in the 42d year of
the reign of his present majesty, and
for amending the said aets.

To render the process of his ma-
jesty’s courts of king’s bench, com
mon pleas, and exchequer, in per-
sonal actions, in Ireland, more be-
neficial ; and also to prevent frivo-
Jous and vexatious arrests, and to
repeal so much of an act, passed in
the parliament of Ireland, im the
21st and 22d years of the reign of
his present majesty, intituled, “* An
act for enlarging the time for trials
by nis? prius in the city and county
of Dublin, and for making the pro-
cess of the court of exchequer more
effectual,” as relates to compelling
the appearance of defendants in per-
sonal actions.

For indemnifying all persons wha.

hare

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

have been concerned in issuing; or
carrying into execution certain or-
ders of council for the prevention of
the exportation of gunpowder, naval
stores, and saltpetre, and the per-
mission of the exportation of seed
corn to Norway. }

For making better provision for
the parochial schoolmasters, and for
making further regulations for the
better government of the parish
schools in Scotland.

June 24,

For raising the sum of twelve
millions by way of annuities.

To repeal the duties of customs
payable in Gt. Britain, and to grant
other duties in lieu thereof.

For remedying certain defects
that have occurred in issuing certain

_ exchequer bills.

For transferring to the royal na-
vy such seamen as are now serving
in the militia of Gt. Britain.

For the better protection of the

_ trade of the United Kingdom, during

the present hostilities with France.
To explain and amend an act,

passed in the 39th year of his pre-
_ sent majesty’s reign, intituled, ‘* An
_aét for regulating the manner in
_ which the united company of mer-

chants of England, trading to. the

_ East-Indies, shall hire and take up
_ Ships for their regular service ;” to
eontinue until the 25th March,

1806.
For regulating the vessels carry-

ing passengers from the United
Kingdom to his majesty’s planta-
_ tions and settlements abroad, or to
foreign parts, with respect to the
_ number of such passengers.

For further prevention of malici-

_ ous shooting, and attempting to dis-
_ charge loaded fire-arms, stabbing,

639

cutting, wounding, poisoning, and
the malicious using of means to pro-
cure the miscarriage of women ; and
also the malicious setting fire to
buildings; and also for repealing a
certain act made in England, in the
21st year of K. James I. intituled,
*¢ An aét to prevent the destroying
and murdering of bastard children ;?’
and also an act made in Ireland, in
the 6th year of the reign of Q. Anne,
also intituled, “‘ An act to prevent
the destroying and murdering of
bastard children,” and for making
other provisions in lieu thereof.

For the better supply of mari-
ners and seamen to serve in his ma-
jesty’s ships of war, and on board
merchant ships, and other trading
ships and vessels, during the present
hostilities.

For the relief of soldiers, sailors,
and mariners, and of the wives of
soldiers, in the cases therein men-
tioned, so far as relates to England.

For vesting in trustees certain
lands and hereditaments at Charl-
ton, in the county of Kent, for fur
ther promoting the service of his
majesty’s ordnance.

For vesting in trustees certain
lands and hereditaments at Weedon
Beck, in the county of Northamp-
ton, for erecting buildings thereon,
for the service of his majesty’s ord-
nance.

For remedying certain defects in
the laws relative to the building and
repairing of county bridges, and
other works maintained at the ex--

pence of, the inhabitants of the coun.
ties of England.
July 4.

For granting to his majesty, dur-
ing the present war, and until the
ratification of a definitive treaty of

peace,

~~
640
peace, additional duties on the im-
portation and exportation of certain
goods, wares, and merchandize, and
on the tonnage of ships and vessels
in Gt. Britain.

For granting to his majesty the
sum of 20,000l. to be issued and ap-
plied towards making roads and
building bridges in the Highlands of
Scotland, and for enabling the pro-
prietors of land in Scotland to charge
their estates with a proportion of
the expences of making, and keep-
ing in repair, roads and bridges in
the Highlands of Scotland.

' To repeal the duties of excise pay-
able in Gt. Britain, and to grant
other duties in lieu thereof.

To amend an aét, passed in the
42d year of the reign of his present
majesty, intituled, ‘* An a¢t to re-
peal an aét, passed in the 25th year
of the reign of his present majesty,
for granting stamp duties on certain
medicines, and for charging ather
duties in lieu thereof, and for mak-
ing effectual provision for the better
collection of the said duties.” |

For making allowances, in cer-
tain cases, to subaltern officers of
the militia of Gt. Britain, while dis-
embodied. ,

For augmenting the number of
field-officers, and other officers of
militia, within Gt. Britain.

For further regulating the admi-
nistration of the oath or aflirmation
required to be taken by electors of
members to serve in parliament, by
an aét passed jn the second year of
K. George II. intituled, ‘* An act
for the more effectually preventing
bribery and. corruption in the elec-
tion of members to serve in parlia-
ment.”? '

For making more effectual provi-
sion within Ireland for the punish-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ment of offences in wilfully casting
away, sinking, burning, or destroy-
ing ships and vessels, and for the
more convenient trial of accessories
in felonies.

For continuing until the Ist July,
1804, an act passed in the 42d year
of the reign of his present majesty,
intituled, “* An act for regulating,
until the 15th Feb. 1800. the prices
at which grain, meal, and flour may
be exported from Gt, Britain to Ire-
land, and from Ireland to Gt. Bri-
tain ;”’ and also, an aét made in the
present session of parliament, for
continuing the said act, and for per-
mitting the exportation of seed corn
from Gt. Britain to Ireland, and the
importation of malt into Gt. Britain
from Ireland.

For transferring to the royal navy
such seamen as are now serving in
the militia of Ireland.

To indemnify persens who have
omitted to qualify themselves for
offices or employments in Ireland,
according to law.

To authorise the sale or mortgaga

of the estates of persons found luna- ¢
‘tic by inquisition, in England or

Ireland, respectively, and the grant-
ing of leases of the same.

To extend the provisions of two
acts, passed in the 39th, and 40th,
and in the 41st years of the reign of
his present majesty, relating to the
use of horse hides in making boots
and shoes, and preventing the da-
mages of raw hides and skins, in the
flaying thereof, and to alter and
amend the same as to the cities of
London and Westminster, and bo-
rough of Southwark, and liberties
thereof, and all places within fifteen
miles of the Royal Exchange of the
said city of London.

For raising and securing a fo

or

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

for making provision for the widows
of the writers to his majesty’s signet
in Scotland.

July 6.

To enable his majesty more effec-
tually to raise and assemble in Eng-
land, an additional military force,
for the better defence and security

‘of the United Kingdom, and for the

more vigorous prosecution of the
war.

Yo enable his majesty more efiel
tually to raise and assemble, in
Scotland, an additional military
force, for the better defence and se-
curity of the United Kingdom, and
for the more vigorous prosecution of
the war.

July 7

To amend the laws relating to spi-
ritual persons holding of farms, and
for enforcing the residence of spi-
ritual persons on their benefices in
England.

July 11.

For granting to his majesty a
certain sum of money to be raised
by lotteries.

To enable his majesty more eftec-
tually to raise and assemble, in Ire-
Jand, an additional military force, for
the better defence and security of the
United Kingdom, and for the more
vigorous prosecution of the war.

“Fe or defraying, until the 25th
March, 1804, the charge of the pay

_ and clothing “of the militia of lre-

land ; for holding courts martial on
Serjeant majors, serjeants, corporals,
and drummers, for offences com-
mitted during the time such militia
shall not be embodied; and. for
making allowances, in certain cases,
to subaltern officers of the said mili-
tia, during peace,
Vou. XLY,

641

To continue, during the restriction
on payments in cash ‘by the bank of
Ireland, and to amend an act, made
in the parliament of Ireland, in the
39th year of the reign of his present
majesty, intituled, ** An aét to re.
strain the negotiation of promissory
notes and inland bills of exchange,
under a limited sum ;” and also an
aét, made in the parliament of Ire-
land, in the 40th year of his present
majesty’s reign, to continue and
amend the said-act,

For providing relief for the fami-
lies of militia-men in Scotland, when
called out into actual service.

For enlarging the limits of the
southern whale fishery.

To prevent unlawful combinations
of workmen, artificers, journeymen,
and labourers, in Ireland, and for
other purposes relating thereto.

July 13.

For raising the sum of five millions
by loans or exchequer bills, for the
service of Gt, Britain, for the year
1803.

for granting to his majesty cer-

tain duties on the importation of

goods, wares, and merchandize,
into, and on goods, wares, and mer-
chandize, exported from Ireland ;
and also certain duties of excise on
spirits and malt distilled and made
in Ireland.

For defraying the charge of the
pay and clothing of the militia in
Gt. Britain, for the year 1803.

To revive, and further continue,
until the 25th March, 1804, and
amend so much of an act, made in
the 39th and 40th years of the reign
of his present majesty, as grants cer-
tain allowances to adjutants and ser-
jeant-majors of the militia of Eng-
lands; disembodied under an act of

the same session of parliament.
Tt

64a ANNUAL RE

, To.authorise the advancement of
further sums of money out of the
consolidated fund, to be applied in
the improvement of the port of
London by the mayor, aldermen,
and commons of the city of Lon-
don, in common council assembled ;
and to empower the lords commis-
sioners of his majesty’s treasury to
purchase the legal quays between
London Bridge and the Tower of
London.

July 27.

_ For raising the sum of one mil-
lion, Irish currency, by treasury
bills, for the service of Ireland, for
the year 1803.

To amend and render more effec-
tual an act, passed in the present
session of parliament, iniituled, ** An
act to enable his majesty more effec-
tually to provide for the defence
and security of the realm daring
the present war, and for indemni-
fying persons who may suffer in
their property by such measures as
may be necessary for that pur-
pose ;” and to enable his majesty
more effectually and speedily to ex-
ercise his ancient and undoubted
prerogative in requiring the military
service of his liege subjects in case of
tnvagion of the realm.

‘or consolidating certain of the
provisions contained in any act or
acts relating to the duties under the
management of the commissioners
for the affairs of taxes, and for
amending the same.

To amend several acts of parlia-
ment for the better collection and
security of his majesty’s revenue of
customs and of excise m Ireland,
and for preventing frauds therein ;
and to make further regulations rée-
lating thereto. nit

To amend the acts now in farce

GISTER, 1803.

for securing the collection of the
‘revenue upon malt, and for regulat-
ing the trade of a distiller in Ire-
land.

Te rectify a mistake in an act,
made in this present session of par-
liament, intituled, ‘* An act for en-
Jarging the period for the payment
of part of certain sums of money
advanced by way of loan to several

persons connected with and trading .

to,the islands of Grenada and St.
Vincent.”

To permit Portugal wines to be
landed and warehoused in the Unit-
ed Kingdom, without payment of
duties, under certain restrictions,
- for a limited time.

To permit the exportation, for
two years, of a certain quantity of
corn, grain, meal, flour, bread, bis-
cuit, or pulse, to the islands of
Guernsey, Jersey, and Alderney,
from other ports of Eagland, aswell
as the port of Southampton, under
‘certain restrictions.

Yo render more effectual two”

acts, made ih this present session of
parliament, for the more speedily
completing the militia of Great Bri-
tain, and for raising an additional
military force for the better defence
of the United Kingdom.

For raising, in the city of Lon-
don, a certain number of men, as an
addition to the military force of
Great Britain, for the better defence
and security of the United Kingdom,
and for the more vigorous prosecu-
tion of the war.

For the more effectually provid.

ing for the punishment of offences
in wilfully casting away, burning,
or destroying ships and vessels, and
forgho- more convenient trial of ac-
cessories in felonies, and for ex-
tending the power of an act, made
in the 33d year of the reign of king

| Henry

2

“ane

“APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Henry VIII. as far as relates to
murders, to accessories to murders,
and to manslaughters.

For effectuating certain parts of
an act, passed in the 2d and 3d
years of the reign of her late ma-
jesty queen Ann, intituled, ‘¢ An
act for the making more effectual
her majesty’s gracious intentions for
the augmentation of the maintenance
of the poor clergy, by enabling her
majesty to grant, in perpetuity, the
revenues of the first fruits and tenths,
and also for enabling any other
person to make grants for the same
purpose, so far as the same relate
to deeds and wills, made for grant-
ing and bequeathing lands, tene-
ments, hereditaments, goods, and
chattels, to the governors of the
bounty of queen Ann, for the pur-
poses in the said act mentioned, and
for enlarging the powers of the said
governors.

To rectify a mistake in an act,
made in this present session of Par-
liament, intituled, ‘* An act to
amend the laws relating to spiritual
persons holding of farms, and for
enforcing the residence of spiritual
persons on their benefices in Eng-
land,’’ and to remove a doubt re-

_‘specting the title of the statute of
_ the 21st year of king Henry VIII.

therein mentioned.
_ Topromote the building, repairing,

‘or otherwise providing of churches

and chapels, and of houses for the
residence of ministers, and the pro-
viding of church-yards and glebes.
To enable the commissioners of
first-fruits in Ireland to lend certain

_ sums of money, interest free, to in-

cumbents of benefices there, for the
purpose of enabling them to erect
or purchase glebe houses and offices
convenient for their residence, glebe
Jands fit and convenient for the erece

643

tion of such houses and offices, and
to make provision for the fepay-
ment of all loans so to be made by
the said commissioners.

To explain and amend an act,
made in the last session of parlia-
ment, intituled, ‘‘ An act, made in
the 22d year of the reign of his pre-
sent majesty, for the better relief
and employment of the poor,” so
far as relates to the payment of the
debts incurred for building any poor-
house.

For enabling friendly societies,
intended to be established under an
act, passed in the 33d year of the
reign of his present majesty, to rec-
tify mistakes made in the registry of
their rules.

For the better preservation of
heath fowl, commonly called Black ~
Game, in the New Forest, in the
county of Southampton.

To explain and amend two acts,
made in the 2d and 39th and 40th
years of the reign of his present
majesty, for preventing the commis-
sion of thefts and frauds, by per-

sons navigating bum-boats and other

boats upon the river Thames, and
for the more effectual prevention of
depredations thereon, so far as re-
lates to the seizure of exciseable
commodities.

For the further improvement of
the port of London, by making
docks and other works at Black-
wall, for the accommodation of
the East-India shipping at the said
port.

For establishing a free market in |
the city of London for the sale of
coals, and for preventing frauds and
impositions in the vend and delivery
of all coals brought into the port of
London, within certain places there-
in mentioned.

Tt 2 July

644

July 29.

For the suppression of rebellion
in Ireland, and for the protection
of the persons and property of his
majesty’s faithful subjects there, to
continue in force until six weeks
after the commencement of the next
session of parliament.

To empower the lord lieutenant,
or other chief governor or gover-
nors of Ireland, to apprehend and
detain such persons as he or they
shall suspect of conspiring against
his majesty’s person and govern-
ment, until six weeks after the com-
mencement of the next session of
parliament.

To render more effectual an act
passed in the fifth year of the reign
of his present majesty, relating to
the discovery of the longitude at
sea, and for continuing the encou-
ragement of persons making certain
discoveries for finding the longitude
at sea, or other useful discoveries and
improvements in navigation, and for
making experiments relating there-
to, and for discharging certain
debts incurred by the commission-
ers of the longitude, in carrying
the acts relating thereto into execu-
tion.

For improving the funds of the
chest at Chatham, and for trans-
ferring the administration of the
same to Greenwich hospital, and
for ameliorating the condition of the
pensioners on the said funds.

August 12.

For granting to his majesty, until
the 6th May next, after the ratifi-
cation of a definitive treaty of peace,
a contribution on the profits arising
from property, professions, trades,
and oflices.

For enabling his majesty to raise
the sum of two millions, for the
use and purposes therein mentioned,

Cal

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

For raising the sum of 1,500,0001.
by loans or exchequer bills for the
service of Great-Britain, for the
year 1803.

For granting to his majesty cer-
tain duties on receipts.

For enabling his majesty to settle
an annuity of 16,000]. on the house
of Orange, during his majesty’s
pleasure.

For charging an additional duty
on lignum quassia imported into
Great-Britain.

To enable the lords commissioners
of his majesty’s treasury of Great-
Britain, to issue exchequer bills on
the credit of such aids or supplies
as have been, or shall be granted by
parliament for the service of Great-
Britain for the year 1803.

For consolidating the duties on
stamps, vellum, parchment, and pa-
per, in Great-Britain.

For consolidating certain of the
provisions contained in any act or
acts relating to the duties under the
management of the commissioners for
the affairs of taxes, and for amend-
ing the said acts so far as the same
relate to Scotland.

For rectifying a mistake in an
act of the last session of parliament,
for better collecting the duties on
auctioneers. ew

For the further regulation on the
collection of the duties of customs
in Great-Britain in certain cases.

To amend so much of an act
made in this session of parliainent,
for granting additional duties on ex-
cise, as relates to the exportation of
tea to Ireland; for regulating the
granting of permits for the removal
of coffee, tea, and cocoa-nuts, out
of warehouses ; and for the more
effectually securing the duties on
coffee.

For the more effectually securing
certain duties on malt, and for pre-

venting

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

_ venting frauds by makers of malt

| from bear or bigg in Scotland.

To amend an act made in this

_ present session of parliament, inti-

_tuled, ‘‘ An act to amend an act,

and render more effectual an act,

it: passed in the present session of par-
liament, intituled, an act to enable

¥ his majesty more effectually to pro-
_ vide for the defence and security of

_ the realm during the present war,
and for indemnifying persons who

_ may suffer in their property by such

_ -weasures as may be necessary for

645

that purpose ; and to enable his ma-
jesty more effectually and speedily
to exercise his ancient and undoubt.
ed prerogative, in requiring the
military service of his liege sub-
jects, in case of invasion of the
realm.”

For extending the jurisdiction of
the courts of justice in the provinces
of Lower and Upper Canada to the
trial and punishment of persons
guilty of crimes and offences within
certain parts of North America, ad-

joining to the said province.
Tt3 STATE

646

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

STATE PAPERS.

His Majesty’s Message to the House
of Commons, recommending the
Situation of the Prince of Wales,
Zo the Consideration of Parlia-

- ment, Feb. 16, 1803.

GEORGE R.
H* majesty having taken into
consideration the period which

has elapsed since the adoption of
. those arrangements which were
deemed, by the wisdom of parliament,
to be necessary for the discharge of
the incumbrances of the prince of
Wales, and having adverted to the
progress which has been made in
carrying them into effect, recom-
mends the present situation of the
prince to the attention of this
house.

Notwithstanding the reluctance
and regret which his majesty must
feel in suggesting any addition to
__the burthens of his people, he is in-
duced to resort, in this instance, to
the experienced liberality and at-
tachment of his faithful commons,
in the persuasion that they will be
disposed to take such measures as
may be calculated to promote the
comfort, and support the dignity of
so distinguished a branch of his
royal family.

His Majesty's Message respecting the
Armaments in France and Hol-
land, March 8, 1803.

GEORGE R.
His majesty thinks it necessary to
ica the house of commons, that,

as very considerable military prepa-
rations are carrying on in the ports
of France and Holland, he has judged
it expedient to adopt additional
measures of.precaution for the se-
curity of his dominions ; though
the preparations to which his ma-
jesty refers are avowedly directed
to colonial service, yet, as discus-
sions of great importance are
now subsisting between his majesty
and the French government, the
result of which must, at present, be
uncertain, his majesty is induced to
make. this communication to his
faithful commons, in the full per-
suasion that, whilst they partake of
his majesty’s earnest and unvarying
solicitude for the continuance of
peace, he may rely, with perfeét
confidence, on their public spirit and
liberality, to enable his majesty to
adoptsuch measufes as circumstances
may appear to require, for sup-
porting the honour of his crown,
aud the essential interests of his
people.

His Majesty's Message for calling
out the Militia, March 10, 1803.
In consequence of the prepara-

tions carrying on in the ports of

France and Holland, whilst impor-

tant’ discussions are subsisting be-

tween his majesty and the French
government, his majesty thinks it
due to the care and concern which
he feels for his faithful people, to
omit no means in his power which

may

2

STATE) PAPER 5S.

may contribute to their security.—
In pursuance, therefore, of the acts
ef parliament, enabling his majesty
to call out and assemble the militia
of the united kingdom, his majesty
has thought it right to make this
communication to the house of com-
mons, to the end that his majesty

may cause the said militia, or such

part thereof as his majesty shall think
necessary, to be forthwith drawn
out and embodied, and to march as
occasion shall require.

His Majesty's Message, announcing
War with France, May 16, 1803.
GEORGE R.
His majesty thinks it proper to
acquaint the house of commons,

_ that the discussions which he an-

nounced to them in his message of
the 8th of March last, as then sub-
sisting between his majesty and the
French government, have been ter-
minated ; that the conduct of the
French government has obliged his
majesty to recal his embassador
from Paris, and that the embassador
from the French republic has left
London. .

His majesty has given directions
fox laying before the house of com-
mons, with as little delay as possi-
ble, copies of such papers as will
afford the fullest information to his
parliament at this important con-
juncture.

It is a consolation to his majesty
to reflect that no endeavours have
been wanting, on his part, to pre-
serve to his subjects the blessings of
peace ; but, under the circumstances
which have occurred to disappoint
his just expectations, his majesty re-
lies, with confidence, on the zealand
public spirit of his faithful commons,
and gn the exertions of his brave

647

and loyal subjects, to support him
in his determination to employ the
power and resources of the nation
in opposing the spirit of ambition
and encroachment which, at pre-
sent, actuates the councils of France;
in upholding the dignity of his
crown; and in asserting and main-
taining the rights and interests of
his people,

His Majesty's Message, announcing

‘ar with Holland, June 17,1803.

GEORGE R.

His majesty thinks it right to
inform the house of commons, that,
from an anxious desire to prevent
the calamities being extended to the
Batavian republic, he communicated
to that government his disposition
to respect their neutrality, provided
that a similar disposition was mani-
fested on the part of the French go-
vernment, and that the French forces
were forthwith withdrawn from the
territories of the republic: this pro«
position not having been admitted
by the government of France, and
measures having been recently taken
by them in direct violation of the
independence of the Batayian re-
public, his majesty judged it expe-
dient to direct his minister to leave
the Hague, and he has since given
orders that letters of marque and
general reprisals should be issued
against the Batavian republic and its |
subjects. ;

His majesty has, at all times, ma
nifested the deepest and mostdively
interest for the prosperity and inde-
pendence of the United Provinces 5
he has recourse, therefore, to these
proceedings with the most sincere
regret, but the conduct of the
French government has left him ne
alternative; and, in adopting these

Tit 4 measures,

048

measures, he is actuated by a sense
of what is due to his own dignity,
and to the security and essential in-
terests of his dominions,

His Majesty's Message for arming

_ the Country, June 18, 1803.

GEORGE R.

lis majesty thinks it proper to
acquaint the house of commons,
that, for the more effectual defence
-and security of the United Kingdom,
_ against the avowed designs of the
enemy, and for the purpose of pro-
viding such means as may be best’
calculated for a vigorous prosecu-
tion of the war, his majesty deems
it important that a large additional
force should be forthwith raised and
assembled. at

His majesty recommends this sub-
ject to the consideration of his
faithful commons; and relies, with
confidence, on their zeal and pub-
lic spirit, that they will adopt such
measures as, upon this occasion,
shall appear to them to be most ef-
fectual, and for carrying the same
into execution with the least possi-

ble delay.

His Majesty's Message, requiring a
Supply, July 20, 1803.
GEORGE R.,

His majesty, relying on the
zealous support of his faithful com-
mons in the vigorous prosecution of
the war in which his majesty is en-
gaged, recommends it to this house
to consider of making provision to-
wards enabling his majesty to de-
fray any extraordinary expences
Which may be incurred for the ser-
vice of the present year, and to take
Such measures as the urgency of af-
fairs may require.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1805.

Ilis Majesty's Message respeCling
the House of Orange, July 2,
13803.

GEORGE R,

His majesty, having taken into
consideration the situation of the il-
lustrious house of Orange, the bonds
of alliance and affinity which sub-
sist between his majesty and that
house, the important services which
have been rendered by them to this .
country, On so many oecasions, and
the losses which they sustained in
the course of the last war, recom-
mends these circumstances to the se-
rious attention of the house of com-
mons ; and his majesty relies on the
justice and liberality of this house,
to enable him to make such pecu-
niary allowances to this illustrious
family, a8 may appear to be wars
ranted by a consideration of their
present situation, and of their claims
on the generosity of this country.

His Majesty's Message en the Irish

Insurrection, July 28, 1803.

GHORGE R.

His majesty feels the deepest re-
gret in acquainting the house of com-
mons, that a treasonable and rebel-
lious spirit of insurrection has mani-
fested itself in Ireland, which has
been marked by circumstances of
peculiar atrocity in the city of Dub-
lin.

His majesty relies, with perfect
confidence, on the wisdom of his
parliament, that such measures will
be forthwith adopted as are best
calculated to afford protection and
security to his majesty’s loyal sub-
jects in that part of the United King-
dom, and to restore and preserve

eneral tranquillity.
& 7 Y This

STATE PAPERS.

His Majesty’s Speech on the Pro-
rogation of Parliament, August 12,
1803.

My lords and gentlemen,

Tam at length enabled, by the
state of public business, to release
you from your long and laborious
attendance in parliament. In clos-
ing the session, 1 have the utmost sa-
_ tisfaction in expressing the strong
_ sense which I entertain of that zea-

lous*and unwearied regard for the

welfare and honour of your country
which has distinguished all your
proceedings. During the continu-
ance of peace, your conduct mani-
fested the just view which you had

_ taken of our actual situation, and of

the dangers against which you were

_ peculiarly called upon to provide ;

and, since the recurrence of hostili-

_ ties, you have displayed an energy

_ and promptitude which have never

_ been surpassed, in the means which

_ you have supplied for the defence of

_ the country, and for the vigorous

_ prosecution of the war. Your pro-

¢ ceedings, in consequence of the late

treasonable and atrocious occur-

_ rences in Ireland, will, 1 trust, have

i the effect of preventing any further

_ interruption of its internal tzanquil-

_ lity, and of convincing my loyal sub-

jects, in that part of the United

Kingdom, that they may confidently

rely on that protection to which

they are so justly entitled. In the
midst of the deliberations, which

_ were occasioned by the immediate

exigency of the times, you have not

been unmindfu! of other objects to
which I had directed your atten-
tion; and I have great satisfaction
in observing that you have completed

a system for consolidating the duties,

and regulating the collection and

Management of the several branches

@fthe revenue; and that you have

| ls > i a ale
et OS we)

649
adopted measures which are caleus
Jated to afford material accommoda-
tion to the mercantile part of the
community, and to encourage and

extend the navigation and commerce
of my dominious.”

Gentlemen of the house of commons,

Lreturn you my particular thanks
for the liberality and readiness with
which you have granted the supplies
for the public service. it is painful
to me to reflect, that the means of
necessary exertion cannot be pro-
vided without a heavy pressure upon
my faithful people. But I cannot
sufficiently applaud that wisdom
and fortitude which have led you to
overlook considerations of tempo-
rary convenience, for the purpose of
preventing a large accumulation of
debt, during the continuance of the
war. You may be assured, that
there shall be as strict an attention
to ceconomy on my part as may be
consistent with those preparations
and exertions which will be best cal-
culated to frustrate the designs, and
to weaken the power of the enemy,
by whose arrogant pretensions aud
restless ambition alone these sacri-
fices have been rendered unavoids
able.

My lords and gentlemen,

I am fully persuaded, that, dur-
ing the cessation of your parliamen-
tary duties, you will continue to be
actuated by the same spirit which
has been uniformly displayed in your
councils. It will be your duty to
assist in carrying into effect those
important measures which your wis.
dom has matured for the defence and
security of the realm; and particu-
larly to give the most beneficial di-
rection to that ardour and enthusi-
asm, in the cause of their country,
which animate all classes of my peo-

ple.

650
ple. Justly sensible of the state of
pre-eminence, in which it has pleased
the Almighty to support us, for so
many ages, amongst the nations of
Europe, I rely with confidence, that,
under the continuance of hjs divine
protection, the exertions of my
brave and loyal subjects will prove
to the enemy dnd to the world, that
an attempt to subvert the indepen-
dence, or impair the power of this
United Kingdom, will terminate in
the disgrace and ruin of those by
whom it may be made ; and that my

, people will tind an ample reward for
all their sacrifices, in an undisturbed
enjoyment of that freedom and se-
curity, which, by their patriotism
and valour, they will have preserved
and ensured to themselves and their
posterity.

Resolutions moved by Earl Fitz.
wélliam, inthe House of Peers, on
the 2d of June, 1803, on the con-
duct of Ministers*.

Ist. Resolved—That it appears to
this house, from the declaration is-
sued by his majesty, on the 18th in-
stant, and laid before this house by
his majesty’s command, That the
conduct of the French republic to-
‘wards this country, during the whole
period which has elapsed since the
conclusion of the definitive treaty of
peace, is considered by his majesty’s
ministers as having exhibited ‘‘ one
continued series of aggression, vio-
fence, and insult,” and as necessarily
creating a ‘* thorough conviction” of

a system deliberately ‘* adopted by

France, for the purpose of degrading,

vilifying, and insulting his majesty

and his government.”

2d. Resolved—That his majesty’s
ministers having, throughout the
whole period, from the definitive

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

treaty of peace to the breaking out
of the present war, neither commu-
nicated to parliament any knowledge
of the sense which they now appear
to have entertained respecting the
conduct and system of France, nor
any regular information of the par-
ticulars on which the same was
founded, or of the steps taken by
his majesty’s government thereupon,
have thereby withheld from this
house the necessary materials for the
due and full discharge of its consti-
tutional functions ; and that, by en-
couraging throughout the country

an unfounded security and confi- .

dence in the permanence of peace,
they have embarrassed and perplexed
our commerce; have deceived the
expectations, and unnecessarily har-
rassed the spirit of the people; and
have materially increased and aggra-
vated the difficulties of our actual
situation.

3d. Resolved—That it was the
duty of his- majesty’s ministers to
make timely and adequate repre-
sentations against all such acts as
have, in their judgment, constituted
a series of systematic ‘** aggression,
violence, and insult,” on the part of
France.

That, by dignified and temperate
remonstrances, followed up with
consistency, and sustained with
firmness, either the course and pro-
gress of such acts would have been
arrested without the necessity of re-
curring to arms, or the determina-
tion of the French government to
persist therein would have been dis-
tinctly ascertained, before his ma-
jesty had proceeded so far, both in
the reduction of his forces, and the
surrender of his conquests.

That this essential duty appears
to have been, in a very great degree,
neglected by his majesty’s wane

an

* Vide page 160,

STATE ‘PAPERS.

and that such their omission and neg-
lect have been highly injurious to
the public interests. -

Ath. Resolyed—That the principal
circumstances which have, in “the
judgment of his majesty’s ministers,
rendered it impossible to execute the
tenth article of the treaty of Amiens,
must have been known to his ma-
jesty’s ministers, either before, or
very soon after, the exchange of its
ratifications ; which exchange took
place on the 21st of May.

That, nevertheless, no steps ap-
pear to have been taken, until the
17th of February last, towards ob-
taining, by discussion or explana-
tion with the French government,
the removal of this most important
difficulty.

That, so far from taking any such
steps, his majesty’s ministers made
repeated applications to that go-
vernment during the whole of the
last summer, to accelerate the execu-
tion of the article, in its present
shape, by co-operating with his ma-
jesty in inviting other powers to
guarantee it. That, in consequence
of those applications, the guarantee
of Austria was actually obtained in
the month of August; and that of
Russia was jointly solicited by the
British and Freneh ministers at Pe-
tersburg, so late as the 25th of No-
vember last; many months after his
majesty’s ministers well knew that
the execution of the said article was
utterly impracticable.

That this conduct, alike incon-
sistent -with wisdom, dignity, and

_ good faith, was no less detrimental

to the interests, than prejudicial to
the character, of the British nation-;
inasmuch as the favourable oppor-
tunity for negotiating on this sub-
ject, while his majesty was still
im possession of his other conquests,

653

was thereby lost, and the discussion
reserved to a period when a recourse
to arms constitutes the only means
by which his majesty can resist the
unreasonable demands of the enemy,
and support the just cause of his
people.

5th. Resolved—That it appears
to this house, that, on the 10th of
October last, counter orders were
dispatched by his majesty’s govern-
ment, revoking the orders before
given for the surrender of the Cape,
and of the other conquests then held:
by his majesty; and that the final
order, by virtue of which his majes-
ty’s forces actually evacuated the
Cape, was not sent till the 17th of
November last.

6th. Resolved—That, on the said
17th of November, the hostile spirit
of France had (in the judgment of
his majesty’s ministers) already been
manifested for more than six months,
by ‘‘ one continued series of aggres-
sion, violence, and insult,” for which,
‘¢neither reparation nor redress”
had, down to that moment, ever
been obtained. ‘That the offensive
principle had already been dis-
tinctly advanced of excluding: his
majesty from all concern in the af-
fairs of the continent. That the
Spanish and other priories had al-
ready been withdrawn from the or-
der of Malta; Piedmont, Parma,
Placentia, and Elba, had been ur-
justly annexed to France ; Swisser-
land had been attacked and subju-
gated; and the tardy and unsup-
ported remonstrance of his majesty’s
government, on that subject, had
been treated with indignity and con-
tempt. The territory of Holland
was at that very moment still occu-
pied by the armies of the French,
and its internal administration still
controled by their interference :

; and

652

and the French government itself
was then actually engaged in the pur-
suit of those plans and measures for
the subversion of the Turkish em-
pire, to which his majesty’s decla-
ration has referred, as constituting,
on their part, an unquestionable vio-
lation of the treaty of peace.

That the conduct of his majesty’s
ministers, in directing, under such
circumstances, the final surrender
of the Cape, without making any
attempt previously to explain or
arrange the numerous points of
difference and complaint which
then actually subsisted between
the two governments, was in the
highest degree impolitic and dan-
gerous ; was in direct opposition to
the sense they had themselves mani-
fested of their own duty, by their
former orders on the same subject ;
and has, in the event, proved essen-
tially detrimental to some of the most
important interests ef his majesty’s
dominions.

7th. Resolved—That by these in-
stances of misconduct, in the most
important concerns of the country,
his majesty’s ministers have proved
themselves unworthy of the confi-
dence of this house, and incapable
of administcring with advantage the
public affairs, in a crisis of such un-
exampled difficulty and danger.

The official Correspondence between
Great-Britain and France, on the
Subject of the Negeciations subse-
quent to the Treaty of Amiens.

No. 1.

Eectter from M. Otto to Lord
Hawkesbury, dated London, May
23, 1802.

My lord,
The 10th article of the treaty of

Amiens, which fixes tae new orga-

ANNUAL REGISTER, | 1803.

nization of the order of Malta, hav
ing prescribed various measures, to
the execution of which it is necess
sary that the two principal contract-
ing powers should concur, the first
consul has named general Vial as
minister plenipotentiary to the order
and island of Malta, for the purpose
of concerting with the person whom
his Britannic majesty shall appoint
for that purpose, respecting the
execution of thearrangements agreed
upon in the late treaty. General
Vial will set out on his destination
as soon as your excellency shall have
informed me of his majesty’s inten-
tions, and of the choice he may make,

J have the honour to be, &c.

Otto:
Nov:

Letter from Lord Hawkesbury to M.

Otto, dated May 24, 1802.

Sir.

In answer to your letter of yes-
terday, in which you communicate
to me the nomination, by the first
consul, of general Vial to be mi-
nister plenipotentiary of the French
republic, to the order of Saint John
of Jerusalem ; I have the honour to
inform you, that the king has been
pleased to appoint sir Alexander
Ball, to be his majesty’s minister to
the order. Sir Alexander Ball will
shortly proceed to Malta, and will
be instructed to concert with general
Vial the necessary measures for car-

_ tying into effect the arrangements

relative to that island, which are
stipulated in the 10th article of the
delinitive treaty of peace.
I have the honour tobe, &c.
Hawkesbury.
M. Otto, &c. Sc. &c.

No, 3.
Extract of a Dispatch from Lord St.
Helens, to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated

1
-

STATE PAPERS,

_ dated St. Petersburgh, April 23,
* 1802.

I hope very soon to be enabled to
re-dispatch your lordship’s last mes-
Senger with the answer of this go-
vernment to the communications
which Ehave made to them, in obe-
dience to his majesty’s commands,
respecting the 10th article of the
treaty of Amiens. In the mean
time, I niust not conceal from your

lordship that there is great rea-

son to fear that his imperial majesty
will decline taking part in the pro-
posed joint guarantee of the posses-
sions and new constitution of the or-
der of Malta,

No. 4.

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord St.
Helens to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated St. Petersburgh, May 7,
1802.

Ihave reason to hope that the
first impressions that had been pro-
duced here by certain parts of the
arrangement relative to Malta have
been removed, and that his imperial
majesty may even be ultimately in-
duced to guarantee the whole of that
arrangement, provided that the steps
which have been taken towards the
election of a new grand master, ac-
cording to the mode suggested by
this court, be considered as fulfilling
what is required on that head by the
Jatter part of the paragraph of the
10th article of the treaty of Amiens,
and consequently that no new elec-
tion for that office is to take place
in the manner pointed out by the
former part of the same stipulation.

No. 5.
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Mr. Merry, dated June 5, 180%.
Sir,
J informed you, in my dispatch

‘ definitive

653

No. 10, that M, Otto had made an
official communication to me that
general Vial was appointed by the
first consul, minister plenipotentiary
to the order of St. John of Jeru-
salem. Sir Alexander Ball has been
in consequence invested with the
same character by his majesty. He
will proceed immediately to Malta,
and he will receive instructions to
concert with general Vial the best
means of carrying into complete ef-
fect the stipulations contained in the
10th article of the definitive treaty.

By the paragraph marked No, 1 in
that article, it is stipulated,

“The knights. of the order,
whose langues shall continue to sub-
sist after the exchange of the rati‘-
cations of the present treaty, are
invited to return to Malta as soon
as that exchange shall have taken
place: they shall there form a ge-
neral chapter, and shall proceed to
the election of a grand master, to
be chosen from amongst the natives
of those nations which preserve
langues, if no such electien shall
have been already made since the
exchange of the ratifications of the
preliminary articles of peace.”

‘The object of this paragraph was,
that, in the event of an election hay-
ing taken place subsequent to the
exchange of the ratifications of the
preliminary articles of peace, and
antecedent to the conclusion of the
treaty, that election
should be considered as valid; and
though no mention is made in the
article of the proclamation of the
emperor of Russia, soon after his
accession to the throne, by which
the knights of the order were invited
to assemble, and to proceed to the
election of a grand master, the sti-
pulation in question evidently: refer-
red to the contingency of an elec-

tion

654

tion taking place on the continent
in consequence of that proclama-
tion.

You will inform the French go-
yernment, that his majesty is ready
to consider the. election which has
lately taken place at St. Petersburgh,
under the auspices of the emperor
of Russia, to be valid, according
to the stipulation of the loth ar-
ticle.,

His majesty has no other object
in the whole of this transaction,
than that the 10th article of the
treaty may be fairly executed, and
that the arrangement may be car-
ried into complete execution with as
little difficulty as possible.

As the 13th paragraph in the 10th
article stipulates that the govern-
ments of Austria, Russia, and Prus-
sia, should be invited to accede to
the arrangements respecting Malta,
it is desirable that the French go-
vernment should instruct, without
delay, their ambassadors or minis-
ters at Vienna, Petersburgh, and
Berlin, to make, conjointly with
his majesty’s ministers at those
courts, an official communication,
desiring the accession of those
powers to the arrangements relative
to Malta in the definitive treaty, by
which it is provided, that the inde-
pendence of the island and the other
stipulations shall be under the gua-
rantee of those powers, in conjunc-
tion with his majesty, the French
government, and the king of Spain.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) | Hawkesbury.
Anthony Merry, Esq. §c. &c. &¢.

No. 6.

Extract of a Dispatch frem Mr.
Merry to Lord Hawkesbury, da-
ted Paris, June 17, 1802.

I have now the honour to trans-
1

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

mit to your lordship, inclosed, copy
of an answer which reached me last
night, (though dated eight days
back) from the French minister, to
the note verbale which I delivered
to him, containing his majesty’s
propositions respecting the execution
of some points of the arrangements
relative to Malta, contained in the
10th article of the definitive treaty
of peace. You will find the entire
acquiescence of this government to
those propositions expressed in a
very Satisfactory manner.

Note Verbale from Mr. Merry to M.
Talleyrand, referred to in No. 6.

His Britannic majesty’s minister
plenipotentiary has the honour to
transmit herewith to citizen ‘Talley-
rand, minister for the foreign affairs of
the French republic, the note ver-
bale of the communication he has
been ordered to make to him by his
government, who are desirous that
the proposals it contains may be ac-
ceptable to the French government ;
and they may be assured that the
British government, in making these
proposals, have no other object in
view than to facilitate, in the easiest
manner, the execution ofthe treaty
of Amiens, and to act in this respect
in perfect harmony with the French

» government.

Mr. Merry has the honour to re-
new, on this occasion, the assurances
of his high consideration for M, Tal-

- leyrand.

(Signed)
Paris, 8th June, 1802.

The citizen minister for foreign,

affairs will find inclosed a list of the
suffrages obtained from several pri-
ories of the order of St. John of Je-
rusalem, for the election of a grand
master, which has been received
from St. Petersburgh by the British

government,

Ant. Merry..

STATE: PAPERS.

government, with the notice that

these priories have agreed amongst

y themselves, that his holiness the pope

shall select (pro hac vice), from

_ amongst the candidates therein spe+

cified, the person who is to fill the
post of grand master.
_ His Britannic majesty on his part

is willing to consider an election so

ata?

made as valid, according to the sti-
pulations of the 10th article of the
treaty of Amiens.

His majesty therefore is ready to

; acknowledge, in quality of grand

master, the person whom the pope
shall think proper to fix upon, from

_ amongst the names contained in that

list.

His majesty has no other end in
view in this than to see the 10th
article of the treaty of Amiens duly

- fulfilled, and the arrangement it con-

‘i tains executed with as little difficulty

as possible.
It is stipulated by the 13th pa-

_ ragraph of the same article, that
_ the Austrian, Russian, and Prus-
_ sian governments, shall be soli-
' cited to accede to the said. arrange-
_ ment.

- The British government is of opi-

; nion, that it might be proper for

that of France to send without de-

: : jay instructions to their ministers at

Vienna, Petersburgh, and Berlin,
to make, conjointly with his Bri-

_ tannic majesty’s ministers, a com-
_ munication to those powers in which
_ they should be invited to accede to
_ the arrangement respecting Malta,
_ by which the independence of the
_ island, and the other stipulations re-
_ lative thereto, are placed under the
_ protection and guarantee of those
_ powers conjointly with their Bri-
_ tannic and Catholic majesties and
the French republic.

655

Note from M. Talleyrand to Mr.
‘Merry, referred to in No. 6.
The undersigned, minister for fo-

reign affairs, has the honour to
transmit to M. Merry, his Britannie
majesty’s minister plenipotentiary,
his answer to the note verbale which
he addressed to him on the eighth
Prairial. He doubts not that his
majesty’s ministers will see in this .
answer a new proof of the constant
dispositions of the first consul to
come to an agreement with the Eng-
lish government, for the securing
and facilitating the execution of the
respective clauses of the treaty
which has re-established peace be-
tween the two states.

The undersigned has the honour
to renew to M. Merry the assurance
of his high consideration.

(Signed) Cha. Man. Talleyrand.
Paris, 20th Prairial, Year 10.

[The minister for foreign affairs
of the French republic, has received
the communication which has been
made to him by his Britannic ma-
jesty’s minister plenipotentiary, of
the list of the candidates nominated
by the votes of the different priories
to the grand mastership of the order
of Malta; and he has submitted to
the first consul the proposal con-
certed between the priories of the
order, and approved by his Britan-
nic majesty, of submittng (pro hac
vice) to his holiness the choice
among the proposed candidates,

The first consul had no other ob-
ject, in whatever relates to the order
of Malta, than to see the 10th arti-
cle of the treaty of Amiens duly
executed, and to remove all the ob~
stacles which might render that exe.
cution tardy or difficult. He more-
over desires equally with his Bri-
tannic majesty, that France and

England

656

England should act in concert, in
order the better to secure the inde-
pendence and the organization of the
order of Malta. He, therefore,
consents that the choice of its grand
master, from the candidates propos-
ed by the votes of the priories,
should for this time be submitted to
his holiness.

As to the 15th paragraph of the
same Article, respecting the acces.
sion of the powers, the first consul
thinks with his Britannic majesty,
that the powers should be invited to
give their consent to ihe arrange-
ments agreed upon; and the Frencli
ministers at the courts of Austria,
Russia, and Prussia, shall conse-
quently, receive orders to take, con-
jointly with his Britannic majesty’s
ministers, the necessary steps for
ebtaining the accession provided by
the 10th article of the treaty of
Amiens. |
Paris, 10th Prairial, Year 10.

No. 7.

Dispatch from Mr. Merry to Lord
Hawkesbury, dated Paris, June 4,
41802.

My lord,

T had occasion to seo Mr. ‘Talley-
yand yesterday afternoon, for the
purpose of introducing to him, by
appointment, some English gentle-
men, previously to their presenta-
tion to-day to the first consul.

Having gone first alone into the
minister’s cabinet, he said, that he
had been directed by genera! Bona-
parte, to represent to me several
circumstances which stood very much
in the way of that perfect reconcilia-
tion and good understanding between
the two countries and their govern-
menis, which it was the first consul’s
sincere wish to see re-established,
jn order that such obstacles might

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

be removed before the arrival in
London of the French ambassador ;
because, although the circumstances
in question had already produced a
very disagrecable effect, whilst only
M. Otto, as minister, had to. wit-
ness them, they would acquire a
great addition of force it they should
still exist when the ambassador
should be present; and since the
first consul had given orders for ge-
neral Andreossy to proceed to his
destination with as little delay as
possible, he wished that I should
take an early opportunity to give
an account to your lordship of the
observations which he was charged

to make to me, -
After a preface to this effect, M.
Talleyrand proceeded to state to
me, that the accounts which M. Ot-
to had transmitted of the disgust
and inconvenience which he could
not but feel and experience at meet~
ing, frequently, at his majesty’s
court, and at other places, the
French princes, and some French
persons still decorated with the in-
signia of Vrench orders which no
longer existed; and, at-secing the
countenance and support which con-
tinned to be given, in England, to
what, he termed, the ci-devant
French bishops, as well as to other
persons (he here mentioned Georges)
inimical to the present government
of France, had affected, so strongly,
the first covisul, and were, in fact,
so calculated to prevent thatsystem of
cordiality which he was anxious to see
established, that it was incumbent
upon him to express his wish, that
his majesty’s 'government might be
disposed to remove out of the Bri-
tish dominions all the French princes
and their adherents, together with
the French bishops, and othev
French individuals, whose political
principles

principles and conduct must necessa-
rily occasion great jealousy to the
French government. He continued
_ to observe, that the protection and
favour which all the persons in
question continued to meet with in
a country so close a neighbour to
France, must alone be always con-
sidered as an encouragement to the
disaffected here, even without those
persons themselves being guilty of
any acts tending to foment tresh dis-
_ turbances in his country; but that
the government here possessed
proofs of the abuse which they were
now making of the protection which
they enjoyed in England, and of the
advantage they were taking of the
vicinity of their situation to France,
_by being really guilty of such acts,
since several printed papers had
lately been intercepted, which it was
known they had sent, and caused
to be circulated in France, and
which had for their object, to create
an opposition to the government. I
cannot, my lord, do better than
refer you to what you will have
read in the French official paper of
_ the day before yesterday (under the
article of Paris), for the exact text
of M. Talleyrand’s discourse upon
this subject ; which he concluded
_ by saying, that he thought the resi-
dence of Louis X VIII. was now the
i proper place for that of the rest of
_ the family, and that I might add this
“Suggestion in my report to your
~ Jordship.
_. I’answered the French minister,
that, without any reference to you,
I could assure him, that the prac-
_ tices of the French residing in Eng-
land, of which he complained, had
“hot been encouraged, nor would be
_countenanced by his majesty’s go-
_ yernment ; which was as sincerely
isposed to cultivate harmony and
~ Vou. XLV.

SPADE -PAPE RS.

657

good understanding between the two
countries, as he had represented the
first consul to be; but that I could
by no means say how far they would.
be disposed to adopt the measure.
which he had intimated it to be ge.
neral Bonaparte’s wish that they
should pursue, in order to remoye,
so effectually, eyery thing which
might not, perhaps, be considered
equally by them as giving just cause
of offence or jealousy to France.

M. Talleyrand did no. rejoin
upon the matter, but asked me when
I proposed writing. Upon my re-
plying I should lose no time, he
said, that if I should write as to-
day, he would avail himself of the
opportunity to convey a letter to M.
Otto.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) A. Merry,

The Right Honourable Lord

Hawkesbury, &c. &c. &c.

No. 8. :
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Mr. Merry, dated June 10, 1802.
Sir,

Your dispatches of the 4th instant
were received on Monday night, and
have been laid before the king.

The account given in that dis-
patch of the conversation , which
passed on the 3d instant, between
you and M. Talleyrand, respecting
the French princes and their adhe-
rents, would’ haye afforded here
considerable surprise, if his majesty’s
government had not in some degree
been prepared for it by information
which had been previously received ;
from the manner, howeyer, in
which this subject has been men-
tioned to you, it is important that
you should take.a proper opportu-
nity to explain, candidly and fairly,
to the French government, the line

U of

658

of conduct which his majesty feels
it to be his duty to pursue in this
very delicate business. His majesty
would certainly consider it incon-
sistent with both the letter and spirit
of the treaty of peace, between him
and the French republic, to encou-
rage or countenance any projects
that might be hostile to the present
government of France. He is sin-
cerely desirous, that the peace
which has been concluded, may be
permanent, and may lead to the
establishment of a system of good
understanding and harmony between
the two countries. With these sen-
timents, he is disposed to employ all
the means in his power to guard
against any circumstance which can
have the effect of disturbing the
tranquillity that has been so happily
restored; and he certainly expects,
that all foreigners who may reside
within his dominions, should not
only hold a conduct conformable to
the laws of the country, but should
abstain from all acts which may be
hostile to the government of any
country with which his majesty may
be at peace. As long, however, as
they conduct themselves according
to these principles, his majesty would
feel it inconsistent with his dignity,
with his honour, and with the com-
mon laws of hospitality, to deprive
them of that protection whiclPindi-
viduals, resident in his dominions,
can only forfeit by their own mis-
conduct. ‘The greater part of the
persons to whom allusion has been
made in M. ‘Talleyrand’s conversa-
tion with you, are living in retire-
ment; and his majesty has no rea-
son whatever to suppose, that
since the conclusion of peace, they
have availed themselves of their
residence in this country, to pro-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

mote any designs injurious to the
government of France.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Hawkesbury.
Anthony Merry, Esq.
3c. &c. &e.

No. 9.
Dispatch from Mr. Merry to Lord —
Hawkesbury, dated Paris, June —
17, 1802.
My lord,

I have the honour to acquaint
your lordship, that 1 have executed |
the instructions given me by your
secret and confidential dispatch,
(No. 14), in consequence of the
communication from M. ‘Talleyrand,
which I transmitted in my number
23, respecting the residence of the
French princes, and other French
persons in his majesty’s dominions.

In delivering my answer on this
business to the French minister, I
took care to express, in the strong-
est manner, the assurances which
your lordship has authorised me to
give of his majesty’s sincere desire
that the peace which has happily
been concluded should be perma-
nent, and that it should lead to the
establishment of a system of harmo-
ny and good understanding between
the two countries ; and that, as his
majesty’s conduct would, in every
respect, be guided by those senti-
ments, he of course would not tole-
rate, much less encourage, any pro-
ceedings on the part of persons
within his dominions, which might
be hostile to the present government
of France; which assurances might,
I trusted, be sufficient to tranquil-
lize and satisfy the first consul, with-
out recurring to the measures which
had been intimated to me, and which
could not but be considered as in-

consistent

consistent with his majesty’s dignity
and honour, as well as with the
common laws of hospitality, which
he could not but observe towards
foreigners within his dominions,
until they should have forfeited
that protection by their miscon-
duct.

M. Talleyrand expressed to me, in
reply, that the first consul had soli-
cited no more than the British go-
vernment itself had, at the time, de-
manded of France, when the pre-
- tender was in this country, and than
had been practised between other
governments, under similar circum-
_ stances: that he could not sce any
humiliation in the measure which he
had intimated to me; that he could
assure me it had not been suggested
with any such idea; and that he
could only repeat, that the adop-
tion of it would be, in the highest
degree, agreeable and satisfactory to
the first consul, and be considered
by him as the most convincing proof
of his majesty’s disposition to see a
cordial good understanding esta-
blished between the two countries ;
concluding his answer with a request
that I would report it to your lord-
ship.

J rejoined upon the subject, by
observing to the French minister,
that even without adverting to the
_ serious consideration of the king’s
_ dignity and honour, the feelings of
_ the people of England were to be
_ taken into account on the occasion ;
that he must be sensible the relative
situation, hitherto, of the two
_ countries, especially in regard to
trade, afforded his majesty’s sub-
_ jects no room to reap those advan-
_ tages which were common to, and
_ which were always expected from a
state of peace; and that it, there-
_ fove, appeared to me, that the first

STATE ‘PAP ERS. ;

;

659

consul would equally give a proof
of his disposition to see harmony,
and a friendly intercourse, re-esta-
blished between the two nations, by
not repeating his wish upon a mat-
ter which would operate in the
strongest manner against such an ap-
proximation and reconciliation of
sentiments, were it eyen only to
come to the knowledge of his ma-

jesty’s subjects.
I am happy, my lord, to say,
that M. ‘'Talleyrand shewed ne

warmth, or any very marked eager-
ness, in his manner of replying to
my communication ; and that our
conversation on this head termi-
nated with the last remarks I made
to him, when he changed it to anos
ther subject.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Anth. Merry.
Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury,
&c. &e. &c.

No. 10.
Letter from M. Otto to Lord
Hawkesbury, dated July 25, 1802.
My lord,

I transmitted, some time ago, to
Mr. Hammond, a number of Pel-
tier, containing the most gross ca-
lumnies against the French govern-
ment, and against the whole na-
tion ; and J observed that I should
probably receive an order to demand
the punishment of such an abuse of
the press. That order is actually
arrived, and I cannot conceal from
you, my lord, that the reiterated
insults of a anit number of foreign-
ers, assembled in London, to corf-
spire against the. French govern-
ment, produce the most unfavour-
able effects on the good understand-
ing between the two nations. Even
though the first article of the treaty
of Amiens had not provided for the

Uu2 maintenance

660

maintenance of that respect which
two independent nations owe to each
other, the general maxims of the
law of nations would formally con-
demn so revolting an abuse of the
liberty of the press. It cannot be
believed, that the law can give more
Jatitude to a libellist than to any
other individual, who, without de-
claration of war, should permit him-

self to violate the duties of good,

neighbourhood. ‘The offence in
guestion is so much the more
serious, as its object is evidently
to disturb the harmony which sub-
sists between the two govern-
ments.

It is not to Peltier alone, but to
the editor of the ‘‘ Courier Francois
de Londres,” to Cobbet, and to
other. writers who resemble them,
that [ have to ‘direct the attention
of his majesty’s government. .'The
perfidious and malevolent publica-
tions of these men are in open con-
tradiction to the principles of peace ;
and if it could ever enter into the
mind of the french government to
permit retaliation, writers would,
doubtless, be found in France, wil-
ling to avenge their countrymen, by
filling their pages with odious reflec-
tions on the most respectable per-
‘sons, and on the dearest institutions
of Great-Britain.

The want of positive laws against
these sorts of offences cannot pal-
Jiate the violation of the law of
nations, according to which, peace
should put a stop to all hostili-

ties ; and, doubtless, those which ~

wound the honour and the reputa-
tion of a government, and which
tend to cause a revolt of the peo-
ple, whose interests are confided
to that government, are the most
apt to lessen the advantages of

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

peace, and to keep up national re-:

sentments.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) ‘Otto.
To his Excellency Lord Hawkes-
bury, Minister and Secretary

of State for the Foreign De-

partment.

No.1.

Letier from Lord Hawkesbury to —

M. Otto, dated July 28, 1802.
Sir,

I have the honour to acknow- ~
ledge the receipt of your letter on
the subject of the last number of
Peltier. It is impossible that his
majesty’s government could peruse —
the article im question, without the ©
greatest displeasure, and without an —
anxious desire that the person who ©
published it should suffer the pu-
nishment he so justly:deserves. ‘The
calumnies, however, to which his
majesty’s government, and many of
the best subjects in this country,
are frequently exposed in the public
prints, must necessarily conyince all —
foreign governments of the diflicul- —
ties which exist in a constitution
like that of Great-Britain, in pre-
venting the abuse which is often un-
avoidably attendant on the greatest
of all political benefits ; and though
publications of this nature are, as ©
they certainly ought to be, by the
Jaw of England, subject to punish-
ment, it is often difficult to prove
the guilt of an individual so satisfac-
torily as to obtain the judgment of a
court of justice ; and the inconve-
nience which arises from prosecu-
tion, unless there is a reasonable
prospect of success, is frequently
sufficient to deter both the govern-
ment and individuals from under-
taking it. In the present case, I
have thought it my duty to refer the

article

article in question to his majesty’s at-
torney-general, for his opinion,
whether it is or is not a libel, ac-
cording to the construction of the
Jaw of England, and whether it is
such a libel as he would, under all
the circumstances, recommend for
prosecution. As soon as I receive
his report, [ shall have the honour
of communicating it to you.
-I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Hawkesbury.

No. 12.

Note from M. Otto to Lord Hazwkes-

bury, dated August 17, 1802.

The undersigned minister pleni-
potentiary of the French republic,
having submitted to his government
the letter which his excellency Jord
‘Hawkesbury, minister and principal
‘Secretary of state of his Britannic
majesty, did him the honour of
writing, under date of 27th July, is
directed to offer the following ob-
servations :

If the British government tole-
_ rates censuvres upon the acts of its
administration, and the personal
abuse of the most respectable men,
it does not suffer even the slightest
attempt against the public tranquil-
lity, the fundamental laws of the
empire, and supreme authority
_ which arises from them. —Every
nation is, moreover, at liberty to
pine any advantage whatever in

its interior, in order to obtain ano-
ther to which it attaches a higher
value; but the government which
_ does not repress the licentiousness
_ of the press, when it may be injuri-
ous to the honour or the interests
‘d foreign powers, would afford an
_ Opportunity to libellists to endanger
the public tranquillity, or, at least,
- the good understanding that forms
_ the basis of it; and whenever-such

STATE PAPERS.

661

serious injuries are continued in a
regular and systematic manner,
doubts must arise as to its own
dispositions.

‘The particular laws and constitu-
tion of Great Britain are subordi-
nate to the general principles of the
law of nations, which supersede the
laws of each individual state. If it
bea right in England to allow the
most extensive liberty to the press,
it is a public right of polished na-
tions, and the bounden duty of go-
vernments, to prevent, repress, and
punish, every attack which might,
by those means, be made against the
rights, the interests, and the honour
of foreign powers.

This general maxim of the law of
nations has never been mistaken with-
out paving the way for the greatest
divisions, and has even furnished,
in England, a plausible pretext to
those who have written volumes to
prove the necessity of the last war
against France. Are these men now
desirous of presenting to the consu-
lar government, a weapon which
they | have wielded with so much ad-
dress? and can they flatter them-
selves that the authority which has
signed the peace has not power to
maintain it ?

By the first article of the treaty
of Amiens, the two powers agree
to afford no protection, either di-'
reétly or indireétly, to those who
should cause prejudice to any of
them.

»But the greatest of all injuries,
doubtless, is that which tends to
debase a foreign government, or to
excite, within its territory, civil and
religions commotions ; and the most
decided of all protections, is that,
which places’ under the safeguard of
the laws, men who seek not only
to disturb the political tranquillity

Uus3 of

662

of Europe, but even to dissolve the
first bonds of society.

The undersigned minister must
moreover observe, that this is not a
question respecting some paragraphs,
which, through the inadvertence of
an editor, might have been accident.
ally inserted in a public print; but
it is a question of a deep and con-
tinued system of defamation, di-
rected not only against the chief of
the French republic, but against all
the constituted authorities of the
republic ; against the whole nation ;
represented by these libeliers in the
most odious and degrading terms.
It has ever been remarked, that
many of these prints contain an ap-
peal to the French people, against
the government and fundamental
iaws of their country.

If these observations apply to the
English writers, who, for these three
months past, have deluged the pub-
lic with the most perfidious and un-
becoming publications, they are still
more applicable to a class of foreign
calumniators, who appear to avail
themselves of the asylum offered
them in England, only for the pur-
pose of the better gratifying their
hatred against France, and under-
mining the foundations of peace.

{t is not merely by insulting and
seditious writings, evidently pub-
lished with a view to circulation in
France, but by other incendiary pa-
pers distributed through the mari-
time departments, in order to excite
the evil-disposed or weak inhabi-
tants to resist the execution of the
concordate, that these implacable
enemies of France continue to ex-
ercise hostilities; and to provoke the
just indignation of the French go-
vernment and people. Nota doubt
exists of these writings having been
composed and circulated by Georges,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

18053.

and by the former bishops of Franee.
‘Yhese men can no longer be consi-
dered but as rebels against both po-«
litical and religious authority ; and,
after their reiterated ‘attempts to
disturb the good understanding be- —
tween the two governments, their —
residence in England militates open-
ly against the spirit and letter of the
treaty of peace.

‘The meetings, likewise, which
have taken place in the island of
Jersey, and the odious plots which
are there framed, in spite of the
representations which the under-
signed minister has already taken
care to make on this subject, also
demand immediate measures to be
taken by a government, the neigh-
bour and friend of France.

Other persons (attached, by re-
collections never to be effaced, and
by regrets too long fostered, to an
order of things which no lotiger ex-
ists in F rance) find themselves daily
implicated by the plots of those who
pretend to serve them. A sense of
their own reputation will, without —
doubt, lead them to avoid a focus of
intrigues, with which they ought
not to have the least connexion.

Peace happily re-established, the
mutual desire of the two countries
to render it solid and lasting, and
the general interests of humanity,
require that all these causes of dis-
satisfaction should be. done away,
and that his majesty’s ministry
should, by frank and_ energetic
measures, manifest their disappro-
bation of all the attempts made to
produce new divisions.

The undersigned has, in conse- -
quence, received especial order to
solicit,

Ist, That his majesty’s govern-
ment will adopt the most effectual
measures to put a stop to the unbe-

eoming

ST ATE. PAP ERS:

coming and seditious publications
with which the newspapers and
writings printed in Kngland are
filled.

2d. That the individuals men-
tioned in the undersigned minister’s
letter of the 23d July last, shall be
sent out of the island of Jersey.

3d. That the former bishops of
Arras and St. Pol de Leon, and all
those who, like them, under the
pretext of religion, seek to raise
disturbances in the interior of
France, shall likewise be sent away.

Ath. That Georges and his ad-
herents shall be transported to Ca-
nada, according to the intention
which the undersigned has been di-
rected to transmit to his govern-

ment at the request of lord Hawkes-

bury.

5th. That, in order to deprive
the eyil-disposed of every pretext
for disturbing the good understand-
ing between the two governments,
it shall be recommended to the
princes of the house of Bourbon,
at present in Great Britain, to re-
pair to Warsaw, the residence of
the head of their family.

6th. That such of the French
emigrants as still think proper to
wear the orders and decorations
belonging to the ancient government
of France, shall be required to quit
the territory of the British empire.

These demands are founded upon
the treaty of Amiens, and upon the
verbal assurances that the under-
signed minister has had the satisfac-
tion to receive, in the course of
the negociations, with regard to a
mutual agreement for maintaining
tranquillity and good order in the
two countries.~ If any one in par-
ticular of these demands does not
proceed so immediately from the

663

treaty concluded, it would be easy
to justify it by striking examples,
and to prove how very attentive the
British government has been, in
times of internal fermentation, to
remove from the territory of a
neighbouring power, those who
might éndanger the public tran-
quillity.

Whatever may be the protection
which the English laws afford to na-
tive writers, and to other subjects of
his majesty, the French government
knows that foreigners do not here
enjoy the same protection; and
that the law, known by the title of
the Alien Act, gives the ministry of
his Britannic majesty an authority
which it has often exercised against
foreigners, whose residence was pre
judicial to the interests of Great
Britain. The first clause of this act
states, expressly, that any order in
council which requires a foreigner
to qtit the kingdom shall be exe-
cuted, under pain of imprisonment
and transportation. ‘There exists,
therefore, in the ministry, a legal
and sufficient power to restrain fo-
reigners, without having recourse to
courts of law ; and the French go-
vernment, which offers, on this
point, a perfect reciprocity, thinks
it gives a new proof of its pacific
intentions, by demanding that those
persons may be sent away, whose
machinations uniformly tend to sow
discord between the two people. It
owes to itself, and to the nation at
large (which has made it the deposi-
tory of its power and of its honour),
not to appear insensible to insults
and to plots during profound peace,
which the irritation of open war
could not justify, and it is too well
acquainted with the conciliatory
dispositions of the British ministry,

Uu4 nat

664

not to rely upon its efforts to dis-
perse a faction, equally the enemy
of France and England,

The undersigned minister seizes
this opportunity to present to his
excellency Jord Hawkesbury, the
homage of his respectful considera-
tion.

Otto.
London, August 17, 1802:

No. 13.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury
to Mr. Merry, dated August 28,
1802.

Sir,

I send you the copy of a letter
Which I received some days ago
from M. Otto, together with a copy
of an-oflicial note enclosed in it.
I have informed M. Otto, that you
would receive instructions to enter
into explanations with the French
government on the several points to
which it refers. It is impossible
not to feel considerable surprise at
the circumstances under which it has
heen thought proper to present such
a note; at the style in which it is
drawn up; and at the complaints
contained in it. Whatever may be
the general dispositions of the French
government towards this country,
supposing them to be as hostile as
they have been at any former pe-
riod, or even more so, it would ap-
pear so contrary to their interest to
provoke a war with us at the pre-
sent moment, that I am inclined to
ascribe their conduct, in the whole
of this business, more «to temper,
than to any other motive ; but whe-
ther their conduct is to be’ referred
to temper or to policy, the effects
of.it may still be the same; it is
therefore become of the utmost im-
portance that a frank explanation

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

should be made of the line of con-
duct which his majesty has deter-
mined to adopt on reasons of the
nature of those to which this note
refers, and of the motives on which
it is founded ; and it is to be hoped
that such an explanation will have
the effect of putting an end to a
course of proceeding, which can
lead only to perpetual irritation be-
tween the two governments, and
which might ultimately tend to the
most serious consequences.

The first consideration that natu-
rally arises on this transaction, is
that of the peculiar circumstances
under which the note of M. Otto
has been presented. It cannot be
denied that some very improper pa-
ragraphs have lately appeared in
some of the English newspapers
against the government of France ;
it cannot be denied, likewise, that
publications of a still more impro-
per and indecent nature have made
their appearance in this country,
with the names of foreigners aflixed
to them. Under these circum.
stances, the French government
would have been warranted in ex-
pecting every redress that the laws
of this country could afford them ;
but as, instead of seeking it in the
ordinary course, they have thought
fit to resort to recrimination them-
selves, or, at least, to authorise it in
others, they could have no right to
complain, if their subsequent appeal
to his majesty had failed to produce
the effect that otherwise would have
attended it.

Whatever may have been the na-
ture of the prior injury, they have,
in fact, taken the law into theirown
hands; and what is this recrimina-
tion and retort? The paragraphs in
the English .newspapers, the publi-

. cations

eations to which I have above re-
ferred, have not appeared under any
authority of the British government,
and are disayowed and disapproved
of by them; but the paragraph in
the Moniteur has appeared in a pa-
per avowedly official, for which the
government are, therefore, consi-
dered as responsible, as his majesty’s
government is responsible for the
contents of the London Gazette.
And this retort is not ‘confined to
the unauthorized English newspa-
pers, or to the other publications of
which complaint is now made, but
is converted into, and made a pre-
tence for a direct attack upon the
government of his majesty. His
majesty feels it beneath his dignity
to make any formal complaint on
this occasion; but it has been im-
possible for me to proceed to the
other parts of the subject, without
pointing your attention to the con-
duct of the French government in
this respect, that you may observe
upon it in the manner it deserves.
Thepropositions in M.Otto’s offici-
alnote, are six in number ; but may,
in fact, be divided under two heads :
_ the first, that which relates to the
libels of all descriptions, which are
_ alledged to be published against the
_ French government ; the last, com-
_ prehending the five complaints which
relate to the emigrants resident in
this country. On the first, T am
_ sure you must be aware that his ma-
_ jesty cannot, and never will, in con-
" sequence of any representation or
any menace from a foreign power,
make any concession, which can be
_ in the smallest degree dangerous to
the liberty of the press, as secured
_ by the constitution of this country.
_ This liberty is justly dear to every
_ British subject. The constitution
admits of no previous restraints

STATE PAPERS.

66

upon publications of any descrip.
tion; but there exists judicatures,
wholly independent of the executive
government, capable of taking cog-
nizance of such publications as the
law deems to be criminal, and
which are bound to inflict the pu-
nishment the delinquents may de-
serve; these judicatures may take
cognizance, not only of libels against
the government and the magistracy
of this kingdom, but, as has been
repeatedly experienced, of publica-
tions defamatory of those in whose
hands the administration of foreign
governments is placed. That our
government neither has, nor wants
any other protection than what the
laws of the country afford; and
though they are willing and ready
to give to every foreign government
all the protection against offences of
this nature, which the principle of
their laws and constitution will ad-
mit, they never can consent to
new-model their laws, or to change
their constitution, to gratify the
wishes of any foreign power. If
the present French government are
dissatisfied with our laws on the sub.
ject of libels, or entertain the opi-
nion that the administration of jus-
tice in our courts is too tardy and
lenient, they have it in their power
to redress themselves by punishing
the venders and distributers of such
publications within their own terri-
tories, in any manner that they may
think proper, and thereby prevent-
ing the circulation of them. If
they think their present laws are
not sufficient for this purpose, they
may enact new ones; or, if they -
think it expedient, they may exer-
cise the right which they have of
prohibiting the importation of any
foreign newspapers, or periodical
publications, into the territories of
the

666

the French republic. His majesty will
not complain of sucha measure, as itis
not his intention to interfere in the
manner in which the people or territo-
ries of France should be governed ;
but he expects, on the other hand,
that the French government will not
interfere in the manner in which the
government of his dominions is con-
ducted, or call for a change in those
laws with which his people are per-
fectly satisfied. | With respect to
the distinction which appeared to
be drawn in M. Otto’s note, be-
tween the publications of British
subjects and those of foreigners, and
the power which his majesty is sup-
posed to have in consequence of the
Alien Act, of sending foreigners out
of his dominions, it is important to
observe, that the provisions of that
act were made for the purpose of
preventing the residence of foreign-
ers, whose numbers and principles
had a tendency to disturb the inter-
nal peace of his own dominions,
and whom the safety of those domi-
nions might require in many in-
stances to be removed, even if their
actual conduct had not exposed
them to punishment by law. It
does not follow that it would be a
warrantable application of such a
law to exert its powers in the cases
of individuals, such as those of whom
complaint is now made, and parti-
cularly as they are liable to be pro-
secuted under the law of the land,
in like manner as others have been
in similar cases, at the instance and
upon the complaint of foreign go-
vernments.

The second general head, which
includes the five last complaints, re-
fates to the removal of some of the
French emigrants resident in this
country. His majesty entertained
hopes that the explanation furnished

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

on this head, in my dispatch No.
14, would have proved satisfactory,
and would have precluded the ne-
cessity of any farther discussion on
this subject. The French govern-
ment have, upon several occasions,
resorted on this part of the subject
to precedent, and have particularly
rested on the demand formerly made
by this country, that the person
then called the pretender should be
sent from the French dominions.—
It is important that the differences
between these two cases should be
stated. When James the Second
abdicated the throne, and left this
country, he retired with his adhe-
rents to France ; and though, in the
war which immediately succeeded
that event, the French government
adopted his cause as their own, no
stipulation was made at the treaty of
Ryswick, that he should be sent
from that country, nor was any
subsequent demand ever made to the
French government to this effect ;
but he was suffered to remain at St,
Germain, in the neighbourhgod of
Paris, surrounded by his family and
friends, till the time of his death.—
It was not till after his demise, when
Lewis the Fourteenth, in direct vio-
lation of the treaty of Ryswick, had
acknowledged his son as king of
Great Britain, that a different course
of proceeding was adopted by the
British government: and in the trea-
ty of peace, signed at Utrecht,
which put an end to the war which
had been carried on, on account of
the Spanish succession, an article
was inserted to prevent the preten-
der from residing in any part of the
French dominions. ‘The demand
which was subsequently made for
the removal of the pretender from a
town which was situated in the cen-
tre of these daminions, was founded

on

-
By
.

STAT EOPA PERS

on this article of the treaty, which
was, in fact, one of the conditions
of the peace ; but both the article in
the treaty and the demand were con-
fined to the pretender personally,
and were not extended to any of his
family, or to any of his adherents.
After his removal, many of his ad-
herents continued to reside in
France ; many persons resident in
this country, who were attached to
the cause of the pretender, and had
promoted the rebellion in his fa-
your, and who were consequently
attainted for high treason, sought
refuge in France, and were pervnit-
ted to remain there till their death,
without any application ever having
been made by the British govern-
ment for their removal. The duke
of Berwick, the natural son of
James the Second, who, from his
principles and talents, was the most

_ dangerous man to the interests of

this country and the protestant suc-
eession, continued to be a general in
the French armies, and though de-
scended from the king, an English-
man, and an emigrant, it was not
required that he should be sent out
of France. In the present case,
there is no article in the treaty of
peace, by which his majesty is
bound to send from this country any
Frenchman whatever, except on ac-
count of the crimes specified in the
twentieth article of the definitive
treaty, and in consequence of the
proofs therein required haying been
adduced: In the present case, it

_ cannot be pretended that his majes-

ty has ever given the slightest coun-
tenance to the cause of the royalists
in France against the present go-
vernment, since the period when he
acknowledged that government ;
and if there were not these impor-
tant differences in the two cases, they

667

would be totally dissimilar in the
only remaining point; for in the
case of the house of Stuart, as has
been already stated, notwithstand-
ing the violence of the times, and
the danger to which the protestant
succession was really exposed, this
strong act of authority was confined
to the person of the pretender : and
the individual who must be recog-
nized in that character by the French
government, and whose case can alone
bear any similarity to the former,
even in this respect, is not, and ne-
ver has been, within his majesty’s
dominions : other precedents might
be adduced on this subject; but it
is not necessary to state them, as
the foregoing are suficient.

With respect to the complaints in
detail, under the second head.—
Upon the first, you may ‘nform the
French government, that the emi-
grants in Jersey, many of whom had
remained there solely on account of
the cheapness of subsistence, had ac-
tually removed, or were removing,
previous to the representation con-
cerning them, in M. Otto’s note,
and that, before your explanation
with M. Talleyrand can take place,
there will probably not be an emi-
grant in the island.

To the second complaint, which
relates to the bishops of Arras and
St. Pol de Leon, and others, his
majesty can only reply, that if the
fact alledged against them can be
substantiated ; if it can be proved
that they have distributed papers on
the coast of France, with a view of
disturbing the government, and of
inducing the people to résist the new
church establishment, his majesty
would think himself justified in tak.
ing all measures within his power
for obliging them to leave the coun-
try; but some proof must be ad-

duced

668

duced of those facts ; and such proof
must not be that of their having, in
a single instance, viz. in reply to the
pope’s mandate, published a vindi-
cation of their own conduct, in re-
fusing to conform to the new esta-
blishment ; a proceeding in which
they would be justifiable on every
principle of toleration and justice ;
but it should shew that they have
since availed themselves of their si-
tuation in this country, to excite the
people of France against the autho-
rity of that government, whether
civil or ecclesiastical.

On the third complaint, which
respects the removal of Georges,
and those pers@ms supposed to be
described as his adherents, M. Otto
must have mistaken me, in what he
supposes me to have said on that
subject. His majesty is, however,
very desirous to obviate any cause
of complaint or uneasiness with re-
spect to these persons; and mea-
sures are in contemplation, and will
be taken, for the purpose of re-
moving them out of his majesty’s
European dominions.

On the fourth complaint, respect-
ing the princes of the house of Bour-
bon, I can only refer you to my
former answer. His majesty has no
desire that they should continue to
reside in this country, if they are
disposed, or can be induced, to quit
it; but he feels it to be inconsistent
with his honour, and his sense of
justice, to withdraw from them the
rights of hospitality, as long as they
conduct themselves peaceably and
quietly ; and unless some charge can
be substantiated of their attempting
to disturb the peace which subsists
between the two governments.

With respect to the fifth com-
plaint, which relates to the French
emigrants wearing, in this country,

1

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

the orders of their ancient govern-
ment; there are few, if any, persons
of that description in this country
who wear such orders. It might be
more proper if they all abstained
from it ; but the French government
could not persist in expecting, that,
even if it were consistent with law,
his majesty could be induced to
commit so harsh an act of authority
as to send them out of the country
on such an account.

1 have thus stated to you his ma-
jesty’s sentiments on the several
points contained in M. Otto’s note.
You will take an early opportunity
of communicating these sentiments
to the French government, and of
accompanying them with the argu-
ments and explanations above stated.
And if it should be desired, and you
should be of an opinion that it was
likely to produce any good effect,
there is no objection to your putting
the substance of what you shall.
have stated in writing, and of deli-
vering it to the minister for foreign
affairs, as a memorandum of your
conversation.

Upon the general tone and style
of M. Otto’s note, it is important
to observe, that it is far from con-
ciliating ; and that the practice of
presenting notes of this description,
on any motive or suggestion of per-
sonal irritation, cannot fail to have
the effect of indisposing the two go-
vernments towards each other, in-
stead of consolidating and strength-
ening the peace which happily sub-
sists between them. ‘That, after a
war, in which the passions of men
have been roused beyond all former
examples, it is natural to suppose
that the distrust, jealousy, and other
hostile feelings of individuals should
not immediately subside ; and, under

these circumstances, it appears to be
both

STATE PAPERS.

"both the interest and the duty of the

two governments, by a mild and a
temperate conduct, gradually to al-
lay these feelings, and not, on the
contrary, to provoke and augment
them, by untimely irritation on their
part, and by ascribing proceedings
like those above noticed, to causes
to which they have no reference.—
His majesty has thus fully and
frankly explained his sentiments,
and the ground of his conduct. .He
is sincerely disposed to adopt every
measure for the preservation of
peace, which is consistent with the
honour and independence of the
country, and with the security of
its laws and constitution. But the
French government must have form-
ed a most erroneous judgment of the
disposition of the British nation,
and of the character of its govern-
ment, if they have been taught to
expect that any representation of a
foreign power will ever induce them
to consent to a violation of those
rights on which the liberties of the
people of this country are founded.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Hawkesbury.
Anthony Merry, Esq.

No. 14.

Note from M. Otto to Lord Hawkes-

bury, dated August 21, 1802.

General Vial, minister plenipo-
tentiary of the republic at Malta,
having set out for his destination,
about the 20th of July, it is to be
presumed, that he will soon be in a
condition to enter into a concert
with his Britannic majesty’s minis-
ter plenipotentiary, on the evacua-
tion of Malta, and of its dependen-
cies.

The three months, in which this
evacuation should have taken place,
are expired ; and it being the inten-

669

tion of the two governments, that
the execution of the treaty of
Amiens should experience the least
possible delay, the first consul would
have been desirous that the two
thousand Neapolitans, who are rea-
dy to depart, could have been trans-
ported, at an early period, to the
island of Malta, to be in readiness
whenever the evacuation shall be on
the point of being effected.

It appears, nevertheless, that Mr.
Drummond, the English minister at
Naples, has not been authorized by
his government to facilitate this
transport; and that the motive al-
ledged by that minister was, that
the stipulations, which ought to pre-
cede the evacuation, not being ful-
filled, that evacuation could not yet
take place. ;

In communicating the above de-
tails to his excellency lord Hawkes.
bury, his Britannic majesty’s princi-
pal secretary of state for the foreign
department, the undersigned is di-
rected to observe, that the sending
the two thousand Neapolitans to the
island of Malta cannot but be con-
sidered as a preliminary step, in or-
der to accelerate the evacuation, as
soon as the necessary measures shall
have been taken by the respective
plenipotentiaries ; and that it does
not in any manner prevent the sub-
sequent concern on the details of
the evacuation, conformably to the
clauses of the treaty of Amiens.

The undersigned is moreover
directed to request the British mi-
nistry to give general instructions to
his majesty’s plenipotentiaries at
Naples, and at Malta, that the eva-
cuation, and the other conditions of
the 10th article, may be executed
without obstacle, and without these
plenipotentiaries conceiving them-
selves obliged to refer to their go-

yernment,

676

vernment, on each of the successive
operations which should take place.

The undersigned embraces this
opportunity to present to his ex-
cellency lord Hawkesbury, the ho-
mage of his respectful considera-

tion.
(Signed) Otto.
His Excellency Lord Hawkesbury,
&c. &c. &c.

No. 15.
Note from Lord Hawkesbury to M.
Otto, dated August 23, 1802.

The undersigned has the honour
to acknowledge the receipt of Mr.
Otto’s note of the 21st instant.

When the Neapolitan government
notifed to Mr. Drummond, the
king’s minister at Naples, that the
two thousand troops which his Si-
cilian majesty had selected to serve
in Malta, were ready to proceed to
their destination, that gentleman
declined taking any step to facilitate
their embarkation, till he should re-
ceive intelligence of the arrival of
sir Alexander Ball in that island, and
till he should be informed that the
commander in chief of the British
forces had made suitable prepara-
tions for their reception. By the
last advices from Malta it appears,
that sir Alexander Ball had arrived
there on the tenth of last month,
and that, after having conferred with
gencral Fox upon the subject, he
had written to Mr. Drummond, that
there was no impediment whatever
to the immediate reception of the
Neapolitan troops, and that their
quarters would be prepared accord-
ingly ; the undersigned has the honour
to state this to M. Otto as the most
satisfactory answer which he can
give to his note, It is probable,
therefore, that the troops of his Si-
eilian majesty are already embarked
and on their passage; but to pre-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

vent the possibility of any unneees~
sary delay or misconception, the most
explicit instructions will be imme-
diately forwarded to Mr. Drum-
mond on this subject.

With respect to the other points
in M. Otto’s note, the undersigned
can only repeat what he has before
stated to him, that his majesty is
most sincerely desirous to see all the
stipulations of the 10th article of
the definitive treaty carried into ef-
fect with the utmost punctuality,
and with the least possible delay.
With this view he takes this oppor-
tunity of observing to M. Otto, that,
by the very last dispatches from the
English ambassador at St. Peters-
burg, the French minister at that
court had not eyen then received
any instructions from his govern-
ment relative to the steps to be
taken in concert with lord St. He-
lens, for inviting the emperor to be-
come guarantee of the’ provisions
and stipulations of the article in
question. The French minister. at
Berlin was in the same predicament.
The undersigned, therefore, requests
that M. Otto would have the good.
ness to represent these circumstances
to his government, and to urge them, |
if they have not already done it,
to transmit, without delay, to their
ministers at those courts, the ne-
cessary instructions for bringing
this part of: the business to a con-
clusion.

The undersigned requests M. Otto
to accept the assurances of his high
consideration.

(Signed) Hawkesbury.
Downing Street, August 23, 1802.

No. 16.

Extract of a Dispatch from Mr.
Merryto Lord Hawkesbury, dated
October 3, 1802. ;
As soon as the Helvetic govern-

ment

ti a ees

4

STATE PAPERS.

ment had retired from Berne to Ti.
sanne, the partizans of the ancient
federative system of the Swiss can-
tons, who established immediately
in the former city a provisional go-
yernment, deputed a confidential to
Paris, for the purpose ef counter-
acting the measures of M. Stapfer,
and of engaging the first consul to
suffer the inhabitants of Switzerland
to settle their affairs amongst’ them-
selves. He was instructed in any
emergency to address himself to the
ministers here of the principal powers
of Europe, and to solicit their inter-
ference and assistance in the objects
of his mission. He reached Paris
four days ago, and had reason to
flatter himself, from the result of an
interview which he had immediately
with M. Talleyrand, that the first
consul would put no obstacle in the
way of any arrangement which the
Swiss might agree upon among them-
selves for the final settlement of their
government ; he was therefore much
surprised to learn, soon afterwards,
that a change had taken place in the
first consul’s sentiments, and his
astonishment was completed when
he found that the latter had taken
so decided and so unfavourable a
part in the business as that which is
announced by a resolution published
in yesterday’s Moniteur, (which I
have the honour to transmit en-
closed,) in the form of an address
to the inhabitants of Switzerland.
This person having, besides this pub-
lic declaration, aéquited some pri-
vate information of its being the
first consul’s intention to give the
most immediate and vigorous effect
to it, lost no time in addressing a
letter to the latter, in which he took
the liberty of stating that he must
have been deceived by false repre-
sentations, that his interference in

3

671

the affairs of Switzerland was, as he
was authorised to say, entirely un-
solicited by the majority and the best
thinking part of the inhabitants, and
that he had therefore to entreat of
him, in the most earnest manner, to
suspend the execution of his resolu-
tion until those explanations could
take place which he trusted might be
the means of preventing the immense
effusion of blood which would other-
wise inevitably ensue. He at the
same time addressed himself, in the
course of yesterday, to me, as well
as to the Austrian and Spanish am-
bassadors, and to the Russian and
Prussian ministers, (not having gain-
ed admittance to M. de Cobenzel,
nor to M. de Markoff or Lucchesini,
he afterwards wrote to them,) soli-
citing, in the strongest terms, an in-
terference (jointly, if possible) on
their part, with the French govern-
ment, to endeavour to avert the im-
pending evil. I naturally observed
to him, in answer, that the present
state of political relations between
the great powers of Europe afforded
no prospect of his obtaining of their
ministers at Paris to adopt a con-
certed measure in favour of the ob-
ject which he had so much at heart,
and that of course I could not take
it individually upon myself, without
any express instruction from my go-
vernment. He returned to me, to-
day, to acquaint me that he was not
only as yet without a reply from
any quarter, but had reason to fear
that his prayers would not be listened
to by the, Austrian, Russian, and
Prussian ministers ; he therefore con-
jured me to transmit them to his ma-
Jesty’s government, from whom only
his countrymen could have a hope of
deriving any assistance in the terrible
conflict which he knew they were de-
termined to stand, and which would

only

672

only cease by the extermination of
every virtuous and brave man in the
country. He then put into my hand
a note, which he had drawn up in
a hurry, and of which L enclose a
copy. Whilst, my lord, it was out
of my power to give him any encou-
ragement to expect from his ma-
jesty’s government the assistance
which his petition expresses, I have
thought it my duty to lose no time
in making you acquainted with a
state of things which may shortly be
attended with yery important con-
sequences.

Note referred to in No. 16.

So long as Switzerland was oc-
cupied by the French armies, the
wishes of the people could never be
freely manifested. The petty revo-
Jutions which took place in the go-
vernment were the mere tricks of
certain factions, in which the nation
at large took but. a very trifling in-
terest. Scarcely did Switzerland
think herself independent when she
was desirous of returning to her an-
cient institutions, rendered still dear-
er to her by her late misfortunes,
and the arbitrary acts of the govern-
ment furnished her with the means
of doing so, Almost the whole of
Switzerland, with unexampled una-
nimity and moderation, shook off
the yoke. The cantons formed them-
selves into constituent bodies, and
twelve of the thirteen cantons of
Switzerland sent their representa-
tives to the diet of Schwitz, in order
there to organize a central power
which might be acceptable to the
neighbouring powers.

The © aristecratical cantons re-
nounced their exclusive rights; the
Pays de Vaud was Jeft at liberty
fo form its own constitution, as well
as Thurgovia and the other new can-
tons.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

The government having taken re,
fuge at Lausanne, was by no means
secure there, notwithstanding its
regular troops; perhaps even at
the present moment it no longer
exists.

Who would not have thought
that, according to the stipulation of
the treaty of Luneville, which grants
independence to Switzerland and the
right of choosing its own govern-
ment, every thing was settled, and
that this nation might see its former
happiness and tranquillity revive ?

Who could have thought that
the first consul would have issued
such a decree as that of the 8th
Vendemiaire ?

Is an independent nation to be
thus treated? Should Bonaparte per-
sist in his determination, and the
other powers should not interpose
in our favour, it only remains for
us either to bury ourselves in the
ruins of our houses, although with-
out hope of resistance, exhausted
as we are by the Colossus who
is about to overwhelm us, or to
debase ourselves in the eyes of the
whole universe!

Will the government of this ge-
nerous nation, which has at all
times afforded so many proofs of
the interest it takes in the welfare
of the Swiss, do nothing for us un-
der circumstances which are to de-
cide whether we are still to be ranked
amongst free people?

We have only men left us :—the
reyolution, and spoliations without
end, have exhausted our means; we
are without arms, without ammuni-
tion, without stores, and without
money to purchase them.

No. 17.

Note from Lord Hawkesbury to M.
Oito, dated October 10, 1802.
Lord Hawkesbury has received

his

his majesty’s commands to commu-
nicate, through M. Qito, to the
French government, the sentiments
of deep regret which have been ex-
cited in his majesty’s mind by the
address of the first consul to the
Helvetic people, which was pub-
lished by authority, in the Moniteur
of the 1st instant, and by the repre-
sentations which have been made to
his majesty on this subject, on be-
half of the nation whose interests
are so immediately affected by it.
His majesty most sincerely laments
the convulsions to which the Swiss
cantons have for some time past
been exposed; but he can consider
their Jate exertions in no other light
than as the lawful efforts of a brave
and generous people to recover their
ancient laws. and government, and
to procure the re-establishment of
a system which experience has de-
monstrated not only to be favour-
able to the maintenance of their do-
-mestic happiness, but to be perfectly
consistent with the tranquillity and
Security of other powers.
The cantons of Switzerland un-
questionably possess, in the same de-
gree as every other independent
State, the right of regulating their
Own internal concerns; and _ this
right has moreover, in the present
instance, been formally and expli-
citly guaranteed to the Swiss nation
hy the French government, in the
treaty of Luneville, conjointly with
the other powers who were parties
to that engagement. His majesty
has no other desire than that the
_ people of Switzerland, who now ap-
ppear to be so generally united, should
be left at liberty to settle their own
‘internal government without the in-
terposition of any foreign powers ;
and with whatever regret his ma-
jesty may have perused the late pro-
=. Vou, XLV.

STATA PAPE Rs. 673

clamation of the French government,
he is yet unwilling to believe that
they will farther attempt to con-
trol that independent nation in, the
exercise of their undoubted rights.
His majesty thinks himself called
upon by his regard for the general
interests of Europe, and by his pe-
culiar solicitude for the happiness
and welfare of the Swiss nation, to
express these his sentiments with a
frankness and sincerity which he
feels to be due to his character, and
to the good understanding which he
is desirous of preserving with the go-
vernment of France.

Downing Street, OG. 10, 1802.
M. Otto, &c. Sc. &c.

No. 18.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Mr. Moore, dated October 10,
1802,

Sir,

His majesty having deemed it ex-
pedient, that a confidential person
should be sent, at the present mo-~-
ment, to Switzerland, in consequence
of the communication which he has
received from the Swiss confederacy,
through their representative at Paris,
1 am commanded to inform you that
he has made choice of you for that
purpose.

It is of the utmost consequence,
considering the nature of the busi-
ness with which you are entrusted,
that you should lose no time in
taking your departure from hence,
and that you should make every
practicable exertion to arrive on the
frontiers of Switzerland with as little
delay as possible. . You will inform
yourself there what is the actual re-
sidence of the government of the
Swiss confederation, to which you
will immediately repair. Having
taken the proper means to obtain a

x confidentiat

074

confidential interview with the per-
sons who may be entrusted with the
principal direction of affairs, you
will communicate to them a copy of
the nofe Verbale- which I delivered to
M. Otto, -aiid which is herewith in-
closéd ; ana you will take every op-
portunity of ‘impressing upon their
minds the deep interest which his
mhajesty takes in the success of their
exertions. You will state to them,
that lis majesty cntertains hopes
that his representation to the French
government may have the effect of
inducing the first consul to abandon
his intention of compelling the Swiss
nation by force to renounce that
system of government under which
they had so long prospered, and to
which they appear to be almost una-
tiimously “anxious to return. In
this event his majesty will feel him-
self bound to abstain from all inter-
ference on his part; it being his
carnest desire that the Swiss nation
should be left at liberty to regulate
their own internal concerns, with-
out the interposition of any foreign
power. If, however, contrary to
his majesty’s expectations, the French
government should persist in the
system of coercion announced in the
proclamation of the first consul, in-
serted in the Moniteur of the Ist
instant, you will, in that case, in-
form yourself, by every means in
your power, of the disposition of
the people at large of the Swiss con-
federacy, and particularly of those
who have the direction of their at-
fairs, and of those who possess the
greatest share of influence amongst
them, to persevere in the defence
of their rights, and in the mainte-
nance of the system they have adopt-
ed. You will likewise enquire into
the means of defence of which they
may be possessed, and of the pro-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1863.

bability of their being exerted with
success. You will on no account
encourage them to persevere in ac-
tive measures of resistance which
they aye not themselves desirous to
adopt, or which they may believe
are unlikely to ke ultimately effec-
tudl. If, however, you should find
that the people of the Swiss confe-
deracy are generally determined to
persevere in the maintenance of their
independence, and of their right to
return to their ancient system of go- —

vernment: and if you should be of
opinion that, from the union that
subsists amongst the people, and’
from their zeal and enthusiasm in’
the cause in which they are engaged, |
they are finally resolved, at all
hazards, to resist the threatened at--
tempt of the French government to’
interpose, by force of arms, in the’
settlement of their internal concerns ;
you will then immediately commu-
nicate, in confidence, to the Swiss
government, that, either in the event
of a French army having entered
the country, or in the event of your
having reason to be convinced that
a French army is actually advancing
for that purpose, his majesty has
authorised you to accede to their

application for pecuniary succours,
[ have furnished you with a cy-
pher and decypher, that you may
have it in your power to correspond
with his majesty’s ministers at Vien-
na and Munich, if you should think
it advisable ; and as it is highly pro-
bable that the armies of the Swiss
confederacy may be inadequately
supplied with arms, ammunition, or
provisions, and may be desirous of
procuring supplies thereof from the
neighbouring countries, you will
use your utmost endeavours to give
them every facility for this purpose.
You will be very particular in in-
forming

STATE PAPERS.

forming me of the numbers and si-

twation of any Austrian corps in

the neighbourhood of Switzerland,
and of the probability of their ad-
vancing in any event into the Swiss

_ territory.

As it is of great ‘in partutide that
his majesty’s government should be
regularly informed of the events
_ Which may be passing in Switzer-
land, and of the dispositions that
may prevail there, you will endea-
your to ascertain the most safe and
expeditious mode of conveying your
letters which will avoid their pas-
sing through any part of the French
republic.

As it is possible that, previous to
your arrival in Switzerland, the pre-
sent state of affairs may have under-
gone a decided alteration, either in
consequence of the submission of
_ the Swiss cantons, or of any com-
‘promise having taken place as to
their internal concerns, it will be
proper that, in that case, you should
take up your residence in such
a@ situation as you may think most
convenient in the neighbourhood
ef Switzerland, of which you will
give me the earliest intelligence,
and there wait for his majesty’s fur-
ther orders.

Iam, Sir, &c.
(Signed) Hawkesbury.
Francis Moore, Esq.

No. 19.

Dispatch from Mr. Moore to Lord
Hawkesbury, dated Constance, Oc-
tober 31, 1802.

My lord,

I have the honour to inform your

e Tordship that I arrived here on the

_ _ 27th instant, and that, having re-
eeived this evening authentic in-
_ formation of the submission of the
_ diet of Switzerland, assembled ‘at

675

Schwitz, to the French arms, I lose
no time in dispatching the messenger
Shaw with this intelligence; from
which your lordship will perceive
that it only remains for me to ebey
that part of my instructions by
which I am directed, under such cir-
cumstances, to take up my residence
im the neighbourhood of Switzerland,
and there to await his majesty’s fur-
ther orders.
] have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) ~ Fra. Moore.
The Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury,
&c. &§e.

; No. 20.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Mr. Moore, dated November 25,
1802.

Sir,

I have duly received your several
Jetters by the messenger Shaw.

As from the present state of
Switzerland, your continuance in the
vicinity of that country appears to
be no longer necessary, you are
at liberty to return to England
as soon as it may suit your con-
venience.

lam, &c.
(Signed) Hawkesbury.
Francis Moore, Esq.
No. 21.

Extract of a Dispatch from Mr. Lis-
ton to Lord Hawkesbury, dated
Hague, October 13, 1802.

A few hours after I had sent off
my last dispatch to your lordship
(on Saturday the 9th of this month),
the French ambassador, M. de Se-
monville, waited upon the presi-
dent of the government of state.
and informed him that he had just
received, by a-courier from Paris,
orders to inform the gov ernment of
this country,

Xx2 «© Que

676

“6 Que le premicr consul ayoit
appris, avec autant de surprise que
@indisnation, que des personnes
avides de révolutions vouloient de
nouveau troubler le repos dans la
Batavie, en abusant méme pour cet
effet de noms respectables: et que
le premier consul, comme alli¢ de
Ja republique, invitoit le gouverne-
ment a prendre toutes les mésures
nécessaires pour maintenir Vordre
des choses etabli par Ja constitu-
tion.”

‘These were nearly the words read
to me by the secretary of state,
from a note in his own hand-writing,
dictated to him by M. de Semon-
ville, with a view to its publica-
tion (and a translation was accord-
ingly inserted in the Dutch official
paper of the Hague on the 11th);
but they fall very far short of the
language employed by the French
minister for foreign aflairs in his
dispatches to the ambassador, and in
the communication made by him to
the Dutch charge d’aflaires at Paris
(who also sent a messenger to the
Hague upon this occasion). In
these M. de 'Talleyrand entered into
considerable detail on the subject
ot the plots supposed to be formed
in this country against the admi-
nistration, mentioned the names of
the chiefs, and ended by making
an offer, on the part of the first
consul, to come to the assistance
of the government (should circum-
stances render it necessary) with all
his forces.

No, 22.

Dispatch from Mr. Liston to Lord
Hawkesbury, dated Hague, Octo-
ber -29, 1802.

My lord, °
The recent attack made by Bona-
parte upon the Tibertics and inde-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

pendence of the Swiss cantons, has
naturally made a strong impression
on the inhabitants of this country ;
and the public anxiety has been
much augmented by certain symp-
toms in the conduct of the consular
government, which seem to indicate
an intention not to withdraw the
French troops, which have been
kept in the Batayian republic for
some time past, under the title of
auxiliaries, and paid and main-
tained at the expence of the Dutch
nation.

These troops (amounting to be-
tween ten and eleven thousand men)
were to remain here till the conclu-
sion of the definitive treaty with
Great Britain. It was afterwards
formally promised, on the part of
France, that they should evacuate
the territories of the republic, at
the latest, on the expiration of the
last French year (the 23d of Sep-
tember).—They accordingly began
their march to the southward a few
days before that period; and the
government and the people rejoiced
at the prospect of being finally re-
lieved from a load which has. be-
come extremely irksome to them.
But, on pretence that a great por-
tion of the corps were to be em-
barked at Flushing for Louisiana,
and that there was a want of ship-
ping for their accommodatian, they
took up their quarters at the fron-
tiers of the country (at Bois-le-
Duc, Breda, and Bergen-op-Zoom),
where they still remain; and de-
mands have continued to be made
for their pay and maintenance.

Hopes were, however, enter-
tained, from day to day, that their
departure would take place; when,
to the astonishment of the Batavian
government, official notice was (last
week) transmitted from France to

the

STATE PAPERS.

the department of war at the Hague
(which has been charged with the
support of these corps), that the
first consul has been pleased to ap-
point a new commander in chief
(General Montrichard), and a new
Staff, for the auxiliary troops in
this country; and the notice was
given that government might pro-
vide for the pay of the officers in
question..

The administration appear re-
solved to oppose all the resistance
in their power to this unexpected
and oppressive extortion, An ex-
press has been sent off to the Dutch
ambassador at Paris, charging him
to claim, in the most urgent terms,
the accomplishment of the treaties
subsisting between the two repub-
lies, and the fulfilment of the re-
peated and recent promises made by
the French government upon this
subject. And in case of the failure
of this application, they talk of ad-
dressing themselves to the princi-
pal powers of Europe, who had
any share or influence in the con-
clusion of the peace, to entreat
their intervention and good oflices,
with a view to the maintenance of
the independence of the republic.

I have the honour to be, &c.

Robert Liston.
Right Honourable Lord Hawksbury,

&e. §e,

No. 23.

Extract of « Dispatch from Lord
Hawkesbury to Lord Whitworth,
dated November 30, 1802.

His majesty’s government have

learnt, with some surprise, from the

communications from general Stuart,

_ that that officer had signified to co-

Jonel Sebastiani his inability to eva-
cuate Egypt, until he should re-
¢eive specific orders for that pur-

67

pose. It is certainly true that no
warrant has been transmitted to ge-
neral Stuart, or to his predecessor
the earl of Cavan, for the evacuation
of Egypt: neither was it considered
to be necessary, jnasmuch as his
majesty’s government had already
expressed their intention to general
Stuart, in his instructions, that, ex-
cept in a case of absolute necessity,
the king’s troops should remain in
Egypt no longer than the month of
July last. In all the instances of
places which had been conquered by
the king’s forces, and of which pos-
session had been taken in his ma-
jesty’s name, it has been usual, when
they have been restored to the
French republic, or its allies, that
the commanding officer should be
furnished with a regular warrant
under the king’s sign manual, au-
thorising him to make such resto.
ration. But the case of Egypt is
different, as that country had never
been taken possession of in his ma-
jesty’s name, as it had actually been
restored to the Ottoman Porte, and
as certain stations in it were con-
tinued to be occupied merely as
military posts, until the means of
removing the troops should be pro-
vided.

It is probable that, in the pre-
sent instance, general Stuart may
have been misled by a doubt as to
the extent of his own power, and
by the opinion that he required a
warrant to evacuate Ugypt, similar
to that which had been granted te
officers who superintended the res-
titation of conquests of which pos-
session had been taken in his ma-
jesty’s name. In order, however,
to obviate any farther difficulties,
instructions have now been sent to ~
general Stuart directing him to re-
move the king’s troops from Egypt

Xx3Z with

678

with as little delay as possible, and
information has been given to this
effect to general Andreossy,

No. 24.

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord St.
Helens to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated St. Petersburgh, July 20,
1802, et
I have since renewed my applica-

tions to this government on the bu-
siness of Malta, and have some rea-
son to hope that some impression
has been made on the mind of his
imperial majesty. The French mi-
nister, however, has not yet re-
ceived his instruétions; and, till
they arrive, it will, of course, be
impossible for me to take the re-
quisite steps for bringing this af-
fair to any satisfactory, or even po-
sifive issue.

No. 25.

Extract of « Dispatch from Lord St.
Helens, to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated St. Petersburgh, dugust 3,
1802,

I must not omit to acquaint your
lordship, that although, in order to
prevent any further waste of time,
I have thought it right to endeavour
to obtain a definitive explanation of
the intentions of this court, with
relation to the proposed guarantee,
1 have not yet been enabled to
demand it officially, according to
the terms of the treaty of Amiens,
as the Freuch minister here is still
without instrudtions authorising him
to join with me in that instance.

No. 26.

Extreé of « Dispatch from Mr. Pa-
get to Lord Hawkesbury, dated
Vienna, July 18, 1802.

Qn the 15th imstant, M. de

Champagny and I met at a con-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ference at the vice-chancellor’s, to
whom we presented our respec-
tive notes, copies of which I have
the honour to enclose, marked se
and B.

Inclosure marked A. in No. 26.

The undersigned, his Britannic
majesty’s envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary, has the ho-
nour to transmit herewith to the
vice-chancellor of court and state, a
copy of the tenth article of the
treaty.of Amiens. He has, at the
same time, the honour to acquaint
his excellency that he has received
orders from his court to invite his
majesty the emperor and king, con- —
formable to the 13th paragraph of
that article, to give his guarantee to
the arrangements stipulated therein.

He therefore requests the vice-
chancellor of court and state to lay
this communication before his i nnpe-
rial majesty.

The undersigned avails himself,
with pleasure, of this opportunity
to reiterate to his exeellency the ex-
pression of his most distinguished
consideration.

(Signed) Arthur Paget.

Vienna, 15th July, 1802.

Inclosure marked B. in No. 2
The embassador of the French
republic, on the invitation which
has been given him by Mr. Pa-
get, his Britannic majesty’s mi-
nister plenipotentiary and envoy
extraordinary, hastens, in conjunct-
tion with that minister, to commu-
nicate to the vice-chancellor of
court and state, the 10th article of
the treaty of Amiens, concerning
the order and island of Malta, the
sixth paragraph of which article
places the independency of the island
of Malta under the guarantee of his
imperia}

*

pee

r= a,

“—e

STATE «PAP E£ R'S.

imperial majesty, and several other
powers of Europe.

In taking this step, the ambassa-
dor, who has not received any or-
ders respecting it, acts from the
knowledge he has of the intention
of his government to execute all the
stipulations of the treaties it has
concluded.

The ambassador seizes, with ea-
gerness, this opportunity to offer to
his excellency the assurances of his
high consideration.

Vienna, 26 Messidor, Year 10.
(Signed) Champagny.
Count Cobenzel.

No. 27.

Extract of a Dispatch from Mr. Pa-
get to Lord Hawkesbury, dated
Vienna, August 22, 1802.

I have the honour herewith to
transmit to your lordship the empe-
ror’s act of guarantee and accession
to the 10th article of the treaty of
Amiens,

Tnclosure referred to in No. 27.

The emperor and king having
been invited by his Britannic ma-
jesty ‘and the first consul of the
French republic to accede to the
stipulations contained in the 10th
article of the treaty concluded and
signed at Amiens on the 29th of
March, 1802, (4th Germinal, year
10,) respecting the order of St. John
of Jerusalem ; and also to take un-
der his protection and guarantee,
conjointly with the other powers
cited in the sixth paragraph of the
said article, whatever was therein
especially stipulated on the subject
of the island of Malta: and his im-
perial and royal apostolic majesty
having been, at the same time, in-
formed that the two above mention-
ed powers adopted on their part the

679

concert which had been centered into
by the two imperial courts, previ-
ous to the exchange of the ratifica-
tions of the above-mentioned treaty
of Amiens, to leave to the pope the
seleétion of a grand master from
amongst the candidates nominated
for that purpose by the priories of
the order: his majesty, the emperor
and king, desirous, on the present
occasion, of exhibiting a fresh proof
of his sincere friendship for his ma-
jesty, the king of Great Britam,
and for the first consul of the French
republic, has empowered’ and in-
structed his grand chamberlain and
cabinet minister, count Francis of
Colloredo, and his vice-chancellor
of court and state, count Lewis of
Cobenzel, to proceed in lis name te
the accession and guarantee of the
stipulations of the tenth article of
the aforementionel treaty; who,
in virtue thereof, declare that his
majesty accedes, by the present act,
to the stipulations contained in this
article, with the clause herein-be-
fore referred to, respecting the
mode of the next election of the
grand master of the order; and his
majesty specifically guarantees what-
soeyer is therein regulated, with re-
gard to the independence of the
islands of Malta, Gozo, and Co-
mino.

In witness whereof we, the pleni-
potentiaries of his imperial, royal,
and apostolic majesty, have signed
the present agt of accession and of
guarantee; have thereunto aflixed
the seal of our arms, and have ex-
changed it against the acts of accep-
tation, delivered in the name of his
majesty the king of Great Britain,
and of the first consul of the French
republic. Which acts of accession,
of guarantee, and of acceptation,
shall be ratified in the space of four

Xx4 weeks,

680

weeks, or sooner, if it can be
done.
Done at Vienna, the 20th of
August, 1802.
(1. S.) Francis count of Colloredo.
(L. §.) Lewis count of Cobenzel.

No- 28.

Extraét of a Dispatch from Mr. Cas-
amajoy to Lord Hawkesbury, dat-
ed Berlin, August 21, 1802.
Having opened the subject of

your lordship’s last dispatch, rela-

tive to the accession of this court to
the arrongement stipulated in the
tenth article of the treaty of Ami-
ens, to Mr, Bignon, this gentleman
undertook, very willingly, to men-
tion the same to his government,
and has, in fact, already performed
his promise. In several conversa-

tions with Mr. Bignon, in which I

have occasionally remarked, — that

nothing had hitherto been said to
me here upon the subjeét of Malta,
he has constantly affected the great-

est indifference, and treated it as a

business of too little importance to

occupy the attention of the French
government,

No. 29.

Extraét of a Dispatch from Mr. Casa-
major to Lord Hawkesbury, dated
Berlin, August 31, 1802.

Mr. Bignon received, last night,
instructions from the French go-
vernment,. to invite the king of
Prussia, conjointly with me, to ac-
cede to the guarantee of the inde-
pendence of .the island of Malta,
and of the other stipulations relat-
ing to that island, which are con-
tained in the tenth article of the de-
finitive treaty of Amiens. Mr. Big-
non sent to me immediately, and we
propose to meet to-morrow, for the
purpose of preparing a note upon

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

this subject, of which we shall each
present a copy to count Haugwitz.

No. 30.

Extraét of a Dispatch from Mr. Cas-
amajor to Lord Hawkesbury, dated
Berlin, Oét. 2, 1802.

My note upon the subject of the
guarantee of Malta remains unan-
swered.

No. 31.

Extraét of « Dispatch from Mr.
Jackson to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated Berlin, Nov. 25, 1802.

At my first interview with count
Haugwitz, I told him, that the only
subject in suspense between our two
courts, to which I need call his im-
mediate attention, was that of the
guarantee of Malta, on which an
answer is still due from him. He
adverted to what he had told Mr.
Casamajor, of the king his master
having ordered a report to be made
to him on the state of the comman--
ders in Silesia, hinting, that this
country took a very slight interest
in the fate of the island: and that
he was countenanced in withholding
its guarantee by the example of
Spain. He, however, added, that,
the report in question had been
made to the king, and that he only
waited his majesty’s commands to
confer with me further upon the
subject.

Maat:

Extract of a Dispatch from Mr.
Garlike to Lord Hawkesbury, dated
St. Petersburgh, Sept. 17, 1802.
The French minister has, at

length, been directed by his go-

vernment to make, conjointly with
his majesty’s minister here, a formal
invitation to the emperor of Russia
for his imperial majesty’s guarantee
of the stipulations of the treaty of

Amiens, which provide for the in-

dependence

STATE PAPERS.

U ~
dependence of the islands of Malta,
Gozo, and Comino, and of the other
arrangements of that article.

No. 33.

Extratt of a Dispatch from Sir John
Borlase Warren to Lord Hawkes-
bury, dated St. Petersburgh, Nov.
18, 1802.

On the 3d instant, I waited upon
the chancellor with general Hedou-
yille, when the note of invitation for
his imperial majesty’s guarantee of
the tenth article of the treaty of
Amiens was presented by each of
us.

General de Hedouvyille entered
into various reasons to induce the
Russian government to grant the
guarantee ; the principal of which

_ was to prove, that, without the gua-
rantee of Russia, "either of the two
powers, upon the first diflerence be-
tween them, would look upon

themselves at liberty to seize upon
the island, which was only impor-

‘tant in a ‘military point of view ;
and the only alteration he should

|

island might be delivered up to the

Neapolitan troops.—He added, that
the act of guarantee would not be
considered as affecting the arrange-
| ment of any particular power with
_the order, or of any alteration that
power might wish to make in the
aillages, or that part belonging to
elf, as Spain had already done.

No. 34.

® atract of a Dispatch from Sir John

Borlase Warren to Lord Hawkes-
BD bury ‘y, dated St. Petersburgh, Nov.
25, 1802.
) The chancellor appointed yester-
y evening for delivering to me,
and to the French minister, the an-
Swer of the Russian government to

e]
.

make in his invitation was, that the

681

his majesty’s invitation for his im-
perial majesty’s accession to the
tenth article of the treaty of
Amiens.

Inclosure referred to in No. 34.
Conditions upon which his im-
perial majesty of all the
Russias is willing to accede
to the stipulations of the
10th article of the treaty of
Amiens.

I. The acknowledgment of the so-
vereignty of the order of St. John of
J erusalemover theisland of Maltaand
its dependencies ; the acknowledg-
ment of the grand master, and of
the civil government of the order,
according to its ancient institutions,
with the admission into it of native
Maltese. Upon this point, as well
as upon every other that may relate
to its interior organization, the legal
government of the order shall have
the power to enaét and prescribe
such regulations as it may judge hest
calculated to promote the future
welfare and prosperity of the order.

Il. The rights of the king of the
Two Sicilies, as suzerain of the
island, shall remain upon the same
footing as they were previous to the
war which is now terminated by the
treaty of Amiens.

Lil. The independence and neu-
trality of the island of Malta, its
ports and dependencies, shall be se-
cured and guaranteed by the re-
spective contracting powers, who
shall mutually engage to acknow-
ledge and maintain that neutrality
in all cases of war; whether be-
tween cach other, or between any
of them, and any other power, not
excepting his Sicilian majesty, whose
right of suzerainty shall not extend
so as to cnable him to cause a de-
parture from the neutrality of the

island,

G82

island, as guaranteed by the present
act.

{V. Until the order shall be in a
situation to provide, by its own re-
sources, for the maintenance of its
independence and neutrality, as se-
eured by the preceding article, as
well as for the defence of. their
principal residence, the different
forts shall be occupied by his Sicilian
majesty’s troops, who shall send a
suflicient force for the defence of the
island and its dependencies, the
number of which shall be agreed
upon by his said majesty and the
two contracting powers, who shall
take upon themselves, conjointly,
the expence of maintaining the
whole of the said troops, so long
as the defence of the island shall
continue to be entrusted to them,
during which period, the said troops
shall be under the authority of the
grand master of his government.

V. The present additional act
shall be considered as forming an
integral part of the treaty of Ami-
ens, the same as if it had been in-
serted therein, word for word, and
shall be executed in like manner.

VI. Their majesties the emperor
of ajl the Russias, the emperor of
the Romans, the king of Spain, the
king of the Two Sicilies, and the
king of Prussia, shall be invited to
accede to this act as guarantees.

(Signed) Comte Alexandre
de Woronzow.

No. 35.

Dispatch from Lerd Whitworth to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris,
Jan. 27, 1803.

My lord,

I have to report to your lordship
the purport of a conversation I had
on ‘Tuesday Jast, by appointment,
with M, Talleyrand. He had in-

ANNUAL REGISTE R,°1803.

vited me, some days ago, for this
purpose. The communication he
had to make to me related to two
points, both equally important, as
he said, to the maintenance of good
harmony between the two countries 5
with this difference, however, that
the one originated with himself, and
was dictated by his anxiety to do
away every thing which might feed
the mutual irritation of the two
countries; and the other, by the
express order of the first consul.
That which came from himself re-
lated to the English newspapers,
against which he pronounced a most
bitter philippic, assuring me, that
the first consul was extremely hurt
to find that his endeavours to conci-~
liate, had hitherto produced no other
effect, than to increase the abuse
with which the papers in England
continually loaded him. He expa-
tiated much upon this topic, and
endeavoured to establish a fact,
which [ assured him a reference to
any one newspaper in Paris would
instantly refute, that, during four
months, not a word of provocation
had appeared in any French jour-
nal, which could justify a retort
from those published in England.
For the rest, he advanced nothing
but what has been said, on more
than one occasion to Mr. Merry,
and reported by him to your lord,
ship. 1 was, however, given to
understand, that the first consul
was, in fact, highly incensed, and
the more so, he was pleased to say,
as it came from a country of whose
good opinion he was so very ambi-
tious.

In my reply, I could but go over
the old ground, and endeavour t
make M. Talleyrand understand—
first, that whatever was said in th
English papers, might be consider

h

STATE PAP.E/RS.

but as a national retaliation for
what was published im the French
papers—secondly, that what was
officially published here, was by no
means so in England—and, thirdly,
that although the government pos-
sessed a control over the press in
France, the English government
neither had, nor could have, unless
they purchased it at the same price,
any whatever in England. Upon

this, he endeavoured to prove to

me, that there were papers in Eng-
land attached to different parties,
and went over their names and sup-
posed conneétion with great preci-
sion; and that, consequently, his
majesty’s ministers might so far con-
trol those, at least, which depended
upon them, as to prevent their in-
serting that abuse which must be
considered as having their+sanction.
I endeavoured to explain to him
what the influence was, which he
supposed ministers to possess in
England ; that it amounted to no-
thing more than a preference which
your lordship, for instance, might
give to one paper rather than to
another, by sending to it any arti-
cles of news which it might be wish-
ed to make public; but that your
_ lordship’s influence went no far-
ther ; and that, if the editor of such
a paper conceived it more for his
interest to continue to write after his
own fancy, and uncontrolled, than to
_ be the publisher of such occasional

articles, in that case, all influence
_ was at an end. I told him, that if
he had remarked any abusive article
_ im any paper of such a description,
it was natural and fair to conclude,
that it did not depend upon govern-
ment:to prevent it. Tie persisted in
_ his opinion, that his majesty’s mi-
nisters might keep certain papers in
_ order, as L did, in assuring him,

683
that, until the first consul could so
far master his feelings, as to be in-
different to the scurrility of the
English prints, as the English go-
vernment was to that which daily
appeared in the French, this state
of irritation was irremediable. €
told him, however, that 1 would re-
port the substance of this commu-
nication to your lordship, although
I could assure him that your lord-
ship could add nothing to the expla-
nation which had been given, and in
such detail, by Mr. Merry from your
lordship.

M. Talleyrand, with great so-
lemnity, required of me to inform
him, and this by the express order
of the first consul, what were his
majesty’s intentions with regard to
the evacuation of Malta. He again,
on this occasion, made great profes-
sions of his sincere desire to sct
aside every thing which could inter-
rupt the good understanding be-
tween the two governments ; adding,
that it was absolutely necessary that
the French government should know
what it was meant to do, when that
clause in the treaty of Amiens,
which stipulates the cession of Mal-
ta, should be fully accomplished.
He said that another grand master
would now be very soon elected ;
that all the powers of Europe, in-
vited so to do, with the exception
of Russia, whose difficulties it was
easy to remove, and without whom
the guarantee would be equally
complete, were ready to come for-
ward ; and that, consequently, the
term would very soon arrive, when
Great Britain could have no pre-
text for keeping longer possession.
1 informed him that I would report
his conversation to your lordship,
and would have the honour of com.
municating to him your lordship’s
answer

684

answer as soon as I could re-
ceive it.
I have the honour to be, &e.
Whitworth.
Right Hon. Lord Hawkes-
bury, &c. §e. &e.

No 36.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Lord Whitworth, dated February
9, 1803.

My lord,

In answer to your excellency’s
dispatch of January 27, relative to
the enquiry made of you, by the
French government, on the subject
of Malta, I can hayeno difficulty in
assuring you, that his majesty has
entertained a most sincere desire
that the treaty of Amiens might be
executed in a fulland complete man-
ner; but it has not been possible
for him to consider this treaty as
having been founded on principles
different from those which have been
invariably applied to every other
antecedent treaty of convention,
namely, that they were negociated
with reference to the actual state of
possession of the different parties,
and of the treaties of public engage-
ments by which they were bound at
the time of its conclusion ; and that
if that state of possession, and of
engagements, was so materially al-
tered by the act of cither of the par-
ties, as to affect the nature of the
compact itself, the other party has
a right, according to the law of na-
tions, to interfere for the purpose
of obtaining satisfaction or compen-
sation for any essential diffcrence
which such acts may have subse-
quently made in their relative situa-
tion: that, if there ever was a case
to which this principle might be ap-
plied with peculiar propriety, it was
that of the late treaty of peace; for

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

the negociation was conduéted ona
basis not merely proposed by his
majesty, but specially agreed to in
an official note by the I’rench go-
vernment, viz. that his majesty
should keep a compensation out of
his conquests for the important ac-
quisitions of territory made by
France upon the continent. This
is a sufiicient proof that the compact
was understuod to have been con-
cluded with reference to the then
existing state of things; for the mea-
sure of his majesty’s compensation
was to be calculated with reference
to the acquisitions of France at that
time ; and if the interference of the
French government in the gencral
afiairs of Europe, since that period ;
if their interposition with respect to
Switzerland and Holland, whose
independence was guaranteed by
them at the time of the conclusion -
of the treaty of peace ; if the an-
nexations which haye been made to
France in various quarters, but par-
ticularly those in Italy, have ex-
tended the territory, and increased
the power of the French govern-
ment ; his majesty would be war-
ranted, consistently with the spirit
of the treaty of peace, in claiming
equivalents for these acquisitions,
as a counterpoise to the augmenta-
tion of the power of France. His
majesty, however, anxious to pre-
vent all ground of misunderstanding,
and desirous of consolidating the
general peace of Europe, as far as
might be in his power, was willing
to have waved the pretensions he
might have a right to advance of this
nature ; and as the other articles of
the definitive treaty have been in a
course of execution on his part, so
he would have been ready to have
carried into effect the true intent
and spirit of the 10th article, the |

execution

UST ATEE DEA PERS. 1,

execution of which, according to
its terms, had been rendered im-
practible by circumstances which it
was not in his majesty’s power to
control. A communication to your
lordship would accerdingly have
_ been prepared, conformably to this
‘disposition, if the attention of his
majesty’s government had not been
attracted by the yery extraordinary
publication of the report of colonel
Sebastiani to the first consul. It is
impossible for his majesty to view
this report in any other light than
__ as an official publication ; for, with-
out referring particularly to expla-
nations, which have been repeated-
ly given upon the subject of publi-
cations in the Moniteur, the article
in question, as it purports to be the
report to the first consul of an ac-
credited agent, as it appears to have
been signed by colonel Sebastiaui
himself, and as it is published in the
official paper, with an official title
affixed to it, must be considered as
authorized by the French govern-
ment. ‘This report contains the
most unjustifiable insinuations and
charges against the officer who com-
manded his forces in Egypt. and
against the British army in that
quarter; insinuations and charges
_ wholly destitute of foundation, and
such as would warrant his majesty
in demanding that satisfaction, which,
On occasions of this nature, inde-
pendent powers, in a state of amity,
have a right to expeét from cach
other. It discloses, moreover, views
‘in the highest degree injurious to
the interests of his majesty’s domi-
‘nions, and dire¢tly repugnant to,
and utterly inconsistent with, the
Spirit and letter of the treaty of
& peace, concluded between his ma-
_ jesty and the French government ;
and his majesty would feel that he
4 3
“

ore ©

2

-

OP AO LT CO ee

hewn awe

-

685

was wanting in a proper regard to
the honour of his crown, and to the
interests of. his dominions, if he
could see, with indifference, such a
system developed and avowed. His
majesty cannot, therefore, regard
the conduct of the French govern-
ment, on various occasions, since
the conclusion of the definitive
treaty, the insinuations and charges
contained in the report of colonel
Sebastiani, and the views which that
report discloses, without feeling it
necessary for him, distinctiy, to de-
clare, that it will be impossible for
him to enter into any further discus-
sion relative to Malta, unless he
receives satisfaétory explanation on
the subject of this communication.

Your excellency is desired to take
an early opportunity of fully ex-
plaining his majesty’s sentiments, as
above stated, to the French govern-
ment.

I have the honour to be, &c.
Hawkesbury.
His Excellency Lord Whitworth,
K. B. &c. &c. &.

No. 37.

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated Paris, February 17, 1803.
I have the honour. to acquaint

your lordship, that I saw M. de

Talleyrand on Tuesday last, for the

purpose of carrying into effeét your

lordship’s instructions of the 9th in-
stant. I began by telling him that

I had nothing new to communicate

to him; but merely to confirm offi-

cially that which I had already from
myself premised. I did not, how-
ever, pass over, with the same indif-
ference, the arguments with which

your lordship has furnished me. I

recapitulated them all; the principle:

on which the treaty ‘of Amiens was
founded ;

686

founded ; and the right which natu-
rally arose from that principle, of
interference on our part for the pur-
pose of obtaining satisfaction or
compensation, for any essential dif-
ferences which may have arisen in
the relative situation of the two
countries. I imstanced the cases,
beginning with Italy and concluding
with Switzerland, in which the ter-
ritory or influence of France had
been extended subsequent to the
treaty of Amiens.

I represented to him, that this
principle of compensation had been
fully and formally admitted by the
French government, in the course
of the negociation at Amiens. I
then told him, that notwithstanding
the indisputable right which his ma-
jesty might have derived of claiming
some counterpoise for such acquisi-
tions, instructions would have been
given me; by which I should have
been empowered to declare his ma-
jesty’s readiness to carry into effect
the full intent of the 10th article of
the treaty, .if the attention of his
majesty’s government had not been
roused by the official publication of
colonel Sebastiani’s report to the
first consul. It was useless to re-
capitulate the particulars of this very
extraordinary report; but I appeal-
ed to him whether it was not of a
nature, exclusive of the personal
allusions it contained, to excite the
utmost jealousy in the minds of his
majesty’s ministers, and to demand
on their part every measure of pre-
caution. L concluded with the dis-
tinct declaration, that it was impos-
sible for his majesty to enter into
any further discussion relative to
Malta, unless he receives satisfac-
tory explanations on the subject of
the first consul’s views.

M. de Talleyrand, in his reply,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

did not attempt to dispute the drift
of my argument. He admitted,
with an aifected tone of candour,
that the jealousy we felt on the
score of Egypt, with a view to our
possessions in India, was natural.
But he could not admit that any
thing had appeared, in the conduct
of the French government, in justi-
fication of the alarm we expressed.
After repeating what he had said ‘to
mein a former conversation, on the
subject of Sebastiani’s mission,
which he asserted to be strictly com-
mercial, he expatiated, at great
length, on the sincere desire of the
first consul to maintain inviolable
the peace which had been so lately
concluded ; adding, that the situa-
tion of the French finances was
such, that were not this desire of
peace in the first consul an effect of
system, it would be most imperi-
ously diétated to him, by the total
impossibility in which this country
found itself of carrying on that ex-
tensive state of warfare, which even
a partial rupture would naturally
lead to. He expressed great sur-
prise, therefore, that any suspicion
should attach, when the means of
disturbing the public tranquillity
were, as must be well kiiown in
England, so completely wanting ;
and desired to know what was the
nature and degree of satisfaction
which his majesty would require.
On this I told him, that I could not
pretend to say by what means those
apprehensions, which the conduét
of this government had raised in
England, were to be allayed; but
I could assure him, that, in the dis-
cussion of them, we should be ani-
mated solely by a sincere desire to
be convinced of the truth of his as-
sertions, since on that depended the
peace aml happiness of Europe. 1

took

STATE "PAPERS.

took this opportunity of assuring
him, that although, according to
his statement of the situation of
France, we might possess, in a
greater degree, the means of sup-
porting the expence of a war, since
those means arose from sources
which even a state of warfare did
not dry up, yet such was his ma-
jesty’s sincere desire of maintaining
peace, that nothing but absolute and
unavoidable necessity would ever in-
duce him to deprive his subjects of
the blessings which they begin to
enjoy.
“No. 38.
Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
~ Lord: Hawkesbury, dated Paris,
~ Feb. 21, 1803."

~My lord,

My last dispatch, in which I gave
your lordship an account of my
conference with M. de Talleyrand,
was scarcely gone, when I received
a’note from him, informing me that
the first consul wished to converse
with me, and desired I would come
to him at the Thuilleries at 9 o’clock.
He received me in his cabinet with
tolerable cordiality, and, after talk-
ing on different subjects for a few
minutes, he desired me to sit down,
as he himself did on the other side
of the table, and began. He told
me that he felt it necessary, after

what had passed between me and M,

de Talleyrand, that he should, in
the most clear and authentic man-
ner, make known his sentiments to
me, in order to their being commu-
nicated to his majesty; and he con-
ceived this would be more effectual-
ly done by himself than through any
medium whatever. He said that it
was a matter of infinite disappoint-
ment to him, that the treaty of
Amiens, instead of being followed
by conciliation and friendship, the
1

637

natural effects of peace, had been
productive only of continual and in-
creasing jealousy and mistrust ; and
that this mistrust was now avowed
in such a manner as must bring the
point. to an issue.

He now enumerated the several
provecations which h pretended to
have received from England. He
placed in ‘the first line our not eva-
cuating Malta and Alexandria, as we
were bound to do by the treaty. In
this, he said, that no consideration
on earth should make him acquiesce ;
and, of the two, he had rather see
us in possession of the Fauxbourg
St. Antoine than Malta. He then
adverted to the abuse thrown out
against him in the English public
prints ; but this, he said, he did not
so much regard as that which ap-
peared in the French papers pub-
lished in. London. This he consi-
dered as much more mischievous,
since it was meant to -excite this
country against him and his govern-
ment. He complained of the pro-
tection given to Georges and others
of his description, who, instead of
being sent to Canada, as had been
repeatedly promised, were permit-
ted to remain in England, hand-
somely pensioned, and constantly
committing all sorts of crimes on the
coasts of France, as well as in the
interior. In confirmation of this,
he told me that two men had, with-
in these few days, been apprehend-
ed in Normandy, and were now on
their way to Paris, who were hired
assassins, and employed by the
bishop of Arras, by the baron de
Rolle, by Georges, and by Dutheil,
as would be fully proved in a court
of justice, and made known to the
world.

He acknowledged that the irrita-
tion he felt against England increas-

ed

688

ed daily, because every wind (1
make use as much as I can of his
own ideas and expressions), which
blew from England, brought nothing
but enmity and hatred against him.

He now went back to Kgypt, and
told me that if he had felt the smal-
lest inclination to take possession of
it by force, he might have done it a
month ago, by sending twenty-five
thousand men to Aboukir, who
would have: possessed themselves of
the whole country in defiance of the
four thousand British in Alexan-
dria. ‘That instead of that garrison
being a means of protecting Egypt,
it was only furnishing him with a
pretence for invading it. This he
should not do, whatever might be his
desire to have it a colony, because he
did not think it worth the risk of a
war, in which he might, perhaps, be
considered as the aggressor, and by
which he should lose more than he
could gain, since, sooner or later,
Egypt would belong to France, ei-
ther by the falling to pieces of the
Turkish empire, or by some arrange-
ment with the Porte.

As a proof of his desire to main-
tain peace, he wished to know what
he had to gain by going to war with
England. <A descent was the only
means of offence he had, and that
he was determined to attempt, by
putting himself at the head of the
expedition. But how could it be
supposed, that, after haying gained
the height on which he stood, he
would risk his life and reputation in
such a hazardous attempt, unless
forced to it by necessity, when the
chances were that he and the great-
est part of the expedition would go
to the bottom of the sea, He talked
much on this subject, but never af-
fected to diminish the danger. He
acknowledged that there were one

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

hundred chances to one against him,
but still he was determined to at-
tempt it, if war should be the con-
sequence of the present discussion ;
and that such was the disposition of
the troops, that army after army

would be found for the enterprize.
He then expatiated much on the
natural force of the two countries.
France, with an army of four hun-
dred and eighty thousand men ; for
to this amount it is, he said, fo be
immediately completed, all ready for
the most desperate enterprizes ; and
England with a fleet that made her
mistress of the seas, and which he
did not think he should be able to
equal in less than ten years. Two
such countries, by a proper under-
standing, might govern the world,
but by their strifes might overturn
it. He said, that, if he had not felt
the enmity of the British govern-
ment, on every occasion, since the
treaty of Amiens, there would have
been nothing that he would not
have done to prove his desire to con-
ciliate : participation in indemnities,
as well as in influence, on the con-~
tinent ; treaties of commerce; in
short, any thing that could have
given satisfaction, and have testified
his friendship. Nothing, however,
had been able to conquer the hatred,
of the British government, and,
therefore, it was now come to the
point whether we should have peace
or war. ‘To preserve peace, the
treaty of Amiens must be fuliilled ;
the abuse in the public prints, if
not totally suppressed, at least kept
within bounds, and confined to the
English papers ; and the protection:
so openly given to his bitterest ene-
mies, (alluding to Georges, . and
persons of that description,) must
be withdrawn. If war, it was ne-
cessary only to say so, and to re«
fuse

STATE PAPERS.

fuse to fulfil the treaty. He now
made the tour of Europe, to prove
to me that, in its present state, there
was no power with which we could
coalesce, for the purpose of making
war against France; consequently
it was our interest to gain time, and
if we had any point to gain, renew
the war when circumstances were
more favourable. He said it was
not doing him justice, to suppose
that he conceived himself above the
opinion of his country or of Eu-
rope. He would not risk uniting
Europe against him, by any violent
act of aggression, neither was he so
powerful in France, as to persuade
the nation to go to war, unless on
good grounds. He said that he had
not chastised the Algerines, from
his unwillingness to excite the jea-
lousy of other powers, but he hoped
that England, Russia, and France
would one day feel that it was their
interest to destroy such a nest of
thieves, and force them to live ra-
ther by cultivating their land, than
by plunder.

In the little I said to him, (for he
gave me, in the course of two hours,
but very few opportunities of say-
ing a word,) I confined myself
strictly to the tenor of your. lord-
ship’s instructions. I urged them
in the same manner as I had done to
M. de Talleyrand, and dwelt as
strongly as I could on the sensation
which the publication of Sebastiani’s
report had created in England,
where the views of France towards
Egypt must always command the
utmost vigilance and jealousy. He
maintained that what ought to con-
vince us of his desire of peace was,
on the one hand, the little he had to
gain by renewing the war, and, on
- the other, the facility with which he
might have taken possession of

Vou, XLY.

689

Egypt, with the very ships and
troops which were now going from
the Mediterranean to St. Domingo,
and that with the approbation of all
Europe, and more particularly of
the Turks, who had repeatedly in-
vited him to join with them, for the
purpose of forcing us to evacuate
their territory,

I do not pretend to follow the
arguments of the first consul in de-
tail: this would be impossible, from
the vast variety of matter which he
took occasion to introduce. His
purpose was evidently to convince
me, that on Malta must depend
peace or war, and, at the same time,
to impress upon my mind a strong
idea of the means he possessed of
annoying us at home and abroad.

With regard to-the mistrust and
jealousy which, he said, constantly
prevailed since the conclusion of the
treaty of Amiens, I observed, that,
after a war of such long duration, so
full of rancour, and carried on in a
manner of which history has no ex-
ample, it was but natural that a
considerable degree of agitation
should prevail: but this, like the
swell after a storm, would gradually
subside, if not kept up by the po-
licy of either party ; that I would
not pretend to pronounce which had
been the aggressor in the paper war
of which he complained, and which
was still kept up, though with this
difference, that in England it was in-
dependent of government, and in
France its very act and deed. ‘Yo
this I added, that it must be admit-
ted that we had such motives of mis-
trust against Irance, as could not
be alledged against us; and I was
going to instance the accession of
territory and influence gained by
France since the treaty, when he
interrupted me, by saying, 1 sup-

Y y pose

690

pose you mean Piedmont and Swit-
zerland ; ‘* ce sont des bagatelles :”’
and it must have been foreseen,
whilst the negotiation was pending ;
6 Vous n’avez pas le droit den
parler a cette heure.” I then al-
ledged, as a cause of mistrust and of
jealousy, the impossibility of obtain-
ing justice, or any kind of redress,
for any of his majesty’s subjects. —
He asked me in what respect; and
I told him, that, since the signing of
the treaty, not one British claimant
had been satisfied, although every
Frenchman of that description had
been so within one month atter that
period ; and that since 1 had been
here, and I could say as much of
my predecessors, not one satistac-
tory answer had been obtained, to
the innumerable: representations
which we had been under the nects-
sity of making in favour of British
subjects and property detained in
the several ports of France, and
elsewhere, without even a shadow
of justice : such an order of things,
I said, was not made to inspire con-
fidence, but, on the contrary, must
create mistrust. ‘This, he said, must
be attributed to the natural difficul-
ties attending such suits, when both
parties. thought themselves right ;

but he denied that such delays could
proceed from any disinclination to
do what was just and right. With
regard to the pensions which were
. granted to French or Swiss indivi-
duals, L observed that they were
given as a reward for past services
during the war, and most certainly
not for present ones, and still less
for such as had been insinuated, of
a nature repugnant to the feelings
of every individual in England, and
to the universally acknowledged
loyalty and honour of the British
government. ‘That as for any par-
ticipation of indemnities, or other

ANNUAL REGISTER,

18053.

accessions which his majesty might
have obtained, I could take upon
myself to assure him, that his ma-

jesty’s ambition led him rather to

preserve than to acquire. And
that, with regard to the most propi-
tious moment for renewing hostili-
ties, his majesty, whose sincere de-
sire it was to continue the blessings
of peace to his subjects, would al-
ways consider such a measure as the
greatest calamity ; but that, if his
majesty was so desirous of peace, it
must not be imputed to the difficulty
of obtaining allies; and the less so,
as those means which it might be
necessary to afford such allies for,
perhaps, inadequate services, would
all be concentrated in England, and
give a proportionate increase or
energy to our own exertions,

At this part of the conversation,
he rose from his chair, and told me
that he should give orders to gene-
ral Andreossy to enter on the dis-
cussion of this business with your
Jordship; but he wished that I
should, at the same time, be made
acquainted with his motives, and
convineed of his sincerity, rather
from himself than from his minis-
ters. He then, aiter a conversation
of two hours, during the greatest
part of which he taiked incessantly,
conversed for a few moments on in-
different subjects, in apparent good
humour, and retired.

Such was, nearly as I can recol-
lect, the purport of this conference.

It must, however, be observed,
that he did not, as M. Talleyrand
had done, affect to attribute colonel
Sebastiani’s mission ¢o commercial
motives only, but as oné rendered
necessary, in a military point of
view, by the infraction by us of the
treaty of Amiens.

I have the honour to be, &e.

Whitworth.
P. S. This

P. S. This conversation took
place on Friday last, and this morn-
ing I saw M. de Talleyrand. He

_ had been with the first consul, after
I left him, and he assured me that
he had been very well satisfied with
the frankness with which I had
made my observations on what fell
from him. I told him, that, with-
out entering into any farther detail,
what I had said to the first consul
amounted to an assurance of what I
trusted there could be no doubt, of
the readiness of his majesty’s minis-
ters to remove all subjects of discus-
sion, where that could be done
without violating the laws of the
country, and to fulfil strictly the en-
gagements which they had contract-
ed, inasmuch as that could be recon-
ciled with the safety of the state —
As this applied to Malta and Kgypt,
he gave me to understand that a
project was in contemplation, by
which the integrity of the Turkish
empire would be so efiectually se-
eured, as todo away every cause of
doubt or uneasiness, either with re-
gard to Egypt, or any part of the
Turkish dominions. He could not
then, he said, explain himself far-
ther. Under these circumstances,
no one can expect that we should
relinguish that assurance which we
have in hand, till something equally
satisfactory is proposed and adopted.

Whitworth.
The Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury,
Sc. &c. §c.
No. 39.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
4 Lord Whitworth, dated Feb. 18,
Bh 7803:

; My lord,
Your excellency’ s dispatch, of
; February 21st, has been reccived,
and laid before the king.

STATE : PAP ERS:

691)

I have great satisfaction in com-
municating to you his majesty’s en-
tire approbation of the able and ju-.
dicious manner in which you appear
to have executed the instructions
which J gave to you in my dispatch
of the 9th instant.

The account you have given of
your interview with the first consul,
is, in every respect, important.

lt is unnecessary for me to re-
mark on the tone and temper in
which the- sentiments of the first
consul appear to have been express-
ed, or to offer any observations in
addition to those so properly made
by your excellency, at the time, up-
on several of the topics which were
brought forward by the first consul,
in the course of your conversation 5
I shafl, therefore, content myself
with referring your excellency to
my dispatch to Mr. Merry, of Au-
gust 28, 1802, in which the subjeét
of the complaints of the French go-
vernment, respecting the freedom of
the press, the emigrants, &c. are
particularly discussed. I cannot,
however, avoid noticing, that no-
thing approaching to explanation or
satisfaction is stated to have been
thrown out by the first consul, in
answer to the just representations
and complaints of his majesty, in
consequence of the unwarrantable
insinuations and charges contained
in colonel Sebastiani’s report against
his majesty’s government,—the of-
ficer commanding his forcesin Egy pt,
and his army in that quarter; but
that, on the other hand, the Jan-
guage of the first consul hagtended
to strengthen and confirm the suspi-
cions which that publication was
peculiarly calculated to excite.

{ shall now proceed to give you
some farther instructions on the Jan-
guage which it may be proper for you

Yy2 to

692

to hold respecting the charge which
has been advanced against his ma-
jesty’s government, of their unwil-
lingness to fulfil the treaty of
Amiens. The treaty of Amiens has
been im a course of execution, on
the part of his majesty, in every ar-
ticle in which, according to the
spirit of that treaty, it has been
found capable of execution. There
¢eannot be the least doubt that
Egypt is at this time completely eva-
cuated. ‘The delay which had arisen
in the evacuation of Alexandria,
was owmg to accidental circum.
stances, the particulars of which
were explained to you in my dis-
patch of the 30th November last :
and I had every reason to believe,
from the communication I had with
general Andreossy on the sitbject,
that the French government were
periectly satisfied with the explana-
tion which he was authorized, at
the time, to give them respecting
it.

* With regard to that article of the
treaty which relates to Malta, the
stipulations contained in. it (owing
to circumstances which it was not
in the power of his majesty to con-
trol) have not been found capable
of execution. The refusal of Russia
to accede to the arrangement, cx-
cept on condition that the Maltese
Jangue should be abolished ;—the
silence of the court of Berlin, with
respeet to the invitation that has
deen made to it, in consequence of
the treaty, to become a guarantee-
ing power ;—the abolition of the
Spanish priories, in defiance of the
treaty to which the king of Spain
was a party;—the declaration of
the Portuguese government, of their
intention to sequestrate the proper-
ty of the Portuguese priory, as
forming a part of the Spanish langue,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

unless the property of the Spanish
priories is restored to them ;—the
non-election of a grand master :—
These circumstances would have
been sufficient, without any other
special grounds, to have warranted
his Majesty in suspending the eva-
cuation of the island, until some
new arrangement could be adjusted
fer its security and independence.
But when it is considered how
greatly the dominion, power, and
influence of France have of late
been extended, his majesty must feel
that he has an incontestible right,
conformably to the principles on
which the treaty of peace was nego-
ciated and concluded, to demand ad.
ditional securities in any new ar-
rangement which it might be neces-
sary to make, with a view of effect-
ing the real objeéts of that treaty.
And these considerations, sufficient
as they might be in themselves, to
justify the line of conduét which his
majesty had determined to adopt,
have received additional force from
the views which have been recently
and unreservedly manifested by the
French government, respecting the
Turkish dominions, and the islands
in the Adriatic (and which have been
in a great degree admitted by the
Jirst consul, in his interview with
your excellency )—views which are
directly repugnant, not only to the —
spirit, but ta the letter of the treaty
of Amiens. y
From the postscript in your ex-
cellency’s letter, it appears that a
projeét was in contemplation, by
which, according to the declaration
of M. 'Talleyrand, the integrity of
the ‘Turkish territory would be s¢-
cured so as to do away every cause
of doubt or uneasiness, either with
regard to Egypt, or to any other
part of the Turkish ek ae
is

STATE PAPERS.

His majesty will consider the com-
munication of such a projeét as indi-
cating a disposition, on the part of
the French government, to afford
him explanation and satisfaction re-
specting some of the points which
have been the subject of his repre-
sentations. But, after all that has
passed, his majesty cannot consent
that his troops should evacuate the
island of Malta, until substantial se-
curity has been provided for those
objects which, under the present
circumstances, might be materially
endangered by their removal.
Iam, &c.

Hawkesbury.

His Excellency Lord Whitworth,

&c. FC. FC.

No. 40.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris,
March 5, 1803.

My lerd,

I saw M. de Talleyrand yester-
day, and acquitted myself of your
lordship’s instructions. I recapitu-
lated the several arguments therein
contained, dwelling particularly on
the open avowal of the first consul’s
views in Egypt; and concluding
with the resolution of his majesty
not to withdraw his troops from
Maita, until some security should
be given, that, by so doing, his ma-
jesty should not expose the safety
of his own dominions.

He heard me with great patience,
and, in answer, endeavoured, as be-
fore, to convince me that ihere was
no reason whatever for the appre-
hensions which we entertained.—
That it was true, the acquisition of
Egypt had been, and, perhaps, still
was, a fi vourite object of the first
consul ; but that it was not so much
80, as to allow him to go to war for
its attainment.

693

I then told him, that what had in
a particular manner excited the at-
tention of your lordship, in my last
report, was the assurance he had
given me of some project being in
contemplation, whereby the inte-
grity of the Turkish empire would
be so-insured, in all its parts, as to
remove every doubt or apprehen-
sion. I begged him, therefore, te
explain himself on this subject,
which I conceived to be of the ut-
most importance, since it was only
by such means that both parties
could be satisfied. He then gave me
to understand, that what he had
termed a projeét was nothing more
than what had been expressed in the
first consul’s message to the legis-
lative body, when he says, that there
is a French ambassador at Constan-
tinople, who is charged to give every
assurance of the disposition of
France to strengthen, instead of to
weaken, that government. I ex-
pressed a doubt whether this, or
any other parole security, would
be considered as sufficient in such a
transaction. Hereupon he repeated
the question—What, then, is the
security which you require, and
which the first consul can give ?—
This, I told him, must be the sub-
ject of the negotiation on which we
were willing to enter ; and I trusted
that the French government would
bring into it the same temper, and
the same real desire to conciliate,
which was manifested by his majes-
ty’s ministers.

M. de Talleyrand now informed
me, that the first consul had, five or
six days ago, ordered instructions to
be sent to general Andreossy, by
which he was to require an immedi-
ate and categorical answer to the
plain question—Whether his ma-
jesty would, or would not, cause
Malta to be evacuated by the British

¥y3 troops?

694

troops? That he concluded this
communication was already made,
and that he expected to learn the
result of it in a very few days ; add-
ing, that all the first consul wanted

was to know precisely on what he -

had to depend.

I could not help Jamenting this
precipitate measure, since it could
answer no good purpose, and would
only tend to introduce into the dis-
cussion ill-humour and offended dig-
nity, in the place of dispassionate
reasoning. I begged him, however,
to be prepared, aud to prepare the
first consul, to meet with more op-
position to his will than he had been
accustomed to on similar occasions,

TY told him, that his majesty was
willing to discuss the pomt 4n dis-
pute with fairness and candour, but
certainly never would be intimidated
into acquiescence ; and I repeatedly
urged, that, if he wished well to the
peace of the two countries, he should
prepare the first consul for the conse-
quences which might naturally be ex-
pected from this step, and thus pre-
vent the eflect of any sudden gust of
ill-humowr. He was unwilling to ad-
mit that there could be any chance of
satisfying the first consul short of a
compliance with his wishes, founded,
as he pretended, on good faith,

Our conversation ended here, and
I wait the result of Gen. Andge-
essy’s communication with the ut-
most impatience.

.. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) W hitworth.

P. S. In the interval between the
writing and the transcribing the
above dispatch, I have taken another
opportunity of seeing M. de Tal-
leyrand, and I am glad to find, that
(for what purpose I know not) he
had represented the instructions to
general Andreossy as much more

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809.

absolute and offensive than they

veally are. I found him to-day en-

tirely disposed to give me another
opinion, and to convince me, that
the first consul, far from wishing to
carry matters to extremity, was de-
sirous to discuss, fairly, and with-
out passion, a point which, he ad-
mitted; was of importance to both
countries. He repeatedly assured
me, that much as the first consul
might have the acquisition of Egypt
at heart, he would sacrifice his own
feelings to the preservation of peace,
and henceforth seek to augment his
glory, by improving and consolidat-
ing the internal situation of the
country, rather than by adding to
its possessions.

(Signed) Wie

Right Hon, Lord Hawkesbury,

Sc. Fc. &ec.
_
No. 41.

Note from General Andreossy to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated March
10, 1803.

‘Vhe undersigned ambassador and
minister plenipotentiary of the
French republic to his Britannic
majesty, had received from the first
consul express orders to require from
the British government some expla-
nations respecting the protraéted
occupation of the island of Malta,
by the English troops. He had
hoped that verbal communications
would haye been suflicient to have
produced satisfactory expositions,
by preparing the way for the mutual
conciliation of minds and interests,
a conduét which has been prescribed
to him by his ardent zeal for the
maintenance of harmony between
the two countries, and of the peace
of Europe, objects of the solicitude
of the French government: but the
wodersigned thinks he can no longer

delay

S TA/DE Pid PERS.

delay complying with the instruc-
tions he had received ; and he has,
therefore, the honour of addressing
the following observations to his ex-
cellency lord Hawkesbury, which
recal to recolleétion the spirit and
the leading features of the,verbal
communications which he has previ-
ously made to him.

By the conditions of the fourth
paragraph of the tenth article! of the
treaty of Amiens, the English troops
were to evacuate the island of Malta
and its dependencies, , three months
after the exchange of the ratifica-
tions.

Ten months have elapsed since
the ratifications. have been ex-
changed, and the English troops are
still at Malta.

The French troops, on the con-
trary, who were to evacuate the
Neapolitan and Papal states, have
not waited the expiration of the
three months which were granted to
them to withdraw, and have quitted
Tarentum,. the , fortifications of
which they had re-established, and
where they had colleéted 100 pieces
of cannon.

What can be alledged in, justifi-
cation of the delay in evacuating
Malta? Has not the 10th article of
the treaty of Amiens proyided for
every thing? -and the Neapolitan
troops being arrived, under what
pretext do those of England still re-
main there?

Is it because all the powers enu-
merated in the 6th paragraph, have
not yet accepted the gnarantee
which is devolved upon them? But
this is not a condition that relates
to the evacuation of the island ; apd
besides, Austria has already sent its
act of guarantee: Russia, itself,
has made only a single difficulty,
which is done away by the -acces-
sion of the first consul to the modi-

695

fications proposed, unless, indeed,
Sngland itself throws obstacles in
the, way, by refusing to accede to
the proposals of Russia, which, ‘af-
ter all, could not affect the engage-
ments of his Britannic majesty, who,
according, to, the express conditions
of, the; treaty, sis. to evacuate the
island of Malta within three months,
placing it under the guard of the
Neapolitans, who are to garrison
it until the, definitive arrangements
of the order are settled. '

lt should, therefore, seem im-
possible, and it would be without
example in the history of nations,
were his Britannic majesty to re-
fuse to execute a fundamental arti-
cle of the pacification, of the very
one, which, in the drawing up of
the preliminaries, was considered as
the first, and as requiring to be set-
tled previously to every other point.

Indeed, the first consul, who cor-
dially relies on the intentions of his
Britannic majesty, and cannot sup-
pose them to be less open and ge-
nerous than those with which he is
animated, has hitherto been un-
willing to attribute the delay of
the evacuation of the island of Mal-
ta to any other than to maritime
circumstances.

The undersigned is, therefore,
charged to require explanations on
this point, and he is persuaded that
the British ministry will be the more
anxious to furnish such as will be
satisfactory, as they must be sensi-
ble how necessary they are for the
maintenance of harmony, and how
important they are for the honour
of the two nations.

The undersigned avails himself of
this opportunity to renew to lord-
Hawkesbury the assurances of his
high consideration.

(Signed) F. Andreossy,
Portland Place, March 10, 1802.
Yy4 No. 42.

696

No. 42.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
Lord: Hawkesbury, dated March
12, 1803.

My lord,

The messenger Mason, arrived
yesterday morning early, with your
lordship’s letter of the 7th, inform-
ing me, that, in consequence of the
preparations in the ports of France
and Holland, which, though a-
vowedly intended for colonial ser-
vice, might, in the event of a rup-
ture, be turned against some part of
the British dominions, his majesty
had judged it expedient to send a
message to both houses of parlia-
ment, recommending, in terms void
of offence, the adoption of such
measures, as may be consistent with
the honour of his crown, and the
security of his dominions} and, at
the same time, such as will mani-
fest his majesty’s disposition for the
preservation of peace.

I beg leave to return your lord.
ship my thanks for having apprized
me of this circumstance by a special
messenger; I found, however, on
going to M. de Talleyrand, at two
o’clock, that he was already in-
formed of it. He was just setting
out to communicate it to the first
consul, and appeared under consi-
derable agitation. He returned
with me to his cabinet, and though
he told me he was pressed for time,
he suffered me to relate the circum-
stance without interruption. I en-
deavoured to make him sensible that
this measure was merely precaution-
ary, and not, in the least degree, in-
tended as a menace. I concluded
my observations by repeating that
it was merely a measure of self-se-
curity, founded on the armaments
which were carrying on in the ports
of France and Holland, remarking,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

18053.

at the same time, that had not evet-
these armaments been as notorious
as they were, the very circumstance
of the first consul’s determination
to augment so considerably his ar-
my, in time of peace, would have
been a full and sufficient motive
for such a measure of precaution.

M. de Talleyrand now informed
me that he was already acquainted
with the business ; that a messenger
had that morning arrived, who had
brought him a copy of the message,
which he communicated to me. Ef
could draw from him no reply
whatever to my observations. He
confined himself strictly to the assu-
rance which he has so repeatedly
made, that there was no foundation
whatever for the alarm which was
felt by his majesty’s ministers; that
the first consul was pacific; that
he had no thoughts whatever of at~
tacking his majesty’s dominions, un-
less forced to do so by a commence-
ment of hostilities on our part ; that
he should always consider the refue
sal to evacuate Malta as such a com-
mencement of hostilities ; and that,
as we had hitherto hesitated to do
so, he was justified in adopting the
measures which might eventually be
necessary. He disclaimed every
idea of the armaments fitting out in
the Dutch ports having any other
destination than to the colonies ;
and concluded, that, for his part, he
could not comprehend the motives
which had necessitated a resort to
such a measure on the part of his
majesty’s government.

He then desired leave to go to
the first consul, promising that he
would let me know the result when
we met at dinner at the Prussian
minister’s. He did not come there
till near seven o’clock, and when
we rose from dinner, he took me

aside,

honour and of justice.

aside, and informed me, that al-
though the first consul had been
highly irritated at the unjust suspi-
cion which his majesty’s government

_ entertained, yet, he would notallow

himself to be so far mastered by his
feelings, as to lose sight of the ca-
lamities which the present discussioa
might entail! upon humanity. He
dwelt much. on this topic, and ex-
plained the measures to which he
should be obliged to resort: he
‘said, that if England wished to dis-
cuss fairly, he wished the same;
that if England prepared for war,
he would do the same; and that if
England should finally determine on
hostilities, he trused to the support
of the French nation in the cause of
It was in
vain that I repeated that England
did’ not wish for war; that peace
was as necessary to us as it could be
to France; that all we desired, and
all that we were contending for,
was security; that every thing
proved to us that that security was
threatened by the first consul’s

_ views on Egypt; and that, conse-

quently, our refusal to evacuate
Malta was become as much a neces-

_ sary measure of precaution, as the
_ defence of any part of his majesty’s
_ dominions.

To this kind of reason-
ing M. de Talleyrand opposed the
moderation of the first consul, his
great self-denial, and his determi-

_ nation to sacrifice even the most fa-
_ ¥ourite points to his sincere desire
_ to avoid a rupture.

M. de Talleyrand now told me,

j that, in order to facilitate my com-
- munication of the first consul’s sen-

timents, he would communicate to
me a paper which he had that morn.

_ ing drawn up with him ; that it was

not to be considered as any thing

_ absolutely official ; that it was a me-

<

STATE: PAPERS.

697

morandum to assist me, but such as
I might, if I chose, transmit to your
lordship. 1 now enclose it.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Whitworth,
The Right Hon. Lord Hawkes-
bury, &c. &e. &e.

Note Verbale referred to in No. 42.

I. If his Britannic majesty, in his
message, means to speak of the ex-
pedition of Helvoetsluys, all the
world knows that it was destined
for America, and that it was on the
point of sailing for its destination,
but, in consequence of his majesty’s
message, the embarkation and put-
ting to sea are about to be counter-
manded.

If. if we do not receive satisfac-
tory explanation respeéting these
armaments in England, and if they
actually take place, z# zs natural
that the first consul should march
20,000 men into Holland, since
Holland is mentioned in the mes-
sage.

II. These troops being once in
the country, 7 zs naturdl that an
encampment should be formed on
the frontiers of Hanover; and,
moreover, that additional bodies
should join those trgops which were
already embarked for America, in
order to form new embarkations,
and to maintain an offensive and de-
fensive position.

IV. It ts natural that the first
consul should order several camps
to be formed at Calais, and on dif-
ferent points of the coasts.

V. It is likewise in the nature of
things that the first consul, who was
on the point of evacuating Switzer-
land, should be under the necessity
of continuing a French army in that
country.

Vi. Itis also the natural conse-

quence

698

quence of all this, that the first con-
sul should send a fresh force into
Italy, in order to occupy, in case of
necessity, the position of Tarentum.

VII. England arming, and arm-
ing with so much publicity, will
compel France to put her armies on
the war establishment, a step so im-
portant, as cannot fail to agitate all
Europe.

The result of all these movements
will be to irritate the two countries
still more. France will have been
compelled to take all these precau-
tions in consequence of the English
armaments, and, nevertheless, every
means will be taken to excite the
English nation, by the assertion
that France meditates an invasion.
The whole British population will
be obliged to put themselves under
arms for their defence, and their ex-
port trade will, even before the war,
be in a state of stagnation through-
out the whole extent of the countries
occupied by the French arms.

The experience of nations, and
the course of events, prove, that the
distance between such a state of
things and actual hostility, is. unfor-
tunately not remote.

As to the differences, of which
meation is made in his Britannic
majesty’s message, we know not of
any that we have with England ;
for it cannot be imagined, that a
serious intention can have existed
in England, of evading the execution
of the treaty of Amiens, under the
protection of a mililary armament.
Europe well knows, that it is pos-
sible to attempt the dismemberment
of France, but not to intimidate her.

No. 43.
Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris,
March 14, 1803,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

My lord,

The messenger, Mason, went. on
Saturday with my dispatches of that
date, and, until yesterday, Sunday,
Isaw no one, likely to give me any
farther information, such as I could
depend upon, as to the effect which
his majesty’s message had produced
on the first consul, At the court

which was held at the Thuilleries |

upon that day, he accosted me, evi-
demily under very considerable agi-
tation. He began by asking me if
I had any news from England. I
told him that I had received letters
from your lordship two days. ago.
He immediately said, and so you
are determined to go to war. No!
I replied, we are too sensible of the
advantages of peace—Nous avons,
said he, déja fait la guerre pendant
quinze ans.—As he seemed to wait
for an answer, I observed. only,
een est déja trop.—Mais, said he,
vous voulez la faire encore quinze
annés, et vous m’y forgez.—I told
him, that was very far from his ma-
jesty’s intentions.—He then pro-
ceeded to count Marcow and the
chevalier Azara, who were standing
together, at a little distance. from
me, and said. to them, les Anglois
veulent la guerre, mais s’ils sont les
premiers a tirer ’epée, je serai le
dernier a la remettre. Ils ne res
spectant pas les traités. J] faut do-
rénayant les couvrir de crepe noir.
—He then went his round. In a
few minutes he came back to me,
and resumed the conversation, if
such it can be called, by something
personally civil to me. He began
again — Pourquoi des armémens ?
Contre qui des mesures de pracau-
tion? Je n’ai pas un seul vaisseau
de ligne dans les ports de France ;

mais si yous voulez armer, j’armerai _

aussi; si vous voulez vous battre,
je

STATE: PAP ERS.

je me battrai aussi. Vous pourrez
peut-etre tuer la France, mais ja-
mais Vintimider.—On ne voudroit,
said J, ni Pun niJautre. On vou-
droit vivre en bonne intelligence
avec. elle.—IJ| faut donc respecter
les traités, replied he; malheur a
‘ceux gui ne respectent pas les
traités ; ils en seront responsable a
toute |’Europe.—He was too much
agitated to make it adviseable for
me to prolong the conversation ; [
therefore made no answer, and he
retired to his apartment, repeating
the last: phrase.

It is to be remarked, thatall this
passed loud enough to be overheard
_ by two hundred people who were pre-
sent, and I am persuaded that there
was not a single person, who did not
feel the extreme impropriety of his
conduct, and the total want of dig-
nity as well as of decency on the
occasion.

I propose taking the’ first oppor-
tunity of speaking to M. Talley-
rand on this subject.

I have the honour to be, &e.
- \ (Signed) Whitworth.
The Right Hon. Lord Hawkes-
bury, &co &c. &e.

No. 44.

Extract ef a Dispatch from Lord
Hawkesbury to Lord Whitworth,
dated March 15, 1803.

I send your excellency a copy

_ of the note presented to me by ge-

_ neral Andreossy on the 10th in-

stant*, and a copy of the answer

which I have, this day, by his ma-

_ jesty’s commands, returned to it.

No. 45.

Note from Lord Hawkesbury to Ge-
neral Andreossy, dated March 15,
1803.

699

The undersigned, his majesty’s
principal secretary of state for fo-
reign affairs, has laid before the
king the note of his excellency
the French ambassador of the 10th
instant.

In obeying the commands of his
majesty, by returning an official an-
swer to this note, the undersigned
feels it necessary for him to do little
more than repeat the explanations
which have been, already given, on
more than one occasion, by himself
verbally to general Andreossy, and
by lord Whitworth to M. ‘Yalley-
rand, on the subject of the note,
and of the poimts. which appear to
be conneéted with it.. He can have
no difliculty in assuring the French
ambassador, that his majesty has
entertained «a most sincere desire
that the treaty of Amiens might be
executed in a full and complete
manner; but it has not been pos-
sible for him to consider this treaty.
as having been founded on princi-
ples different from those which have
been invariably applied to every
other antecedent treaty or conven-
tion, namely, that they were nego-
ciated with reference to the aétual
state of possession of the different
parties, and to the ¢reaties or public
engagements by which they were
bound at the time of its conclusion ;
and that if that state of possession
and of engagements was so mate-
rially altered by the act of either of
the parties as to affect the nature of
the compaét itself, the other party
has a right, aecontie to the law of
nations, to interfere for the purpose
of obtaining satisfaction or compen-
sation for any esseutial difference
which such a¢is. may have subse~
quently made in their relative situa-
tion ; that if there ever was a case
to which this principle might be ap-

plied

® Vide page 694.

700

plied with peculiar propriety, it was
that of the late treaty of peace; for
the negociation was conduéted on a
basis not merely proposed by his
majesty, but specially agreed to, in
an official note, by the French go-
~ yernment, namely, That his ma-
gesty should keep @ compensation out
of his conquests for the important
acquisition of territory made by
France upon the continent. That is a
suflicient proof that the compaét was
understood to have been concluded
in relation to the then existing state
of things; for the measure of his
majesty’s compensation was to be
calculated with reference to the ac-
quisitions of France at that time ;
and if the interference of the French
government in the general affairs of
Europe since that period ; if their
interposition with respect to Swit-
zerland and Holland, whose mde-
pendence was guaranteed by them
at the time of the conclusion of the
treaty of peace; if the acquisitions
which have been made by France in
varions quarters, but particularly
those’ in Italy, have extended the
territory and increased the power
of France, his majesty would be
warranted, consistently with the
spirit of the treaty of peace, in
claiming equivalents for these ac-
quisitions, as a counterpoise to the
augmentation of the power of France.
His majesty, however, anxious ,to
prevent: all ground of misunder-
standing, and desirous of consoli-
dating the general peace of Europe,
as far as might ‘be in his power,
was willing to have waved the pre-
tensions he might have a right to
advance of this nature; and as the
other articles of the definitive treaty
have been in a course of execution
on his part, so he would have been
ready to have carried into effeét an

ANNUAL REGISTER, (1803.

arrangement conformable to the tru¢
intent and spirit of the tenth article ;
the execution of that arrangement,
according to its terms, having been
rendered impra¢ticable by circum-
stances which it was not in his ma-
jesty’s power to control. Whilst
his majesty was aétuated by these
sentiments of moderation and for-
bearance, and prepared to regulate
his conduét in conformity to them,
his attention’ was particularly at-
tracted by the very extraordinary
publication of the report of colonel
Sebastiani to the first consul. This
report contains the most unjustifi-
able insinuations and charges against
his majesty’s government; against
the officer commanding his forces in
Egypt, and against the British army
in that quarter: insinuations and
charges wholly destitute of founda-
tion, and such as would have war-
ranted his majesty in demanding
that satisfaétion which, on occasions
of this nature, independent powers,
in a state of amity, have a right to
expect from each other. It dis-
closes, moreover, views in the high-
est degree injurious to the interests
of his majesty’s dominions, and di-
rectly repugnant to, and utterly in-
consistent with, the spirit and letter
of the treaty of peace concluded be-
tween his majesty and the French
government. His majesty’s ambas-
sador at Paris was accordingly di-
re¢ted to make such a representation
to the French government as his
majesty felt to be called for by im-
putations of the nature above de-
scribed, by the disclosure of pur-
poses inconsistent with good faith,
and highly injurious to the interests
of his people; and as a claim had
recently been made by the French
government on the subjeét of the
evacuation of Malta, lord Whit-

worth

\

STAT # ) PAP. E/RS.

- worth was instructed to accompany
’ this representation by a declaration
on the part of his majesty, that be-
fore he could enter into any farther
' discussions relative to that island,
it was expected that satisfa¢tory
explanations should be given up-
on the various points respecting
which his majesty had complained.
This representation and this claim,
founded on principles incontestibly
just, and couched in terms the most
temperate, appear to have been
wholly disregarded by the French
government ; no satisfaction has been
_ afforded, no explanation whatever
has been given; but, on the con-
trary, his majesty’s suspicions of the
views of the French government
with respect to the Turkish empire
have been confirmed and strengthen-
ed by subsequent events. Under
these circumstances his majesty feels
that he has no alternative, and that
a just regard to hisown honour, and
to the interests of his people, makes
it necessary for him to declare, that
he cannot consent that his troops
should evacuate the island of Malta,
until substantial security has been
provided for those objeéts which,
under the present circumstances,
might be materially endangered by
their removal.

With respeét to several of the po-
sitions stated in the note, and
grounded on the idea of the tenth
article being executed in its literal
Sense, they call for some observa-
tions. By the tenth article of the
treaty of Amiens, the island of Mal.
ta was to be restored, by his ma-~
jesty, to the order of St. John,-upon
certain conditions. The evacuation
of the island, at a specified period,
formed a part of these conditions ;
and if the other stipulations had
‘been in a due course of execution,

701

his majesty would have been bound,
by the terms of the treaty, to have
ordered his forces to evacuate the
island: but these conditions must
be considered as being all of equai
effect ; and if any material parts of
them should have been found in-
capable of execution, or if the exe-
cution of them should, from any cir-
cumstances, have been retarded, his
majesty would be warranted in de-
ferring the evacuation of the island
until such time as the other condi-
tions of the article could beefiected;
or until some new arrangement could
be concluded, which should be judged
satisfactory by the contratting par-
ties. ‘The refusal of Russia to ac-
cede to the arrangement, except on
condition that the Maltese langue
should be abolished; the silence of
the court of Berlin, with respeét to
the invitation that has been made to
it, in consequence of the treaty, to
become a guaranteeing power ; the
abolition of the Spanish priories, in
defiance of the treaty to which the
king of Spain was a party; the de-
claration of the Portuguese govern-
ment, of their intention to seques-
trate the property of the Portuguese
priory, as forming a part of the
Spanish langue, unless the property
of the Spanish priories was restored
to them :—these circumstances would
have been sufficient, without any
other special grounds, to have war-
ranted his majesty in suspending the
evacuation of the island. ‘The eva~
cuation of ‘Tarentum and Brundu-
sium is, in no respect, connet¢ted
with that of Malta. The French
government were bound to eva-
cuate the kingdom of Naples by
their treaty of peace with the king of
Naples, at a period antecedent to
that at which this stipulation was
carried into effect,

The

702

‘The French government were
bound, likewise, by engagements
with the emperor of Russia, to re-
spe¢t the independence of the king-
dom of Naples ; but even admitting
that the departure of the French
troops from Tarentum depended
solely on the article of the treaty of
Amiens, their departure is, by the
terms of the treaty, to take place at
the same period as the other evacua-
tions in Europe, namely, one month
after the ratification of the definitive
treaty; at which period both Porto
Ferrajo and Minorca were evacuated
by his majesty’s forces ; whereas the
troops of his majesty were, in no case,
bound to evacuate the island of
Malta, antecedent to the period of
three months after the ratification
of the definitive treaty ; and, even
in that event, it must be considered
as depending upon the other parts
of the arrangement being in a course
of execution. With respeét to the
assertion in the note, that the Nea-
politan troops were to form the gar-
rison of Malta, until the period
when the arrangements relative to
the order could be carried into ef-
feét, it will appear, by a reference
to the article, that, by the prelimi-
nary paragraph, the island was to
be restored to the order upon the
condition of the succeeding stipula-
tions, and that it was only from the
period when the restitution to the
order had aé¢tually taken place,
that, by the 12th paragraph, the Nea-
politan troops were to form a part
of the garrison.

The undersigned has thus stated,
with all the frankness which the im-
portance of the subject appears to
require, the sentiments of his ma-
jesty on the note delivered to him
by general Andreossy, and on the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

points in discussion between the two
countries.

His majesty is willing to indulge
the hope, that the conduct of the
French government on this occasion
may be influenced by principles si-
milar to those which have invari-
ably influenced his own. That, as
far as possible, all causes of dis-
trust, and every impediment to a
good understanding between the two
countries, may be completely and
efie¢tually removed, and that the
peace may be consolidated on a
secure and lasting foundation.

The undersigned requests general
Andreossy to accept the assurances
of his high consideration.

(Signed) Hawkesbury.
His Excellency General Andreossy,
Sc. &c. &e.

No. 46.
Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris,
March 17, 1803.
My lord,

1 called yesterday on M. de Tal-
leyrand, to converse with him on
the subject of what had passed on
Sunday last at the Thuilleries. He had
been, since that day, so fully occupied
with his expeditions to different fo-
reign courts, that I had no oppor-
tunity of seeing him sooner. I told
him, that I had been placed by the
first consul in a situation which could
neither suit my public nor my pri-
vate feelings. That L went to. the
Thuilleries to pay my respects to
the first consul, and to present my
countrymen, but not to treat of
political subjeéts; and that unless
I had the assurance from him that
I should not be exposed to a re-
petition of the same disagreeable
circumstances, 1 should be .under

the

the necessity of discontinuing my
visits to the Thuilleries. M. de Tal-
leyrand assured me, that it was very
far from the first consul’s inten-
tion to distress me; but he had
felt himself personally insulted by
the charges which were brought
against him by the English govern-
ment; and that it was incumbent
upon him to take the first oppor-
tunity of exculpating himself in the
presence of the ministers of the dif-
ferent powers of Europe. He as-
sured me that nothing similar would
occur.

(Signed) Whitworth.
The Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury,

&c. &c. &e.

No. 47.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris,
March 18, 1803.

My lord,

I received your lordship’s dis-
patch, with its inclosure, this morn-
ing early ; and I learnt at the same
time that a messenger had arrived
from geveral Andreossy to M. de
Talleyrand ; shortly after, M. de
Talleyrand sent to desire | would
call upon him, which I accordingly
did. He told me that he had not
only received your lordship’s note
_ to the French ambassador, but also
the ‘sentiments of the first consul
upon it, which he was desirous to
communicate to me, before he re~
- dispatched the messenger. ‘This he
‘did; and I refer your iordship to
“the communication which general
. Andreossy will make, accarding to
his instructions, without. loss. of
time.

From the tenor of this note, it
appears, that this government is
_ not desirous to proceed to extremi-
ties ; that is to say, it is not pre-
We 3

SHATRESP AP EIPS.

703

pared so to do ; and, therefore, it ex-
presses a willingness to enter on the
discussion ef the point, which ap-
pears, according to their conception,
or rather to the interpretation they
choose to give to it, the most mate-
rial. This, of course, is the safety
of Egypt. On this the first consul
declares in the note, as M. Talley-
rand did repeatedly to me, that he
would be willing to enter into any
engagement, by which such a secu-
rity as would fully quiet our appre-
hensions, might be given on the
part of the French government. On
the subject of Malta, the first con-
sul maintains that he cannot listen
to any compromise ; with regard to
Egypt, he is willing to enter into any
engagement which may be thought
suflicient.

1 told him that he had departed
from the letter and the sense of your
lordship’s note, by confining the
question to Malta alone. ‘That note
had comprehended other most im-
portant considerations. That the
best method of bringing the discus-
sion to a speedy conclusion, such as
his majesty’s government appeared
to wish, was to take it up ona
broader scale. But that, at the
same time, his majesty’s government
would not refuse to lend itself to
any thing reasonable which might be
suggested. There was, however, I
told him, one distinction to be made
in the situation of the two govera-
ments, in the discussion of this
question. By our possession of
Malta, France was not threatened ;
but the reverse was the case, should
the access to Egypt be opened by its
evacuation,

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Whitworth.
The Right Honourable Lord
Hawkesbury, §c. &c. &e.
No. 48.

704

No. 48.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Lord Whitworth, dated March 27,
1803.

My lord,

Your exceilency’s several dis.
patches to No. 26 inclusive, have
been received and laid before the king.

With respect to the subjeét of
your excellency’s dispatch of March
i4, I have it in command to signify
to you his majesty’s pleasure, that
you take the earliest opportunity to
represent to .Monsieur de Talley-
rand, the surprise with which his
majesty has learnt the conduét which
the first consul had observed towards
your excellency in the instance to
which that dispatch refers ; and you

_ will add, that as his majesty has a
right to expeét that his ambassador
‘should be treated with the respect
and attention due to the dignity of
the sovercign whom he represents,
it will be impossible for you to pre-
sent yourself, on any days of cere-
mony, to the first consul, unless
you receive an assurance that you
will never be exposed to a repe-
tition of the treatment which you
experienced on the occasion.

Although your excellency appears
to have anticipated this instruéticn
in one of your most recent conver-
sations with Monsieur de Talley-
rand, I, nevertheless, think it right
to enable your excellency to state
to that minister, the sense which
the king entertains of this transac-
tion. Tam, &c.

(Signed) Hawkesbury.

His Excellency Lord Whitworth,

K. B. &. &c. &e.

No. 49.
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Lord Whitworth, dated April 3,
1803,

ANNUAL REGISTER; 1803.

My lord,
I inclose to your excellency, for

your information, copies of the of-

ficial note delivered to me on the

29th ultimo, by general Andreossy,

and of the answer which, by his ma-

jesty’s command, I this day return. —
ed to that communication.

I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) Hawkesbury. —

His Excellency Lord Whitworth,
K. B. &c. Sc. &e.

Inclosure in No, 49.

The undersigned general of divi-
sion, ambassador and minister ple-
nipotentiary from the French re-
public, has laid before his’ govern- —
ment the note addressed to him by —
his excellency lord Hawkesbury. ©
He has received orders to make the ©
following answer to the observations
therein contained.

The objeét of this note appears to
be to explain his Britannic majesty’s
message ; and to give some elucida-
tions which had been demanded re-
speéting the execution of the treaty
of Amiens.

The first consul will not make
any complaint relative to the extra-
ordinary and unexpected assertions
of this aét, issued by his Britannic
majesty. Not one of them js —
founded.

Ilis Britannic majesty believes
that his kingdom is menaced by
preparations made in the ports of
Holland and France. He has been
deceived ; the first consul has made
no preparation.

There were, at the time of the
message, but two frigates in-the
roads of Holland, and but three.
corvettes in the roads of Dunkirk.

How can his Britannic majesty’s
ministers have been deceived on facts
so evident? His Britannic majesty’s

ambassaders

STATE PAPERS.

ambassadors at Paris, and at the
Hague, have seriously to reproach
themselves, if they have credited in-
formation so evidently false, and
if they did not foresee that they
thereby exposed their government
to err in the most important delibe-
rations.

Was it not conformable to the
usage practised among nations, first
to demand explanations, and thus
to take means for being convinced
of the falshood of the intelligence
which the ministers might have re-
ceived? Must not the least effects
of the omission of this practice be,
to bring on the ruin of families,
and carry confusion, uncertainty,
and disorder into all the commercial
affairs of both nations? The first
consul knows, both from his own
sentiments, and judging of other
people by the French, that a great
nation can never be terrified. He
believes that good policy and the
feelings of true dignity, ever inspire
the sentiment of esteem for a rival
nation, and never the design of
menacing her. A great nation may
be destroyed, but not intimidated.

The second part of his majesty’s
message consists of another asser-
tion, no better founded. ~His Bri-
tannic majesty makes mention of
discussions, the success of which is
doubtful. What are these discus-
sions? What official notes, what
protocole prove the opening, the pro-
gress, the vicissitudes of a debate?
Can a state of difficulties, which
leads to an alternative of peace or
war, spring up unawares, without
commencement, without progres-
sion, and lead without distinétion
to an appeal to arms, before all the
means of conciliation have been ex-
_ hausted.

In this case, the appeal has been

Vou. XLV.

705

publicly made before it could be
known that there was room for
misunderstanding. ‘The termination
of the discussions were announced
before they had begun. The issue
of a difficult discussion has been de-
clared before it arose. What would
Europe, what would both nations
think, if they knew that these dis-
cussions, announced by his Britan-
nic majesty as so difficult to termi-
nate, were unknown to the French
government; and that the first con-
sul, on reading the message, could
not comprehend the meaning of
either of the declarations therein
contained.

He has also abstained from any
ostensible step ; and whatever may
have been the clamour, the activity,
the provocations of war, which have
taken place in England since that
message, he has given no orders, he
has made no dispositions, no prepa-
rations. He places his glory, in an
affair of this nature, wholly in be-
ing taken in an unprovided state.
He will continue in this system of
honest frankness, until his Britannic
majesty has reflected fully on the
part he proposes to take.

In lord Hawkesbury’s note, an
opinion is expressed, that the French
republic has increased in power since
the peace of Amiens. Thisis a de-
cided error. Since that epoch,
France has evacuated a considerable
territory. The French power has
received no degree of augmentation.
if his Britannic majesty is determin-
ed to make war, he may alledge all
the pretexts he pleases. He will find
few less founded.

As to the cemplaints made re-
specting the publications which may

_have appeared in France, they are

of an order too secondary to be ca-
pable of influencing such a decision.
Zz Are

"06

Are we then returned to the age of
tournaments? Motives of this na-
ture ‘might have ‘authorised, four
centuries ago, the combat of thirties ;
Dut they cannot, in this age, be a
reason for war between the two
countries.

It thight suffice in this respect to
reply to his excellency, that no re-
presentation has been made by him
on the 5ubjeét to the government of
the republic; and that, if it was
‘but justice to grant satisfaction, the
first consul had a right to expeét that
which was required by M. Otto, in
his note of the 22d ‘Thermidor last,
upon grounds more serious and more
just.

Is it possible that the English mi-
nistry can have been ignorant, that,
ever since the conclusion of tthe treaty
of Amiens, the English press has
not ceased to spread through Enrope
‘the rage of war, the discredit of
peace, and shameless and boundless
‘outrages against every thing which
is the object of the love and vene-
ration of the French people?

A few days after the ratification
of peace, one of his Britannic ma-
jesty’s ministers declared, that the
peace establishment must be consi-
derable ; and the distrust excited by
this declaration, made in parliament
with as much bitterness as impro-
pricty, furnished a commentary for
the exaggeration and alarms which
were circulated inde ‘spicable pamph-
lets, and in newspapers, as con-
temptible as those libels. Since that
time, these writers have found them-
selves invariably supported in their
insolent observations by particelar
phrases taken from the speeches of
some leading members of parliament,
These speeches, scarcely to be ex-
ceeded by the newswriters them-
salves, have, for these eighteen

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

months, tended to encourage iisult
against other governments to that
degree, that every European must
be offended, every reasonable Eng-
lishman must be humiliated, by such
unheard-of licentiousness.

What, if we conneét with these
sallies, proceedings more offensive
and serious ; the indulgence granted
to French criminals, publishing daily
outrages in the French language ;
the still more inexcusable toleration
extended to villains covered with
crimes, and plotting assassinations
incessantly, such ‘as Georges, who
still continues to reside at London,
protected, and having a considera-
ble establishment ; in a word, the
little justice which has been shewn
to all our representations—how are
we to account for the publicity of
the complaint which his Britannic
majesty has thought proper to make
respetéting some indefinite wrongs
which he has hitherto thought un-
necessary to bring before the first
consul?

The first consul has had cause to
be convinced that all his representa-
tions on all these points were use-
less, and that his Britannic majes-
ty, regardless of the neighbouring
powers, was resolved to authorise
every thing within his dominions ;
but he did not, on that account,
entertain a doubt of the continuance
of peace, nor alarm Kurope with
the notification of war. He con-
fined himself to this principle of con-
duét, to permit or to prevent in
France, with aespect to England,
whatever should be permitted or
prevented in England with regard to

AP rance.

He has, however, expressed, and
he again expresses his wish, that
means should be adopted to prevent,
in future, any mention being made of

what

STATE

what is passing in Englaud, either in
the official discussions, 61° in the pole-
mical writings in France, as in like
‘manner inthe French ofjictal discus-
stons and polemical writings, no mén-
tion whatever should be made of what
és passing in England.

Lord Hawkesbury mentions an
article in a newspaper, containing
the report of a French colonel. | In
Serious discussions, an answer on
this point might be dispensed with ;
but it is neither a long nor difficult
matter.

A colonel in the English army has
published a work, in England, filled
with the most atrocious and disgust-
ing calumnies against the French
army and its general. ‘Vhe lies it
contains have been contradicted by
the reception which colonel Sebas-
tiani experienced. The publicity of
his report was at once ‘a refutation
and a reparation which the French
army had a right to expect. On his
arrival in Egypt, this officer, to his
great astonishment, found the Eng-
lish army there, although they should
have evacuated it, and the Turks
prodigiously alarmed at the’ con-
tinuance of the English army, aga at
its relations with the natives, in re-
bellion and open revolt against the
Sublime Porte.

He must have conceived that the
treaties which conneét us with the
Porte, and by which we have gua-
ranteed to it the integrity of its pos-

Sessions, compelled us io unite our-

selyes with that power. It was na-
tural to think that England meant
to detlare war from the instant she
refused to execute the articles of the
treaty. For, after all, France is

not reduced to such a state of de-
basement, as to suffer treaties made
with her to be executed or not at
' pleasure.

‘PAPERS. FOy

Hence the' researches made by this
officer, as to the forces whicli' were
in Kgypt, and as to the position oé-
cupied by the English army.

But Egypt has since béen restored
to the dominion of its lawful sove-
reign, and the idea of a rupture’ be-
tween the two nations, on account
of the engagement contraéted with
the Porte, no longer exists.

There remains, therefore,’ but
one object worthy of fixing the at-
tention of the two’ nations. "The
execution of the treaty of Amiens,
as far as concerns Malta. His ma-
jesty has engaged to restore it to the
order, and to entrist it to the Nea-
politan army till the order should be
in a condition to guard it. His ma-
jesty will reject all sophistry, every
distin¢étion,’ évery mental reserva-
tion which might be offered to him,
to put in doubt the force and the
validity of his engagement. His
Britannic majesty’s equity, his con
science in this respeét, are guarantees
for the French republic. Were it
otherwise, what means in future
would the twe nations have for
coming to an understanding? Would
notall be chaos? This would, in-
deed, be adding another calamity to
those which have menaced sociak
order.

The undersigned is directed to de-
clare, in short, that the first consul
will not take up the defiance of war
given by England to France; that
as to Malta, he sees no subject for
discussion, the treaty having provid-
ed for every thing, and settled | every
thing. ,

The “undersigned has the honour, &c.
(Signed) F. Andreossy,
Portland Place, 8 Germinal,
Yeur 11. (29th March,
1803.)

Z242 Inclosure

708

Inclosure in No. 49.

The undersigned, his majesty’s
principal secretary of state for fo-
reign affairs, has laid before the king
the note of his excellency general
Andreossy, of the 29th of last
month.

His majesty has been induced, by
that spirit of moderation and for-
bearance which have invariably go-
verned his conduct in eyery part of
his communications with the French
government, to abstain from mak-
ing many observations which the
perusal of this note may naturally
have suggested to his mind.

His majesty has perceived, with
great regret, that the French go-
vernment continue to withhold all
satisfaction and explanation on the
points on which he has complained ;
and that, at the time when they evade
all discussion on the subject of his
representations, they persist in their
requisition that the island of Malta
should be forthwith evacuated by his
forces.

His majesty can never so far for-
get what is due to himself and to
his people, as to acquiesce in such
a course of proceeding; he has,
therefore, judged it expedient to
give instructions to his ambassador,
at Paris, to ascertain, distin¢tly,
from the French government, whe-
ther they are determined to perse-
yere in withholding all satisfaction
and explanation on the points on
which his majesty has complained ;
or whether they are disposed, with-
out delay, to give such satisfaction.
and explanations upon the present
state of affairs, as may lead to an
arrangement which may be calcu-
lated to adjust the differences at pre-
sent subsisting between the two go-
vernments, It is his majesty’s anx-
ious desire that, by thismode of pro-

1

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ceeding, an end may be put to that
state of suspense and irritation which
must be so injurious to the inte-
rests of both countries; and that the
two governments, a¢étuated by the
same principles of justice and mode-
ration, may be led to concur in
such measures as are most likely to
conduce to their permanent tran-
quillity.

The undersigned requests general
Andreossy to accept the assurances
of his high consideration.

Hawkesbury.
Downing Street, April 3d, 1803.
His Excellency General Andreossy,
Sc. Fe. Sc.

No. 50.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Lord Whitworth, dated April 4,
1803.

My lord,

It is become essential, that the
discussions which have been for some
time subsisting between his majesty
and the French government, should
be brought to an issue within as
short a time as is consistent with
the deliberation which must be given
to objeéts of so much importance.

The last note presented by general
Andreossy, in the name of his go-
vernment, in answer to my note of
the 15th of last month, evades all
explanation, and even all discussion,
of the points on which complaint
has been made by his majesty. _

If the French government should
seriously intend to persist in this
course of proceeding, there can be
no hopes of a successful termination
to the present negociation. It is
important, therefore, that you should
ascertain distinétly, in the first in-
stance, whether they are disposed to
enter into explanation on the points
on which his majesty has complain-

ed,

ST AWD «PSP -ER'S.

ed, and to come to such an arrange-
ment as may be calculated to adjust
the differences at present subsisting
between the two countries ; and for
this purpose you will present a note
to the etiect of that which is here-
with inclosed. It is possible that
the French government may conti-
nue to evade all discussion on the
points in question, and confine them-
selves to a categorical demand, that
Malta should be immediately evacu-
ated. In that case, it is his majesty’s
pleasure, that you should declare
the impossibility of the relations of
amity continuing to subsist between
the two countries, and the necessity
you will be under of leaving Paris
within a certain time. Butif, on the
other hand, they should shew a rea-
diness to enter into discussion, and
to give reasonable satisfaction and
explanation, it is important that you
should be informed, without loss of
time, of the sentiments of his ma-
jesty’s government, as to what might
be considered an equitable adjust-
ment of the differences between the
two governments at this moment.

I have, therefore, by his majes-
ty’s command, inclosed the project
of an arrangement, which, under the
present circumstances, would meet
the ideas of his majesty’s govern-
ment ; which would aflord security
for those objeéts which are consi-
dered as endangered by the unequi-
@cal disclosure of the views of the
first consul, and which, at the same
time, might entirely save the honour
of the French government,

1 am, &c.
(Signed) Hawkesbury.
Wis Excellency Lord Whitworth,
SC. Ce
Fir, Inclosure referred to in No. 50.
he undersigned, his Britannic

709

majesty’s ambassador extraordinary,
has received the orders of his court
to make the following communica-
tion to the French government.

His majesty has perceived, with
great regret, that the French go-
vernment continue to withhold all
satisfaction and explanation on the
points on which he has complained,
and that at the time when they evade
all discussion on the subje¢t of his
representations, they persist in their
requisition that the island of Malta
should be forthwith evacuated by
his forces. His majesty can never
so far forget what is due to him-
self, and to his people, as to acqui-

esce in such a course of proceeding.

He has, therefore, commanded the
undersigned to ascertain, distinctly,
from the French government, whe-
ther they are determined to perse-
vere in withholding all satisfaction
and explanation upon the points on
which his majesty has complained,
or whether they are disposed, with-
out delay, to give such satisfaction and
explanation upon the present state
of affairs, as may lead to an arrange-
ment which may be calculated to
adjust the differences at present sub-
sisting between the two governments.
It is his majesty’s anxious desire,
that, by adopting this mode of pro-
ceeding, an end may be put to that
state of suspense and uncertainty
which must be so injurious to the
interests of both countries ; and that
the two governments, a¢tuated by
the same principles of justice and
moderation, may be led to concur
in such measures as are most likely
to conduce to their permanent tran-
quillity.
(Signed) Whitworth.
Second Inclosure referred to in
No, 50.
Z2z3 dleads

410:

leads of an arrangement to be

concluded by treaty or con-

_ vention between his majesty

and the I'rench government.

_ Malta to remain in perpetuity in

the possession of his majesty. The

knights of.the order, of St. John to

be indemnified by his majesty for

any losses of property which they

may sustain in consequence of such
an arrangement.

Hiolland and Switzerland to be
evacuated by the French troops.

‘The island of Elba to be confirm-
ed by his majesty to France, and
the king of Etruria to be acknow-
ledged.

The Ltalian and Ligurian repub-
lics to be acknowledged by his ma-
jesty, provided an arrangement is
made in Italy for the king of Sar-
dinia, which shall be satisfactory to
hin,

No. 51.

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated Paris, April 7, 1803.

I received your lordship’s dis-
patches of the 4th instant, by the
messenger Wagstail, with their in-
closures, yesterday evening; and
shall, probably, i in the course of the
day, have an opportunity of com-
municating to M. de Talleyrand the
note, which I shail translate tor that
purpose.

No. 52.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated April 7,
1303.

My lord,

Since writing the preceding dis-
patch, I have seen M. de Talley-
vand, and communicated to him the
inclosed note, which L trust your
lordship will find as close a transla-
tion as possible, of that which I re-
ecived from your lordship, He read

ANNUAL:<REGISTER, 1803.

it over with much attention, and
when he had done, he appeared to
be in expectation of some other coms
munication. Upon desiring he
would explain himself, he said, that
he was in hopes | should have. fur-
nished him with the heads of those
points, on which it was aflirmed, in
the note, that the French govern-
ment had so repeatedly refused all
explanation and satisfaction. I told
him that it would have been entirely
useless to repeat what had been so
ofien urged in vain; that he could
not but know, that the explanation
required referred to the conduct of
the French government, and the
system of aggrandisement which it
had constantly pursued since the
conclusion, and in direct violation
of the treaty of Amiens, founded,
as it indisputably was, on the state
of possession of the two countries
at the time; that, with regard to
the satisfaction, it evidently referred
to the unjustifiable insinuations and
charges against his majesty’s govern-
ment, against the oficer command-
ing his forces in Egy pt, and against
the British army in that quarter,
contained in the official report of
colonel Sebastiani. ile was, by no
means, disposed to admit, that ei-
ther of these cases conld justify
the assertion of the French govern-
ment haying refused explanation and
satisfaction, on the ground that no
notice had been taken of these trans-
actions, but in a very cursory man-
ner; nor had any explanation ever
been required as to any particular
transaction, whether in Italy or
elsewhere, and if it had, it would
immediately have been given ; and
that the language of col. Sebastiani
was not to be put in any compari-
son with that used by major Wil-
son, in his account of the campaign

of

Se ee ee ee oe, a ee

ST Ae

of Egypt. I urged the difference
of acommon publication like that
to which he alluded, and a report
to the first consul published by him
in his official paper. On this occa-
sion, M. de Talleyrand was dispes-
ed to call in question the authenti-
city of the Moniteur. In short,
the most ungrounded assertions were
substituted for arguments; and,
amongst these, I cannot but place
that, so often repeated, of the first
consul’s having entirely given up all
idea whateverof Egypt,conseqaently,
we could have no pretext for re-
taining Malia.

He assured me, for the rest, that
we could communicate it this even-
ing to the first consul, and that, to-
morrow, he should, in all probabi-
lity, have a communication to make
in return.

J have the honour to be, &c.
Whitworth.
The Right Honourable Lord’
Taakesburs Ys Ge. KC. FC.

Inclosure referred to in No, 52.

Le soussigné, ambassadeur extra-
ordinaire et plenipotentiare de sa
majesté Britannique, a recu ordre
de sa cour de communiquer ce qui
suit au gouvernement de France.

Sa majesté a vii a regret que le
gouvernement de France continue a
refuser toute satisfaction et toute
explication sur les objets dont elle
ase plaindre, et qu’en évitant toute
discussion de ce qui fait le sujet de
Ses representations il persiste néan-
moins a demander l’evacuation de
Visle de Malthe par les forces de sa
majesté. Sa majesté sait trop ce
qu’elle se doit 4 elle-méme et a son
peuple pour acquiescer a de pareils
procedés. En conséquence elle a
ordonné au soussigné de savoir dis-
tinctement du gouvernement de

PAPERS.

Td

France, sil este déterming 4 perseny
verer dans son refus de toute satis-,
faction et de toute explication sur,
les objets de plainte de sa majesté,.
ou bien s’il est disposé 4 donner sans.
delai cctte satisfaction et cette expli-,
cation sur Vetat actuel des affaires,
de maniere a pouvoir conduire &
un arrangement qui. seroit de na-
ture a ajuster les differens qui ac-
tuellement existent entre Jes deux;
gouvernemens,

Sa majesté desire sincerement

Padoption de ce moyen que met-
troit fin 4 un etat de suspension et
dincertitude si nuisible a Vinterét
des deux nations, et de voir gue les
deux gouvernemens agissans par les
memes principes de justice et de mo-
deration puissent s’eutendre pour
concourir aux mesures es plus sus-
ceptibles de Jeur assurer une tran-
quillite permanente.

Le soussigné prie son excellence
M. de Talleyrand d’agréer l’assu-
rance de sa haute consideration.

Whitworth.
No. 53.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth ta
Lord Hawkesbury, dated April 9,
1803.

My lord,

In my conversation yesterday
evening with M. de Talleyrand, I
found him, after he had seen the
first consul, more disposed to con.
test the substance of the note which
I had presented the day before, than
to afiord any farther explanation.
He said, that, in order ta proceed
regularly, it would be necessary
that the French government should
be informed, ,precisely, what were
the objects which had created such
uneasiness, and on Which it was al,
ledged all explanation had been re-
fused. That, although this had,
perhaps, been "touched upon in ge.

Zu4 neral

719

neéral conversation, yet, no specific
charge had been adduced, in such a
manner as to demand a formal ex-
planation. 1 told him, that if the
object of the French government
was to protract the present state of
suspense and uncertainty, that ob-
ject might be answered to the ex-
tent, indeed, of a very few days,
by forcing me to such a reference ;
but I must, at the same time, de-
clare to him, that it could be pro-
ductive of no advantage, and would
serve only to provoke such a reca-
pitulation of the.system and conduct
which France had pursued since the
treaty of Amiens, as would have all
the appearance of a manifesto, every
item of which would carry convic-
tion to every individual in Europe ;
that it appeared, therefore, more
likely to answer the end which both
parties proposed, that of hastening
the conclusion of an amicable ar-
rangement, to take up the business
on the basis which I should pro-
pose, and by which they would ad-
mit no more than what was incon-
trovertible, namely, that if the
French government exercised a right
of extending its influence and terri-
tory, in violation of the spirit of the
treaty of Amiens, Great Britain
had, if she chose to avail herself of
it, (which I was confident she
would not do, further than was ne-
cessary aS a measure of security,)
an undoubted right to seek a coun-
terpoise. He did not seem inclined
to dispute this position, but rather
to admit that such a right did exist,
and might be claimed in consequence
of the acquisitions which had been
made by France. On the point of sa-
tisfaction I found him much more ob-
stinate. He said that the first con-
sul was hurt at the expression (sa-
tisfaétion, ) to which he gave an in-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

terpretation I had never understood
belonged to it, as implying superio-
rity ; so that if the British govern-
ment required satisfaction of the
French, it arrogated to itself a su-
periority. I told him, what cer-
tainly must be understood by every
one, that the demand of satisfaction
implied that one party had been of-
fended by another, and, of course,
had a right to demand such satisfac-
tion; that an inferior had an equal
right with his superior to demand
it; but, in the case in question,
there was perfect equality, and,
consequently, there was no offence
to be found, but in the conduct
which rendered such an appeal ne-
cessary. The discussion of this
point took up a considerable time,
without producing any thing de-
cisive.

We, at last, came to the main
point of the business; and on this
I cannot say any real progress has
been made, M. de Talleyrand re-
peated to me that the first consul
had nothing more at heart, than to
avoid the necessity of going to war,
and that there was no sacrifice he
would not make, short of his ho-
nour, to obtain this end. Is there,
said M. de Talleyrand, no means of
satisfying both parties ; for, at the
same time that the first consul in-
sists, and will always insist, on the
full execution of the treaty, he will
not object to any mode by which
you may acquire the security you
think so necessary, You are not
satisfied with the independence of
Neapolitan troaps ; what others will
answer the purpose? he then start-
ed the idea of a mixed garrison,
composed of English, French, Ita-
lians, Germans, &c. He begged
that I would refer, once more, to
your lordship, and submit the in-

closed

STATE PAPERS.

closed paper, which he drew up in
my presence. I told him that we
were only losing time by such a re-
ference; that my instructions were
positive, and had certainly not been
sent me without the fullest considera-
tion. I could not, however, refuse
what he so earnestly required ; and
“oa lordship will see, by the paper,
ow the matter rests after this con-
ference. I will confess to your
lordship, that my motive for con-
senting to forward this sort of pro-
posal is, that supposing we should
find the first consul as obstinate as
he now appears to be, on the point
of abandoning Malta to us in per-
petuity, and that a temporary pos-
session might be considered as the
next best thing, something of this
kind might derive from it.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Whitworth.
The Right Hon, Lord Hawkes«
bury, &c, &c. &c.

Inclosure referred to in No. 53.

The conversation with M. Tal-
leyrand to-day has led us to this re-
sult. Eyery thing which may tend
to violate the independence of the
order of Malta, will never be con-
sented to by the French govern-
ment. Every thing which may tend
to put an end to the present difficul-
ties, or be agreeable to the English
government, and which shall not be
contrary to the treaty of Amiens,
_ the French government have no ob-
_ jection to make a particular conyen-
_ tion respecting it?’ The motives of
this convention shall be inserted in
the preamble, and shall relate to
the respective grievances concerning
which the two governmeuts shall
think it adyiseable to come to an
understanding with cach other.

713

No. 54.

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated April 14, 1803.

Since my last, the negotiation is at

a stand, in the expectation, I sup-

pose, of the answer which may ar.

rive, to the overture which I com.
municated to your lordship on the
9th instant, and which is expected
here to produce a good effect, not-
withstanding the little hope I have
given. ‘To-morrow, I shall, in all
probability, be in possession of this
answer from your lordship, and be
enabled to speak still more posi-
tively.

No. 55.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Lord Whitworth, dated April 13,
1803.

My tord,
His majesty has received from his
charge d’affaires at Hamburgh, the
most extraordinary account of the

. conduct of Monsieur Rheinhardt, the

French minister at that place, with
respect to a most gross and unwar-
rantable libel upon his majesty’s go-
vernment. He has been assured
that the French minister, -having
proposed the insertion of that libel
in the official gazette of the town of
Hamburgh, and the insertion of it
having, in the first instance, been
refused, the French minister went
so far as to demand, in his official
capacity, the insertion of that arti-
cle by order of the senate. His
majesty is unwilling to believe that
the French government could have
authorized so outrageous an attack
upon his majesty and his govern-
ment, and so daring a violation of
the independence of a neutral state.
It is his majesty’s pleasure, that
you should communicate these eir-

cumstances

714

cumstances to the French govern-
ment, and state, at the same time,
the impossibility of bringing the
present discussions to an amicable
conclusion, unless some satisfaction
shall be given to his majesty for the
indignity which has thus been of-
Fered to him, in the face of all Eu-
rope, by the French minister at

Hamburgh,
| have the honour to be, &e.
(Signed) Hawkesbury.

His Excellency Lord Whitworth,
K. B. Se. &c. SC.

No. 56.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Lord Whitworth, dated April 13,
1805.

My lord,

Your excellency’s dispatches have
been received, and laid before the
king.

Ilis majesty has observed, with
great satisfaction, the admission by

the French government of the jus-.

tice of his claim to some compensa-
tion, in consequence of the increas-
-ed power and influence of France,
since the period of the conclusion of
the definitive treaty.

Although, under the circum-
stances of your conversation with
M. Talleyrand, and particularly
after the note verbale which he
gave to you, it might have been
expedient that you should have de-
ferred presenting the project con-
tained in my dispatch, No. 7, in the
form. of a project, it is desirable
that you should communicate, with-
out delay, in some mode or other,
the contents of that project, for the
purpose of ascertaining, distinctly,
whether the conditions are such as
to induce the French government to
give way upon the question of Mal-
ta. ‘These conditions appear to his

ANNUAL REGISTER, “803.

majesty so well calculated to save
the honour of the French govern-
ment on the subject of Malta—if
the question of Malta is principally
considered by them as a question of
honour—and, at the same time,
hold out to them such important ad-
vantages, that the success of the pro-
position is, at least, worth trying,
particularly as the result of it might
be productive of the most easy means
of adjusting the most material of our
present diilerences.

With respect to the assertion so
often advanced and repeated by M.
Talleyrand in your last conversa-
tions of the non-execution of the
treaty of Amiens relative to Malta,
I have only to observe again, that
the execution of that article is be-
come impracticable from causes
which it has not been in the power
of his majesty to control. That
the greatest part of the funds as-
signed to the support of the order,
and indispensibly necessary for the
independence of the order and de-
fence of the island, have been se-
questrated since the conclusion of
the definitive treaty, in direct re-
pugnance to the spirit and letter of
that treaty; and that two. of the
principal powers who were invited
to accede as guarantees to the ar-
rangement, have refused their ac-
cession, except on the conditions
that the part of the arrangement
which was deemed so material rela-
tive to the Maltese inhabitants
should be entirely cancelled, The
conduct of the French government,
since the conclusion of the definitive
treaty, gives his majesty a right,
which is now, at length, admitted
by themselves, to demand some
compensation for the past, and se-
curity for the future. Such com-
pensation could never be considered

as

gs obtained by the possession of an
island, which would only entail a
very heavy expence on this coun-
try ;—and the degree of security
which would be provided by these
means, would only be such as his
majesty, under the present circyum-
stances, is entitled to demand.

I observe, in the note verbale of
monsieur Talleyrand, he makes use
of the expression, the independence
of the order of Malta. If this is
meant to apply to the order exclu-
sively, his majesty would be willing,
for the preservation of peace, that
the civil government of the island
should be given to the order of St,
John; the Maltese enjoying the

rivileges which were stipulated in
their favour in the treaty of Ami-
ens ; and that, conformably to prin-
ciples which have been adopted on
other occasions, the fortifications of
the island should be garrisoned for
ever by the troops of his majesty,

In the event of cither of these
propositions being found unattain-
able, his majesty might be disposed
to consent to an arrangement by
which the island of Malta would
remain in his possession for a li-
mited number of years, and to wave
in consequence his demand for a
‘perpetual occupation, provided that
the number of years was not less
than ten, and that his Sicilian ma-
jesty could be induced to cede the
‘Soyereignty of the island of Lam.
-pedosa for a valuable consideration.
At the proposition is admitted, the
island of Malta should be given up
to the inhabitants at the end of that

f

Tee and it should be acknow-

Tedged as an independent state. In
this case, his majesty would be
‘ready to concur in any arrange-
ment for the establishment of the
order of St. John in some other part
of Europe.

SHAPE: PAPERS

715

You will not refuse to listen to
any proposition which the French
government may be disposed to make
te you with a view to an equivalent
security for those objets in regard
to which his majesty claims the pos-
session or occupation of Malta ; but
the three propositions to which L
have above alluded, appear, at the
present moment, to furnish the only
basis for a satisfactory arrangement ;
and you will decline receiving any
proposition which does not appear
to you to offer advantages to his
majesty as substantial as that which
I have last stated.

It is very desirable that you should °
bring the negociation to an issue, if
possible, without referring to his
majesty’s government for further in-
tructions, after the receipt of this
dispatch ; and if you should be of
opinion that there is no hopes of
bringing it to a favourable conclu-
sion, you may inform M. Talley-
rand of the necessity yeu will be
under, after a certain time, to leave
Paris.

I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) Hawkesbury.
His Excellency Lord Whitworth, K.B.
Se. §¢. Se.

No. 57.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth te
Lord Huazkesbury, dated Paris,
April 18, 1803.

My lord,

I did not fail to put into imme-
diate execution the instruétions con-
tained in your lordship’s dispatch,
(No. 11.) on the subject of the libel
inserted by the French minister in
the Hamburgh gazette. I repre-
sented the outrageous and unprece-
dented conduét of M. Rheinhardt
in such terms as it deserves; and
fairly declared to M. de Talleyrand,
that, until satisfaction shall be given

to

716

to his majesty for the indignity
which has been offered him by the
French minister, in his official cha-
racter, there could be no possibility
whatever of bringing the present
discussion to an amicable issue. M.
de Taileyrand assured me, that the
French government saw the conduct
of M. de Rheinhardt in the same
light as his majesty’s ministers, and
that they could not be more sur-
prised than the first consul had been
at seeing such an article inserted by
authority; that an immediate ex-
planation had been required of M.
Rheinhardt, five days ago; and if
his conduét had been such as had
been represented, he would, doubt-
less, feel the effects of the first con-
sul’s displeasure ; and that, in the
mean time, I might inform your
lordship that he was completely
disavowed. I told M. de Talley-
rand, that, as the insult had been
public, it would be necessary that
the reparation should be so also.
He answered me again, that the
first consul considered M. Rhein-
hardt’s conduét as so reprehensible,
that every satisfaction might be ex-
pected.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Whitworth,
The Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury,
&c. &c. &e.

Na. 58.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
Lord idawkesbury, dated April1s8,
1803.

My lord,

T have the honour to acknow-
tedge the receipt of your lordship’s
dispatches of the 13th instant.

_t saw Joseph Bonaparte imme-
diately on the receipt of your lord-
ship’s dispatch ; and without troub-
jing your lordship with a repetition

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

of the arguments I used to hasten
the conclusion of the negociation,
amongst which I endeavoured to
convince him of the importance of
preventing the ultimatum which
would mevitably follow the rejec-
tion of what I had to propose, I
will briefly state, that, on finding
it -perfeétly impracticable to establish
the principle of our keeping posses-
sion of Malta in perpetuity, I deli-
vered to him, in writing, the se-
cond proposal I had to make. He
did not fail to observe, that, by this
modification, the difficulty which he
considered as insurmountable was
not removed; that although the
order was restored, it could, not
be considered as independent; and,
in fact, Malta would belong to that
power which had possession of the
forts. 1 enforced the adoption of
this plan by every reason which
could serve to recommend it; but
the possession in perpetuity was
constantly urged asa difficulty which
nothing could remove. Our con.
versation lasted near two hours. I
confess that I gained no solid ground
of hope that the project, which he
assured me he would take to the
first consul at St. Cloud, would be
adopted. But he said that he was
not without hope that he might be
authorised to propose to me the oc-
cupation of the fortresses for a term)
of years. It was my wish, that such
a proposal should come from him ra-
ther than fromme. 1 told him that
I did not well see how such a tenure
would suitus; but that I wished too
sincerely to avoid the fatal extre-
mities to which I saw the discussion
was tending, not to give any rea-
sonable proposal which might be
made on their part every assistance
in my power. ‘This proposal ori-
ginated with him, and was therefore

received

S(T AYP E;, BP & PrB, RS:

teceived by me merely as a matter
which I would refer to your lord-
ship. If, however, I can bring the
matter to an immediate conclusion,
and without further reference to
your lordship, on the principle of
our retaining possession of the for-
tresses of Malta for a term of years,
not less than that pointed out by
your lordship, and with the assur-
ance that this government will not
oppose the cession of the island of
Lampedosa, I shall have great plea-
Sure in announcing to your lordship
such a conclusion. :

I do not enter into detail of the
conversation which I had the same
morning with M. de ‘Talleyrand,
immediately upon my leaving Jo-
seph Bonaparte, as it differed in
nowise from what I have above-
mentioned. He suggested also the
possibility of coming to an arrange-
ment on the ground of a temporary
occupation, and I made him the
same answer.

Such is the state of the discussion
at this moment. I am in expeéta-
tion of hearing very shortly either

from Joseph or M. de Talleyrand ;

and I am not without hopes that
I may be able to announce to your
lordship that such an arrangemeut
is made, as may answer his ma-
jesty’s expectations, in a very few
days. Your lordship may be as-
sured, that I feel the necessity of
expedition. Were it less urgent, I
might, perhaps, hope to bring the
discussion to even a more fayour-

able issue.

7

a

1 have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) Whitworth.
The Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury,
&ce. Sc. &e.

Inclosure referred to in No. 58.
His majesty will consent, for the

V7.

sake ef preserving peace, that the
government of the island of Malta
shall be given to the order of St.
John; the Maltese enjoying those
privileges which haye been granted
on former occasions. ‘The fortifi-
cations of the island shall be occu-
pied, in perpetuity, by the troops of
his majesty.

No. 59.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth ‘to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris
April.20,, 1803.

My lord,

I had hoped that the first extra-
ordinary messenger I should have
occasion to send, would have been
to announce to your lordship, that
the differences between the two go-
vernments were adjusted on one of
the modifications pointed out to me
by my last instruétions from your
lordship. In this expectation I am
deceived. I saw Joseph Bonaparte
the night before last, before 1 had
sealed up my dispatches of. that
evening to your lordship; but as
all he said tended only to justify
the hope I had given your lordship
in those dispatches, I added nothing
to them. He assured me, positively,
that I should hear from M. de Tal-
leyrand in the course of yesterday
morning, and that a meeting would
be appointed in order to settle the
term of years for which the first
consul might be induced to consent
to the cession of Malta. It is true
that he declared, that, in order to
gain his consent, it would be ne-
cessary to hold out the advantages
which the British government was
willing to offer in return, meaning
the acknowledgments of the new
governments in italy. I told him
that this offer was made only with a
view to the possession of Malta in

perpetuify;

718

perpetuity ; but after some conver-
sation, | gave him to understand,
that I would not refuse to admit the
demand, sub speraii, on the condi-
tion that the cession should be made
for a considerable term of years ;
that Holland and Switzerland should
be evacuated ; and that a suitable
provision should be made for the
king of Sardinia. He seemed to
think there could be no difhiculty in
this arrangement; and I left him in
the persuasion, that I should the
next day, yesterday, or this morn-
ing, receive the summons trom M.
de Talleyrand, which he had given
me reason to expect.

Lam sorry to say, that no such
summons has been received by me,
neither has any further notice been
taken of the business. So that I
feel that I should betray the confi-
dence your lordship may place in
me, were I to delay any longer re-
questing, that I may be immediately
furnished with the terms on which
his majesty’s ministers would be wil-
fing to conclude, and which pro-
bably will not differ much trom those
above stated, in order that I may
propose them in the form of an
ultimatum; and that, at the ex-
piration of the period allowed for
deliberation, | may be authorised,
not only to declare that Iam to
feave Paris, but a¢tually so to do,
unless, in the intermediate time, the
French government should accede to
our demands.

I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) Whitworth.
Right Honourable Lord Hawkesbury,
Sc. §c. Sc.

No. 60.
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
Lord Whitworth, dated April 23,
1803.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

My lord,

Your excellency’s dispatches of
the 18th and 20th instant have
been received, and laid before the
king.

It is necessary for me to do little
more on the present occasion than
to refer you to my dispatch of the
13th of April, in which I stated to
you theseveral propositions on which
alone, in the judgment of his ma-
jesty, the differences between this
country and France could be satis«
factorily adjusted.

If, upon the receipt of this diss
patch, it shall not have been in your
power to bring the negotiation to 4
conclusion on any of the proposi-
tions to which L have above re-
ferred, it is his majesty’s pleasure
that you should communicate, offi-
cially, to the French government,
that you have gone, in point of con-
cession, to the full extent of your
instructions ; and that, if an ar-
rangement, founded upon one of
these propositions, cannot be con-
cluded, without further delay, you
have received his majesty’s com-
mands to return to England.

His majesty can only consent to
relinquish the permanent occupation
of Malta by his forces, on the con-
ditions that the temporary posses«
sion shall not be less than ten years ;
that the authority, civil and mili-
tary, shall, during that period, re-
main solely in his majesty ; and that,
at the expiration of that period, the
island shall be given up to the in-
habitants, and not to the order 3
and provided likewise, that ‘his Si-
cilian majesty shall be induced to
cede to his majesty the island of
Lampedosa. It is indispensible that,
as a part of this arrangement, Hol-
land should be evacuated by the
French troops within a shert pe-

riod

Saf APE? PAP EARNS.

riod after the conclusion of a con-
vention, by which all those pro-
visions are secured. His majesty
will consent to acknowledge the
new Italian states, upon the con-
dition that stipulations in favour
of his Sardinian majesty, and of
Switzerland, form a part of this ar-
rangement.

It is his majesty’s pleasure that,
in the event of the failure of the
negotiation, you should delay your
departure from Paris no longer than
may be indispensibly necessary for
your personal convenience ; and
that you should, in no case, remain
there, after the receipt of this dis-
patch, more than seven days.

I have the honour to be, &c.

Hawkesbury.
His Excellency Lord Whitworth, K.B.

Sc. §c. Sc.

pr No. 61.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris,
April 23, 1803.

My Jord,

As Lheard nothing from M. de
Talleyrand, I called on hit on
Thursday, in order to learn the ef-
feét of the proposal which I had
made, conformably to your lord-
ship’s instructions, on the basis of
@ perpetual possession of the forts
of Malta, on re-establishing the or-
der in the civil government of the

island. He told me, that if I had
called on him sooner, he should,
_ two days ago, have communicated
to me the first consul’s answer,
which was, that no consideration
on earth should induce him to con-
_ Sent to a concession in perpetuity
of Malta, in any shape whatever ;
and that the re-establishment of the
_ order was not so much the point to
‘be discussed, as that of suffering
3

719

Great Britain to acquire a posses.
sion in the Mediterranean. {[ told
him that I did not call sooner be-
cause [I was given to understand
that he would have himself pro-
posed it to me, for the purpose of
communicating the answer of the
first consul; and that it did not, in
any shape, become me to put my-
self on the footing of a solicitor in
this transaction. After some ¢con-
versation, and finding (what I most
sincerely believe to be the case)
that the first consul’s determination
was fixed on the point of a posses-
sion of Malta in perpetuity; I re-
peated to him what I had previously
suggested to Joseph Bonaparte, -the
modification which I had to propose,
namely, that, for the sake of peace,
his majesty would be willing to
wave his pretensions to a possession
in perpetuity, and would consent
to hold Malta for a certain number
of years to be agreed upon, on the
condition that no opposition should
be made, on the part of the French
government, to any negotiation his
majesty might set on foot with his
Sicilian majesty, for the acquisition
of the island of Lampedosa. We
discussed this proposal in a conver-
sation of some length ; and I made
use of all the arguments which hare
been furnished me by your lordship,
or which occurred to me, in its fa.
vour. I begged him, particularly,
to recolleSt that we were in actual
possession of the object, and that,
therefore, eyery modification tend-
ing to limit that possession was, in
fact, a concession on the part of his
majesty, and a proof of his desire
to sacrifice, to his love of peace, the
just claim which he had acquired
in consequence of the conduét of
France, and which had récently
been admitted, of a much more

considerable

720

considerable compensation and coun-
terpoise. M. de Talleyrand did not
seem disposed to dispute any of
my positions, and I left him, I con-
fess, fully impressed with the idea,
that the next day (Friday) I should
find him prepared to treat on this
ground, and that the only difficult
point to be arranged would be,
the number of years for which
Malta should be ceded to his ma-
jesty-

Your lordship will conceive my
surprise, when, on seeing him the
next day, he told me, that, although
he had not been able to obtain from
the first consul all he wished, still
the proposition he had to make
would, he trusted, be such as fully
to answer the purpose: he then
said, that the first consul would onno
terms hear either of a perpetual or
a temporary possession of Malta ;
that his object was the execution of
the treaty of Amiens; and that rather
than submit to such an arrangement
as that I had last proposed, he would
even consent to our keeping the ob-
ject in dispute for ever; on the
ground that, in the one there was an
appearance of generosity and mag-
nanimity, but in the other, nothing
but weakness and the effect of coer-
cion ; that, therefore, his resolution
was taken, and what he had to pro-
pose was the possession we required
of the island of Lampedosa, or of
any other of the small isles, of
which there were three or four be-
tween Malta and the coast of Afri-
ca; that such a possession would be
sufficient for the objeét we had in
view, which was a station in the
Mediterranean, as a place of refuge
and security for any squadron we
might find it convenient to keep in
that sea. I suffered him to expa-
tiate a considerable time, and with-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 18063.

out interruption, on the great ad-
vantage we were to derive from
such an acquisition, as well as on
the confidence which the first consul
reposed in our pacific intention in
lending a hand to such an establish-
ment. He concluded by desiring I
would transmit this proposal te
your lordship. I told him that I
was extremely sorry indeed, to find
that we had made such little pro-
gress in the negotiation; that my
orders were positive; that I could
hear of nothing short of what I had
proposed, neither could I possibly
undertake to make such a proposal
to his majesty, since every word of
my instructions (from which I cer-
tainly should not depart) applied
positively to Malta, unless an equi-
valent security could be offered ;
and surely he would not pretend to
tell me that Lampedosa could be
considered as such ; that the posses-
sion of Malta was necessary for our
security, and was rendered so not
from any desire of aggrandizement
on the part of his majesty, but by
the conduét of the French gevern-
ment ; and that so strongly were we
impressed with the necessity, that,
rather than abandon it, we were
prepared to go to war. Thatit was
on this ground I must declare to
him, that I could neither take upon
myself to forward such a proposal as
he had made to me, or, indeed, any
thing short of what I had last pro- *
posed as a fair equivalent. That,
in so doing, I aéted in conformity
to his majesty’s views, who would
most assuredly disapprove of my
conduct, were I, by unnecessarily
protracting the negociation, to add
one day, or one hour, if it could be
avoided, to the suspense and anxiety
under which his own subjeéts and
all Europe must labour at such a

crisis >

STAEFE PAPERS.

erisis ; that I had hoped the French
government, actuated by the same
generous motives, would have aéted
in the same manner; that it might,
by pursuing a contrary line of con-
duct, gain stilla few days; but I
og ‘
tTaust declare, that, in a yery short
time, I should have to communicate
_to him those very terms from which
his were so wide, but to draw
nearer to which was, perhaps, the
‘object of his negotiating, iu the form
of an ultimatum, which would at
_least have one good effeét, that of
bringing the matter to an issue, and
the certainty even of war was pre-
ferable to the present state of inde-
cision.

To all [ could say, M. Talley-
rand objected the dignity and honour
of the first consul, which could not
admit of his consenting to any thing
which might carry with it the ap-
pearance of yielding to a threat. I
told him that it never could he ad-
mitted that the first consul had a
right to act in such a manner as to
excite jealousy and create alaem in
every state of Europe, and when
asked for explanation or security,
Say that it was contrary to his‘ho-
nour or his dignity to afford either.
Such arguments might, perhaps, do,
when applied to some of those go-
vernments with which France had
been accustomed to treat, or more

properly to diétate to, but never
could be used to Great Britain ;
that his majesty had a right to speak
freely his opinion, and possessed
also the means, whenever he chose
to employ them, of opposing a bar-
rier to the ambition of any indivi-
dual, or of any state, which should
be disposed to threaten the security
of his dominions, or the tranquillity
_ of Europe.
Our conversation concluded by M.
Vou. XLY.

721

de Talleyrand’s assuring me that he
would report the substance of it to
the first consul in the evening, and
that, probably, he should have oc-
casion to see me on the following
day.

I have the honour to be, &e.

(Signed) Whitworth.

The Right Hon, Lord Hawkesbury,

Sc Sc. &c.

No. 62.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to
Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris,
April 25, 1803.

My lord,

The conversation I had“on Sa-
turday morning with M. Talleyrand
has produced nothing from which I
can draw a more favourable con-
clusion, as to the result of the ne-
gotiation, than when I last ad-
dressed your lordship. He told me,
that although he had seen the first
consul the night before, he had no-
thing to add to what he had com~
municated to me on Friday ; that
the first consul was determined not
to give his consent to our retaining
Malta, either in perpetuity or for
a term, although, of the two, he
would prefer the former, as the less
repignant to his feelings; that he
was therefore ordered to repeat the
proposal he had lately made me,
of acceding to our demand of Lam-
pedosa, or any of the neighbouring
islands ; and that, as our object was
to obtain a settlement in the Medi-
terranean, he imagined that which we
had ourselves pointed out would an-
Swer every purpose we might have
in view. But, at all events, the
first consul neither could nor would
relinguish his claim to the full exe-
cution of the treaty of Amiens. To
this I could only repeat what I fad
already said to him on the inade-

8A quacy

722

quacy of such a proposal, and of
the impossibility in which I found
myself to transmit it to your lord-
ship. I lamented the course which
the negotiation was taking, and that
the first consul should have so little
regard to the dreadful consequences
which must ensue, as to suffer them
to be outweighed by a mistaken no-
tion of dignity. And I added, that
notwithstanding the acquiescence
which he might have met with from
others, the plea of its being in-
compatible with the dignity of the
French government to give satis-
faction or security, when both might
with justice be demanded, could
never be admitted by Great Bri-
tain.

M. de Talleyrand heard every
thing I could say with the utmost
patience, notwithstanding he had
nothing satisfactory to say, and
seemed unwilling to break up the
conference. He constantly brought
forward the same inadmissible pro-
posal, requesting that L would at
least communicate it to your lord-
ship. This, I told him, 1 could not
refuse to do, since every thing which
passed between him and me must, of
course, make the subject of my re-
ports to your lordship. I declared,
however, at the same time, that I
should not think myself by any
means authorized to suspend the ex-
ecution of any instructions J might
receiye, tending to bring the negoti-
ation to an issue, in the expectation
of any change which such a propo-
sal might produce. All I could do,
and that I would certainly do, would
be to communicate the ultimatum, if
his majesty should think proper to
furnish me with it, confidentially to
M. de Talleyrand, before I present-
ed it officially to him, as minister for
foreign affairs. Je assured me that

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

he should consider such a conduct
as a further proof of my desire to
conciliate, and that he could not yet
forbear hoping that the differences
might be adjusted. I repeated that
if his hope was founded on the ex-
pectation of his majesty being in-
duced to recede from his demand, it
would be deceiving himself to cherish
it.

The remainder of the conversa-
tion turned on the calamities which
would follow the failure of our en-
deavour to avoid arupture. He in-
sinuated that Tlolland, Naples, and
other countries connected with
Great Britain, would be the first
victims of the war. I asked him
whether he thought that such a con-
duct would add to the glory of the
first consul, or whether the falling
on the innocent and defenceless
would not rather tarnish it, and ul-
timately unite against him, not only
the honest men in his own country,
but every government in Europe.—
That it certainly would excite more
detestation than terror in England,
at the same time that it would serve
to impress upon us still more
strongly the necessity of omitting
no means of circumscribing a power
so perniciously exerted. I could
not help adding, that although no
act of hostility had actually taken
place, yet the inveteracy with which
our commerce, our industry, and
our credit had been attacked in
every part to which French influ-
ence could be extended, did, in faét,
almost amount to the same, since it
went to prove, in addition to the
general system of the first consul,
that his object was to pursue, under
the mask of peace, the same line of
conduét in which the ‘preceding go-

vernments had acted. '
I -now trust entirely to the a

0

STATE PAPERS,

ef the ultimatum, which will at least
convince him that we are in earnest,
and that he has nothing to expect
from protra¢tion. I shall not, how-
ever, as I said before, make use of
this officially, until I have tried its
effect in a more conciliatory man-
ner.

I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) § Whitworth.

The Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury,

&c. &e, §c.

P. S. Your lordship’s dispatches
of the 23d, with their inclosures,
were delivered to me, by Shaw, this
evening at nine o’clock. I shall see
M. de Talleyrand to-morrow morn-
ing; and I trust your lordship will
not disapprove my following the
line of conduét I had proposed, and
which I have mentioned to your
lordship, of informing him of the
nature of my instructions, a few
hours before I carry them officially
into execution, W.

No. 63.

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated Paris, April 27, 1803.

1 avail myself of the opportunity
of a messenger passing through from
Constantinople and Vienna, to in-
form your lordship of the state of
the negotiation at this moment. I
' communicated to M. de Talleyrand
the purport of my instruétions of the
23d, yesterday at four o’clock. He
immediately asked me if the posses-
_ sion of Malta was stil! insisted upon.
I told him most certainly it was ;
and I repeated to him the particu-
_ Jars-of the terms on which if was
_ yet possible to conclude the busi-

ness. That these were, the posses-

sion of Malta for ten years, dur-

_ ing which period the authority, civil

and iilitary, was to remain solely

in his majesty, and that at the ex-

723

piration of that term it was to be
given up to the inhabitants, and not
to the order; provided, also, that
his Sicilian majesty shall be induced
to cede to his majesty the island of
Lampedosa; that Holland should be
evacuated by the French troops
within a month after the conclusion
of a convention by which all these

‘provision shall be secured; and that

his majesty would consent to acs
knowledge the new Italian states,
provided stipulations were made in
favour of. his Sardinian majesty and
of Switzerland.

] had no sooner made known these
conditions than M. de Talleyrand told
me it would be perfeéily unneces=
sary to delay the official communica-
tion; for, as the possession of Malta
was still insisted upon, although for
aterm, the first consul would not
consent to them. I accordingly did
repeat them to him-in the manner
he desired ; when he told me that
he comprehended perfectly what we
required, but that, in similar cases,
it was usual to state the demand in
writing, and he desired I would give
him a note upon the subject. fF told
him that I would repeat to him once
more, or as often as he pleased, the
express terms which I had stated to
him, and that as my communica-
tion to him was verbal, I should,
of course, be content with an an-
swer in the same form. He con-
sented, at length, to receive it, and
to éovimiubieate to me the first con-
sul’s answer as soon as possible. I
desired that he would recolleét, that
Tuesday next must be the day of my
departure.

No. 64.

Extract ‘of a Dispatch hin Lord
Whéteorth to Ld Hawkesbury,
dated April 29, 1803. *

My Jast letter to your lordship
3A2 was

724

was of yesterday evening.. This
morning a person came to me, whom
I suspect of being employed. by the
first consul, for the purpose of
ascertaining my sentiments, and told
me that 1 should, in the course
of the day, receive a letter from
M. de Talleyrand, drawn up under
the inspection of the first consul,
which, alihough not exattly what L
might wish, was, however, so mo-
derate as to aflurd me a well-grownd-
ed hope, and might certainly be suf-
ficient to induce me to delay, for a
short time, my departure. I told

him that it would be a matter of

great satisfaction to me to perceive
a probability of bringing the nego-
tiation to a favourable issue; and
that I should be extremely sorry to
spoil the business by any useless
precipitation. But it must be re-
collected, that [ acted in conformity
to instructions ; that those instruc-
tions were positive ; that by them I
avas enjoined to leave Paris on Tucs-
day next, unless, in the intermediate
time, certain conditions were agreed
to. Having received no letter ia
- the course of the day, about four
@clock I went to M. de Talley-
rand; I told him that my anxiety
éo Jearn whether he had any thing
favourable to tell me, brought me
to him, and in case-he had not, to
recal to his recollection that Tues.
day was the day on which | must
leave Paris, and to request that he
would have the necessary passports
prepared for me and my family. He
appeared evidently embarrassed, and
alter some hesitation observed, that
he could not suppose I should really
go away; but that, at all events, the
first consul never would recal his
‘ambassador. To this I replied, his
majesty recalled me in order to put
an end to the negotiation, on the

ANNUAL*REGISTER,

1803.

principle that even aétual war was
preferable to the state of suspense
in which, England, and. indeed ‘all
furope, had been kept for so long
a space of time.

From the tenor of his conyersa-
tion, I should rather be led to think
that he does not consider the case
as desperate. Upon my leaving
him he repeatedly said, J’ai encore
de 2 Espoir.

Saturday Evening.

P.S. This day has passed without
any occurrence whatever. The letter
in question has not yet arrived.

No. 65.

axtrack of a Dispatch from Lord

Whitworth to Lord Hackesbuy,

dated May 2, 1803.

Another day has passed over with-
out producing any change. I deter-
minted to go myself to M. de Talley-
rand, and to deliver, instead of send-
ing,-the inclosed letter. I told him
that it was-with great reluétance that
I came to make this last application
to him. That I had long since im-
formed him of the extent of the term
which had been assigned for my stay
at Paris, and that as I had received,
to this moment, no answer whatever
to the proposal 1 had repeatedly
made, I could no longer delay re-
quiring him to furnish me with the
necessary passports for the return of
myself, my family, and the re-
mainder of my mission, to England.
Upon this 1 gave him the letter, a
copy of which I inclose, and, on
reading it, he appeared somewhat
startled. He lamented that so much
time had been lost; but said that
enough remained, if I was autho-
rised to negotiate upon other terms.
I could of course but repeat to him,
that I had no other terms te pro-
Poa and that, therefore, unless _

the

Sree VA Pe.

the first consul could so far gain up-
on himself as to sacrifice a false
punétilio to the certainty of a war,
of which no one could foresee the
consequence, nothing could possibly
prevent my departure to-morrow
night. He heped, he said, this was
notso near; that he would commu-
nicate my letter, and what [I had
said, to the first consi] immediately,
and that, in all probability, I should
hear from him this evening. If
thought it, howeyer, right to ap-
prise him, that it was quite impos-
sible I could be induced to disobey
his majesty’s orders, and protract
a negotiation on terms so. disad-
vantageous -to ourselves, unless he
should furnish me with such a justi-
fication as would leave me no room
to hesitate ; and that I did not see
that any thing short of a full ac-
quiescence in his Majesty’s demands
could have that efie¢ét. He repeated,
that he wou!d report the conversa-
tion to the first consul, and that I
should shortly hear from him.

In this state the business now
rests; [ am expecting either a pro-
position, or my passports, and am
consequently taking every measure
for setting out to-morrow night.

- Inclosure referred to in No. 65.
Sir Paris, May 2, 1803.
When I had the honour, on Tues.
day last, of communicating to you,
officially, the last propositions which
I was instruéted by my court to
submit to the French government,
for the sake of removing the present
difficulties, 1 had the honour to an-
nounce to you, that, in case the first
consul should not consent to these
propositions, I should find myself
under the necessity of leaving Paris
_ in eight days. We are nearly ar-
bf rived at the end of this period, with-

725

out my haying received any answer

to this communication. It remains

for me only, therefore, to obey the_
orders of the king my master to re-

turn to him; and, for this purpose,

1 entreat you, sir, to have the good-

ness to furnish ime with the necessary

passports.

[ seize this opportunity of re-
newing to your exceliency the as-
suraices of my high consideration.

(Signed) Whitworth.
His Excellency M. de Talleyrand.

No. 66.

Extract of « Dispatch from Lord
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated Paris, May 4, 1803.

Soon after I had dispatched the
messenger, the night before last, with
my dispatches of the 3d, I received
@ communication from M. de Tal-
leyrand, of which I inclose a copy,
the purport of which was so com-
pletely short of every thing which
could be satisfa¢tory, that I did
not think myself authorized to en-
ter ito any discussion upon it;
and, as early.as I could on the fol-
Jowing morning, I returned the an-
swer, of which the inclosed is a
copy.

After this I concluded, of course,
that there was an end to the nego-
tiation. I had, for some days past,
been preparing for my departure 5
every measure was taken for setting
out at four o’clock this morning,
and we were expeéting only the pass-
ports which I had demanded, for
the purpose of ordering the post
horses. The day and the evening
passed without the passports having
been sent; and whilst we were de-
liberating on the motives of such a
delay, about twelve o’clock at night,
a gentleman who was with me re-
ceived a communicatton, which con-

3A3 vinced

726

vinced me that it was not meant to
give me my passports without an-
other attempt, and I was, there-
fore, not surprised when, about ene
o’clock, I received the inclosed note
from M. de ‘Talleyrand,

In this situation I am waiting the
hour of rendezvous with M. de Tal-
leyrand.

First Inclosure referred to in No. 66.

The undersigned has reported to
the first consul the conversation
which he had with his excellency
lord Whitworth, on the 6th of this
month, and in which his excellency
announced, that his Britannic ma-
jesty had ordered him to make, ver-
bally, in his name, the following de-
mands :

Ist, That his Britannic majesty
should retain his troops at Malta
for ten years.

2d. That the island of Lampedosa
should be ceded to him in full pos-
Session.

3d, That the Freneh troops should
évacuate Holland.

‘And that if no convention, on
this basis, should: haye been signed
within a week, his excellency lord
Whitworth had orders to termi-
nate his mission, and to return to
London.

On the demand made by the under-
signed, that lord Whitworth would,
in conformity to the usage of all
ages, and of all countries, give in
writing what he himself called the
yltimadum of his government, his
excellency, declared, that his in-
structions expressly forbade him to
transmit, on this subiett, any writ-
ten note.

The intentions of the first con-
sul, being entirely pacific, the un-
dersigned dispenses with making any
observations on so new and so strange

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

a manner of treating on affairs of
this importance.

And, in order to give a fresh tes.
timony of the valne which he at-
taches to the continuance of peace,
the first consul has direéted the un-
dersigned to make the following no-
tification in the accustomed style and
forms.

As the island of Lampedosa does
not belong to France, it is not for
the first consul either to aecede to
or to refuse the desire testified by
his Britannic majesty, of having this
island in his possession,

With regard to the island of Mal.
ta, as the demand made respecting
it by his Britannic majesty would
change a formal disposition in the
treaty of Amiens, the first consul
cannot but previously communicate
it to his majesty the king of Spain,
and to the Batavian republic, con-
tracting parties to the said treaty, in
order to know their opinion; and
besides, as the stipulations relative
to Malta haye been guaranteed by
their majesties the emperor of Ger-
many, the emperor of Russia, and
the king of Prussia, the contract-
ing parties to the treaty of Amiens,
before they agree to any change
in the article of Malta, are bound
to concert with the guaranteeing
powers.

The first consu) will not refuse
this concert, but it belongs nat to
him to propose it, since it is not he
who urges any change in the gua-
ranteed stipulations.

With regard to the evaeuation of
Holland by the French troops, the
first consul has no difficulty in di-
reéting the undersigned to repeat that
the French troops shall evacuate Hol-
land at the instant that the stipula-
tions of the treaty of Amiens shall be
executed in every quarter of the at

he

STATE »PAP ERS.

The undersigned avails himself of
this opportunity to renew to his
excellency the English ambassador,
the assurance of his high considera-
tion.

Ch. Mau. Talleyrand.
Paris, 12 Floreal, Year 11,
(2d May, 1803.)

Second Inclosure referred toin No. 66.

The undersigned, in answer to
the note which M. de Talleyrand
transmitted to him yesterday even-
ing, has the honour to observe to
him, that the king has had no other
motive in seeking to accelerate the
proceedings of the negotiation, than
to relieve, as soon as possible, the
two countries the most interested,
and Europe in general, from the
state of suspense in which they are
placed. It is with great regret that
he perceives nothing in his excel-
lency’s note which can correspond
with this intention, and consequently
nothing that can justify him in de-
laying to obey the orders of his
court. It remains, therefore, only
to request the minister for foreign
affairs to give him the means of obey-
ing them, by furnishing him with
the necessary passports for his re-
turn. It is, however, necessary for
him to reétify a mistake which has
_ ¢rept into M. de Talleyrand’s note.
_ The undersigned did not say he
was expressly forbidden to transmit
_ any written note on the object of
_ the discussion, but that he was not
authorized to do it, and that he
would not take that responsibility
on himself.

He ayails himself of this opportu-
_ nity to renew to his excellency M.
_ de Talleyrand the assurances of his
highest consideration.

(Signed)

Paris, 3d May, 1803.

Whitworth

My lord,

727

Third Inclosure referred to in No. 66.
Paris, May 3, 1803.

Having to-morrow morning to
make to you a communication of
the greatest importance, | have the
honour to inform you of it without
delay, in order that you may not
expect this evening the passports
which you had demanded. I pro-
pose that you should call to-mor-
row, at half past four, at the foreign
department.

Receive, my lord, the assurance
of my. high consideration.

(Signed) | Ch, Mau.'Talleyrand.

No. 67.

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury,,
dated Paris, May 4, 1803.

I am this moment come from M.
de Talleyrand. The inclosed note
will shew your lordship, that the
idea which has been thrown out, is
to give Malta to Russia.

My only inducement for haying
undertaken to refer again to your
lordship, is to avoid every reproach
of precipitation. ‘The difference will
be but five days, and I have de-
clared, that I see so many objections
to the plan, that, although I would
not refuse their solicitation to send
it, I could give no hope whatever of
its being accepted as a ground of
negotiation.

Inclosure referred to in No. 67.

The undersigned has submitted to
the first consul his Britannic majes-
ty’s note of the 3d instant.

After the last communication, ads
dressed to his excellency, it is more
difficult than ever to conceive, how
a great, powerful, and. enlightened
nation can be willing to take upon
itself to declare a war, which would
be accompanied by such heavy cala-

3A4 wities

728

mities, and the cause of which would
be so insignificant, the object in
question being a miscrable rock.

His excellency must have been
aware, that the twofold necessity of
making an agreement with the gua-
ranteeing powers of the treaty of
Amiens, and of not violating a com-
pact, in the execution of which, the
honour of France, the security for
the future, and the good faith of the
diplomatic intercourse between the
nations of Europe, were so deeply
interested, had imposed a law upon
the French government, of discard.
ing every proposition diametrically
contrary to the treaty of AMHENG —
Nevertheless, the first consul,
customed for two months to ie
every species of sacrifice for the
maintenance of peace, would not re-
ject a mezzo-termino of a nature to
conciliate the interests and dignity
of the two countries.

His Britannic majesty appears to
have been of opinion, that the Nea-
politan garrison, which was to be
placed at Malta, would not afford a
sufficient force for securing the ac-
tual independence of the island.

This motive being the only one
which can explain his majesty’s re-
fusal to evacuate the island, the first
consul is ready to consent that the
island of Malia shall be placed in
the hands of one of the three pow-
ers who have guaranteed its inde-
pendence—either Austria, Russia,
ér Prussia, with a proviso, that, as
foon as France and England shall
have come to an agreement upon this
article, they shall unite in their re-
guisitions, to engage cther powers,
either contracting or acceding to the
treaty of Ariiets, te consent to it.

Were it possible that this propo-
sition should not be accepted, it
would be manifest, not only that

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

England never intended to comply
with the terms of the treaty of
Amiens, but that she has not been
actuated by good faith in any of her
demands, and that in proportion as —
France. conceded one point, the
British government advanced ano-
ther. If this should be demon-
strated, the first consul will at least
have given another proof of his sin-
cerity, of his anxicty to devise the
means of avoiding war, of his eager-
ness to embrace them, and of “the
value which he would place on their
being adopted.
Paris, 14 Floreal, Year 11.

No. 68.
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to
b. ord Wi ‘hitworth, dated May 7,
1803.
My lord,
Your excellency’s dispatches haye
been received,and laid before the king.
The propositions which have been
made to you, on the part of the
French government, and which have
induced your excellency to delay
your departure until the return of
the messenger Sylvester, are in every
respect so loose, indefinite, and un-
satisfactory, aud fall so short of the
just pretensions of his majesty, that
it is impossible that the French go-
vernment could have. expeéted them
to have been accepted. During the,
whole of the discussions which have
lately occurred, his majesty has had.
a right to consider himself in the
character of the injured party. No.
means have been omitted, on his
part, to induce the French govern-
ment to make a full and early ex-
planation of their views, and to af-
ford to his majesty that satisfaétion
and security to which he considered-
himself to ‘be entitled. It was in
consequence of the apparent deter-
mination

mination of the French government,
‘to evade all discussion on the points

of the difference between the two

countries, that his majesty was in-
duced to state the grounds on
which, according to his views, an

‘arrangement might be concluded sa-
‘ tisfactory to both governments ; and

he accordingly authorised your ex-

cellency to communicate the three

projects which, at different times, I
had forwarded to you.

Until the very moment when your
excellency was about to leave Paris,
the French government have avoided
making any distinct proposition for
the settlement of the differences be-
tween the two countries ; and when,
at the very instant of your depar-
ture, the French government felt
_ themselves compelled to bring for-
ward some proposition, they con-

fined that proposition to a part only
_ of the subject in discussion, and, on
' that part of it, what they have
brought forward is wholly inadmis-
sible.

' The French government propose,
that his majesty should give up the
_ island of Malta, to a Russian, Au.
_strian, or Prussian garrison. If his
_ majesty could be disposed to wave
_ his demand for a temporary occupa-
_ tion of the island of Malta, the em-
_peror of Russia would be the only
_ sovereign to whom, in the present
_ state of Kurope, he could consent
_ that the island should be assigned ;
_ and his majesty has certain and au-
_ thetic information, that the empe-
ror of Russia would on no aécount
_ consent to garrison Malta. Under
_ these circumstances, his majesty per-
_severes in his determination to ad-
_here to the substance of his third
project as his ultimatum: as, how-

ever, the principal objection stated
_ by the French government to his
_ Miajesty’s proposition is understood

STATE PAPERS.

729

to be confined to the insertion of an
article in a public treaty, by which
his majesty shall have a right to re-
main in possession of the island of:
Malta for a definite number of years
(being in no case less than ten), may
be stated in a secret article ; andthe
public articles may be agreed to
conformably to the inélosed project.
By this expedient, the supposed
point of honour of the French go-
vernmont might be saved. The in-
dependence of the island of Malta
would, in principle, be acknow-
ledged, and the temporary occupa-
tion of his majesty would be made
to depend alone on the present state
of the island of Lampedosa.

You may propose this idea to M.
Talleyrand, at the same time assuring
him that his majesty is determined
to adhere to the substance of his ul-
timatum. And if you shall not be
able to conclude the minute of an
arrangement on this principle, you
will on no account remain in Paris
more than thirty-six hours after the
receipt of this dispatch.

{ observe by your dispatch, you
did not consider yourself autho-
rised to deliver to the French go-
vernment any note or project in
writing. The words of my dispatch
were, that you were to communicate
the terms officially, which left it at
your own discretion to communicate
them verbally, or in writing, as you
might judge most expedient. You
were certainly right in communicat.
ing them, in the first instance, ver-
bally ; but, as so much stress has
been laid by M. Talleyrand on this
distinction, it is important that I
should inform you, that his majesty
neither had, nor has, any objection
to your delivering the inclosed pro-
jeét as an ultimatum, accompanied
by a short note in writing.

{ cannot conclude this dispatch,

without

730

without recalling again your atten-
tion to the conduct of the French
minister at Hamburgh, and refer-
ring you to my instructions, by
which you should abstain from con-
cluding the arrangement, unless you
have received from M. Talleyrand
an assurance that his conduet would
be publicly disavowed,
I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) | Hawkesbury.

His Excellency Lord Whitworth,
K. B, &c. Se. §e.

No. 69.
Extract of «@ Dispatch from Lord
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury,

dated Paris, May 9, 1803.

The messenger, Sylvester, is ar-
rived with your lordship’s dispatch,
No, 15, of the 7th of May.

As soon as I received your lord-
ship’s' instructions, I prepared a
translated copy of the project fur-
nished me by your lordship, and a
short note, with which it is my in-
tention to accompany the communi-
cation. I then sent a person to
Monsieur Talleyrand, to know when
I could see him, and I was inform-
ed, that he was at St. Cloud. I
soon after learnt, that he was gone
there in consequence of the acci-
dent which happened yesterday to
the first consul. I understand that
no bad conscguences are likely to
ensue, and that he is able to trans-
act business. | cannot, however,
expect to see M. ‘Talleyrand before
to-morrow morning. Although this
circumstance may cause a delay of a
few hours, your lordship may be
assured, that the execution of those
instructions with which you have
furnished me, shall not he protract-
ed, I shall leave Paris mest as-
suredly, or have concluded a satis.
fadtory arrangement, within the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

time specified by your lordship,

reckoning from the moment of my

being able to make an official com-
munication, rather than from that
of the receipt of your lordship’s
letter.

No. 70.

Extra&é of «@ Dispatch from Lord
Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury,
dated Paris, May 12, 1803,

‘The messenger, Sylvester, as I
mentioned in my last dispatch, re-
turned on the 9th, at twelve o’clock ;
and I wrote to M. Talleyrand, in-
forming him of it, and desiring him
to name an hour when I might wait
on him, in order to communicate
to him the purport of my instruc-
tions. To this letter, I received no
answer that evening or the following
morning. Anxious to execute my
orders, and to lose no time, I en-
closed the project furnished me by
your lordship, aceompanied by an
official note, and a private letter to
M, de Talleyrand, and sent it to the
foreign department by Mr. Mande-
ville, with direétions to deliver it to
M. de Talleyrand, or, in his ab-
sence, to the Chef du Bureauw. He
delivered it, accordingly, to M. Du-
rand, who promised to give it to his
chief as soon as he came in, which
he expected, he said, shortly. At
half past four, haying waited till
that time in vain, 1 went myself to
M. de Talleyrand; I was told that
the family was in the country, and
that they did not know when the
minister would be in town. Half an
hour after I had returned home, the
packet which Mr. Mandeville had
given into the hands of M. Durand,
was brought to me, I believe, by a
servant, with a verbal message, that,
as M. de Talleyrand was in the
country, it would be necessary that _
I should send it to him there. In —

order

order to defeat, as much as depended
upon me, their intention of gaining
time, 1 wrote again to M. de Tal-
leyrand, recapitulating the steps
Thad taken since the return of the
Bi thes and desired Mr. Tal-

bot, the secretary of the embassy, to
ke it, himself, at nine o’clock at
night, when I thought M. de Tal-
leyrand would be at home, to his
house at Meudon. He was; how-
-eyer, notat home. Mr. Talbot was
‘told that he was at St. Cloud, where
he had been all day, and that he
would not be back until very late.
He, therefore, left my private let-
ter, with his name, and returned with
the packet. It was my intention to
have sent it on the following morn-
ing to the Bureau, with orders, that
it should be left there; at, one
o’clock in the morning, I received
a note from M. de Talleyrand, ac-
counting for his not being able to
answer me sooner, and appointing
me at twelve o’clock at the Bureau
des Relations Extérieures. 1 went
at the appointed time. He began,
by apologizing for having so long
postponed the interview, which he
attributed to his having -been the
whole day with the first consul.
We then entered upon business.
I told him that, limited as I was
by your lordship’s instructions, he
could not be surprised at my impa-
tience fo aequit myself of my duty.
I explained to him the nature of
your lordship’s observations on the
‘proposal of the 4th, and that it was
considered as, on one hand, imprac-
ticable, from the refusal of the em-
peror of Russia to take charge of
ta, and, on the other, as being
wholly inadequate to his majesty’s
just pretensions. I gave him the
Note in which this was expressed,
and the project, on which alone a
be,

STATE PAPERS.

731

satisfactory arrangement could be
framed. He read with apparent
attention, and without many re-
marks; and, after some time, he
asked me, if I felt myself authorized,
by my instructions, to conclude with
him a convention, frarmed on the
basis of my project, or, indeed, ex-
tending that basis, since the first ar-
ticle of it would be the perpetual
possession of Malta to England, in a
return for a consideration. I told
him, I most certainly was not autho-
rized to enter into any engagement
of such anature, which would make
the negotiation one of exchange, in-
stead of a demand of satisfa¢tion and
security.. To this he replied, that
the satisfaétion and security which
we required was Malta, and that
this we obtained. That the first
consul could not accede to what he
considered, and what must be consi-
dered by the public and by Europe,
as the effect of coercion, but if it
were possible to make the draft
palatable, did I think myself justifi-
able in refusing to do so. [I told
him that, a¢ting in strict compli-
ance with my instructions, I could
haye no need of justification, and
that [ came to him with the deter-
mination of abiding strictly by them.
He contended, that by communicat-
ing a project, I merely stated on
what grounds we would be willing
to conclude, and that a counter-
project, founded on the basis of
giving us what we required, could
not be refused a fair discussion.
To this, 1 urged the resolution of
his majesty’s ministers, to avoid
every thing which could protract
the negotiation. That I saw no
other means of acting up to those
views, than by making my stand on
the project at all. events. I urged
him, repeatedly, to explain himself

more

732

more fully on the nature of the de-
mand which he should make for
Malta, but hic could not, or would not,
explain himself. After much con-
test, it was agreed the proposal
should be submitted to me in the
course of a few hours, and that I
should determine on the line of con-
duct I might feel myself justified in
pursuing, either to sign it, to send it
home, or to leave Paris.

The remainder of this day passed

without receiving any communica-
tion from M. de “Valleyrand. Upon
this, I determined to demand my
passports, by an official note, which
‘T sent this morning by Mr. Mande-
ville, in order that I might leave
Paris in the evening.

At two, I renewed my demand of
passports, and was told I should
have them immediately. They ar-
rived at five o’clock, and I propose
setting out as soon as the carriages
are ready.

First Inclosure referred to in No. 70,

The undersigned,
majesty’s ambassador extraordinary
and plenipotentiary to the French
republic, having transmitted to his
court the proposal which was made
to him by the minister for foreign
affairs, on the third instant, has just
received orders to transmit to his ex-
cellency the accompanying project
of aconvention, founded on the only
basis which his majesty conceives,
under the existing circumstances, to
be susceptible of a definitive and
amicable arrangement. The minister
for foreign affairs will not fail to ob-
serve to what degree hismajesty has
endeavoured to conciliate the secu-
rity of his interests with the dignity
of the first consul. The undersign-
ed flatters himself, twat the first con-
sul, doing justice to these sentiments,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

his Britannic -

1803.

will adopt, in concert with his ma.
jesty, an expedient so snitable for
restoring permanent tranquillity to
both nations, and to all’ Europe.

* The rindérsiened avails himself of —
this opportunity, to renew to his —
excellency the assurance of his highest
consideration.

(Signed) Whitworth,
Second Inclosure referred to ir
No. 70.

pRosECT.

I. The French government shall
engage to make no opposition to
the cession of the island of Lampe-
dosa to his majesty by the king of
the two Sicilies.

IT. In consequence of the present
state of the island of Lampedosa, his
majesty shall remain in.possession of
theisland of Malta,until such arrange.
ments shall be made to him, as may
enable his majesty to occupy Lam-
pedosa as a naval station; after
which period, the island of Malta
shall be given up to the inhabitants,
aud acknowledged as an independent
state.

IIL. The territories of the Bata-
vian republic shall be evacuated by
the French forces within one mouth
after the conclusion of a conyention,,
founded on the principles of this pro-
ject.

TV. The king.of Etruria, and ‘lie
Italian and Ligurian republics,
shall bo acknowledged by his ma-
jesty.

\. Switzerland shall be evacuated.
by the French forces.

VI. A suitable territorial provi-
sion shall be assigned to the king of
Sardinia, in Italy.

SECRET ARTICLE.

His majesty shall not be required
by the French government. to eva-
cuate

| enate the island of Malta until after
_ the expiration of ten years.
Article LV. V. and Vi. may he
entirely omitted, or must all be in-
! peserted. 4

Third Inclosure referred éo in No.70.
fa. Sir, Paris, May 10, 1803.
«In order not to lose an instant of
$0 precious a time, | have the ho-
nour to convey to you the project
' which I have received from my
‘court, with the note which accom-
panies it, I shali have the honour
of calling on your excellency at any
_ hour you may appoint, in conse-

quence of the request I made yes-
terday. But, in the mean while, you
_ will be in possession of the contents
of my instructions. I hope to God
_ that they may be of a nature to in-
_ gure the tranquillity of both coun-
tries and ef Europe.

—f avail myselfof this opportunity
_ 4o renew to your exeellency the as-
surance of my high consideration.
(Signed) Whitworth,
“To His Excellency xy M. de Talleyrand.

Ge. FC. FC.

Fourth Inclosure referred to in

4 No. 70.

Ry Sir, Paris, May 10, 1803.
Having yesterday morning receiy-
ed some important instructions to
“communicate to you, I wrote to
_ you that evening to ask your excel-
uy at what hour I could have the

ur to acquit myself of this duty.

Gane letter has not been answered.
At two o’clock this afternoon I sent
Mr. Mandeville, attached to the
-etnbassy, to the ofiice for foreign
ailairs, in order to deliver to your
ellency, or in your absence to
your first secretary, a sealed packet,

suymunicate te you, andl added a

Sf Adib Pk/P"E, RS.

# ontaining the papers which I had to’

733

second letter te your excellency. M.
Mandeville delivered this packet into
the hands of M. Durand,who assur-
ed him that it should be communicat-
ed to you withoutdelay. At half past
four, not having received any an-
swer to my letters, I went to.the
foreign office, and [ there learnt
that you were in the country, and
that it was not known when you
would return to town.

Half an hour afterwards, having
returned home, the papers which
my secretary had taken and deliver-
ed to M. Durand, were brought to
me, with a message that I must send
them to the minister ia the coun-
try. ’

In this state of things, since your
excellency does not give me an op-
portunity of making you this com-
munication, 1 haye no other alter-
native than to give it in charge to
Mr. Talbot, secretary to the em-
bassy. He will have the honour to
deliver to you the project of a cons
vention, which, I hope, will serve
as the basis to an amicable arrange-
ment between our two governments,

Ihave only to Aid, that the term
of my stay in Paris is limited, and I
must set out on my journey for
England on Thursday morning, if
the negotiation is not favourably ter-
minated before that time.

I request you, sir, to accept the
assurance of my high consideration.

(Signed) Whitworth.

Lifth Inclosure referred to in No. 70.
It being impossible for the under-
signed todelay any longer executing
the orders of his court, he finds him-
self obliged to request the minister
for foreign aflairs to have the good-
ness to expedite the necessary pass-

ports for his return to England.
lie requests his excellency to ac-
cept

734

cept the assurances of his high con-
sideration.
(Signed) Whitworth.
Paris, 12th May, 1803.

, No, 71.

Extract of a Dispatch from Sir
George Rumbold, Bart. te Lord
Hawkesbury, dated Hamburgh,
March 29, 1803.

Late last night it was determined
that the senate should be convened
extraordinarily on this day, in order
to consider of a requisition from the
French minister, to insert in the
Hamburgh paper a most offensive
article, intended as a justification of
the first consul, and an attack on
the measures of the British govern-
ment. It is with great regret. that
linform your lordship, that the se-
hate have judged it prudent to com-
ply with this demand ; and that the
article will be inserted in the paper
of to-morrow. It is now in the
hands of the publisher for that pur-
pose. It was the wish of the senate
that they might at least be allowed
to omit or qualify the most offen-
sive passages, but Mr. Rheinhardt
said his orders were positive, for
the full and exact insertion of the
whole.
ert No. 72.

Extract of a Dispatch from Mr. Hill
to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Co-
penhagen, April 2, 1803.

The French minister at Ham-
burgh, received orders from his go-
vernment to have inserted in the
public papers of that city, an article
which was sent to him, containing a
commentary upon his majesty’s com-
munication to parliament, respecting
the necessity of increasing the mili-
tary forces of the country in the
present circumstances. ‘The senate
of Hamburgh consented with much

‘ral tranquillity of Kurope.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

repugnance to the insertion of this
paragraph. ‘The French minister
desired that the same should be pub-
lished in the papers of Altona; but
the Danish magistrates said that they
could not possibly permit it without
an express order from this govern-
ment. In consequence of this re-
fusal, M. Daguesseau, the French
minister at this court, received from
his colleague at Hamburgh, a copy
of the article, with a request that
he would solicit the permission of
its publication in the Danish papers.
Tomy knowledge he had no answer
yesterday, and I have every reason
to suppose that this government will
shew the greatest reluctance in aé-
ceding to the French minister’s re-
quest. fy

DECLARATION,

Ilis majesty’s earnest endeavours
for the preservation of peace haying
failed of success, he entertains the
fullest confidence that he shall re-
ceive the same support from his par-
liament, and that the same zeal and
spirit will be manifested by his peo-
ple, which he has experienced on
every occasion when the honour of
his crown has been attacked, or the
essential interests of his dominions
have been endangered,

During the whole course of the
negotiations which led to the preli-
minary and definitive treaties of peace
between his majesty and the French
republic, it was his majesty’s sincere
desire, not only to put an end to
the hostilities which subsisted ‘ be-
tween the two countries, but to adopt
such measures, and to concur insuch_
propositions, as might effectually
contribute to consolidate the gene-
The
same

game motives by which his majesty
_ was actuated during the negotiations
“for peace, have since invariably go-
be his conduct. As soon as the

reaty of Amiens was concluded, his
“™majesty’s courts were open to the
yeople of France for every purpose
legal redress ; all sequestrations
“were taken off their property ; all
‘prohibitions on their trade, which

ad been imposed during the war,
were removed, and they were placed,
in every respect, on the same footing
with regard to commerce and inter-
course, as the inhabitants of any
other state in amity with his majesty,

commerce.

_ To a system of conduét thus
open, liberal, and friendly, the pro-
“ceedings of the French government
affords the most striking contrast,
The prohibitions which had been
dlaced on the commerce of his ma-
: jesty’s subjects during the war, have
been enforced with increased striét-
“ness and severity ; violence has been
offered in several instances to their
“vessels and their property ; and, in
Do case, has justice been afforded
o those who may have been ag-
grieved in consequence of such ats,
nor has any satisfactory answer becn
given to the repeated representations
“made by his majesty’s ministers or
ambassador at Paris. Under such
“circumstances, when his majesty’ s
s ubjects were not suffered to enjoy
}"the common advantages of peace
within the territories of thé French
epublic, and the countries depen.
lent upon it, the French govern-
ment had recourse to the extraor-
inary measure of sending over to
his country a number of persons
or the professed purpose of residing
the most considerable sea- -port
owns of Great Britain and Ireland,
1

S T ACRE’ P AP ERS.

with which there existed no treaty of

739

in the charaéter of commercial agents
or consuls. These persons could
have no pretensions to be acknow-
Jedged in that character, as the right
of being so acknowledged, as well
as all the privileges attached to such
a situation, could only be derived
from a commercial treaty ; and as
no treaty of that description was in
existence between his majesty and
the French republic.

There was consequently too much
reason to suppose, that the real ob-
jeét of their mission was by no
means of a commercial nature; and
this suspicion was coniirmed, not
only by the circumstance that some
of them were military men, but by
the actual discovery, that several of
them were furnished with instruc.
tions to obtain the soundings of the
harbours, and to procure military
surveys of the places where it was
irended they should reside—His ma-
jesty felt it to be his duty to prevent
their departure to their respective
places of destination, and presented
to the French government the neces-
sity of withdrawing them; and it
cannot be denied, that the circum-
stances under which they were sent,
and the instructions which were given
to them, ought to be considered as
decisive indications of the disposi-
tions and intentions of the govern-
ment by whom they were em-
ployed.

The conduct of the French go-
vernment, with respect to the com-
mercial intercourse between the two
countries, must, therefore, be con-
sidered as ill suited to a state of
peace, and their proceedings in their -
more general political relations, as
well as in those which immediately
concern his majesty’s dominions, ap-
pears to have been altogether incon-
sistent with every principle of good

faith

736

faith, moderajion, and justice. His
majesty had entertained hopes, in
consequence of the repeated assu-
rances, 2nd professions of the French
government, that they might haye
been induced to adopt a system of
policy, which, if it had not inspired
other powers with confidence, might,
at least, have allayed their jealou-
sies. If the I'rench government
had really appeared to be actuated
by a due attention to such a sys-
tem; if their dispositions had prov-
ed to be essentially pacific, alluw-
ances would have been made for
the situation in which anew govern-
ment must be placed alter so dread-
ful and extensive a convulsion as that
which has been produced by the
French revolution. But his majes-
ty has, unfortunately, had too
much reason to observe and to la-
ment that the system of yiolence,
aggressio and = aggrandizement
which Paterno the proceedings
of the different governments of
Wrance during the war, has been
continued with as little disguise since
its termination.. ‘Vhey have con-
tinued to keep a French army in
Holland against the will, and in de-
fiance of remoustrances of the Ba-
tavian .government, and if repug-
nance of the letter of three solemn
treaties. ‘hey have, in a period of
peace, invaded the territory, and
violated the independence ef the
Swiss nation, in defiance of the
treaty of Luneville, which had sti-
pulated the independence of their
territory, and the right of the inha-
bitants to chuse their own form of
government. ‘They have annexed
to the dominions of France; Pied-
mont, Parma, and Placentia, and
the island of Elba, without alloting
any provision to the king of Sardi.
mia, whom they have despojled of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

the most valuable part of. his terri-
tony though they were bound, by @
soleinn engayement to the emperor
of Russia, | to attend to his interests,
and to proyide for his establishment,
lt may, indeed, with truth, be as-
serted, that the period when has
elapsed siuce the conclusion of the
definitive treaty, has been marked
with one continued series of aggres-—
sion, violence, and insult on the
part of the French government.

Tn the month of October last, his
majesty was induced, in consequence
of the earnest solicitation of the
Swiss nation, to make an effort, by
a representation of the French. go-
vernment, fo avert the evils which
werethen impending over that coun-
try. This representation was couch-
ed in the most temperate terms ;
and measures were taken by his ma-
jesty for ascertaining, under the
circumstances which then existed,
the real situation and wishes of the
Swiss cantons, as well as the senti-
ments of the other cabinets of Eu-
rope. His majesty learned, how-
ever, with the utmost regret, that
no disposition to counteract these
repeated infractions of treaties and
acts of violence was manifested by
any of the powers most immediately
interested in preventing them; and
his majesty, therefore, felt that,
with respect to these objects, his
single efforts could not be expected
to produce any considerable adyan-
tage to those in whose favour they
might be exerted,

lt was about this time that the
French government first distinélly
advanced the principle, that his ma-
jesty had no right to complain of
ihe conduct,. or interfere with the
proceedings of France, on any point
which did net form a part of the
stipulations of the treaty of Amiens.

Tha

SUAVE E

That treaty was unquestionably
founded: upon the same principle as
every other antecedent treaty or
convention, on the assumption of
the state of possession and of en-
gagements subsisting at the time of
its conclusion; and if that state of
possession and of engagements is
materially affected by the voluntary
aét of any of the parties, so as to
prejudice the condition on which
the other party has entered into the
contraét, the change so made may be
considered as operating virtually as
a breach of the treaty itself, and as
giving the party aggrieved a right to
_ demand satisfaction or compensation
for any substantial difference which
} such acts may have effected in their
relative situations; but, whatever
may be the principle on which the
treaty is to be considered as founded,
there is indisputably a general law
of nations, which, though liable to
be limited, explained, or restrained
by conventional law, is antecedent
to it, and is that law or rule of con-
duét to which all sovereigns and
states have been accustomed to ap-
peal, where conventional law is ad-
mitted to have been silent. The
treaty of Amiens, and every other
treaty, in providing for the objects
{} to which it is particularly directed,
does not, therefore, assume or im-
3} ply an indifference to all other ob-
dj jects which are not specified in its
stipulation, much less does it ad-
judge them to be of a nature to be
left, to the will and caprice of the
violent and the powerlul. ‘The jus-
_ tice of the cause is alone a sufficient
_ ground to warrant the interposition
of any of the powers of Europe in
i) the differences which may arise be-
il} tween other states, and the applica-
ie} tion and extent of that just interpo-
| sition is to be determined sole! x

® Vou. XLY.

‘8

PAPERS.

737

considerations of prudence.—These
principles can admit of no dispute 7
but if the new and extraordinary
pretensions advanced by the French
government, to exclude his majesty
from any right to interfere with re-
speét to the concerns of other pow-
ers, unless they made a specific part
of the stipulations of the treaty of
Amiens, was that which it was pos-
sible to maintain, those powers
would have a right, at least, to
claim the benefit of this principle,
in every case of difference bétween
the two countries. ‘The indignation
of all Europe must surely then be
excited by the declarations of the
French government, that, in thé
event of hostilities, these very pow-
ers, who were no parties to the
treaty of Amiens, and who were not
allowed to derive any advantage
from the remonstrances of his ma-
jesty in their behalf, are neverthe-
less to be made the victims of a war,
which is alledged to arise out of the
same treaty, and are to be sacrificed
in a contest, which they not only
have not occasioned, but which they
have had no means whatever of pre-
venting.

His majesty judged it most expe-
dient, under the circumstances which
then affected Europe, to abstain
from a recurrence to hostilities, on
account of the views of ambition,
and -acts of aggression, manifested
by France on the continent ; yet an
experience of the charaéter and dis-
positions of the French government
could not fail to impress his majesty
with a sense of the necessity of in-
creased vigilance in guarding the
rights and dignity of his crown, and
in proteéting. the interests of his
people.

Whilst his majesty was actuated
by these sentiments, he was galled

3B upon

738

upon by the French government to
evacuate the island of Malta, His
majesty had manifested, from the
moment of the signature of the deti-
nitive treaty, an anxious disposition
to carry into full effe¢t the stipula-
tions of the treaty of Amiens rela-
tive to that island. As soon as he
was informed that the eleétion of a
grand master had taken place, un-
der the auspices of the emperor of
Russia, and that it had been agreed
by the different priories assembled
at Sts Petersburg, to acknowledge
the person whom the court of Rome
should seleét out of those who had
been named by them to be grand
master of the order of St. John, his
majesty proposed to the French go-
- vernment, for the purpose of avoid-
ing any difficulties which might arise
in the execution of the arrange-
ment, to acknowledge that election
to be valid ;.and when, in the month
of August, the French government
applied to his majesty to permit the
Neapolitan troops to be sent to the
island of Malta, as a preliminary
measure for preventing any unneces-
sary delay, his majesty consented,
without hesitation, to this proposal,
and gave direétions for the admis-
sion of the Neapolitan troops into
the island. His majesty had thus
shewn his disposition not only te
throw no obstacle in the way of the
execution of the treaty, but, on the
contrary, to facilitate the execution
of it by every means in his power.
His majesty cannot, however, ad-
mit, that, at any period since the
conclusion of the treaty of Amiens,
the French goverament have had a
right to call upon him, in confor-
mity to the stipulations of that trea-
ty, to withdraw his forces from the
island of Malta. At the time when
this demand was made by the French

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

government, several of the most ini-
portant stipulations of the arranges
ment respecting Malta remained uns
executed : the ele¢tion of a grand
master had not been carricd into ef- —
fect. The tenth article had stipu-
lated that the independence of the
island should be placed under the
guarantee and protection of Great
Britain, irance, Austria, Russia,
Spain, and Prussia. The emperor —
of Germany had acceded to the gua~ —
rantee, but only on condition of a —
like accession on the part of the ©
other powers specified in the article. —
The emperor of Russia had refused
his accession, except on the condi- —
tion that the Maltese langue should
be abrogated ; and the king of Prus-
sia had given no answer whatever to —
the application which had been ~
made to him to accede to the ar- —
rangement. But the fandamental
principle, upon the existence of j
which depended the execution of ©
the other parts of the article, had
been defeated by the changes which
had taken place in the constitution
of the order since the conclusion of ©
the treaty of pease. It was to the
order of St. John of Jerusalem that
his majesty was, by the first stipula-
tion of the tenth article, bound to
restore the island of Malta. ‘The
order is defined to consist of those
langues which were im existence at
the time of the conclusion of the
treaty ; the three French langues
haying been abolished, and a Mal-
tese langue added to the institution.
The order consisted, therefore, at
that tune, of the following langues,
viz. the langues of Arragon, Castile,
Germany, Bavaria, and Russia.—
Since the conclusion of the definitive
treaty, the langues of Arragon and
Jastile have been separated from
e order by Spain, a part of the
> Ttalian

Italian langue has been abolished by
the annexation of Piedmont and
Parma to France. There is strong
reason to believe that it has been in
contemplation to sequestrate the
property of the Bavarian langue,
and the intention has been avowed
of keeping the Russian langues
within the dominions of the em-
“peror. ,

Under these cireumstances, the
order of St. John cannot now be
considered as that body to which,
according to the stipulation of the
treaty, the island was to be re-
stored ; and the funds indispensibly
necessary for its support, and for
‘the maintenance of the independence
of the island, have been nearly, if
not wholly, ‘qequisiered, Even if
this had arisen from circumstances
which it was not in the power of
any of the contra¢ting parties to the
| treaty to control, his majesty would
pevertheless have had a right to
defer the evacuation of the island
by his forces, until such time as
an equivalent arrangement had
been concluded for the preserya-
tion of the independence of the
order and of the island. But if
these changes have taken place in
‘consequence of any acts of the other
‘partics to the treaty ; if the French
government shall appear to have
woceeded upon a system of render-

the order whose independence
Phey had stipulated, incapable of
Maintaining that independence, his
Majesty’s right to continue in the
oecupation of the island, under such
f rcumstanees, will hardly be con-
tested. lt is indisputable, that the
evenues of the two Spanish langues
have been withdrawn trom the order
Ay his catholic majesty ; a part of
the Italian langue has, in faét, been
lished by. France, theough the

STATE PAPERS.

739

unjust annexation of Piedmont and
Parma, and Placentia, to the French
territory. The eleétor of Bavaria
has been instigated by the French
government to sequestrate the pro-
perty of the order within his territo-
ries ; and it is certain that they have
not only sanétioned, but encouraged
the idea of the propriety of separat-
ing the Russian langues from the re-
mainder of the order.

As the conduct of the governmonts
of France and Spain have, therefore,
in some instances directly, and in
others indire¢ily, contributed to the
changes which haye taken place in
the order, and thus destroyed its
means of supporting its indepen-
dence, it is to those governments,
and not to his majesty, that the non-
execution of the 10th article of the
treaty of Amiens must be ascribed.

Such would be the just conclue
sion, if- the 10th article of that
treaty were considered as an ar-
rangement by itself. It must be ob-
served, however, that this article
forms a part only of a treaty of
peace, the whole of which is con-
nected together, and the stipulations
of which must, upon a principle
common to all treaties, be construed
as having a reference to each other.

His majesty was induced, by the
treaty of peace, to consent to aban-
don, and to restore to the order of
St. John, the island of Malta, on
condition of its independence_ and
neutrality. But a further condi-
tion, which must necessarily be sup-
posed to have had considerable in-
fluence with his. majesty, in inducing
him to make so important a con-
cession, was the acquiescence of the
French government in an arragge-
ment for the security of the Levant,
by the eighth and ninth articles in

- the treaty, stipulating the. integrity
of

3BQ

.

740

of the Turkish empire, and the in-
dependence of the Jonian islands.—
His majesty has, however, since
learned, that the French govern-
ment have entertained views hostile
to both these objeéts ; and that they
have even suggested the idea of a

artition of the Turkish empire.—

hese views must now be manifest
to all the world, from the official
publication of the report of colonel
Sebastiani: from the conduéte of
that officer, and of the other French
agents in Egypt, Syria, and the
Jonian islands, and from the distinét
admission of the first consul himself,
in his communication with lord
Whitworth. His majesty was, there-
fore, warranted in considering it to
be the determination of the French
government to violate those articles
of the treaty of peace, which stipu-
lated for the integrity and indepen-
dence of the Turkish empire, and of
the Ionian islands, and consequently
he would not have been justified in

evacuating the island of Malta,

without receiving some other secu-
rity, which might equally provide
for these important objecis. His
majesty accordingly feels that he has
an incontestible claim, in conse.
quence of the conduct of France
since the treaty of peace, and with
reference to the objects which made
part of the stipulations of that trea-
ty, to refuse, under the present cir-

cumstances, to relinquish the posses-.

sion of the island of Malta.

Yet, notwithstanding this right,
so clear and so unquestionable, the
alternative presented by the French
government to his majesty, in lan-
guage the most peremptory and me-
nacing, was the evacuation of Malta,
or the renewal of war.

If the views of ambition and ag-
grandizement, which have thus been

ANNUAL REGISTER,

. Sidered in no other light than as a

1803.

manifested by the French govern-
ment since the conclusion of the
treaty of peace, have in so very par-
ticular a manner attraéted the atten-
tion of his majesty, it. has been
equally impossible for him not to
feel, and not to notice, the repeated
indignities which have been offered
by that government to his crown
and his people.

The report of colonel Sebastiani
contains the most unwarrantable in-
sinuations and charges against his
majesty’s government, against the
oflicer who commanded his forces in
Egypt, and against the British army
in that quarter. This paper cannot
be considered as the publication of
a private individual; it has been
ayowed, and indeed bears evidence
upon the face of it, that it is the of-
ficial report of an accredited agent,
published by the authority of the
government to which it was ad-
dressed, who thereby have given it
their express sanction.

This report had been published a
very short time, when another indig-
nity was offered to this country in
the communication of the first con-
sul of France to the legislative body.
In this communication, he presumes
to aflirm, in the charaéter of chief
magistrate of that country, ‘* That
Great Britain cannot singly contend
against the power of France” an
assertion as unfounded as it is inde-
cent, disproved by the events of
many wars, and by none more than
by those of the war which has been
recently concluded. Such an asser-
tion, advanced in the most solemn
official aét of .a government, and
thereby meant to be avowed to all
the powers of Europe, can be con-

defiance publicly offered to his ma~
jesty, and to a brave and powerfel

people,

people, who are both willing and
able to defend his just rights and
those of their country, against every
insult and aggression.

The conduct of the first consul to
his majesty’s ambassador at his audi-
ence in presence of the ministers of
most of the sovereigns and states of
Europe, furnishes another instance
of provocation on the part of the
French government, which it would
be improper not to notice on the
_ present occasion, and the subsequent
_ explanation of this transaction may
_ be considered as having the effect of
_ aggravating instead of palliating the
affront.

At the very time when his ma-

jesty was demanding satisfaction and
_ explanation on some of the points
_ above mentioned, the French mi-
_hiister at Hamburgh endeavoured to
_ obtain the insertion in a Hamburgh
_ paper of a most gross and opprobri-
_ ous libel against his majesty, and
_ when difficulties were, made respect-
_ ing the insertion of it, he availed
himself of his official charatter’ of
_ minister of the French republic, to
% require the publication of it, by or-
i der of his government, in "the ga-
| zette of the senate of that town.
| With this requisition, so made, the
‘senate of Hamburgh were induced
Me to comply ; and thus has the inde-
_ pendence of that town been violat-
_ ed, and a free state made the instru-
t ment, by the menace of the French
| government, of propagating through-
_ out Europe, upon their authority,
| the most offensive and unfounded
| calumnies against his majesty and
his government. His majesty might
add to this list of indignities, the
requisition which the French go-
} vernment have repeatedly urged
| that the laws and constitution of his
|” country should be changed relative

iia
¥
tg

S TAD: PAP ERS.

7AY
tg the liberty of the press. His
majesty might, likewise, add the

calls which the French government
have, on seyeral. occasions, made
upon him to violate the laws of hos-
pitality, with respect to persons whe
had found an asylum within his do-
minions, and against whose conduct
no charge whatever has at any time
been substantiated. It is impossible
to reflect on these different pro-
ceedings, and the course which the
French government have thought
proper to adopt respecting them,
without the thorough conviction
that they are not the eflect of acci-
dent ; but that they form a part of
a system which has been adopted for
the purpose of degrading, vilifying,
and insulting his majesty and his
government.

Under all these insults and provo-
cations, his majesty, not without a
due sense of his dignity, has pro-
ceeded, with every degree of temper
and moderation, to obtain satisfac-
tion and redress, while he has neg-
lected no means consistent with his
honour, and the safety of his domi-
nions, to induce the government of
France to concede to him, what is,
in his judgment, absolutely neces-~
sary for the future tranquillity of
Europe. His efforts, in this respeét,
have proved abortive, and he has,
therefore, judged it necessary to or-
der his ambassador to leave Paris.
In having recourse to this pro-
ceeding, it has been his majesty’s
object to put an end to the fruitless
discussions which haye too long sub-
sisted between the two governments,
and to close a period of suspense pe-
culiarly injurious to the subjects of
his Majesty.

But though the provocations which
his majesty has received might en-
title him to larger claims than those

3B3 which

742
Which he has advanced, yet, anxious
to prevent calamities which might
thus be extended to every part of
Enrope, he is still willing, as far as
is consistent with his own honour,
dnd the interests of his people, to
afford every facility 1o any just and
honourable arrangement, by which
such evils may be av erted. “He has,
therefore, no difficalty in declaring,
to’ all Europe, that, notwithstanding
all’ the changes whith have taken
place’ since the treaty of peace, not-
Withstanding the extension of the
power of France, in repugnance to
fhat treaty, and to the spirit of
peace itself, his majesty will not
avail himself of these circumstances,
to demand in compensation all that
he is entitled to require, but will be
ready to concur, even now, in an
arrangement,’ by which satisfaétion
shall be given to him, for the indig-
nities which have been offered to his
€rown and to his people, and sub-
stantial security afforded against fur-
ther encroachments on the part of
France.

His majesty has thus distinéily
and unreservedly stated the reasons
_of those proceedings to which he
has found himself compelled to re-
sort. He is aéiuated by no dispo-
sition to interfere in the internal
concerns of any other state ; by no
projects of conquest and aggrandize-
ment; but solely by a sense of
what is due to the honour of his
crown, and the interests of his peo-
-ple, and by an anxious desire to
obstruét the further progress of a
system, which, if not resisted, may
_ prove fatal to every part of the ci-
wilized world.

Westminster, May 18, 1803.

ane a a ee

Report made to the French Consul
by Colvired Sebastiant, extracted

NNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

from the Moniteur of the 30th of
Jan. 1803.

On the 16th of September I em.
barked at Toulon, on board the
Cornélie; and on the 30th I arrived
at Tripoli. 1 immediately wrote to
baron Cederstrom, the Swedish rear.
admiral, as well as to the minister
of the pacha, to offer them my me-
diation to terminate the differences
existing between the Swedish court
and the regency. My mediation
was accepted: the minister and the
rear-admiral repaired to the commis-
sarial house of France, and we en-
tered on the negotiation. The two
parties were far asunder; the pacha
demanded a considerable sum, and
an augmentation of the annual tri-
bute. Tle urged a treaty made two
years ago by an envoy of the king of
Sweden, which assured the payment
of ,245,000 heary piastres, and of
an annuity of 20,000; he added,
that two years-of war had subjected
him to extraordinary expences, and
that he used great moderation fn
conforming himself to the treaty in _
question. M. de Cederstrom only
offered, in the name of his court,
100,000 piastres for the redemption
of the Swedish slaves, who were to
the number of one hundred and fif- _
ty, and an annuity of 5000 piastres.
Alter much debate, I succeeded in
making them sign a treaty, which
fixed the payment of the ransom at
150,000 piastres, and the annuity
at 8000.—On the Ist of Oétober I
was presented, with much pomp, to
the pacha, who received me in the
most distinguished manner. The ex«
change of the ratification of the trea-
ty of peace took place, and the Ita-
lian republic was formally acknow-
Jedged. I caused its flag to be
hoisted on the commissarial house —
of France, and it was saluted by the

frigate

CAT

STATE PAPERS. 43,

frigate and the place with 21 guns.
—It was not without difliculty that
the pacha consented to acknowledge
that republic. He feared that all
Italy was comprized in this new re-
public, and that, in consequence,
he would be obliged to respeét, in-
discriminately, all the ships of com-
merce of that part of Europe :—this
would destroy his marine. I gave
him the necessary explanations, and
particularly those which related to
the object of his apprehensions, and
he replied tome, ‘‘ Certainly } wish
to be at peace with the Ltalian re-
public, without too much injuring
my interest; but if it were still more

difficult, 1 would do it, since the

great Bonaparte desires it.”—The
pacha of Tripoli is a brave and en-

terprizing man, the friend of France.

The English have furnished succours
to his brother, who is at present at
Derue, without means or credit. His
plan is to raise the country against
the bey. The political and admi-
nistrative affairs of the regency are
conduéted by Seid-Muhammed-el-
Deghais, minister of the pacha. This
man isifull of sagacity, and has even
somé notions of Kuropean politics.
Hie has been in France, and pre-

serves for our country a prédomi-

nant sentiment of affeétion. On the
2d of Oétober I set out from Tri-

a poli, and on the 16th arrived at

Alexandria: the same day I waited
upon general Stuart, commandant of
the English forces by land and sea.
I communicated to him the order of
the minister for foreign affairs, which
enjoined me to proceed to Alexan-
dria, and if the English still occu-
pied that place, to demand a speedy
evacuation, and the execution of the
treaty of Amiens. General Stuart
then told me, that the evacuation of

___ the place would shortly be effgéted ;

but seeing that I insisted, and that I
desired an answer less vague, he des
dlared to me, that he had no orders
from his court to quit Alexandria,
and that he even believed he should
pass the winter there. General Stuart
isa man of médiocre talents: he has
for his aid-de-camp, a French emi-
grant, called the chevalier de Sades,
a man of talent, and an enemy of
France, who has much influence over
the general. I went the same day
to see Khourchid-Ahmid, the pacha
of Alexandria, and the capitan bey,
commander of the forces of the Ot-
toman Porte. After the customary
compliments, and some language
agreeable to the Sublime Porte, i
announced. to them, that the agents
of French commerce would assemble
in Egypt. ‘This communication gave
them the greatest pleasure, and they
did not conceal that they saw with
grief the stay of the English in. the
country. I told them, that their
stay could not be much longer, and
that the general peace left no doubt
of their approaching departure. On
the 17th I visited the cheik El-Mes
siry. The same day [ also visited
the cheik Ibrahim Mufti. On the
18th I visited the coupure du Kha-
lidj, which has formed the lake Mas
reotis. The current of the waters
of the lake Madié is still very strong,
and if the Porte does not make haste
to re-establish this important canal,
the overfiows which take place: on
the littie tongue of land that sepa-
rates the two lakes, will render the
opening so considerable, that it will
be impossible to travel. Ido not
think that the Swedish engineer sent
by the Porte to direét these labours,
has the necessary talents. The form-
ation of the lake Mareotis appears to
have contributed to the salubrity of
the air. The city has up other water

3B4 than

744:

than what it draws from the wells of
Marabouf. ‘This little fort [ found
guarded by an English and ‘Turkish
garrison, in order to protect the.in-
habitants who came to draw water.
T employed the day of the 19thin
perambulating the town, and receiv-
ing different individuals who came to
visit me. On the 20th I set out for
Cairo, escorted by two Turkish of-
ficers, and six French soldiers, whom
ihad taken on board the frigate,
but contrary winds obliged me to re-
turn to the port. «The next day I
was at Aboukir, where I passed the
night. | profited by this opportu-
nity to visit the fort, which is in.a
very ruined state, On the 22d J ar-
rived at Rosetta, after having visited
the fort Julicn ; U saw the same day
Osman, aga, and duvanny of the
town, as well as all the christians
who reside there. ‘The 23d L was at
Faoné, where I visited the com-
mandant of the place, the cadi, and
the cheiks ; I received from the lat-
ter, and from all those whom I en-
tertained, protestations of attach-
ment to the first consul. I passed
the next day at Ralimanie, where I
visited the cheik Muhammed Abou-
Aly; the fort of the town is almost
enfirely destroyed. I visited on the
25th, at Menouf, the cheik Abdin,
whom the first consul had appointed
cadi. The other cheiks of that town
who came to visit me, held the same
language as those of Faone. J said
to them, ‘* The first consul loves
your country much, he speaks of it
often ; he interests himself in your
happiness ; he did not forget you,
and recommended you to the Porte.
fie has made peace with Europe,
and this country will feel the interest
which he takes, and the recollection
which he has preserved of the poor
eheiks of Egypt.’—Muhammed Ka.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

chef-Zourba Matzellem; who ¢om-
manded at Menouf, on my journey
through that town, has been be-
headed in consequence of being ac-
cused of communications with the
mamelouks. ‘Vhe two forts of Me-
nouf are destroyed. I arrived the
same day at Boulak. I sent imme-
diately citizen Joubert to inform the
pacha of Cairo of my arrival. The
next morning, the 26th, the pacha
sent 300 cavalry and 200 infantry,
commanded by the principal officers
of his household, to accompany me
to him, amidst a great many diss
charges of artillery. Having arrived
at the pacha’s, I said to him, *‘ Peace
has been. concluded between the
French republic and the Sublime
Porte: the ancient relations of am-
ity and commerce have been re-
established, and I am charged by
the great consul Bonaparte, to as
sure. you of his benevolence, and
to-announce to you the arrival of
commissarics of the French coms
merce in Egypt.” ‘The pacha an-
swered me, ** the benevolence with
which the first consul has honoured
me, penetrates me with gratitude,
and his commercial agents shall meet
here the most friendly reception.”
I proéeeded then to the house which
the pacha had prepared for me. I
received, the same day, the visits of
all the principal men of the country,
and of the copt intendants. On the
27th [ again repaired to the pacha,
with whom I had a long conference.
I spoke to him in these words: “ the
first consul takes in you, and the
country which you govern, a very
lively interest, and desires to con-
tribute to your happiness; he has
charged me, therefore, to offer you
his mediation, in order to make
peace between you and the beys.”’
The pacha thanked me warmly
; . and

STATE PAPERS.

and sincerely for the interest which
the first consul took in his behalf,
’ but he protested to me, that he had
the most positive orders from his
court to make a war of extermina-
tion upon the beys, and not to en-
_ ter into any arrangement with them.
- I observed, that the unfortunate cir-
cumstances which had happened to.
the Ottoman troops (they had been
beaten five times successively by the
mamelouks), rendered their posi-,
tion very critical, and that obstinacy
exposed them to the Joss of the pro-
vince. He then communicated to
me the order of the Porte, and I
_ saw, beyond a doubt, that it was
not possible for him to enter into any
accommodation. 1 informed him that
I intended to visit the diiferent
cheiks of Cairo, and also Madame
_ Murad Bey, and to inspeét the en-
virons and fortifications of the city.
_ He ordered, immediately, that the
_ guard which he had sent should ac-
_ company me wherever I wished to
- 20, informing me, that he would use
' every means in his power to render
my stay at Cairo agreeable.—'The
_ same day I commenced my visits,
beginning with the cheik Abdallah-
_el-Chescanoi, of the great mosque.
~ As I was expeéted by him, he had
_ assembled. a considerable number of
cheiks.
- upon the interest which the first
Es consul took in Egypt, on his power,
his’ glory, and on his esteem and
_ benevolence for the learned cheiks
of Cairo. Their answers expressed
_ their attachment to his person. He
_ must have been a witness like my-
self to the enthusiasm excited at the
_view of the portrait of the first con-
_ sul to form an idea of the exaltation
of their sentiments. I have given it
to all the principal cheiks of Cairo,
and of the towns where | have tra-

The conversation turned’

745

velled.—On the 28th 1 invited the®
cheik Omar El-Berky,; prince of the
Shiriss: he was ill, and I saw only’
his son.—The cheik Suleiman Kl-
Fargoumy received me with much
friendship, and assured me of his
boundless admiration for the first
consul.—The citizen Joubert’ and
Beye have certified to me, that the
inhabitants of Cairo never testified
so much attachment to I’rance as
on my arrival.—W hen we pass along
the streets, every body salutes us.
Their astrologers make predictions
every day as to what concerns the
first consul.—On the 29th, I weit
to visit Madame Murad Bey: her
intendant had already prayed of me
that 1 would grant her an interview.
1 informed. her that the first consul
had charged me to interpose my mes
diation, in order tomake their peace
with the Sublime Porte; but that
the pacha had ordered that no ne-
gotiation should be entered into.—
I employed that day, and the fol-
lowing, in visiting the citadel, the
Isle of Ro da Gizé, Boulak, and all
the other little forts which surround
the city. The Turkish soldiers mur-
mured to see me visit their forts,
but I feigned not to hear them, and
continued my course and my ob-
servations.

On the 29th, in returning to Fort
Dupuy, a soldier menaced me with
his attagan ; but as the inhabitants
of the city testified highly their in-
dignation against him, I did not
stop at his menaces, and continued
my route. A moment afterwards
Mustapha Oukil, one of the chiefs
of the city, passed before me qn
horseback. In passing, he reproach-
ed my guides with marching before
a christian, and above all, before a
Frenchman, and menaced them with
the bastinado after my departure. I

could

-

746

could not be silent under such an
insult; and, upon my return, I sent
citizen Joubert to the pacha, to
make my complaint, and demand a
prompt redress. I declared to him
that I expecied this man would come
publicly to me to ask my pardon,
place himself at my disposal, and
implore my pity. He found that
Mustapha was greatly prote¢ted by
the pacha, and wanted to arrange it
otherwise ; but I persisted by de-
claring formally to the pacha, that
if this reparation was not made in
the manner in which I demanded it,
I should instantly depart, and im-
mediately write to Paris and Con-
stantinople to state my complaint.
This declaration produced all the ef-
fect which I expeéted ; and Musta-
pha, alarmed, came on the follow-
ing day to me, conduéted by Ro-
setti, aud he publicly asked my par-
don, and put himself at my disposal.
I told him that my first intention had
been to cut off his head, and that I
only gave him his life at the solicita-
tions of the pacha and M. Rosetti;
but if in fature he should ever insult
the French, or those in their suite,
his destruétion would be inevitable.
This afiair, which was instantly
spread throughout the whole city,
produced the best effeét.—The same
day an attempt was made to excite
the Albanese against me. ‘Two let-
ters from Rosetta, written by En-
glish protegées, assured that there
had been seen upon the coasts of
Narolia a French fleet of 300 sail ;
that we were marching against Con-
stantinople, and that my visit to
Lgypt had no other objeéi but to
deceive them, and blind them to
their danger. I made the merchant
come. to me whoehad received the
letter ; I made him give it me—I
instantly sent it to the pacha himsg)f,

The evening before my ~—

ANNUAL REGISTER, ”1803.

telling him that this absurd news
was spread to occasion disorders,
and to endeavour to alter the good
understanding which existed between
France and the Sublime Porte: and
I guaranteed the falsehood of it with
my head. ‘The pacha had discovered
the snare, and did not fall into it.
He even communicated to me a let.
ter from general Stuart, which he
had just received, and to which was
joined an order,of the day, of the
first consul, when he commanded
the army of Egypt. This order of
the day was dated in August 1799,
and recalled to the recollection of
the Egyptians, that Constantinople
was tributary to Arabia, and that
the time was now come to restore
Cairo to its supremacy, and to,de-
stroy the eastern empire of the Ot.
tomans. Gencral Stuart begged the
pacha to consider the spirit of that
order, and to judge from it of our
attachment, and of our peace with
the Turks. 1 was indignant to find
that a soldier of one of the most
polite nations of Europe should de-
grade himself so far as to"instigate
assassination, by means of such an
insinuation—the pacha treated me
with the greatest politeness, and the
English at Cairo were witnesses of
the attachment of that city to the
French. 1 received: a depatation
from. the monks of Mount Sinai,
whom I recommended to the pacha:
I wrote to their superior, to assure
them of the friendship and protection
ot the first consul. The.monks of
the Propaganda at Cairo, whom I.
placed under the national protection
which they enjoyed before the war,
celebrated a Te Deum for the pros.
perity of the first consul. 1 as.
sisted at this ceremony, at which all
the christians of Cairo were present.

the

’

STATE PAPERS.

{the 2d of November) I had another
interview with the pacha, and re-
commended all the christians of
Cairo to his protection, as well as
the Turks who, during the residence
ef the French in Egypt, were con-
neéted with them. He not only
promised to respect them, but even
to treat them with bounty. On the
3d, I set out in a conveyance of the
pacha’s, in order to repair to Da-
mietta. The pacha ordercd me to
be escorted to Boulak, with the
same honours that I received on the
day of my arrival. I had written
to captain Gourdin, to repair to
Damietta with the frigate, in order
to convey me to Syria. . On the 5th

. LI stopped a short time at Simenoud,

and afterwards at Mansoura, where
1 saw the commandant of the city,
and the cheik LEsseid-Muhammed-
E}-Chenaoni, who came to see me,
as well as all the other cheiks. I
spoke to them in the same manner
as the other cheiks of Egypt, and
received the same promises of at-
tachment. The tower of Mansoura
is destroyed. The same day I ar-
rived at Damietta. The next day I
went to Ahmed-Pacha-Behil, a crea-
ture of the grand vizier’s; he re-
turned my visit the same day. He
conducted himself perfeétly well to
me during my stay in that city.

On the 7th I went to visit the
fort of Lesbe and the towers of Bo-

' gaz. They have not continued the

works of that fort, which is ina
bad state: those of Bogaz are ina
good condition. There is a garrison

' of 200 men in the fort and in the

towers. On the 8th I received the
visit of Hassan ‘Toubar-: his influ-
ence over the inhabitants of Mensale
as still the same. On the 9th I

' ‘went to Senenie, where I saw the

~ aheik

{brahim-E1,Behlout, ke wha
3

747

behaved so well to the French under
the orders of general Vial, when
they were taken and imprisoned.
The first consul had exempted his
village from all contributions. I
saw al] the cheiks at Damietta, par-
ticularly Ali Khasaki, whom the
first consul had invested with a pe-
lisse: he is possessed of great cre-
dit, and is much attached to the
French. There are at Damietta two
christians, whe are men of merit,
and may be very usefulto us: they
are M. Bazile and Don Bazile. ‘They
are possessed of good information,
haye very considerable fortunes, and
are very highly respected. In Egypt,
chiefs, merchants, people, all like
to talk of the first consul—all offer
up prayers for his happiness. All
the news which concerns him spread
from Alexandria or Damietta to the
pyramids and the grand cataraéts
with astonishing rapidity. On the
14th the frigate arrived at Bogaz from
Damietta: I immediately set out for
Acre, at which place I arrived on
the 19th.

The 20th of November, in the
morning, I dispatched citizens Jou-
bert and Legrange to Dgezzar-pa-
cha, with a letter, in which I stated
to him, that peace being concluded
between France and the Porte, the
relations of commerce should be re-
established on the footing they stood
before the war, and that I was
charged by the first consul to confer
with him on these objects. I beg-
ged of him to answer me in writing,
if he was inclined to treat with me.
In some hours the messengers re-
turned: Dgezzar had received them
coldly. He expressed his desire to
see me personally, but was unwil-
ling to write. Kvery body advised
me not to see him, without an as-
surance written by himself; ne

ihis

748

this he appeared unwilling to do:
but, notwithstanding this cautionary
advice, and his obstinate refusal to
write, 1 determined to repair my-
self immediately to Acre. I re-
paired to the house of. the commis-
sary of the Seven Isles. Very soon
after, the drogoman of the pacha,
informed of my arrival, came to
conduct me to the pacha, who re-
ceived me in an apartment where
he was unattended, and which was
without any other furniture than a
carpet. He had, on one side of
him, a pistol, with four barrels, a
small air-gun, a sabre, and a hatchet.
After inquiring as to my health, he
asked me, whether I was not per-
suaded that our end is pre-ordained
in heaven, and that nothing could
change our destiny. 1 answered,
that I believed, as he did, in predes-
tination. He continued to speak
for some time on that subject. I
perceived, however, that he affected a
degree of simplicity, but that, at the
same time, he wished to pass for a
man of wit, as well as for a just
man. He repeated several times,
* It is said, that Dgezzar is barba-
rous: this is false; he is but just
and severe. | Request of the first
consul, not to send me, as commis-
sary of commercial relations, a lame
or a blind man ; because such a per-
son would be sure to say, that
Dgezzar had made him so.’ Soon
after he said, ‘ I desire that the com-
missary you may send shall reside at
Seide, as that is the most commer-
cial part in my dominions: besides,
it is not necessary he should reside
here, where [ shall be myself the
French commissary, and shall take
care that your countrymen be well
received, I highly esteem the
French. In stature, Bonaparte is
small, but he is nevertheless the

x.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

greatest of mankind. I know that
he is greatly regretted at Cairo,
where they wish to see him again.’
I made a few observations on the
peace between France and the
Porte ; to which he answered, ‘ Do
you know why [I have thus received,
and feel so much pleasure at seeing
you? Itis because you come unau-
thorised by a,firman, and without any
orders from the divan. IL have the
greatest contempt for its blind vizier.
They say that Dgezzeris a Bosnian,
a man ot straw, and cruel to excess;
but, nevertheless, I can stand the
ordeal. .1 was once poor.) »My
father had nothing to bequeath me
but courage. 1 have achieved my
own elevation by dint of exertion.
This, however, does not make me
proud, and Dgezzar, perhaps, will
soon finish his career; not that he
is old, as his enemies report, (he
then performed some of the mancu-
vres of the Mamelukes, in their mode
of rising their arms, &c. which he
really executed with surprising a-
droitness and agility,) but because,
most likely, God will have it so.
The king of France, once so pow-
erful, has perished. Nebuchadnez-
zar, the greatest of all kings, was,
when. his time was come, killed by a
fly, &c.? He made several other
observations in this strain, and af-
terwards spoke of the motives which
induced him to make war upon the
French army: from the whole of
his demeanour it could easily be
seen, that he wished to be on good
terms with the first consul, and that
he stifled his resentments. The fol- -
lowing is the apologue, which he
used to demonstrate the causes of his
resistance. ¢°A black slave,’ he
said, ‘ after a long journey, in
which he had suffered the greatest
privations, arrived at a little field of

sugar

STATE ‘PiA-P-E R’'S.

sugar canes; he stopped therein,
and indulged himself in partaking
of the delicious liquor they afforded ;
and, at length, was determined to
remain on the spot. Very soon
after, two travellers, who had fol-
fowed- him, came up. ‘The first
said to him, salamallee (the mode of
wishing health). ‘¢The devil take it,”
answered the black. The second
traveller then approached, and in-
quired why he had answered in sach
a way toso gooda wish. ‘ I had
very good reason for it,” replied he,
“if I had answered in a friendly
manner, the man would have enter-
ed into conversation with me, and
afterwards sat down beside me ; he
would have partaken of my refresh-
ments, and finding them desirable,
would have endeavoured to obtain
exclusive possession.” I recom-
mended to the favourable attention
of Dgezzar, the christians: and the
convents at Nazareth and Jerusa-
lem; he assured me that he would
treat them with much regard. I did
not forget the Mutuales, and receiv-
ed the same assurance in their be-
half. Degezzar frequently observed
to me, that his word was, with him,
more sacred than treaties. Our
conversation was interrupted for
some moments by a kind of military
music, which he performed in a very
agreeable style. The palace of
Dgezzar is built with much taste and
elegance ; but, in order to arrive at
the apartments, a number of turn-
ings are necessary. At the foot of

the staircase, however, is situated a .

prison, the gate of which is allowed
to be open from noon till evening.
I saw a number of the unfortunate
inhabitants. In the courts I ob-
served twelve field-pieces well
mounted, and in admirable order.
Never did J encounter a sight more

‘the limits of his power.

748

hideous or repulsive than that of the
minister of Dgezzar, whom I met in
going out. The pacha had caused
one of his eyes to be put out, and
his nose and ears to be cut of. [|
saw in the town more than a hun-
dred individuals in the same state.
On beholding the domestics of
Dgezzar, and even the inhabitants
of Acre, one would imagine himself
in the resorts of brigands ready to
assassinate. ‘This monster has im-
printed the mark of his atrocious
character upon every thing within
I had an
opportunity of -~seeing, while at
Acre, the procurateur of the Propa-
ganda, as well as that of the Holy
Land. Of the former, and of the
commissary of the Seven Isles, I col-
lected some information concerning
the present state of Syria, and the
fortifications of Acre, of which I
had seen but a part; I was not suf-
fered to visit them. The procura-
teur_of the Holy Land is grateful to
the first consul for the protection he
had afforded the monks. He assur-
ed me that my recommendation to
Dgezzar would be very useful. He
hinted to me Dgezzar’s earnest
wishes to be on good terms with the
first consul. It is certain that the
former behaved very wellto the crew
of a French vessel which put into
Acre shortly before my arrival.
Dgezzar occupies all Palestine, with
the exception of Jaffa, where Abon-
marak Pacha has been besieged near-
ly five months by a force of 9000
men. ‘This operation prevents
Dgezzar from carrying on hostilities
with the desired vigour against the
emir of the Druses, who, for the
space of a year, had paid him no
tribute. Tripoli is tranquil at pre-
sent: it is different at Aleppo,
whence the pacha has been driven.

Damascus

750 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Damascusis in open rebellion against
the Porte:—Not only has the pacha
of the divan been expelled, but the
aga, who commanded the citadel for
the Turks, has been delivered up by
the soldiers to the insurgents, who
have decapitated him. ‘Tripoli is
now under a rebellious pacha, who
is a creature of Dgezzar ; who has
lately ordered him to proteét the
pilgrims from Mecca. Ina word,
all Syria is with Dgezzar, and the
Ottomans are as much detested here
as in Egypt. The Mautuales live
peaceably in their villages; they
have, however, been obliged to re-
tire from the borders of the sea,
Aboumarak is now at the last ex-
tremity : this man is equally incon-
siderate and cruel, and is surpassed
only by Dgezzar. ‘The christians
are even more im dread of him, and
tremble for their future situation.
The monks of the convent of Jafia
have withdrawn to Jerusalem. The
2ist of November I quitted Acre.
As the winds were unfavourable to
a voyage to Jafla, I set sail for
Zante, where I arrived the 4th of
December. J landed the same day,
but the ship’s company were put
under quarantine. [£ repaired to
the house of the French commissary,
escorted by the officers of health. I
soon learned that the Isle and the
Republic were split into different
parties, and that even the tranquil-
lity of the place was threatened. 1
assembled the members of the con-
stttuted authorites, and the principal
persons of the town, at the house
of the governor M. de Calishipode.
After having represented to them the
interest which the first consul took
in their welfare, [ induced them to
lay aside that spirit of party which
distracted them, and to wait with-
gut passion, aud in silence, the new

constitution. These few werds
were received with enthusiasm, and
all of them exclaimed, “ France
for ever. Bonaparte for ever !’—
These cries were reiterated on my
going out by more than 4000 men,
who followed me to the door. The
governor and the Russian com.
mandant were alarmed at it; and I
learned by the French commissary,
on the following day, that two of
the leading men were sent to prison,
but that, on his solicitations, and’
fearful of my reproaches, they were
set at liberty in the course of the
night. I went to the Conciergerie,
and had the governor brought there.
I spoke to him strongly on the
irregularity of his conduct: he was
alarmed, and promised that he
‘would look upon these who cried
out, ‘¢ Live the first consul!” as
good citizens, and should in future
treat them as such. As he sent, in
the course of the night, a courier to
his government, and | had reason to
believe he had made a wrong re-
port, | immediately wrote to the
charge d'affaires of the republic at
Corfou, to inform him what had
passed, and that I was setting off
for Messina. I do not stray from
the truth in assuring you, that the
islands of the Lonian sea will declare
themselves French as soon as an op-
portunity shall offer itself.

English army im Egypt.—That
army, commanded by general Stuart,
consists df 4430men. They wholly
and exclusively occupy Alexandria
and the neighbouring forts. The
Turks, who formed the garrison of
some of these forts, have been re-
moved. Lately the English general
has occupied Demanhour with 100.
infantry and 100 horse, under the
pretext of curbing the Arabs. The
English have made no mecessary

works

STATE PAPERS.

works for the maintenance of the
_ forts; the palisades are almost en-
tirely destroyed, and the branches
occasioned by the rains have very
much damaged all the new fortificati.
ons. They occupy none of the works
- which are beyond the line of the
Arabs, and all the redoubts which
existed at the departure of the
French army are destroyed. The
pacha of Cairofurnishes to the Eng.
‘lish army corn, rice, wood, and
provisions, without any payment,
The consumption is treble what it
should be: they commit great waste.
A great misunderstanding reigns
between general Stuart and the
pacha,
STATE OF THE ARMY,
Dillon’s regiment—emigranis 450
British chasseurs—ditto...-.. 550
_ Role’s regiment—Swiss...... 600
Wetteville’s regiment—ditto.. 680
The 10th regiment of infantry

ingliohy is ewe eek 600
The 61st regiment of infantry
Mat (e682, ehh b 650
The 88th regiment of infantry
EA gneiss cinigne Sy sceLS 400
Dragoons of the 26th light—
Nak sie sh ocieE's bicts 350

-Artillery—ditto......,..-.. 150
Total 4430

The Turkish army.—Muhammed,
pacha of Caire,who has taken, itisnot
‘known why, the title of viceroy of
Egypt, does not command the troops
in person. Muhammed Aly-Serr-
Chersme, who had the command
“since mny arrival, was killed before
Gaza; they are now under the or-
’ ders of Jussef Kiahia. Tair is pacha
‘of the Arnaoutes, who compose the
_ greatest part of this army, amount-
' ing to about 16,000 men. They
- » from time to time receive reinforce-

ments. »—Chourchid-Abmed, a pacha

75t
of two tails, is at Alexandria with
600 men, who occupy no fortifica.
tion. This pacha is, as one ma
say, a prisoner with the English.
—The Turkish army consists. of
7640 men, and that of the Ar.
naoutes of 850@, making a whole
of 16,140.—It is useless to add, that
this is not an army; they are men
il-armed, without discipline, with.
out confidence in their chiefs, and
eneryated by excessive debauchery.
The chiefs are in every thing like
their soldiers ; ignorant even of the
first principles of the military art :
and uniformly actuated by the love
of wealth, they think of nothing but
of obtaining it, and of finding the
means of carrying it off in safety.
Six thousand French would at pre-
sent be enough to conquer Egypt.
Army of the Mamelukes.—The
army of the Beys is composed of
3000 Mamelukes, of 3500 Arabs
of the tribe of Ababde of Chark,
and of 3500 of the tribe of Binialy.
Muhammed Bey Elfy married the
daughter of the cheik of the first,
and Maarzouk Bey, son of Ibrahim
Bey, the daughter of the cheik of
the tribe of Binialy.. The power in
this army is divided between Ibra-—
him Bey, who is the chief, Eley
Bey and Osman Bey, who has. sue.
ceeded Murad Bey. Their head-
quarters are at Djerge. ‘They have
eighty French deserters, which form
a small corps of artillery. To the
present time, they have beat the
Turks in every action, and the
Egyptians prefer them to the Os-
manlis. ‘he whole of Upper Egypt
has submitted to them.
Syria.—Acre. The body of this
place has been repaired ; the port
has been covered with a small horn-
ed work, and the tower of the an-
gle by.a half-moon. They have
likewise

75%

likewise made a small fleche, in
front of the palace of the pacha.—
All the works are well kept. .The
* weakest part is that towards the sea,
and particularly the point which de-
fends the entrance of the port. The
forces of Dgezzar are at present 13
or 14,000 men, of which 9,000 are
employed at the siege of Jatla. Je-
rusalem and Nazareth are occupied
by the troops of the pacha of Acre.
The Naplonsains serve against Abou-
The Vizier, after
the taking of Egypt, caused the
body of the place to be re-construct-
ed, which is at present in a very
good state. Aboumarak, pacha of
Palestine, who defends this place, has
a garrison of 4000 men.—Gaza is
occupied by 400 troops of Abou-
marak.—The emir of the Druses
has refused to Dgezzar his annual
contribution, and has raised a re-
spectable armament. The pacha
waits till the fall of Jafla to attack
him. ‘The English wished to inter-
fere as mediators between the emir
and Dgezzar, but the last refused
their mediation.
this moment,
Syria.

(Signed) Horace Sebastiani.

little connexion with

Aéts of the Government. Paris, 3d
Ventose, Feb. 22,

Decree of the government of the
@\st February.

The government of the republic
decrees, that a view of the present
situation of the republic shall be car-
ried to the legislative. body, by the
messengers of the government, and
also the same be inserted in the bul-
jetin of the laws.

(Signed) Bonaparte, first consul.
By order of the first consul.
(Signed) H. B. Maret, secretary
of state.
1

ANNUAL REGISTER,”

The Porte has, at °

1803.
View of the state of the Republic.

Events have neither frustrated the
wishes, nor disappointed the expec-
tations of government. The legis-
lative body, on resuming its labours,
has the satisfaction of finding the
republic strengthened by the union
of its citizens, more active in its
pursuits of industry, and more con-
fident in its prospeéis of prosperity.

‘ihe execution of the concordat,
from which the enemies of public
order still ventured to conceive cri-»
minal hopes, has almost every where
produced the most beneficial ef-
fects. The principles of an enlight-
ened religion, the voice of the sove-
reign pontilf, the firmness and per-
Severance of government have tri-
umphed over every obstacle. Mu-
tual sacrifices have reunited the mi-
nisters of religion; enlightened rea-
son and cordial unanimity have re-
vived the Gatlican church ; and the
happiest change has already mani-
fested itself in the public morals.
Every day produces a more perfect
coincidence of opinion, and of sen-
timent. Childhood is more docile
to the instruétions of parents, and
youth more submissive to the autho-
rity of magistrates. The conscrip-
tion goes on smoothly in those
very places, where the mere name
of conscription was sufficient to sti-
mulate insurre¢étion, and to serve the
country is now become a duty of
religion.

In those departments which the
first consul visited, he every where
received ‘pledges, and observed
proofs, of a return to those princi-
ples which constitute the strength
and happiness of society.

In the departments of the Eure,
the Lower Seine, the Oise, the inha-
bitants proudly exult in saosin national

glory.

STATE PAPERS. 759

glory. They are sensible to their
full extent of the advantages of
equality. They hail, with blessings,
the restoration ef peace; they re-
ceive, with blessings, the re-esta-
blishment of public worship. Jhese
are the ties that bind down every
heart to the state, and the consti-
tution.

» It is the duty of government to
cherish and direét these auspicious
dispositions.

Other forms of worship have been
regularly organized. Consistories
wre formed of enlightened citizens,
tried and acknowledged defenders of
public order, ef civil and religious
jiberty.

» Public instruétion,. that indispen-
sible support of society, is every
where sought after with eagerness
and alacrity. Several lyceums have
already been, opened: already, as
government had well foreseen, a
number of private schools aspire to
the rank of the secondary schools.
~The whole body of citizens shew
_their conviction, that there can be
mo happiness without the light of
education ; that, without talents and
information, there can be no equa-
dity, but that of misery and servi-
tude.

A military school is opened to re-
eeiye the young defenders of the
-eountry. Soldiers, they will learn
.to support the life of camps, and en-
dure the fatigues of war. By Jong
habits of obedience, they will be
trained up to the art of command-
ing, and they will bring to the ar-
Mies courage and discipline, united
with talents and with knowledge.
. In the lyceums, as well as in the
Upilitary school, the youth of the
epartments, newly incorporated
with the republic, will live mingled,
out anne distinction, with the

EVou. XLV.

youths of old France. From. this.
confusion of minds and manners,.
from this communication of: habits
and of dispositions, from this com=
mixture of interests, of projects, ©
and of hopes, will spring up.that
fraternity, which, of several. na.
tions, will make but one people,
destined by their position, by their
courage, and by their virtues, to
form the centre of union, and, the
example of Europe.

The national institute, which has
its ascendency over public instruc.
tion, has received a more uselul di-
rection, and henceforward will ex-
ert a more a¢tive influence over. the
national chara¢ter, over the lan-
guage of the country, and over the
arts, sciences, and literature.

In order to ensure the stability of
our infant institutions, in order to
remove from the eyes of the pub-
lic the spectre of discord, which ap-
peared to them in the periodical re-
turn of eleétions to the supreme
magistracy, the friends of the coun-
try called for the consulate for life
to be granted to the first magis~
trate. The people, upon being
consulted, answered to their call,
and the senate proclaimed the will
of the people.

The system of lists of eligibility
could not resist the test of experi-
ence, and the force of public opinion.

The organization of the senate was
incomplete.

The national justice was left to be
administered by tribunals without
harmony, and without dependence
on each other.. There was no au-
thority to protect or to reform
them; no tie of restraint, to sub-
ject them to one common discipline.

In fine, there was wanting~ to
France, a power to reclaim .jus-
tice itself, the power of granting

3C “pardon.

.

754

pardon. How often, these twelve
years past, has that power been im-
plored! How many nfortunates
have fallen the victims of an intlex:-
ble sternness, with which wise men
reproached our laws! How many
criminals have been acquitted through
2 false indulgence, because our pu-
nishments were too severe.

A senatus consultum has restored
to the people the exercise of those
rights, which the constituent assem-
bly had acknowledged; but it has
restored them surrounded with pre-
cautions, which preserve the people
from errors or precipitation in their
choice; with precautions, which
guard the influence of property, and
the preponderance of enlightened
talents.

Should the first magistracy become
vacant, the duties and the proceed-
ings of the senate are traced out
for such an emergency: forms of
certain operation, guide the wisdom
and the liberty of their choice ; and
the quick decision of that choice
deprives ambition of the means of
conspiring, and anarchy the means
of destroying.

The cement of time will every day
consolidate, more and more, this
tutelary institution. It will be not
only the term of all disquietudes,
and the object of all hopes, but
likewise the fairest recompences that
can be held out to public services
and public virtues.

Justice embraces all tribunals with
one common bond, ‘They have
each their subordinate station and
their censor: they are always free
in the exercise of their funttions ;
always independent of power, but
never independent of the laws.

The privilege of granting pardon,
when the interest of the republic re-
quires it, or when circumstances

3

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

prescribe indulgence, is entrusted t
the hands of the first magistrate ;
but it is only confided to him under
the guard of justice itself; he is to
exercise it only under the eyes of a
council, and after having consulted |
the severe oracles of the law.

If institutions may be appreciated
by their effects, never was any ins
stitution more important in its result |
than the organic senatus consultum.
From that moment the French peo-
ple began to confide in their desti-
ny; property began to resume its
former value, and speculations of
distant view to be multiplied ; until
that moment, every thing seemed to
float in uncertainty. The present
moment was cherished, the next was
a subject of alarm, and the enemies
of the country continued to cherish
hopes. Since that moment, they
are reduced to impotence and de-
testation.

The island of Elba has been ceded
to France; that acquisition gives
her a mild and industrious people ;
two fine ports, a productive and
precious mine: but, being separate@
from France, it could not be intis’
mately united with any of her de-
partments, or subjected to the regu.
lations of a common administration,
Principles have been made to bend
to the necessity of circumstances 5
exceptions have been established for
the island of Elba, which its posi-
tion, and the public interest, pre«
seribed.

The abdication of the sovereign,
the will of the people, and the ne.
cessity of existing circumstances,
had placed Piedmont under the
power of France. Amidst the na-
tions that surrounded it, with the
elements that composed its popula-
tion, Piedmont was unable to sup-
port either the weight of its own

indee

STARE (PAPERS.

independence, or the expences of a
monarchy. United to France, it
will reap the benefits of its security
and its greatness ; its laborious and
enlightened citizens will exert their
industry and their talents in the bo-
som of the arts, and under the shade
of peace.
Security and tranquillity prevail
in the interior of France, ‘The vi-
gilance of the magistracy, the seve-
rity of justice, and a gendarmerie
vigorously appointed, and directed
by a commander grown grey in the
career of honour, has every where
impressed terror on the minds and
the atiempts of the brigands.
Private interest has raised itself
to a sentiment of public interest.
Citizens have not shrunk from at-
tacking those whom they formerly
dreaded, even when they were
chained down at the foot of the tri-
bunals of justice. Whole com-
munes have taken up arms and
destroyed the brigands. Foreign-
ers enyy the security of our public
roads, and that public force, which,
~thongh often invisible, is always
present, attend on their footsteps,
and watch for their proteétion with-
_ out any necessity of imploring its
aid.
é During the course of a difficult
year, amidst the exigencies of a ge-
neral scarcity, the poor looked with
confidence to the care of govern-
ment. They supported, with cou-
rage, the privations which necessity
imposed ; and they received, with
gratitude, the succours which they
were taught to expe¢t.
The crime of forgery is no longer
_ encouraged by the hope of impuani-
ty. The zeal of the tribunals ap-
bY pointed to prosecute and punish it,
and the just severity of the laws,
” at length, checked the pro-
ma?

.

755

gress of an evil which threatened
both the public treasure, and the
fortunes of individuals.

Our cultivation daily improves,
and defies the most boasted agricul-
tural systems of Europe. In every
department are to be found enlight-
ened farmers, who afford both in.
struction and example.

Premiums have been held out for
improving the breed of horses; and
similar encouragements are propose
ed for the improvement of wool by
the introduction ofa foreign breed of
sheep. Zealous administrators are
every where occupied in tracing out
and revealing the richness of our
soil, and in disseminating the useful
plans and the happy results which
experience daily discovers.

Our manufactures multiply and
receive new spirit and improvement.
While they emulate each, they will
soon, no doubt, become the rivals
of the most renowned manufaétures
of foreign countries. Henceforth
there will be nothing wanting to
their prosperity but capitals less
dearly purchased. But capitalists
begin already to give up the hazard
ous speculations of stock-jobbing,
and devote their attention to the im-
provement of land and the pursuit
of useful enterprizes. More than
twenty thousand workmen, who
were dispersed throughout Europe,
have been recalled by the attention
and by the fayours of government,
and will soon be restored to our
manufactures.

Among our manufaétures, there
is one which is almost peculiar to.
France, which Colbert kindled up
by his genius. It was buried under
the rains of Lyons: government
has exerted ail its endeavours to ex-
tricate it. Lyons is again restored
to splendour and opulence; already

3C 2 do

756

do its manufactures impose a tribute
on the luxury of Europe, But the
principle of their success is to be
found in the luxury of France it-
self; it is'in the ‘changefulness of
our taste, and the mutability of our
fashions, that foreign luxury must
look for its aliment; it is it that gives
motion and life to an immense po-
pulation, who, without that encou-
ragement, must lose itself in cor-
ruption.and misery.

There will soon be at Compiegne,
there will soon arise on the confines
of La Vendee, a number of pryta-
nees, where our youth will be
brought up in habits of industry,
and instructed in the mechanical
arts. From that source our dock-
yards and our manufactures will,
one day, draw inspectors to direét
their labours.

Fourteen millions arising out of
the barrier tax, and ten millions
out of the extraordinarics, have
been employed during the year 10,
in improving the public roads, in
keeping up the old communications.
New communications have also been
opened. The Simplon, Mount-
Cenis, and Mount-Genevre, will
soon open a triple and easy access
to Italy—a high road will lead from
Genoa to, Marseilles—a road is
chalked out from Saint Esprit to
Gap—another from Rennes to Brest,
through Pontivy. At Pontivy es-
tablishments are to be raised which
will have a powerful influence over
the public mind of the departments
ef which ci-devant Britanny was
csomposed—a canal will introduce
into it new sources of commerce and
prosperity.

On the banks of the Rhine from
Bingen to Coblentz, a necessary road
is cut through inaccessible rocks.
‘The neighbouring communes asse-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

ciate their labours to the sdcrifiees
of the public treasury, and the peo-
ple of the other bank, who ridiculed
the folly of the enterprize, are as-
tonished and confounded atthe rapi-
dity of the execution.

A great number of workmen are
employed on the canal of Saint
Quintin.

The canal of Ourcg is opened,
and soon will Paris people enjoy the
benefit of its waters, and the salu-
brity and the embellishments which
they promise.

he canal, intended to unite the
navigation of the Seine and the
Saone, of the Danube and the Rhine,
is almost entirely finished as far as.
Dole, and the public treasury, ale
ready receives, in the increased price
of wood, to which that canal opens
the approach, a sum equal to that
which it has furnished for the con-
tinuance of the work.

The canals of Argues, Mortes,
and the Rhone, the draining of the
marshes of the Lower Charente, are
begun, and will open new chan-
nels to commerce, and afford new
lands for cultivation. Works are
goiug forward for the reparation of |
the dykes of the Isle of Cadsand, of
Ostend, of the Cotes du Nord, and
the re- establishment of the naviga-
tion of our rivers. ‘This navigation
is no longer given up solely to the
labours and the cares of government,
The owners of boats plying on these
rivers, have already felt that it was
their patrimony, and they fix on
themselves the taxes by which the
works are to be kept in proper re-
pair. On the ocean forts are ereét-
ing, to cover the roads of the Isle

-of Aix, and to proteét the vessels of

the republic. Every where funds ~
are raised for the reparation and im-
provement of our perts, A new

; bason

He

STATE PAP E RS.

-bason and locked sluices will termi-
nate the harbour of Havre, and will
~ form an excellent port for the com-
_ merce of La Manche. A company
_ of pilots is formed to secure the safe
navigation of L’Escaut, and to free
foreign pilots from the danger to
_ which an unknown navigation must

expose them.

At Antwerp labours are begun,

_ which will have the effect of restor-
ing to iis commerce its ancient ce-
lebrity, and the government has in
contemplation a plan for forming
canals to unite the navigation of the

Escaut, the Meuse, and the Rhine,
| to give to our docks those materials
- of wood which grows in our own
| Soil, and to our manufactures a per-
fection which the manufacturers of
_ other countries dispute with us on
~ Our own territory.

The islands of Martinique, Toba-
go, and St. Lucie, have beén re-
stored to us, with all the elements of

prosperity. Guadaloupe, re-con-

quered and pacified, returns to cul-
tivation. Guiana rises from a long
_ protracted infancy, and assumes a
- flourishing appearance.
_$t. Domingo had submitted, and
e author of its troubles was in
France. Every thing announced
the return of prosperity, but a cruel
malady delivered it up to new mise-
ries. At length, the scourge which
desolated. our army, has ceased its
ravages. The forces which now are
on the island, and those which will
speedily arrive from our different
‘ports, guarantee the prospect of its
“Speedy return to peace and to com-
mercial pursuits.
_ Vessels are setting sail for the isles
of France and Re-union, and. for
India.

757

to form new rélations ; and by these -
efforts it gains new strength. Al.
ready, happy experience and wise
encouragements have re-animated a
spirit for engaging in the fishery, ,
which was long the patrimony of
France. Commercial expeditions,
still more important, are formed or
projected fer the West India colo-
nies, the Isle of France, and the
East Indies.

Marseilles resumes, in the Medi-
terranean, its ancient ascendancy. -

Chambers of commerce have been
restored in the cities where they for-
merly existed. New ones have been.
established in those places, which,
by the extent of their operations,
and the importance of their manu-
factares, have appeared to deserve.
them. In these associations, form-
ed by persons whose situation enti-
tles them to the honour of choosing
the members, the spirit, as well as
the science of commerce, will revive.
There its interests will be develop-
ed, inseparable from the interests of
the state. The merchant will there
learn to place, in preference to
riches, the consideration which ho-
nours them, and before the enjoy-
ments of a vain luxury, that wise
economy which fixes the esteem of
his fellow-citizens, and the confi-
dence of strangers.

Deputies, chosen from the diffe-
rent chambers, will discuss, in the
presence of government, the interests
of commerce and manufactures, and
the laws and regulations which cir<
cumstances may require.

In our forces, by sea and land,
instruction and the love of discipline
are sedulously inculcated. Respon-
sibility becomes more rigid in our
military corps. An economical ad-
ministration has succeeded to the di-
Japidating system of contracts: The

3C 3 soldier,

758

soldier, better fed and better clothed,
understands economy, and his sav-
irigs, which he throws into the com-
mon stock, attach him to his stand-
ard as well as to his family.

Every branch of our finances be-
comes more productive. The col-
lection of direét contribution is less
rigorous with regard to the contri-
butors. In the year six, it was
reckoned that about fifty millions
were in the hands of the colleétors
of taxes, and payments were three
ot four years in atrear. At this
moment, the sum in the hands of the
collectors is not above three millions,
and thé contributions are paid even
before they are duc.

All the rules which have been
made, and all the plans of adminis-
tration which have been formed,
give a produce still increasing. The
rales applicable to the registering of
commercial transactions, is pro-
duétive to a degree, which attests the
rapid movements of capital, and the
multiplicity of business which is
transacted.

In the midst of so many signs of
prosperity, the excess of the direct
contributions is still made a ground
of complaint.

The government has Jearnt, from
every one versed in the principles of
taxation, that the surcharge consists
ed chiefly iii the inequality of the
fhode in which the taxes were im-
posed. Measures have been taken,
and are carrying into effe¢t, to as-
certain the real inequalities which
exist in the different departments.—
In the course of the year twelve,
regular and simultaneous operations
will have ascertained what is the re-
Jation which ought to exist betwixt
the contributions of the different de-
partments, and what in each depart-
ment is the just rate of the Jand tax.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

The moment that a certain result has’
been fixed, the government will give
orders for those alterations which
justice requires. But in the course
of this year, and without waiting for
those results, it will propose an ime
portant diminution in the land tax.

Innovations are still proposed in
our financial system; but every
change is an evil, if it cannot be sa-
tisfactorily demonstrated that cer-
tain advantage would result from it.
The government will seek, from time
and from discussions, weighed with
all possible care, the maturity of
these projects, which inexperience
often hazards ; which they support
by those past examples, the memory
of which has been almost effaced
from the public mind; and on the
financial doctrines ofa nation, which, *
by unnatural and exaggerated efforts,
has broke through every measure of
public contribution and expenditure.

With an increase of revenue, »
which no one ventured to calculate,
extraordinary circumstances have led
to wants which it was impossible te
foresee.

It was necessary to re-conquer
two of our colonies, and to re-esta-
blish in all the power and the go-
vernment of the mother country.

It was necessary, by means sud-
den and too extended to admit of
rigid economy, to procure stbsist-
ence for the capital and several of
the departments, At least, hows
ever, the success of the government
has been equal to its efforts, and,
after these vast exertions, resources
remain henceforth to guarantee the
capital against the return of want,
and to disconcert the projects of mo-
nopoly.

In the methodized statement of
the minister of finance, will be
found a general view of the annual

contrie

STATE PAPERS. 759

eontributions, and the different
branches of the public revenue; what
was their amount during the last
year; what prospect of amcliora-

tion existed ; whether from the mode

of administration, or the progress of
public prosperity, what have been,
in the different departments of the
ministry, the elements of the expen-
diture during the year ten; what
are the sums still remaining to be
paid for that and former years ;
what resources exist to cover them,
whether arising from outstanding
arrears of taxes, or from the extra-
ordinary funds appropriated to pay
off the debts contracted in these
years, and which have not yet been
exhausted; what is the actual
amount of the public debt ; what
has been its increase ; how it has
been diminished by natural causes ;
and how its extinction has been af-
feéted by the sinking fund.

In the account of the minister of
the public treasury will be seen a
statement of the receipts, the pay-
ments of the year ten; what belongs
to the different branches of the re-
yenue ; what is chargeable in each

year, and on each part of the admi-

_ nistration.

The united accounts of the two
ministers will form a complete table
of our financial situation. The go-
vernment hold up, with equal satis-

faction, the piéture which it pre-

sents to its friends and its detra¢tors,

_ to citizens, and to foreigners.

After authorizing the foreseen

_ expence of the year 12, and appro-

Ss
>

priating the necessary revenue, ob-
jects of the greatest interest will

_ occupy the attention of the legisla-

tive body. It is necessary to intro-
duce a change into our system of

_ coinage. The custom-house duties
_ Must be re-organized, so as more

effeCtually to check the progress of
contraband trade. It is at length
essential to give to France that civil
code so long promised and so long
expected.

Above all, projects of laws have
been formed under the observations
of government, and matured in con-
ferences where commissions from the
council of state and the tribunate
were animated only by the love of
truth and regard for the public intee
rest. ‘Ihe same seutiments, the same
principles will guide the dclibera-
tion of the legislators, and secure to
the republic the wisdom and the
impartiality of the laws which are
adopted.

On the continent, every thing of-
fers us pledges of repose and tran-
quillity.

The Italian republic, since the
proceedings at Lyons, has been daily
strengthening itself by the more ine
timate union of the people of whom
it is composed. The happy harmo-
ny among the authorities by which
it is governed, its internal admini-
stration, its military force, alread
give it the character and the attitude
of a state long established ; and, if
wisdom preserve them, they guaran-
tee to it a destiny of uninterrupted
prosperity.

Liguria, placed under a mixed
constitution, sees at its head, and
in the bosom of its authorities, all
those of its citizens, the most esti-
mable for their virtues, by their ile
jumination and their fortune.

New shocks have conyulsed the
Helvetic republic. The government
owed its support to neighbours,
whose repose was essential to the
repose of France, and it will use
every exertion ta ensure the success
of its mediation, and with it the
happiness of a people whose posi-

3 © 4 tion,

760

tion, whose habits, and whose in-
- terests; make it the necessary ally
of France.

> Batavia successively takes posses.
sion of the colonies which the peace
yestored to her.

» She will ever remember that
¥rance must ever be her most useful
friend or her most destructive foe.

» In Germany the last stipulations
of the treaty of Luneville are carry-
mia into effeét

« Prussia, Faataris, all the secular ~

princes who had possessions on the
Jeft bank of the Rhine, will obtain,
on the right bank, suitable indemni-
tes.

The house of Austria finds in, the.

bishopricks of Salzburgh, Aischtett,
‘Trent and Brixen, and the greatest
part of Pau, more than it had lost
im ‘Tuscany. Thus, by the happy
co-operation of Franse and Russia,
all. permanent interests are conci-
luated, and from the. bosom of that
tempest which seemed ready. to over-
whelm it, the German empire, that
empire, so’ necessary to the equili-
bitium and the repose of Europe,
rises more powertul,
elements more homogeneous, better
combined, aud more adopted to the
circumstances and opinions of the
present age.
f A French ambassador is‘at Con-
stantinople, charged with renewing
and fortifying the ties which attach
us to a power which seems to be
threatened with. destruéiion, but
which jt is our interest to sustain
and ‘to support the foundations by
which it is upheld. ,

‘The British forces ave still in A-
Jexandria and Malta. . The govern-
ment hada fair right of complaint,
but it has received intelligence that
ihe vessels which are to convey them

Word

ANNUAL‘REGISTER;

composed of

1805.

to Europe are already in the Medt«
terranean.

The government guarantees to ie
nation the peace of the continent,
and it is permitted to entertain a
hope of the continuance of maritime
peace. This peace is the want, as
well as the desire of all nations. For
its preservation, the government will
do every thing compatible with na-
tional honour, essentially connected
with the striét execution of the trea-
ties.

But in England, two parties main-
tain 4 contest for power. One of
those parties has concluded. peace,
and appears desirous of maintaining
it. The other has taken an oath of
eternal hatred. to France. Hence
that fluétuation of opinion and of
counsels which prevail.—{lence that
attitude, at the same time Ene
and menacing.

While this contest of parties con.
tinues, measures of precaution are
what the government is called upon
to adopt. Five hundred thousand
men ought to be, and shall be ready
io undertake its defence, and avenge
its injuries. Strange necessity which
miserable passions impese on two
nations, whom interest and inclinas
tion mutually prompt to the pale
tion of peace.

Whatever success intrigues may
experience in London, no other
people will be involved innew com-
binations — the government. says,
with conscious pride, that Bngland ©
alone cannot maintain a pe eEle :
against I'rance.

But. we have better yeu and
we believe that in the British cabi-
net nothing will be listened to but
the counsels of, wisdom. and the
voice of humanity. . “ob J

Yes, doubtless, the: peace will

gt
a4 w\

STATE PAPERS.

daily be more consolidated. The
relation of the two governments will
assume the character of good-will
which is suitable to theiy mutual in-
terests. A happy repose will bury
the recollection of the long calami-
ties of a disastrous war, and France
and England, rendering their happi-
ness reciprocal, will deserve the gra-
titude of the whole world.

The first consul.

(Signed) Bonaparte.
By order of the first consul.
The secretary of state,
Hi. B. Maret.

Copy of a Letter from Citizen Tal-

_ teyrand to Citizen Fuuveret, Paris,

26 Brumaire, 10th Year, (Nov.
17, 1803.)

_ I forward to you, citizen, ase- .

ries of questions, concerning which
I am desirous of having your an-
swers. You will have the goodness
to place them opposite the questions
on the same sheet of paper, doubled
in two, similar to the one which I
have the honour to send to you. I
shall be obliged to you to send me
this paper as sodu as possible, with-
_ out, however, suffering your too
_ great haste to be prejudicial to your
accuracy. “If you are doubiful upon
any point, you will have the good-
ness to mention it. You will pro-
bably find no difliculty in consulting
with some well-informed merchants
or clerks in the custom-house, who
you think may have it in_ their
power to give you some positive in-
formation, and you will declare the
sources “from whence you _ haye
_ dvrawnthatinformation. You willnot
_ consider this business as forming a
_ part of your official correspondence,
- You must, not number it, but you
gaust content yourself with putting

761

at the top of it, as in the projet
which I enclosed to you, Private Cor-
respondence.

To Citizen Fauvelet, at Dublin.

Private Correspondence.

Questions. _

1. What number of vessels have
entered and cleared out of the ports
within your distriét, within each
year, from 1792 to 1801, inclu-
sive ?

2. What is their tonnage, or their
admeasurement in sea tons of 2000
AP.?

3. Under what flag do they navi-
gate?

4. From whence they come?

5. Whither bound ?

6. With what merchandize freight-
ed?

7. What was the price of freight
to the principal ports of Europe,
each sea ton of 2000 4 P. S.?

8. What French productions are
most in request in the market of the
town where you reside, as well as
of the other considerable towns in
your district ?

9. Whatis the merchandize which
can be exported to France with
greater advantage from the said mar-
kets than from any other ?

10. What are the course of ex-
change, and the current prices of
merchandize, from three months to
three months, from the year 1792 to
1801?

11. You are required to furnisha -
plan of the ports of your districts,
with a specification of the soundings,
for mooring vessels.

12. If no plan of the ports can be
procured, you are to point out with
what wind vessels can come in and go
out, and what is the greatest draught

of

762

of water with which vessels can enter
therein decply laden ?

13. What are the principal com-
mercial houses ?

If the heads of these houses are
foreigners, you are to point out of
what country they are ; and, in all
cases, you are to state with what
countries they are principally con-
neéted, and what is their chief line
of commerce.

14, What is the usual course of
exchange?

15. Whether there is a_ public
bank, and what is its organization?

16. Whether there are any in-
surance companies, public or pri-
vate, and what are their customs
and rules, and the prices of insur-
ance, for Kuropean and long voy-
ages ?

17. In case there exists any other
public establishment which relates
to commerce, you are to give every
possible detail concerning it, espe-
cially in whatever regards manufac-
tures and fisheries.

18. You are to point out the re-
lative conformity of weights and
measures.with those of France, an-
cient and modern, as soon as you
shall have obtained practical and
exact information on those points.

19. You are to add to all this the
most extensive information, as well
general as particular, which you
may be able to obtain from autho-
rity, especially with regard to com-
merce, and particularly respecting
false accounts of purchases and sales
of different merchandizes, in order
to ascertain the expences, rights, and
local customs in cases of purchases
and sales.

20. Whether there are any fairs
in your distriét; what species of
traflic is carried on there, and to
what amount.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

From the Hamburgh Corresponden-
ten of March 30, 1803.

The following article is inserted by
desire.
Paris, March 15.

For some months a war of news~
papers, and of the press, has been
kept up between France and Eng-
land. This seemed merely the dy-
ing embers of an extinguished con-
flagration ; the last consolation of a
desperate party; the food of some
low passions, and a few hungry
scribblers. The French government
was far from attaching importance
to such matters. Notwithstanding
some difficulties in the complete ex-
ecution of the treaty of Amiens, they
still believed they might rely on the
good faith of the British govern-
ment, and direéted their attention
solely to the re-establishment of the
colonies. Relying upon the sacred-~
ness of treaties, they securely dis-
persed the remains of the French
naval force, which had been given a
prey to the English fleet. In this si-
tuation suddenly appeared a solemn
message from the cabinet of St.
James’s, and informed all Europe
that France was making considerable
preparations in the ports of Holland
and France ; an address was voted ~
by parliament, promising to the king
of England such extraordinary
means of defence, as the security of
the British empire, and the honour
of the three crowns, might re-
quire.

From the sudden appearance of
this message, people doubted whe-
ther it was the effect of treachery,
of lunacy, or of weakness. Let any
one cast his eyes over the ports of
France and Holland, where he will
find only detached naval prepara-

ti@@s

a

‘STATE PAPERS.

tions destined for the colonies, and
consisting only of one or two line of
battle ships, and a few frigates. On
the other hand, let him look at the
ports of England, filled with a for-
midable naval force; on such a re-
view, one could be tempted to be-
lieve that the message of the king of
England was mere irony, if such a
farce were not unworthy the majesty
of a government. If one considers
the influence of factions in so free a
country, one might suppose that the
king of England had only had the
weakness to yield, if weakness were
compatible with the first quality of a
king. In short, no rational motives
femain to which it can be ascribed,
except bad faith—except a sworn
enmity to the French nation—ex-
cept perfidy, and the desire of

- openly breaking a solemn treaty, for
penty ng y

the sake of advantages which will be
maintained, and the sacrifice of
which the honour of France and
the faith of treaties forbid.

When a man reads this message,
he thinks himself transported to the
times of those treaties which the
Vandals made with the degenerate
Romans, when force usurped the
place of right, and when, with a
hasty appeal to arms, they insulted
the aatagonist they meant to attack.
In the present state of civilization,
there is a respeét which a great mo-
narch, which a polished people owe
to themselves, were that respect no
more than to seck a plausible pre-
text for an unjust war. But in this
instance every thing is precipitate,
and repugnant to decency and to
justice. An eternal war would suc-
ceed a dreadful contest; and the
more unjust the attack, the more ir-
reconcileable would be its animo-

sity.
~ Such a novelty will doubtless ex-

763
cite'the disapprobation of Europe.
While even the English, whose na-
tional pride had not entirely blinded
them, sighed at this prospeét, did the
Times call the peace of Amiens an
armistice, and, in doing so, passed
the severest satire on the government
it defended ; and the rapid fall of the
national funds is the first prelude to
the misfortunes which may follow
as the revenge due for the wound
given to all social rights.

The French are less intimidated
than irritated by the threats of Eng-
land. ‘They have neither been dis-
pirited by their reverses, nor elated
by their victories ; in a war to which
there appeared no termination, they
saw all Kurope confederated against
them. Their constancy, their cou-
rage, and the prompt aétivity of
their government, brought it to a
conclusion, J'his war would havea
different obje¢t. France would con-
tend for the liberty of the states of
Europe, and the sacredness of their
treaties ; and if the English govern-
ment be determined to make it a na~
tional war, perhaps her boasted for-
midable naval strength would not be
sufficient to decide the result, and to
secure the victory.

The French, strong in the justice |
of their cause, and in the confidence
they repose in their government, do
not dread the new expences and
new sacrifices which such a war
might render necessary. ‘Their sys-
tem of finance is more simple and
less artificial than that of London,
and so much the more solid, It all
lies in their soil and in their cou-
rage.

On the first news of the English
message, all eyes were turned to the
cabinet of the Thuilleries. Its most
trifling motions received a charaéter
of importance, its most unpremedi-
tated

764

tated words were eagerly caught*up.
Every one impatiently expected the
assembly for the presentation of fo-
reigners, which madame Bonaparte
holds once a month, Every one
was prepared to draw. some infe-
rences from it. It was as splendid
as usual, The first cons) made his
appearance, and said, on his en-
trance, to the English ambassador,
who was standing beside M. Mar-
koff, ‘* We have been at war for
twelve years, ‘The king of Mngland
says that France is making immense
naval preparations. He has been
led into an error, In the French
poris there are no preparations of
any magnitude. ‘The whole fleet is
gone to St. Domingo and the colo-
nies, With regard to the ports of
Holland, to which the message like-
wise alludes, there are only the pre-
parations for the expedition under
general Victor, and all Europe
knows its destination is for Lonisi-
ana. The king says farther, that
between the cabinets of Paris and
London differences continue. |
know of none. It is true that Eng-
Jand ought to have evacuated Malta,
and Malta is not evacuated ; and, as
his Britannic majesty has bound
himself by themost solemn treaty ever
entered into, it is impossible to doubt
of the speedy evacuation of that
island ; and,’’ added the first consul,
«¢ those who wouldattempt to frighten
the French people should know,
that it is possible to kill, but not
to intimidate them.”

During the course of the evening,
when the first consul happened to
be near M. Markoff, he said to him,
half aloud, ¢* that the British minis-
try wished to keep Malta for five
years more. Such a proposal was
insulting, and no treaties should be
entered inio, which it was not re-

ANNUAL REGISTER,” 1803.

solved to observe.” At the conclu-
sion of the assembly, when the En-

glish ambassador was about to retire,

the first consul said to him, ** Ma-
dame the duchess of Dorset has spent
the unpleasant part of the year at
Paris.
she may also spend the agreeable
season, Bat if it should happen
that we really must go to war, the
responsibility is exclusively with those
who deny the validity of their own
contracts, since they refuse to ob-
serve treaties which they had con-
cluded.”

These words of the first consul
require no comment. ‘T hey explain
completely his present opinions, his

past conduét, and his resolution for —
"It is Sufficient to comi~—
pare them. with the tergiversations, | *
the duplicity, the evasions, and the ©
message of the English government,.

the future.

in order to be enabled to decide on
the justice of the dispute.

Letter from Spiridion Foresti to Lord
Hawkesbury, dated Corfu, Decem=
ber 10, 1803.

My lord,

_ The last letters from my agent at

Zante furnish me with the informa-

tion that the Cornelia, French frigate,

having on board Horatio Sebastiani,
chief of brigade, and charged with

a public mission on the part of the

first consul of the French republic,

came to anchor there on the 3d in.

stant. The envoy finding that a

vessel coming from Alexandria was

subject to a long quarantine, and
could not be permitted to communi-
cate freely with the shore, applied
to the delegate of that island for
permission to land, which being

‘granted bin, he was conduéted to

He then»
requested:

the delegate’s apartments.

It is my sincere wish that

7

4
q

‘ lg. APE Op Ap BR S:

_fequested, that a meeting of the
three orders might be called, which
was also complied with, and twelve
_ persons, four of each order, met in
the delegate’s house. ‘The envoy
Sebastiani then harangued them near-
Jy in the terms of the address, which
1 have herewith the honour of in-
closing to your lordship. His speech,
however, contained some additional
observations, importing that BRona-
parte had been the first to break the
chains of the islanders. When he had
done speaking, a tumultuous cry
was uttered, of Viva la Liberta!
Viva Uguaglianza!

Before his departure, however,
he caused to be forwarded to the de-
gate of Cephalonia, and to the se-
ate of Corfu, copies of the inclosed
ress, expressing a wish that it

might be generally circulated among
= people of each island.
* have the honour to be, &c.
. ~ (Signed) Spiridion Foresti.
Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury,

ec. de. Fe.
*
“Letter from Spiridion Foresti to Lord
| Hawkesbury, dated Corfu, January
2, 1803.
> — My lord,

~ In my letter of the 10th ultimo,
your lordship will perceive that I
Serted the arrival of the Cornelia’
rench frigate at Zante, and that
“Horatio Sebastiani harangued the
people of that istand. At that time
1 was not in possession of his exact
oration, but since then the delegate
of Zante transmitted his speech to
hesenate of Corfu; a copy of which
I beg leave to submit to your lord-
ship’s attention.

Monsieur Romieu, the French
minister here, communicated to tlie

765

consul of the Freuch republic had
taken under his protection the Catho-
lic, Apostolic, and Roman churches
of this republic; and, on the 19th
December, wrote to the vicar-gene-
ral of Corfu to inform him of the
same ; a copy of which permit me to
inclose for your perusal.

From the proceedings of the
French commissary here, and those
of the other islands, together with
the disposition of the natives, I am
afraid that this republic will be a
constant theatre of French intrigue.
The aforesaid cemmissaries occasion
count Moceuigo and this government
an infinite deal of trouble.

I have the honour to be, &c. -

(Signed) Spiridion Foresti.
Right Hon. Lord Hawkesbury,
&c. Sc. Se.

Horace Scbastiani, Chief of Brigade
of a Regiment of Dragoons, and
Envoy of the First Consul in the
Levant.

To His Excellency the Delegate of

mante.

Sir,

The first consul Bonaparte has
charged me to visit these islands
which compose your republic, and
to assure the inhabitants, that he
takes a lively interest in their pros-
perity.

I know that the difference of po-
litical opinions divides this rising re-
public into various parties, and that,
without the wise measures taken by
your government, its tranquillity
will be destroyed. I could wish to
make known to your administrators
and fellow-citizens how much the
first consul wishes to see a stop put
to those intestine divisions which af-
Vict these islands.

Your

766

Yorr political independency has
been guaranteed by France, Russia,
and the Sublime Porte. These power-
ful nations, united together by the
bonds of the truest friendship, are oc-
cupied, in concert with yourmost en-
lightened and most virtuous fellow-
citizens, to give you a form of go-
vernment suitable to your situation,
and the genius of your inhabitants.
Wait with confidence and modera-
tion the result of these important
operations, and be assured that you
will see the end of your ills, and the
beginning of your prosperity. All
exaggerations of political opinions
are inimical to the general prospe-
rity: absolute democracy, always
tempestuous, sacrifices to yain chi-
meras the security, the property,
civil liberty, and, in short, all that
constitutes the happiness of a state:
aristocracy, which is not moderated,
is always tyrannical: and the eleva-
tion of a small number of families is
preferred to talents and to virtue.
In order that a government may be
prosperous, it is necessary that it
should have in its formation a happy
combination of the advantages of
different forms of government ; the
power and promptitude of monar-
chy, the vigilance and intelligence
of aristocracy, and the vigour and
elevation of democracy; that the
citizens may find the security enjoyed
under the first, the tranquillity of
the second, and the equality of the
rights, fixed by the laws, which are
found in the third.

Recollect, that the man who forms
a part of society, only preserves
the liberty of doing that which is
not prejudicial to the rights of others ;
and that equality only consists in
the exact execution of the laws,
and in the protection which they

ANNUAL REGISTER, 180s.

afford to every member of the po.
litical body, As the quarantine pre-
vents communication, I beg you
will communicate this my letter to —
all the authorities, and also to the
principal inhabitants,

I avail myself of this opportunity
to assure you of the sentiments of
esteem and consideration which I
entertain for your person.

Liberty. Equality.
Corfu, 29th Frimaire, 11th Year
of the French Republic.

The Adjutant Commandant Romieu,
Commissary General of Commer-
cial Relations, and Chargé @ Af- —
Saires to the Republic of the Seven —
Islands, to the Vicar General of —
the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman —
Churches at Corfu. {
with the —

Mr. Vicar General,

I hasten to inform you,
greatest joy, that I have just re-
ceived the express orders of my go- ©
vernment to place the church of the
Roman religion in the republic of
the Seven Islands, under its special —
protection. I make this communi.
cation to the prince of the senate.
This proof of the good will of the 4
French towards this church, will be
a powerful motive, Mr. Vicar Ge-
neral, for addressing, through the
faithful in your communion, the
most ardent vows to heaven for
the prosperity of the lives of its
consuls, in the same way as the Ro-
man churches practise in the French
republic.

With the most distinguished con-
sideration, Mr. Vicar General, I
have the honour to salute you.

(Signed) A. Romien.
A true Copy,
Spiridion Foresti.
CHARACTERS.

( 767°)

CHARACTERS.

Memoirs of Thomas Warton, late
Poet Laureat. Extracted from
an Account of his Life and Writ.
ings, by Richard Mant, M. A.

HOMAS Warton was descend-

_4& ed from an ancient and ho-
_ nourable family, of Beverley, York-
shire. His grandfather, Antony
Warton, appears to have been the
first of the family that settled in
Hampshire; he was a member of
Magdalen college, Oxford, and rec-
tor of Breamore, in New Forest ;
he had three sons, of whom two
were deaf and dumb ; the third son,
Thomas, father of the subject of the

_ present sketch, was born at Godal-
ming, Surry, in 1687; and became
fellow of Magdalen college, Oxford,
_and vicar of Cobham, in Surry,
and professor of poetry, in Oxford.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of
the rev. Joseph Richardson, rector

_ of Dunsfold, Surry ; and had by
her three children, Joseph, the late
master of Winchester college ; Tho-
mas, the subject of these memoirs ;
and a daughter, Jane, now living
unmarried, at Wickham, Hants.
A-*olume of his poems were pub-
lished by his eldest son in 1748.
His son Thomas was born at Ba-
Singstoke, in 1728, and, at an early
age, discovered unusual mental pow-
ers, of which the following ‘transla-

tion, performed before the age of
eleven, is a specimen.

“ When bold Leander sought his dis-
tant fair,
“« (Nor could. the sea a braver burthen

ear

« Thus to the swelling waves he spoke
his woe,

“ Drown me on my return, but spare
me as I go.”

In 1743, he was admitted a com-
mouer of ‘l'rinity college, to which
he continued warmly attached till
his death. In 1747, he published
‘¢ The Pleasures of Melancholy,”
written in his 17th year. The age
of the author is sufficiently discerni-
ble in its Iuxuriance and want of
compression ; but it is truly a Mil-
tonic poem, abounding with bold
metaphors, and highly-coloured pic«
tures, and shews that, even thus
early, he was partial to the taper’d
choir, and scenes of awful solemnity
and grandeur.

In 1749 came out his ** Triumph
of Isis,’ occasioned by the jacobite
principles, which were suspected to
prevail in the university of Oxford, a-
bout the time of the Rebellion of 1745.
Soon after its suppression, the irregue
larity of some young men gave offence
to the court, in consequence of which
a stigma was aflixed to the yice chan-
cellor, and some of the heads of
houses, at the time Mason published

his

768

his ‘¢ Isis,” an elegy, in which he ad-
verts to the abovementioned circum-
stances. In answer to this poem,
Warton’s ‘* Triumph of Isis” ap-
peared. This work, at least, shews
the readiness with "which Wattoa
could apply himself to the treatment
of an occasional subjeét, and Mason
readily yielded the palm for its su-
perior excellence to his own poem.
At several times, from March to
July 1750, Mr. Warton contributed
to ** The Student,” a monthly mis-
cellany, published in Oxford, “* A
Panegyric on Oxford Ale,”—‘* The
Progress of Discontent,”—‘+ Morn-
ing,” an ode.—* The Author con-
fined to College,” and a metrical
version of the 39th ¢hapter of Job.

The “ Panegyric on Oxford Ale’.

is inferior to Philips’s ‘* Splendid
Shilling’’ only because it is an imita-
tion of it:
content” is an exquisite picture of
human life, exemplified in an indi-
vidual instance. It may be said to
be the ‘ best imitation of Swift that
has yet appeared.” Of the version
from Job it is but little to say, that it
isnervousand spirited. The following
anecdote will shew, that his talents
were known and esteemed in col-
lege. In the'common room it was
a custom to ele¢ét a poet-laureat,
whose duty was to celebrate, ina
copy of English verses, a lady,
‘likewise annually chosen, and dis-
tinguished by the title of lady-pa-
troness, to which office Warton was
seleéted in 1747 and 1748. His verses,
still remaining in the common room,
are written in-an elegant and flowing
style, and have that kind of merit
which doubtless ensured them. ap-
plause when they were written. He
had, of course, before this period,
taken the degree of A. B. In 1750
he became M: A. In 1751 he suc-

ANNUAL‘REGISTER,

** The Progress of Dis-_

1803.

ceeded to a fellowship, and was
thus placed in a situation easy, in-
dependent, and particularly conge-
nial to his habits of retirement and
study. In this year he published
‘¢ Newmarket,” ‘a satire—‘+ The
Oxford Sausage’——an ‘* Ode for
Music’’—and a copy of Latin hexa-
meters on the death of Frederic
prince of Wales. ‘* Newmarket,”
the only satire which our poet has
written, is remarkable for its biting
sarcasm and manly indignation, and
is, perhaps, not inferior to the best
satirical compositions of Young or
Pope. Of the “* Ode for Music”
little can be favourably said, The
verses on the death of Frederic pos-
sess much fine poetical imagery. In
1753 he compiled the ** Union, or
seleét Scots and English Poems,”
among which are several of his own
w riting. About 1754 he drew upa
body of statutes for the Radeliffe li-
brary. Inthe same year were prb-
lished his “* Observations. on the
Facrie Queene of Spenser,” of which
Dr. Johnson had a high opinion.
Warton was peculiarly fitted for
works of that description, from a
natural turn to the study of roman-
tic history and ancient poetry. He
possesses the singular merit of hay-
ing been the first to illustrate his au-
thors by an examination of the
works with which they had been -
principally conversant. His remarks
on the stanza and versification of
Spenser, on Spenser’s imitation of
Chaucer and Ariosto, and those
which relate to the poem, considered
by itself, display an elegant taste
and a discriminative judgment ;" but
its greatest merit consists in an illus-
tration of the more obscure sources
from which Spencer drew: its de-
tection of the fabulous legends which
he copied ; its ‘developement of the
Teasons

CHARA

reasous which induced the poet to
adapt his plan to the extravagance of
romance, rather than to the correét
model of the classics; and its exposi-
tion and examination of that attach-
ment to allegoric poetry which pre-
vailed at and before the time of
Spenser.

-Eeclesiastical architeéture consti-
tuted a favourite study of our au-
thor, on which subject he intended
to have published*. In 1757 he
was elected professor of poetry, and,
about the same time, contributed
Nos. 83, 93, and 96 to the Idler;
of the former number part has been
quoted as the work of Johnson, by
Dr. Parr. At that period a degree
of friendship subsisted between
Johnson and Warton, which lasted
but a short time. Warton, it seems,
esteemed his friend as a lexicogra-
pher and philosopher, but doubted
his taste and classical knowledge ;
Johnson, in return, said that “Tom
Warton was the only man of genius
whom he knew without a heart,” and
spoke contemptuously of his poe-
try. About that time, Colman and
Thornton invited Warton to engage
in a periodical publication. He de-
clined being a principal, but occa-
sionally favoured their work, as he
did the Adventurer and World, with
gratuitous assistance. He after-
wards wrote the inscription for
Bonnel Thornton’s monument in
Westminster abbey. At that period
also he published two small anony-
mous tracts ; the first, “* A Descrip-
tion of the City, College, and Ca-
thedral of Winchester ;” the other,
*¢ A Companion to the Guide, and
a Guide to the Companion,” being
a complete supplement to all the ac-

"TT S-P &; 769

counts of Oxford hitherto published ;
a burlesque of infinite jest and hu-
mour on Oxford guides aud compa-
nions; it passed through severaf
editions, and is now, as well as the
former, extremely scarce.

During the time of Mr. Warton’s
holding the poetry professorship, he
fulfilled the duties of his office by a
constant recommendation of the ele-
gance and simplicity of the classic
poets. This was the grand object
of his leétures, into which he intro-
duced translations from the Greek
Anthologies ; a specimen of their
merit is before the public, under the
title ** De Poesi Bucolica Graeco-
rum Dissertatio,” which was after-
wards enlarged, and préfixed to his
edition of Theocritus. In 1758 he
published, anonymously, ‘* Inscrip-
tionum Romanarum Metricarum
Deleétus.” ‘This seleéiion of Latin
metrical inscriptions, principally se-
pulchral, are taken from Mazochius,
Smetius, Gruter, &c. to which are
added a few modern epigrams,
namely, one by Dr. Jortin, and five
by himself, on the model of the an-
tique. The work deserves great
credit, not only as the plan is, in
some degree, original, and the epi-
grams are selected by himself froma
farrago of uninteresting materials,
but also on account of the judgment
with which he discriminates between
the flippancy and point of the mo-
dern epigrammatists of Martial’s
school, and the chastised and simple
grace of the Greek, and earlier La-
tin, models. This work was, . in
1766, followed by one of Greek
inscriptions, being an edition of
Cephalas’s Anthology ; the preface
is written by our author, which,

though

AG was in the second edition of his “ Observations on the Faerie Queene,”
at he introduced his celebrated note on the ecclesiastical architeewre of Eng-
land ;—till that time it had been almost entirely neglected,

‘Vor, XLV.

3D

770

though chiefly narrative, is, however,
elegant and perspicuous, distinguish-
ing features of all his Latin compo-
sitions. To this, book the sum of
his praise has been already given, as
he has added nothing to Reiske’s
but the preface. In 1771 the pro-
mised edition of Theacritus made
its appearance ; a publication distin-
gwshed, for its correctness and
splendour, ,and,. perhaps, the best
that has appeared from the Claren-
don office. . It was printed without
accenis, by the, recommendation. of
the delegates of that press... It, has
been objected that, in this work, he
has. not sufficiently: exerted his, criti-
cal acumen in improving the text,
yet has he elucidated his author by
the aid of the scholiasts and other
commentators, illustrated the allu-
sions to the more obscure customs
and mythology of the ancients, and
shewn much taste in developing the
beauty of his author, and comparing
him with other poets ; the prefixed
dissertation is ingenious, and_ his
reasons for preferring ‘Theocritus to
Virgil, as a pastoral poet, seem de-
cisive. ‘ ;

_. Previously to this, in 1760, he
wrote the life of sir, Thomas Pope,
the founder of his college, and of
doétor Bathurst, its principal bene-
factor ; but, as a biographer,.- he is
not to be much celebrated. Sir
Thomas Pope and doé¢tor Bathurst
were not of sufficient importance for
narratives of their lives to exeite ge-
néral interest. Aware of this, War-
ton has endeavoured to supply the
defeéi, by the interspersion. of col-
lateral matter. The life of Bathurst
is diversified with anecdotes of seve-
ral of his learned contemporaries ;
and that of Pope exhibits an inte-
resting, and partly original, narra-
tive of particulars, conneéted with
the persecutions and private life of

ANNUAL REGIS THR, ) 1803.

queen Elizabeth, of whom the cuss ©.
tody. was committed, to -him by.
queen Mary ; with a judicious sum-
mary of the state of learning about
the time of the foundation of. Tri-
nity college ; but such digressive mes
rit, however amusing, detracts {from
the dignity and nature of biography,
and sinks the objeét, of. the work
into a, mere appendage. .Im 1761
and 1762, he wrote, as poetny pro-
fessor; verses, for, the Oxford col-
leétion,,.on the death. of George LI.
the. marriage.ofi the, present king,
and the birth of the,prince of Wales;
the, verses on the king’s manriage ate
elegant, and, distingwshed for, their
delicacy, of compliment, though they
have-less poctical imagery-than those
on the death of. the, prince of
Wales, and. less dignity than. those
on the death of George il,, To
these, last,,it may be objected that
they have not so much concern with
the dead king, as with the: patriot
to whom they were addressed.

‘l'o the, colleétion of 1761, he
contributed the ode entitled, the
*¢ Complaint of Cherwell.’’) / It isya
pleasing pastoral, though it may not
add much to his fame as a poet. Ini
1764, was published the, ¢* Oxford
Sausage, or seleét Poetical Pieces
wuitten by the most. celebrated Wits
of the University of Oxford.” | Se-
veral of the poems and the humor-
ous preface were written. by Mr.
Warton, to whom, likewise, the
conduét of the work is attributed.
In 1771 he was eleéted fellow of the
antiquarian society, and in the same
year instituted to the living of Kid-
dington, in Oxfordshire, on the pre-
sentation of George, earl of Litch-
field, chancellor of the university,
for whom he afterwards wrote an
epitaph.

In 1774, his greatest and most
important work appeared, ‘ The

History

CHARIACT ERS.

History of English Poetry, from the
Clese of the 11th to the Com-
mencement of the 18th Century,
&e.” In 1778, appeared the se-
cond volume, and the third in 1781,
to which he prefixed an additional
*¢ Dissertation on the Gesta Ro-

manorum ;” the work was origi-
nally designed to have been com-
prised in three volumes, but an in-
accurate estimation ofthe materials,
compelled him to end the third vo-
lume, with a ‘‘ General View and
Charaéter of the Poetry of Queen
flizabeth’s Age,” to which nothing
has been since added, or even writ-
ten, except cleven sheets, which
were printed, but not published, and
are, perhaps, not generally known
to exist. A transcription of the first
paragraph, which opens the scheme
of that volume, may not be unac-
ceptable. — ‘“* More poetry was
written in the single reign of fliza-
beth, than in the two preceding cen-
turies, The same causes, among
others already enumerated and ex-
plained, which called forth genius
and imagination, such as the new
sources of fiction opened by a study
of the classics, a familiarity with
the French, Italian, and Spanish
writers, the growing elegancies of
the English Janguage, the diffusion
of polished manners, the felicities of
long peace and public prosperity,
and a certain freedom and activity of

771

mind, which immediately followed
the national emancipation from su«
perstition, contributed also to pro-
duce innumerable compositions in
poetry. In prosecuting my farther
examination of the poetical annals of
this reign, it therefore becomes ne-
cessary to reduce such a latitude of
materials to some sort of methodical
arrangement. On which account, L
shall class and consider the pocts of
this reign under the general headss
or divisions of satire, sonnet, pasto-
ral, and miscellaneous poetry. Spen-
ser will stand alone, without a class,
and without a rival.”

Agreeably to the order of this di-
vision, the volume proceeds with an
analysis of Bishop Hall’s Virgi-
demiarum, and of Marston’s Scourge
of Vilanie, and other satires, and a
comparison between the two au-
thors, and breaks off abruptly in the
midst of an account of the other sa-
tirists of the age. The copy right
was, it seems, sold for 350]. and
the impression consisted of 1250
copies. The idea of a work of this
kind appears to have originated
with Pope, who intended to ‘* pen
a discourse on the rise and pro-
gress of English poetry, as it came
from the Provencal poets,”’ and had
classed the English poets, according
to their several schools and succes-
sions, as appears from the list un-
derneath,

a

Agra I.

Rymer, 2d part, page 65, 66, 67, 77.
Petrarch 78. Catal. of Provengals, (Poets.)

Gower.

School “ Provence, {

Chancer’s Visions, Romaunt of the Rose,
Pierce Plowman, ‘Tales from Boccace,

3D2 School

772 ANNUAL REGISTER, !803.

Lydgate,

T. Occleve
School of Chaucer. Walt. de Nida,

Skelton.

E. of Surry,

- Sir Thomas Wyat
School of Petrarch. Sir Philip Sidney, :

G. Gascoyn, ‘Translator of Ariosto’s Com.

‘ Mirror of Magistrates, 9

Lord Buckhurst’s Introduétion Gambaanek,
Schaal of Dante. Original of Good Tragedy, ,

Seneca (his model. )

Agra If,
Spenser, Col. Clout, from the School of Ariosto and Petrarch, translated
from ‘Tasso.
LW. Brown’s Pastorals,

Phineas Fletcher’s Purple [land, Alabaster,

School of Spenser oe Piscatory, ec.
from Italian Sonnets. ’} S. Daniel,
| Sir Walter Raleigh,
\_Milton’s Juvenilia, Heath, Habinton.

b: Golding,
Dranslators frem Jtalian.4. Ed. Fairfax, —
Harrington.

Cowley, Davenant,

Michael Drayton,

Sir Thomas Overbury,

Randolph,

Sir John Davis,
School of Dante. Sir John Beaumont,

Cartwright,

| Cleveland,

Crashaw,

Bishop Corbet,

Lord Falkland.

{ Carew, } caanitenin
| T. Carey, % Modets to

< G. Sandys, : ‘
in his Par. of Job. | in versifi- | we dilprs

Fairfax. f saat ae J

Sir John Mennis, ) Originals of
Thomas Baynal, { Hudibras.

The

CHARACTERS.

The plan being seen by Gray, it
Suggested to him one of a similar
kind, but considerably enlarged and
modified ; he designed to ascertain
the origin of rhymes, and specimens,
not only of the Provencal poetry
(to which, alone, Pope seems to
have adverted) but of the Scaldic,
British, and Saxon, were to have
been given; as, from all the differ-
ent sources united, English poetry
had its original; but the magnitude
of the task, joined to a knowledge
of Warton’s similar design, induced
Gray entirely to abandon it. War-
ton seems to have modelled, from a
similar work, in Italian,. entitled
L’Istoria della volgar Poesia scritta
da Gio. Mario Crescimbeni.

The History of English Poetry, is
the most solid basis of our author’s
reputation. Asone advantage of his
plan was, that it marked the progress
of our language, it may be doubted
whether he ought not to have com-
menced his history at an earlier pe-
riod. An enquiry into Saxon po-
etry, would not. have been irrele-
vant to his subject. It has been
observed, that his work is so dry
and oppressive, as to subdue the ea-~
gerness of his readers, but it may be
answered, that a work, abounding
in disquisition, and replete with
quotations, can hardly look for ex-
tensive popularity; but, being ne-
cessary to the ‘main obje¢t, fixes the
charge of dryness, rather on the
subject than the author, who, con-
scious of its difficulties, has endea-
voured to relieve the weight of his
subjeét by occasional digression,
such as the rise of the mysteries, in
the 2d volume ; and on Dante’s In-
ferno, in the 3d. For his abilities
as a historian, antiquary, and critic,
I would refer to the charaéter of
Chaucer, in vol. I. and of lord Sur-

773

rey, in vol. 3; to the dissertations
prefixed to the work; and to the
surveys of the revival of learning,
and of the poetry of queen Kliza-
beth’s age, which respectively close
the 2d and 3d volumes. In 1777,
Mr. Warton published an 8vo. vo-
lume of his poems, consisting, prin-
cipally, of unpublished pieces.

In the muniment-house of Win-
ton college, is a most curious roll of
W. of Wykeham’s house-keeping
expences, for the year 1394. It is
100 feet long and four broad, and,
according to Mr. Warton, a most
valuable record: he made an ab-
stract of it, which he intended to
publish. In 1782 or 1783, he pub-
lisHed a history of Kiddington. It
is an admirable specimen of paro-
chial history. Without neglecting
the natural produétions and curio-
sities of the country, he unites with
them other topics of interesting en-
quiry. The church and other re-
mains of ancient architecture and
sculpture ; the division of property,
and the families among whom it was
distributed ; the events and rude
monuments which constitute the mi-
litary history of the place, are, in
their turn, noticed: on all which
topics, but especially on the last,
the particular information brought
forward, is interwoven with some
that is more general. In the same
year, he engaged in the Chattertoni-
an controversy, to which he had
adverted in the 2d volume of his
history, declaring himself of opinion,
that the poems were spurious, and
published a pamphlet, entitled ‘* An
Enquiry into the Authenticity of the
Poems attributed to Thomas Row-
ley,” confining his enquiry to the
internal evidence of the poems. The
arguments evince great perspicuity
and discernment, and seem decisive

3D 3 against

774

against the antiquity of the poems
in question. He now also published
his verses on the painted window at
Newicollege. They are an admira-
ble specimen of his excellence in
this way, at the same time that he
was qualified to discern and enjoy
the. more chastised beauties of Gre-
cian art. It is difficult to say which
is preferable, the description of a
gothic cathedral in the beginning
of the_poem, or that of New college
window, in the last paragraph. In
this year he was presented, by his
college, to the donative of Hill Far-
rance, in Somersetshire ; and, about
the same time, chosen a member of
the well known literary club. fn
1785, he was elected Camden pro-
fessor of history, and appointed to
the laurel on the death of White-
head. The Camden professorship
of history, had been founded by
the celebrated antiquarian of that
mame, in 162L,:and such was the
low state of learning in Oxford, at
the time of its foundation, that the
professor is required to leéture the
bachelors of arts, and the students,
in civil law, twice a week, in Luci-
us Florus, or some other of the
more ancient and distinguéshed histo-
TiANs.

The office of poet laureat may
acquire some credit, from being
filled by a respectable characier, but
can confer neue. Gray refused it,
and Warton, himsel{, once disliked
the threadbare task, though he af.
terwards accepted it, and has gained
credit, by a happy selection and
adaptation of collateral topics to a
hackneyed argument.

The last work of any importance
iv which our author engaged, was
an edition of the Juvenile Poems of
Milton, with noges, eritical, expla-
matory, and other Wlustrations,—
: 3

ANNUAL REGISTER,) 1803.

Bishop \ Newton, and. the other
commentators, who. preceded War-
ton, traced Milton in his imitations
of the Greek, Latin, and. ltalian

poets ; to which, indeed, they add-

ed Shakespeare, Spenser, and @
few occasional passages from Chau-
cer; but they appear not to have
been aware that, to a consummate
knowledge of these authors, Milton
united a iio less intimate acquaint-
ance with the authors of his own
country. This circumstance seems
to have been first noticed and a¢ted
on by Warton. | ‘To this mode of
illustration he added another, equal-
ly new, but more difficult ; it was
the circumstances concerning Mil-’
ton’s early life, situations, friend-
ships, and connexions, which were
often so transiently or implicitly
noticed as to need examination and
enlargement. In this track he cole.
lected much information, and has
not only illustrated the poems which
were the immediate objeét of his .
researches, but has, at the same
time, through them, given lights to
the future biographer of Milton,
and to the historian of the state of
literature and manners during his
time. He was about this time also
engaged in preparing a new edition
of his own poems. A considerable
part of the impression was already
finished, wheu he was taken off by
a sudden and unexpeéted death.
Until he reached his 62d) year, he
continued to enjoy vigorous. and
uninterrupted health. - On being
seized with the gout, he went. to
Bath, and flattered himself, on his
return to college, that he was in a
fair way of recovery; but on May.
20, 1790, alter passing a cheerful

evening, in the common room, he

was suddenly seized with. a paraly-
tic stroke, and died next day at 2
o’clock.

SIC HAA Ri A

oclock. On the 27th, his remains
were interred in the college chapel,
with the highest academical honours,
being attended by the vice-chancel-
lor, heads of houses, &c. &c. Over
his grave, on a plain marble slab, is
this epitaph :

Thomas Warton,
ad a Shs
Hujus Collegii Socius,
Ecclesiac. de Cuddington
In Com. Oxon. Rector,
Poetices iterum Prelector,
Historices Prelector Camden,
Poeta Laureatus,
Obiit 21. Die Maii,
Anno Domini 1790.
fEtat. 63.

In his youth, Mr. Warton was
eminently handsome; and even in
the latter part of his life, when he
grew large, he was remarkably well
looking. His figure was not very
prepossessing, and did not receive
any great advantage from his dress,
of which he was habitually negligent.
The editor of the probationary odes
describes him as a little, thick,
squat, red-faced man, who had a
hasty spasmodic mumbling method
of speech; but this is- probably a
caricature, as may be that of Dr.
Johnson, who compared his man-
ner of speaking to the gobble of a
turkey-cock. He is said to have
been strongly attached to the church
of England, inoall the offices of her
liturgy ; and in his political opinions
inclined to toryism. Asa divine,
he was, perhaps, not much distin-
guished. In his manners he was
unaffected, and particularly pleased
with the native simplicity of youth.
Like most ‘men of genius, our au-
thor hada serious cast: of mind ;
yet, in his general intercourse, there
was nothing gloomy, but every

CT EARS. 773

thing cheerful. Indeed, before the
fastidious and disputatious, he would
sit reserved; but when in company
with persons of easy manners, no
one seasoned his discourses with
more wit, humour, and pleasantry.

He was fond of seeing and fre-
quenting public sights, yet studied
continually and regularly. His
practice was to’ rise at a moderate
hour, and to read and write much
every day. His long vacations were
usually spent with his brother, at
Winchester. He was not, perhaps,
of strong passions. T'wice, indeed,
in the course of his poems, he re-
presents himself as being in love 5
but his sister, who was confiden-
tially acquainted with him, could
not discover the objeét of his pas-
sien, which possibly was but feign-
ed. Toall his relations he was most
tenderly endeared, and entertained
for them a reciprocal affeftion. Of
his prose style, it may be said, that
his expressions are seleét and forci-
ble, and his sentences animated.
He has frequent comparisons and
allusions, which not only embellish
his thoughts, but, at the same time,
illustrate them. He abounds in fi-
gurative language, but without los-
ing sight of simplicity ; and is, per-
haps, as much as any modern Eng.
lish author, remarkable for uniting,
without affectation, and without an
appearance of art or labour, the ex-
cellencies of a style at once per-
spicuous, ornamental, vigorous, and
musical. ‘In his versification, ‘espe-
cially in the common English penta-
meter, he’ displays more strength
than elegance. He seldom betrays
weakness, but it may be doubted
whether he be always graceful ;
though he’ have avowed the points
and antitheses of Pope, like him'he
seems not'to have known, or, at

3D4 : least,

776

least, not-practised that harmony of
period which results from natural
and unaffected case, the variety of
pause, the mixture of simple and
ornamented, of weaker and more
nervous lines. He generally termi-
nates the sense with a couplet, and
rests his pauses on the even feet,
most commonly on the 4th syllable,
a practice grating to a musical ear.
Throughout his pentameters, he has
but one triplet, and scarcely an
alexandrine. He seems injudiciously
to have copied Dryden, in terminat-
ing a verse witha trisyllable, which
will hardly bear the accent on the
last syllable, and in making the
verse so formed the leading verse
of the couplet: as

“ Like Greece in science and in liberty.”

The same defect, as to the music
of his versification, appears in his
blank verse, in which the happiest
occasional pause is on the eighth
syllable; but which Wartgn has
rarely adopted. _ In his earlier lau-
reat odes the lines are often rug-
ged, the construétion harsh, and the
rhymes awkwardly disposed ; faults
which he correéted as he advanced,
till he at length attained a very great
degree of lyrical harmony. ‘These
remarks on the defeéts of Warton’s
versification, must not, however,
be understood as extending to the
‘¢ Suicide,” or to his several odes
in the eight-syllable verse, which
are uniformly sweet. Yet it has
been objected to him that the fre-

quent mixture of regular trochaics —

of seven Syllables, and iambics of
eight, is a defect; but he has
the authority of Milton and Gray,
aud, without reference to the inter-
change of measures in the Greek
lyric poetry, it may be added, that,
in our pentameter, which is strictly
{ 1

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

an iambic measure, we not only
admit spondaic, but daétylic, ana-
pestic, and trochaic teet. The
cause of all which indulgencies may
be found in the pleasure derivedfrom -
variety. Alliteration recurs too fre-
quently in Warton, which, proba-
bly, he adopted from Spenser. His
phraseology has been objeéted to,
and ridiculed, by Johnson, for a
too frequent introduction of anti-
quated expressions ; but if a poet
cannot find, in common use, words,
which will fully convey the image
of his mind; or if words in common
use do occur, but are destitute of
poetical beauty; in either case a
man must look farther, and invent
or revive others ; and he may surely
as well revive those that are old, as
invent new. Horace considered it
as a natural event in the revolution
of a Janguage, that many obsolete
terms would be restored to use, and
he contends for the privilege. Yet,
perhaps, it must be allowed, that
antiquated expressions have been
sometimes used by our poet where
they were neither necessary to con-
yey his meaning, nor conducive to
perspicuity or elegance. In his hu-
morous poems, he is sometimes
successful in giving to a word a
ludicrous signification, as ‘* material
break fast.”

His diétion is perpetually Mil-
tonic, but it will be found, on exa-
mination, to be connected with
sentiments and ideas different from
those with which it is conneéted in
his original, and to represent images
of his own. On the whole, it may
be said, that his language is select
and poetical. His prevailing fault
seems to be, that he sometimes aims
too much atdeparting from common
terms and formularies, amd forgets
that art loses its effeét, unless con-

cealed.

‘and daringly courageous.

C HAR ACT ERS.

cealed. But though, in consequence
of this, his style be sometines stiff
and constrained, and tifough it have
now and then a redundant expres-
sion, it certainly merits the general
¢ommendation of perspicuity, ele-
gance, and strength.

- haraéter of George, Earl of Or-
ford, from “ The Sportsmans
Cabinet.”

ie is the distinguishing trait of
genius to be enthusiastically bold,
Nothing

- in art or science, nothing in mental,

t

ox eyen in manual labour, was ever
achieved, of superior excellence, with-
out that ardent zeal, that impetuous
sense of eager avidity, which to the
cold, inanimate, and unimpassioned,
bears the appearance, and some-
times the unqualified accusation of
insanity. When amoenarch of this
country once received the news of a
most heroic action maintained against

- one of his fleets, and seemed consi-

derably chagrined at the result; the
then lord of the admiralty endea-
voured to qualify and soften down
the matter, by assuring the king that
‘© the commander of the enemy’s
fleet was mad.”—‘* Mad! would
he were mad enough to bite one of
my admirals.”

Lord Orford had absolutely a '

phrenetic furor of this kind, in any
thing he found himself disposed to
undertake; it was a predominant
trait in his chara¢ter never to do
any thing by halves, and coursing
was his most prevalent passion be-
yond every other pleasurable consi-
deration. In consequence of his
most extensive property, and his
extra-influence as lord-lieutenant of
the county*, ‘he not only interested

777

numbers of opulent neighbours in
the diversion, but, from the extent
of his connexiens, could command
such an immensity of private quar-
ters for his young greyhounds, and
of making such occasional sele¢tions
from which, that few, if any, beside
himself could possess.

There were times when he was
known to have fifty brace of grey-
hounds ; and, as it was a fixed rule
never to part from a single whelp
till he had a fair and substantial trial
of his speed, he had evident chances
(beyond almost any other indivi-
dual) of having, among so great a
number, a colle¢tion of very supe-
rior dogs: but, so intent was he
upon this peculiar object of attain-
ment, that he went still farther in
every possible direétion to obtain
perfeétion, and introduced every ex-
perimental cross from the English
lurcher to the Italian greyhound.
He had strongly indulged an idea of
a successful cross with the bull-dog,
which he could never be divested of,
and after having persevered (in oppo-
sition to every opinion) most patiently
for seven removes, he found himself
in possession of the best greyhounds
ever yet known; giving the small
ear, the rat tail, and the skin almost
without hair, together with that in-
nate courage which the high-bred
greyhound should possess, , retain-
ing which, instinétively, he would
rather die than relinquish the chace,

One defeét only this cross is ad-
mitted to have, which the poacher
would rather know to be a truth,
than the fair sportsman would come
willingly forward to demonstrate.
To the former it is a faét pretty
well known, that no dog has the
sense of smelling in a more exquisite
degree than the bull-dog ; and, as
they run mute, they, under certain

erosses,

* Of Norfolk. ,

778

crosses, best answer the midnight
purposes of the poacher in driving
hares into the wire or net. Grey-
hounds bred from this cross have,
therefore, some tendency fo run by
the nose, which, if not immediately
checked by the master, they will
continue for miles, and become’ very
destruétive to the game in the neigh-
bourhood where they are kept, if
not under confinement or restraint.
Having necessarily adverted to the
father of modern coursing, some
distinguishing traits of his charaéter
(replete with anecdote) can prove
no deviation from the descriptive
variety previously promised in the
course of this work. No man ever
sacrificed so much time, or so much
property to praétical or speculative
sporting as the late earl of Orford ;
whose eccentricities are too firmly
indented upon ‘‘ the tablet of me-
mory,” ever to be obliterated from
the diversified rays of retrospection.
Incessantly engaged in the pursuit of
sport and new inventions, he intro-
duced more whimsicalities, more ex-
perimental genius, and enthusiastic
zeal, than any man ever did before
him, or, most probably, any other
man may ever attempt to do again.
Amongst his experiments of fancy
was a determination to drive four
red deer (stags) in a pheton, in-
stead of horses, and these he had

reduced to perfect discipline for his .

excursions and short journies upon
the road ; but, unfortunately, as he
was one day driving to Newmarket,
their ears were accidentally saluted
with the cry ofa pack of hounds, who
soon after crossing the road in the
rear, immediately caught scent of the
*¢ four in hand,”? and commenced a
new kind of chace with *‘ breast high”’
alacrity. The novelty of this scene
was rich beyond description ; in vain

ANNUAL REGISTER, ‘1803.

did his lordship exert all his chari-
oteering skill—in vain did his well-
trained grooms energetically endea-
vour to ride before them; reins,
trammels, and the weight of the
carriage were of no effect ; off they
went, with the celerity of a whirl-
wind, and this modern Pheton, in
the midst of his eleétrical vibrations
of fear, bid fair to experience the
fate of his name-sake. Luckily,
however, his lordship had been ac-
customed to drive this Hudibrastic
set of ‘¢ fiery-eyed” steeds to the
Ram Inn, at Newmarket, which was
most happily at hand, and to this
his lordship’s fervent prayers and
ejaculations had been ardently di-
recied ; into the yard they suddenly
bounded, to the dismay of ostlers
and stable-boys, who seemed to have
lost every faculty upon the occasion.
Here they were luckily overpowered,
and the stags, the pheton, and his
lordship, were all instantaneously
huddled together ina large barn just
as the hounds appeared in full cry
at the gate.

This singular circumstance, al-
though most luckily attended with
no accident, effectually cured his
lordship’s passion of deer-driving 5
but his invincible zeal for coursing,
and his widiminished rage for its
improvement, remained with him to
the last. No day was too long, or
any weather too severe for him;
those who have ever seen him, can
never forget the extreme laughable
singularity of his appearance. Mount-
ed on a stump of a pye-balled po-
ney (as uniformly broad as he was
long) in a full suit of black, without
either great coat or gloves; his
hands and face crimsoned with cold,
and ina fierce cocked hat, facing every
wind that blew; and while his game-
keepers were shrinking from- the

sand.

»sand-gathering blasts of Norfolk, on

he rode, like old Lear, regardless of

>the elements.

Blow, yaa and crack your cheeks!
e! blow

You cataracts, and lessniciieabil spout

Till you: haye drench’d our steeples,

—__ drown’d the cocks !”

For, innately warm with the predo-

minance of his passion for sport, he

‘set at defiance storms of every de-

‘Scription.

_ Ata particular period of his life,

when

“ The springs of nature rose above their
level,”

there was a necessity for some de-
gree of medical coercion to bring
them, again within the bounds of
prudent regulation. During this
scene of unavoidable suspension from
his favourite pursuits, the extreme
attention shewn to him by a person
who regulated his domestic concerns,
so much influenced his nicer sensa-
tions, that he dedicated to her the
most tender and grateful affection
during her life. The circumstance
of her death (though by no means
young or handsome) so much affect-
ed his lordship, that the nerves be-
fore unstrung, again gave way, and
the former malady returned with in-
creasing violence. Ile was, at this
time, confined to his chamber, with
_ an attendant necessary to the dis-
ordered state of his mind ; but, with
all that latent artifice for which ob-
jects of this description are so re-
markable, he contrived, by some
plausible pretext, to get his keeper
out of the room, instantly jumped
out of the window, ran to the sta-
_ bles, and saddled his pye-balled po-
“ney, at the very time he well knew
the grooms and stablerattemants
were all engaged,

Ma that day his. farourite bitch, old

CHAR A SCRT EARS:

779
Czarina, was to run a match of much
magnitude ; the gamekeepers had
already taken her to the field, where
a large party were assembled, equal-
ly lamenting the absence of his lord-
ship, and the cause’ by which his
presence was prevented. When, at
the very moment of mutual regret
and condolence, who should appear,
at full speed, on the .pye-balled po-
ney;:but lord Orford himself,

His presence all bosoms appeared to
dismay,
His friends stood in silence and fear :

But none had power to restrain him;
all attempts.and entreaties were in
vain; the match he was determined
to see ; and no persuasions whatever
could influence him to the contrary.
Finding no endeavours could divert
him from the ecstatic expectation he
had formed ; the greyhounds were
started, and Czarina won; during
the course, no human power or ex-
ertion could prevent him from riding
after the dogs, more particularly as
his favourite bitch displayed her su-
periority in every stroke: when, in
the moment of the highest exulta-
tion, and the eagerness of his tri-
umph, unfortunately falling from
his poney, and pitching upon his
head (whether, occasioned by apo-
plexy, or such contusion upon the
skull as instantly affe¢ted the brain),
he almost immediately expired, to
the inexpressible grief of those who
surrounded him at the last moment
of his life: individually convinced,
that coursing was the predominant
idea. ;

“ Sull liv’d the ruling passion strong in

death.”

A man of more, simple manners,
more liberal constructions, or of 2
more courteous nature, never was

known

780

known to constitute a part of bene-
volent and philanthropic society.
All the urbanities of life were his,
and he seemed, by nature, formed
to attraét the most grateful. atten-
tion; generally acquainted as he
was, from his rank, as. well as from
his sporting pursuits, with every
éondition of persons, from the prince
to the peasant, his conversation was
happily suited to each, and equally
winning with them all.

The prince of Wales, when occa~
sionally visiting his lordship om a
shooting party, saw at no other
place such a profusion of game of
every description—such a display of
attendant gamekeepers—such a no-
dle, though plain hospitality, as at
Houghton ; and a park so curiously
and infinitely stocked with every
original, in beast and fowl of almost
every country, from the African
bull to the pelican of the wilderness.
When an aétor, a poet, or a hero
dies, if his reputation be sufficient
for the posthumous exultation, we
must look in Westminster Abbey ;
if a great sportsman retires from the
busy fashionable scene of life, his
intrinsic worth can only be ascer-
tained by a walk to Tattersal’s.

In a short space of time after lord
Orford’s decease, his greyhounds,
(with various other sporting appur-
tenances) came under the hammer of
the auétioneer.

An Account of the Historian, Golam
Hossein Khan, from Tennant’s
‘© Indian Recreations.”

ry giving an idea of the literature
of India, I cannot omit mention-
ing Golam Hossein Khan, the late
author of a work entitled, Seir Mu-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

province with all his connexions.

takhareen; or, View of Modern
Times. This work is regarded as
classical Persian in point of style ;
and contains a civil history of Hin-
dostan, from the death of Aureng-
zebe to the year 1781. ‘The bio-
graphical anecdotes found in this
work, concerning many of our coun-
trymen, who are still living, renders it
peculiarly interesting ; the details of
the English conquests in India, and |
his stri¢tures upon the British go.
vernment in that ceuntry, conyey
the ideas of a native, of high cha.
raéter, upon subjects of the first im- |
portance. This work, though trans-
lated into something like English, by
a renegado Frenchman, is but little
known, even by Orientalists, except
by name.

This Mogul nobleman was a par-
tizan of the present emperor during
his fallen fortunes; but, like the
great Clarendon, he delivers his sen-
timents with spirit and impartiality ;
and with a force, clearness, and
simplicity of style, rarely to be found
in Asiatic authors, and which justly
entitle him to pre-eminence among
the historians of his country. The
history of his life, given by himself,
is prefixed to his volumes: somé
particulars of it I shall insert, for
it must be interesting to know the
history of an independent native,
who has displayed so much penetra-
tion, sagacity and knowledge, re-
specting the conduct of the En-
glish in the government of his coun-
try.

‘¢ Golam Hossein Khan was born
in Shah Jehanabad, in 1140 of the
Hegira; and being related by his
mother to Aliverdi Khan, the future
nabob of Bengal, he repaired to that

‘¢ Soon after our arrival in Moor-

shedabad,” says he, ‘* fortune be-
; gan

C 5A RB A CsT ERS:

gan to favour our family. Aliverdi
Khan was appointed governor of
Patna; where my father accompa-
nied him, and where our family have
lived to this day in affluente, dig-
nity, and splendour: for the houses
we bought, and. the lands we ac-
quired by purchase, gift or other-
wise, during the administration of
Aliverdi are, to this day, in our
possession. In the year 1188, If
was induced, unfortunately, to be-
come security, to a considerable
amount, for a zemindar, who al-
ready owed me the: highest obliga-
tions, and from whom I little ex-
pected such a return, and so much
perfidy as I met. with. In conse-
quence of this misconduct, I was
called upon by the English govern-
ment, to pay 60,000 rupees on his
account, which was the sum for
which | had become bound. This
demand coming on me unexpectedly,
I was obliged to sell my jewels and
plate, to the amount of 31,000 ru-
pees, and to make up the balance
by borrowing it from the banker.
In this way I saved myself from the
severity’ with which i should have
been treated by the government to
whom the money was due, and from
the still more unfeeling rigor of the
aumils, muttsudies, and other re-
venue officers, who seemed to wait
with a malicious eye for the signal
from government to seize my whole
property. I was obliged to put
into the banker’s hands, as a se-
curity for the money I had bor-
rowed, the portion of land I pos-
sessed, and to endeavour to pro-
eure subsistence by some other
means. But I was unable to get
any employment, notwithstanding
all the interest, and all the enqui-

_ Fies which my friends made in my

behalf. At last it pleased fortune

781

to give me a friend in general God-
dard a man of merit so conspicuous
as to need no praise, and whose
kindness and generosity to me, as
well as to many of my countrymen,
entitle him to my lasting gratitude.
Such a character is not often met
with among the English in Hin-
dostan.

He was, about this time, appoint-
ed resident at Chunarghur; soon
alter which, he came to Azimabad,
(Patna) where he made some stay.
Being an old acquaintance, I went
to see him. He had the kindness
tu enquire about my affairs, and he
heard, with cordial concern, the ca~
lamity which had befallen them.
‘¢ | am truly sorry,” said he, ‘ to
hear what has happened ; but as I see
no likelihood of your getting em-
ployment here, you had better come
along with me, and we shall live
upon what we can get.’ I cheer-
fully accepted of the proposal, look.
ing upon it, as one of the secret re«
sources which Providence had kept
in store for me. I accordingly got
myself ready, and accompanied him
to Chunar. But, on general God-
dard’s arrival there, he found that
the situation to which he was ap-
pointed, was, in point of emolu-
ment, much below what he had rea-
son to expect, and, indeed, scarcely
sufficient to defray his necessary ex-
pences. ‘This circumstance disabled
him from assisting me as he wished ;
but he committed to my care, what-
ever concerned the revenue matters
of that.town. Ile allotted also, for
my) accommodation, an excellent
house, which had been fitted up for
himself; and sent his own boats to

‘bring my wife and family. When

they arrived, he gave them a pension
of 300 rupees a month. After be-
having to me in this vary handsome

manner

732,

manner, it was natural in him to
receive my visits with that parti-
cular distinction which he shewed
me? it

* T have already observed; that
general Goddart’s income, at-Chu-
nar, was much below his expendi-
ture: in consequence of. this, he
now determined to relinquish. his sie
tuation,:and get ‘permission to enter
into the service of Azof ud Dewlah,
having heard that :that prince, dis-
satisfied with: his old troops, had
dismissed them, and intended to raise
a new army, the discipline of which
he wished:to' commit. to the charge
of an English officer of rank... .My

friend conceivéd,' that such an em-.

ployment would be more suitable to
his: turn of niind; than the station
he held) at Chunar; and that it
would likewise prove more profita-
ble, both to himself and me. » But
as he had no acquaintance with
Mr. Bristow, who was then minis-
ter at Lucknow, he did not think it
proper to make any personal appli-
cation to him on the ‘subject... On
his asking my opinion of the matter,
I proposed thatihe should give mea
letter. to. andther Englishman, a
friend of Mr. Bristow’s, to. whom,
by that means, [should find. aready
introduction ;»and thereby, ) be. able:
to sound him im regard to the object
in view,» without; mentioning his:
name. , Of thisshe: approved ; and,
giving to me theiletter to. the gen-
tleman at:.Lucknow, ‘he wished me
a successful journey.”

After; ‘however, obtaining « the
consent of Mr. Bristow..to® this:
measure, all the views of the genesi
ral and Golam were defeated,’ by!
the appointment of Mr. Middleton;
as resident,.in the room of Mr.
Bristow. Though this was an in-
timate acquaintance of the general,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

from whose friendship ‘he ‘expected.
much, he totally disapproved of the
measure. “On the failure: of this
scheme, and the appointment! of
general*Goddard. to join the army
in the Deccan, \all connexion be-
tween hii and our author! was
broken off. Atoa more early pe-
riod. of his life, he had. been em-
ployed in the courts of Aliverdi
Khan, and: that -of his nephews, in
consequential situations; and, after |
having received various disappoint-
ments and reverses of fortune, he
settled, at last, at Patna, where, on
a sum of. money left by his ‘friends,
he was enabled.:to ‘support his fae
mily comfortably. . 1t was theres
also, that, during a period of quiet,
and retirement, he’ tells us‘he com=)
posed the Seir Mutakhareen. In
the same city, in the earlier part of
his life, he witnessed the massacre
of the English, a cruelty which he
reprobated, but which he could not
prevent. He conferred, however,
some obligations on: Mr. Fullarton,
the only person who escaped from
that bloody catastrophe.

The military: and civil transacs
tions of his time; which occupy the
most considerable part of these vo-
lumes, have not precluded the au-
thor inserting: large biographical
anecdotes, which impart greater vas
riety and interest to his work. | He
has spoken frequently of the cha-
racter of authors, and discussed the
merits of their) writings ; in) this,
however, his candour and benevos
lence of mind appear to far greater
advantage’ than his; literary attain-
ments, » from the praises which he
bestows on the contemptible . reve-
ries of fanatics, we can draw no fa
vourable opinion of Mogul litera-
ture at this period ; nor does'it ap-
pear, that inany era of the empire,

they

CHARA

they ever rose above the humblest
mediocrity.

» When travelling in pursuit of bu-
siness, he frequently stepped aside,
to visit what he terms the abodes of
learned men; and as often as he
speaks of character, it is generally
from personal observation and ac-
quaintance. In his: journey from,
Chunar to Lucknow, mentioned
above, he went by way of Juan-
pore, and stopped there for some
days; because, to use his own
words, ** he understood it was be-
éome the residence of the illustrious
and) venerable Seid. Mahmed Ask-
hessy,?? of whom he had heard so
much. | ‘¢ I sent to desire leaye to
pay-him a respeétful visit. Being
admitted to his presence, 1 spent
two'hours with him. His conver-
sation delighted me even beyond
what I, expected; it was replete
with the many~ excellencies for
which he was celebrated; and | took
my leave of him, fully satisfied, that
fame, +i her encomiums, had fallen
short of what I had seen and heard.
To this day I remember his vener-
able aspect, and enchanting conver-
sation ; and they have made such an
impression on my mind, that I must
suspend the narrative of my own
aétions, to give the reader a glimpse
of: the talents and ‘virtues which
adorned that distinguished man.

** He was of a family of Seids,
that ranked for many ages amongst
the most respectable of that seét, in
the city of Juanpore.”

This Seid, of virtuous disposition
and fine genius, wrote a book of
practical morality, all the rules of
which he extra¢éted from his own
practice ; so that this book was a
commentary on his life. Very dif-
ferent this from the generality of

C'iT E'R'S.

moralists, whose principles and
practice are completely at variance ;
who preach up the utility of moral
couduét, yet lead a life of sin.

‘¢ His speech was such, that it
seemed to flow from the fountain of
wisdom ; and his advices and coun-
sels were so many remedies against
sickness and sorrow of heart !

“¢ He possessed a very extensive
knowledge, graced with so much
modesty, that he instruéted all who
conversed with him, without mak~
ing them feel their own inferiority.
He lived upon ‘a small income,
without a wish to increase it.

‘¢ It is true, he was not regularly
initiated in the Sciences; but the
richness of his mind, and the strength
of his judgment, amply supplied that
want. By the force of his own ge-
nius, he had become a repository of
all the arts and sciences, practical as
well as abstraét. No wonder, then,
that his house was resorted to by all
the learned persons of that city and
neighbourhood, and by numbers
who travelled thither from distant
countries, being learned themselves,
or possessing a love of knowledge.

‘¢ The natural turn of his mind
was to candour and modesty; so
that he was as forward to acknow-
ledge the merit of others, as he was
studious to conceal his own. He
gave his time to reading leétures,
which is the noblest of all occupa-
tions—the noblest and most pleas-
ing thing of all being to bring to
light the treasures of hidden know-
ledge. Whenever any one, in his
presence, introduced a discourse in
dispraise of a man’s charaéter, ei-.
ther direétly or indireétly, he had
too much politeness to stop and re~
primand him, but he would, with.
great address, and peculiar felicity,

: turn

783

784

turn the discourse to another sub-
ject, without giving the speaker the
smallest offence., This venerable
man died at the age of; seventy.”

In. this strain, does this amiable
writer criticise his contemporary au-
thors; men far inferior to himself,
either in judgment, knowledge of
the warld, or even literature—
Perhaps it may be owing to this
candour, and mildness of disposi-
tion, that he has treated some parts
of the misconduét of the English, as
magistrates, with so lenient a hand,
He deems their. conduct meritorious,
upon the whole, and their govern-
ment advantageous ; though the Ma-
hommedans of rank, whom it has
displaced from all the more lucra-
tive official situations, are, perhaps,
the only class of men whose circum-
stances it has injured. One disad-
vantage arising from our situation
in. India, he has scen and laments,
which arises from the temporary re-
sidence of individuals in the country,
and the proportionably small, inter-
est they can) feel in its welfare—,

Men, he observes, ;who leave their,

native country with the sole view of
acquiring an ,,independency,) and
then to return to it, can have little
inducement, to confer upon their
_ temporary residence any permanent
improvements. The meritorious
business, of planting topes, digging
wells, making roads, and various
employments suitable for the wealthy
part of the community, individuals
will seldom undertake in a country
which they hope soon to leave.—
As the Europeans, according to our
system, have not been allowed to
colonize in India, there can be no
doubt of the justice of Golam LHos-
sein’s remarks on this particular.—
Of injustice and corruption, as

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

judges, he entirely acquits our coun-
trymen ; and of cruelty and oppres-
sion, as rulers, he brings not the
slightest imputation: from his inti-
mate acquaintance with this subjeét,.
and his bias, if he felt any, being
wholly against us,’ we may applaud
our countrymen, for haying obtain-
ed this honourable: testimony of,
their character... From. want) of
knowledge in the language, which
frequently has: happened to. junior
servants, he does accuse them some-
times of suftering themselves to be
imposed upon by their banyans and
sircars ; nor does he conceal, that
injustice is sometimes committed
through their interference. Persiam
writings and books are not commit-
ted to the press, and disseminated
by publication, as in Europe. This:
author’s manuscripts, for -many
years, were handed about privately
among the natives: he could, there-
fore, have no fear of giving offence’
to the English, by what he brought
forward. This is, indeed, apparent,
from many strictures he has written’
abundantly severe ; nor does there
seem any intention to please, by
flattery, in a work that was never
submitted to the perusal of the Eng-
lish: the praises of general God-
dard, and of many other individuals
to be found in these volumes, are no’
exception to this remark, since they
are evidently the effusions of sin-
cerity and gratitude ; and some of
them, as that of Mr. Fullarton,
were written long after the parties.
concerned had left the country.—
Without having any knowledge of
civil liberty in the abstraét, this au-
thor possessed the fullest enjoyment
of it; and, from this circumstance,
his testimony has become of so great
importance.

Customs.

CoH A&R ACC TIE. R 6.

Customs and Manners of the Tartar
Inhabitants of the Crimea, from
second Vol. of Professor Pallas’
Travels.

HE Tartar inhabitants of the
Crimea may be divided into
three classes. ‘I'he first includes the
Nagays, of whom | have spoken in
the preceding volume of these tra-
vels, pp. 531, and following ; as
also those Nagays, who, being a
remnant of the Tartars of the Ku-
ban, were taken prisoners in the
Turkish fort of Anape, and, to the
number of 4,500, carried into the
Crimea, where they were dispersed
among the nobility for their mainte-
nance; but afterwards, by order of
the court, they were considered as
subjeéis, and still dwell in their own
permanent villages, having acquired
opulence by rearing of cattle and
cultivating lands, from which they
are enabled to pay high rents to their
landlords. All these Nagays are,
as their features evince, the unmixed
descendants of the Mongolian tribe,
who formed the bulk of the army of
Yshingis-khan, which invaded Rus-
sia aud the Crimea.

The second class consists of those
Tartars represented in plate 20,
who inhabit the heaths or steppes as
far as the mountains, especially on
the north side ; and who, in the dis-
triét of Perekop, where they are
still unmixed, retain many traces of
the Mongolian countenance, with a
thinly scattered beard: they devote
themselves to the rearing of cattle to
a greater extent than the moun-
taineers, but are, at the same time,
husbandmen, though they pay no
attention to gardening. In situa-
tions destitute of stone, they build,

Vou. XLY.

785

like the inhabitants of Bucharia,
with unbaked bricks of clay, and
make use of dried dung for fuel, of
which they prepare large quantities,
and pile it up in the same manner as
turf, to serve them during the win-
ter. Nearer to the mountains,
these Tartars, as well as the nobles,
are more intermixed with the Turk-
ish race, and exhibit few of the Kal-
muk-Mongolian features: this ob-
servation also applies to the Cri-
mean nobility, in whom those peculi-
arities are almost entirely obliterated.
To the third class belong the in-
habitants of the southern vallies,
bounded by the mountains ; a mixed
race, which seems to have originated
from the remnants of various na-
tions, crowded together in these re-
gions at the conquest of the Crimea,
by the armies of the Mongolian lea-
ders ; and which, in part, (as has
already been stated) display a very
singular countenance, with a stronger
beard, but lighter hair; the other
Tartars not considering them as true
descendants of their race, but giving
them the contemptuous name of
Tat*. They are also, by their cos-
tume, remarkably distinguished from
the common Tartars of the heaths,
though the dress and veils of the wo-
men ar§alike. Their houses, or huts,
are partly formed under ground, be-
ing generally constructed against the
steep precipices of mountains, one
half excavated from the earth or
rock, and only the front raised with
rough stones, having at the same
time a flat roof covered with earth.
There are among them skilful vine-
dressers and gardeners, but they
are too idle to undertake new
plantations, availing themselves only
of those left by their predecessors,
especially

* From the Turkish word Mur-tat, which signifies a renegado,
>

34

786

éspecially the industrious Greeks :
hence very few young trees are seen
in their gardens. ‘They also grow
flax and tobacco, which, as objects
of culture, are unknown to the
Tartars of the heaths: with proper
encouragement, they might probably
be induced to cultivate the vine, and
attend to the produétion of silk.—
On the whole, they are at present
unprofitable and unworthy inhabi-
tants of those paradisaical vallies, in
which they have always shewn them-
selyes the first and’ most ready to
‘revolt against the Russian govern-
ment. ‘These thoughtless people
even destroy the forests on themoun-
tains in the most effectual manner,
partly by their indiscriminate felling
of trees, and partly by their numer-
ous herds of goats. In the last war
with Turkey, they were all ordered
to dwell at the distance of ten versts
from the coast, in order to avoid
the danger arising from their aciing
as spies and traitors: it would, in-
deed, be for the general good, to
remove them entirely from these
vallies, into the interior of the coun-
try ; at the same time peopling the
former with industrious settlers, who
would contribute to the prosperity
of the empire, by the cultivation of
wine, oil, silk, and cotton; which
will never be attempted by the pre-
sent inaétive possessors.

In the costume of the Tartars
‘ynhabiting the plains there is some
variety. Young persans, especi-
ally those of noble or wealthy fa-
milies, dress nearly in the Circas-
sian, Polish, or Kozak fashion,
with short, or slit sleeves in the
upper garment. The nobility of
‘more advanced age wear, like the
common Tartars, unslit sleeves 5 and
ld mea suffer the whole beard to

ANNUAL-REGISTER,

1803.

grow; whereas the young and mid+
dle-aged have only whiskers. Their
legs and feet are dressed either in
half-boots of Morocco or other
leather, or they use stockings of the
same material, especially in the
towns ; over these are worn slip-
pers, or clogs, for walking abroad ;
and in dirty weather, a kind of
stilt-shoes. Their heads are uni-
formly shaved, or, at least, the hair

‘is cut away very short, which they

cover with a high cap, quilted at
the top with cotton, and generally
green, being edged with black or
grey lamb’s skin. ‘This cap is never
moved by way of compliment: the
clergy and the aged wear under it
the fez, or a red, woven calotte.—
Those who have performed a pil-
grimage to Mecca, are distinguished
by a white handkerchief round the
edge of their cap, such being the
mark of a hadshi. There are alsa
in the Crimea some. emirs, who
wear the green fillet round their
heads. Among the young nobility,
however, Circassian caps are the
most common head-dress.

The physiognomy of the true
Tauridan ‘Tartars bears great re-
semblance to that of the Turks
and. Kuropeans, There are hand-
some, tall, robust people among
them, and few are inclined to cor-
pulency : their complexion is rather
fair, and they have black or dark
brown hair. The boys and youth
have mostly a pleasing and delicate
countenance; to which circum.
stance, together with the restraints
imposed on women, may, perhaps,
be attributed the odious propensi-
ties prevailing here, as well as in
Turkey and Persia.

The dress of the Tartar women
is very diferent from that of the

N agays 3 =

C HAR AC TERS.

Nagays: they are, in general, of
low stature, owing, probably, to
their confined treatment in early
life; though the features are to-
lerably handsome. Young women
wear wide drawers ; a shift reaching
to their ancles, divided before, and
drawn together at the neck; a
gown, open in front, made of
striped silk, with long sleeves, and
adorned with broad trimmings, em-
broidered with gold. They have
also an upper garment of some ap-
propriate colour, with short thick
Turkish sleeves, edged with ermine
fur, or gold lace. Both girls and
married women fasten their gowns
with a heavy cinéture or girdle,
having in front two large buckles,
like those made by the Armenians
and Jews, of embossed or filigree
work, and which were once in fa-
shion among the Russian ladies at
Petersburgh and Moscow. Their
hair is braided behind in as many
Joose tresses as it will afford, and is
covered either witha small red cap,
_ or fez, especially during childhood,
or with a handkerchief crossed un-
der the chin. Their fingers are
adorned with rings, and the nails of
their hands and feet tinged with
Kna, (Lawsonia) which is imported

737

from Constantinople, and is some-
times mixed with vitriol, to render
the colour browner, and more per-
manent, as it will thus continue
about two months. But paint is
rarely employed by young females.

Married women cut off their hair
obliquely over their eyes, and leave
two locks also cut transversely,
hanging down their cheeks; they
likewise bind a long narrow strip of
cloth round the head, within the.
ends of which they confine the rest
of the hair, and turn it up from
behind, braiding it in two large
tresses. Like the Persians, they
die their hair of a reddish brown:
with kna. Their under garment is.
more open below, but in other re-,
speéts similar to that of the unmar-
ried, as are their upper dress and
girdle. They paint their faces red
with cochineal, or other drugs, and
white with an oxyd of tin, called:
aklyk, which they carefully pre-
pare over a dung—fire, in small
earthen pipkins.* They also dye
the white of the eye blue, witha
finely pulverized preparation of cops
per (Masetash) brought from Con-
stantinople; and, by a particular
process, + change the colour of their.
eye-brows and hair to a shining

3 E2 black,

* In order to compose the fashionable greyish-white Tartar cosmetic, the wo
men first heat a pot covered with clay, in a strong dung fire, till it is glowing hot.
The vessel being thus prepared, is placed, with the opening sideways, in another,
dung fire, which they accumulate round it; then bars of tin are thrown in, and’
the opening is closed with an iron cover, till the metal is melted. Next, the lid is:

_ removed, and the tin is continually stirred with an iron spatula: when it is per-

fectly fused, they add some sheep’s tallow, with a small piece of lead and Cyprus
soap, which must be burnt on the tin till they disappear. The operator continues
to stir the mass till the metal gradually becomes calcined ; after which it is sifted
and sold. This cosmetic imparts a pale white hue, nearly resembling the natural
colour of the skin.

' + Twenty-five of the best galls (Balamut) are boiled in oil, then dried, and’ re«
duced to a fine powder; to which are added, three drachms of green vitriol, one

of cream of tartar, one of indigo, and a tea-cupful of kna, or lawsonia alcanna,
‘The four first-mentioned ingredients are well agitated with two pounds of water ;

and
se

788

black, which is retained for several
months, At weddings, or on other
solemn occasions, the wealthy far-
ther ornament their faces with
flowers of gold leaf; colour their
hands and feet as far as the wrist

and ancle, of an orange hue, with -

kna, and destroy all the hairs on
the body with a mixture of orpiment
and lime.

The women, both married and
Single, wear yellow half boots or
stockings of Morocco leather (Ter-
Yuk), orsocks; for walking they
use red slippers with thick soles,
and in dirty weather, put on stilt
shoes, like the Circassian females.
Abroad they wear a kind of undress
gown (Feredshé) of a loose texture,
manufa¢tured by themselves of white
wool, and called Chirka ; next they
wrap several coloured Turkish or
white cotton handkerchiefs round
their head, which they tie under the
chin, and over all this throw a white
linen cloth, reaching half way down
the arms, drawing it over the face
with the right hand, so that their
black eyes alone are visible. Inde-
pendently of this mummery, they
evade, as much as possible, the
company of men; and, when they
accidentally meet a man in the
Streets, a false modesty enjoins the
woman to avert her face, or turn
towards the wall.

The nobility and the priesthood
are highly respeéted among the Cri-
mean Tartars ; and, in former times,
were often able to make a formida-
ble resistance to the khan, and even

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

to affeét his deposition. The khan
was always chosen from the family
of the Ghireis: I am, however, by
no means convinced, that they
sprang from a direct descendant of
Tshingis-khan. Irom this family,
(of which there is no male branch
now remaining in the Crimea, though
there are seyeral in the ‘Turkish
empire) were also uniformly chosen
the Kalga-sultan, and Nuraddin-
sultan, who are the persons next in
rank to the khan. The Tshoban-
ghirei are the only descendants of a
collateral branch of the Ghireis in
Crim Tartary ; who, at the request
made by one of the former khans
to the sultan of Constantinople,
were excluded from the right of suc-
cession, which was formerly grant-
ed to their own family.

The food of the Crimean Tartars
is rather artificial for so unpolished
a nation. When the higher classes
give entertainments, numerous sim.
ple and made dishes are set out, be-
side a desert of fruit. Among the
most esteemed delicacies, are forced-
meat balls, wrapped in green vine
or sorrel leaves,* and called sarma;
various fruits, as cucumbers,
quinces, or apples, filled with minced
meat, dolma; stuffed cucumbers,
dishes of melons, badilshan, and
hibiscus esculentus, or bamia, pre-~
pared in various ways with spices
or saffron ; all of which are served
up with rice; also pelaw, or rice,
boiled in meat broth till it becomes
dry; fat mutton and lamb, both
boiled, and roasted, &c. &c. Colt’s

flesh

* A dish of vegetables, much used in the Crimea, is made with the large leaved
sorrel, or aat-kulak, which is the patience dock, or rumex patientia; and also
with the acetous garden sorrel, that occasionally grows on the mountains,

CHARACTERS.

flesh is likewise considered as a
dainty, but horse flesh is more com-
monly eaten by the Nagays, who
are still attached to théir ancient
custom. The Tartars rarely kill
horned cattle ; mutton and goat’s
flesh constitute the food of the com-
mon people, especially in the coun-
try, together with preparations of
milk and eggs; butter (which they
churn and preserve in the dry sto-
machs of oxen); a kind of pelaw,
made either of dried or bruised un-
ripe wheat, and which they call
bulgur; and lastly, their bread is
generally composed of mixed grain.*
Their ordinary beverage is made by
triturating and dissolving cheese in
water; the former of which is called
yasma, being prepared from coagu-
lated milk, or yugurt; but the
fashionable intoxicating drink is an
ill tasted and very strong beer, or
busa, brewed of ground millet.
Many persons also drink a spirituous
liquor, arraki, which the Tartar
mountaineers distil from various
kinds of fruit, particularly plums.
It is also extraéted from sloes, dog
berries, elder berries, and wild
grapes, but never from the common
cherry. They likewise boil the ex-
pressed juice of apples and pears
into a kind of marmalade, bekmess,
of the consistence of a syrup, or
that of grapes into nardenk, as it
is called; the latter preparation is
a favourite delicacy, and eagerly
purchased by the Tartars of the
Steppes: hence great quantities of
it are imported in deal casks from
Anatolia, at a very cheap rate, for
the purpose of converting into
brandy.

789

In consequence of their tempe-
rate, simple, and careless mode of
living ; the warm clothing which
they wear throughout the summer 5
and the little fatigue they undergo,
the Tartars are subjeét to few dis-
eases; and are, in general, exempt
from the severe intermittent and bi-
lious remittent fevers, which com-
monly attack and prove fatal to fo-
reigners and new settlers in the
Crimea. Many natives arrive at a
vigorous old age; nor do any dis-~
orders prevail among them, except
the itch, arising from sloth or infec-
tion, and the rheumatic complaints ;
the latter may be attributed to their
apartments being too much exposed
to the current of air, having
wooden lattices instead of windows,
and large open chimnies. The
chambers of the opulent are furnish-
ed with elevated divans, but those ~
of the common people are supplied
with mattresses and cushions stuffed
with cotton, and which are disposed
on the floor around the room, close
to the walls ; they are used both as
seats and couches, and are infested
with fleas, bugs, and other vermin.
The true leprosy, which the Ural-
Kozaks term the Crimean disease,
never occurs in Crim Tartary.

Character, Habits, and Manners of
the Maroons, from Dallas’ Hiss
tory of that People.

T is not to be doubted that the cli-
mate of the mountains of Jamai«
ca, which is seldom less than ten de-
grees cooler than the low lands of
the island, the mode of life of the
3E 3 inhabitants

-*® Tshavdar is the name given by the Tartars to a mixture of rye and wheat; and
tshalmalyk is a ne cee of rye and barley, and occasionally also of wheat,

which kinds of grain t

ey sow in a mixed state,

790

inhabitants, the constant exercise of
‘their limbs in ascending and de-
scending, and their custom of ex-
ploring the vast mountains and pre-
cipices of the interior of the country,
in pursuit of the wild boar, contri.
bute to produce the strength and
symmetry in which the Maroons of
Trelawny-Town, and Accompong-
Town, who were the same race of
men, far excelled the other negroes
of every description in the island. In
chara¢ter, language, and manners,
they nearly resembled those negroes,
on the estates of the planters, that
were descended from the same race
of Africans, but displayed a strik-
ing distinction in their personal ap-
pearance, being blacker, taller, and
in every respect handsomer ; for
such of them as had remained in
slavery, had intermixed with Eboe
negroes, and others, imported from
countries to the southward of the
coast of Africa, people of yellow
complexions, with compressed fea-
tures, and thick lips, who were in
every respect inferior to themselves.

In their person and carriage, the
Maroons were ereét and lofty, in-
dicating a consciousness of superio-
rity ; vigour appeared upon their
muscles, and their motions displayed
agility. Their eyes were quick,
ewild, and fiery, the white of them
appearing a little reddened ; owing,
perhaps, to the greenness of the
wood they burned in their houses,
with the smoke of which they must
have been affected. They possessed
most, if not all of the senses in a
superior degree. ‘They were accus-
tomed, from habit, to discover, in
the woods, objeéts which white peo-
ple, of the best sight, could not
distinguish ; and their hearing was
so wonderfully quick, that it enabled
them to elude the most active pur-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

suers ; they were seldom surprised,
They communicated with one ano-
ther by means of horns ; and when
these could scarcely be heard by
other people, they distinguished the
orders that the sounds conveyed. It
is very remarkable, that the Ma-
roons had a particular call upon the
horn for each individual, by which
he was summoned from a distance
as easily as he would have been
spoken to by name, had he been
near. It appears wonderful, at
first, that a single horn should be
able to express such a number of
names ; but, on refleétion, it is not
more wonderful than the variety of
changes of which a dozen bells are
susceptible, or the multiplisity of
words that are formed by the com-
bination of twenty-six letters. Al-
lowing that the horn admits a less
variation of tones than the chimes of
twelve bells, it has a greater advan-
tage in one respeét for conveying
particular ideas, from being capable
of varying the duration of sound,
which bells are not; so that, besides
numerical combination of monoto-
nous notes, it can adopt all the mo-
dulation of concatenated measure,
and the poetical feet might be so as-
sociated as to transmit a great va-
riety of ideas. But to return to the
Maroons:—It has been said that
their sense of smelling is obtuse, and
their taste depraved. With respect
to the former, I have heard, on
the contrary, that their scent is ex-
tremely prompt, and that they have
been known to trace parties of
runaway negroes to a great distance,
by the smell of their firewood; and
as to the latter, they are, like other
negroes, fond of savory dishes,
jirked hog, and riugtail pigeons,
delicacies unknown to an European
table, but which a Quin himself

would

.
"4
y

a

C. His RIA

_ would not hesitate to name among

the first dainties of the epicurean
list. I know not whence the word
jirked is derived, but it signifies
cutting or scoring internally the
flesh of the wild hog, which is then
smoaked and otherwise prepared in
amanner that gives it avery fine
flavour. ‘Ihe taste is a sense more
peculiarly dependent upon social
habits than any of the rest; we soon

‘learn to relish the viands agreeable

to those about us in the earlier part
of life, and to eat and drink as our
parents and friends do. The want
of a refined palate would not be sur-
prising among a set of uncivilised
Africans, but it would be surpris-
ing to find them preferring wine to
tum, when we recolleét that they
are accustomed to the latter from
their infancy, and that they know
nothing of the former; that fer-
mented liquors are insipid to the
palate used to distilled ones, and
that one might as well. expect a
London drayman to prefer pale
small beer to brown stout. I re-
member once offering a white man,
in Jamaica, his choice of wine or
rum, having, at the time, no brandy
drawn ; he chose the latter, with this

vanswer: ‘‘Oh! sir, any thing that

bites the throat.”

The Maroons, in general, speak,
like most of the other negroes in the
island, a peculiar dialeét of English,
corrupted with African words; and
certainly understand our language
sufficiently well to have received in-
Struction in it. {£ cannot be of
opinion, that a sincere and fervent
endeayour to introduce christianity
among them, would have failed. It
is true, that a prejudice in favour of
the magic of Obeah prevailed among
them, as among other negroes; but
‘it is no less true, that the influence

/__~

Ci HAMS; 791

of this prejudice operated different-
ly, according to the strength of their
understanding and experience. The
greatest dupes to it were the most
ignorant; and it was a generally
received opinion, that the charm of
Obeah could have no power over
any negro who had heen baptized :
not but that the weaker ones, whe-
ther Maroons or others, dreaded
the arts of Obeah, even after bap-
tism. Minds forming this estimate
of christianity, could not but be
prepared to embrace its soothing
doctrines ; and it must always be
lamented, that no attempts were
ever made to introduce our religion
among the black people in the colo-
nies. I mean to resume this sub-
ject when I come to speak of the
present state of Jamaica; and shall
here only observe, that the supersti-
tion of Obeah would have vanished
before the power of christianity,
and that no other power is likely to
eradicate it. The Maroons con-
tinued to believe; like their fore-fa-
thers, that Accompong was the god
of the heavens, the creator of all
things, and a deity of infinite good-
ness: but they neither offered sacri-
fices to him, nor had any mode of
worship.

It is not to be supposed that an
illiterate body of people, among
whom ambition was unknown, and
who spent their lives chiefly in
hunting, raising provisions, and tra-
versing the roads in pursuit of run.
aways, would attend to nice regula-
tions for their internal government.
There was no public revenue to ma-
nage, no army to maintain, though
the whole formed a wilitary body,
under appointed officers: right and
wrong were supposed to be under-
stood, without being defined. ‘The
town consisted of a certain number

3E 4 ef

792

of families eollected together under
a chief; and among them, resided a
superintendant and four other white
men, as appointed by the colo-
nial legislature. Subject to the
laws made for them in their relative
situation, as dependent on the go-
vernment of the island, they were,
in other respects, at liberty to pur-
sue the diétates of their own minds,
and they consequently followed the
customs of their fathers, All their
disputes were subject to the deter-
mination of their chiefs, to whom
they looked up with implicit confi-
dence, and whom they usually obey-
ed without argument. ‘The super-
intendant, likewise, took an active
part in adjusting their altercations,
which chiefly arose from their pro-
pensity to gaming, as they would
play for considerable sums of mo-
ney: and from drunkenness, of
which they were frequently guilty.
We have seen, in the treaty with
Cudjoe, the succession of chiets that
were then named, after whom, the
power of appointment returned to
the governor. The commission, ac-
cordingly, continued to be filled up
as vacancies occurred, and the suc-
cessors of Cudjoe maintained a de-
gree of influence and authority equal
to his own. ‘Till the death of Fur-
ry, who built the new town, and
went to reside in it with a certain
number of the Maroons, they were
governed in a very despotic manner
by their chiefs and some of their
older captains. The Jast of these
chief Maroons, was named Monta-
gue, whom I shall have occasion to
mention again, in treating of the
causes of the rebellion of 1795.

The duties of the superintendant
consisted in maintaining a friendly
correspondence between the Ma-
reous aud the inhabitants ef the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 11809.

island, preserving peace in their set-
tlements, preventing the concourse
_of slaves in the towns, and sending
parties out on duty. By his office,
he was empowered to hold a court
with four Maroons, to try those
who disobeyed orders, excited or
joined in tumults, departed from the
towns without leave, or staid out
longer than permitted; and to
award punishments, not extending
to life, limb, or transportation. He
was bound to reside in his town,
from which he was never to be ab-
sent longer than a fortnight, with-
out the governor’s leave ; and, every
three months, he was to make a
return, on oath, to the governor, of
the number residing in his town,
how many were able to bear arms,
how many unfit for duty, the num-
ber of women and children, their
increase or decrease, the condition
of the superintendant’s house, and
the state of the roads. On failure
of his duty, the superintendant was
subjett to a court martial, and lia-
ble to be broke. There was a su-.
perintendant in each town, having a
salary of 2001. and he had under
him four white men, at GOl. a year
each.

After the treaty with Cudjoe, the
Maroons became the subject of
successive laws, consisting of regu-
lations respecting runaways, trials,
punishments, making roads, and a
variety of minute affairs. Being
careless whether they brought in a
runaway alive, or only his head, a
law was passed, with great policy,
allowing, besides the usual reward,
mile money, for every runaway pro-
duced alive. Inveigling slaves and
harbouring runaways, were punish-
able by transportation: that is, the
offender was sold to foreigners on

ether islands, or on the continent
ef

CHAR AC: TERS.

of America. Though a concourse
of slaves in their towns was forbid-
den, the Maroons might have dances
among themselves whenever they
pleased, and, provided the dantce
were in the day time, with a small
number of slaves. They were not
to quit their town without leave ;
and, if they staid seven days beyond
the time allowed them, they were
liable to be taken up and sent home
for trial. They were not permitted
to purchase or possess slaves. No
party, in pursuit of runaways, was
to consist of more than twelve men,
including officers, except on parti-
cular occasions; or to go without

~ written orders from the superin-

tendant, nor were the party to re-
main out more than twenty days.
No Maroons were to be employed
by any white person without a
written agreement; and debts due
to or from them, were to be deter-
mined by two magistrates in a sum-
mary way. ‘Their persons were

_ protected from whipping, or other

ill-treatment.

They were bound to repair roads
leading to their town once a year,
on being ordered by the superin-
tendant, for which they were to be
paid. Lastly, there was a hw
which, in consideration of their in-
creasing population, gave them li-
berty of relinquishing their rights as
Maroons, and residing in any other
part of the island, except the Ma-

_ roon towns, uo longer subject to the

superintendant, but enjoying the
privileges of free people. In which

ease, they were bound to enlist in

the militia.
To some of these laws very little

attention was paid. The Maroons
bought slaves without any notice

being taken of it. Parties of them

793

were suffered to wander about the
island, and many of them formed
temporary connexions with the fe.
male slaves on the different planta.
tions in the country. Whole fami-
lies of them left their towns, and
were permitted to establish them-
selves on the back settlements of
the planters, without complying
with the forms required by the law
respecting such removals, from
which consequences resulted, which
we shall hereafter have to observe.
From the neglect of this law, it is
evident that it was not passed with
aview of encouraging the Maroons
to disperse and lose the existence of
a distinét community, which it has
been imagined would have been be-
neficial to the island*, but merely to
give them room, their limits becom.
ing unequal to their increase. Whe-
ther their extermination, as a dis-
tinét body, would have been bene-’
ficial, is highly problematical. The
war of 1795 would not have taken
place; but who can say what other
communities of the slaves might have
been formed in the woods and
mountains, and what other wars
might have been the consequence ?
It is very probable, that the assem.
blages of fugitives would have been
formed in the woody and almost in-
accessible retreats of the country,
had it not been for the frequent
‘scouring of the woods by the Ma-
roons, in search of runaway ne=
groes. These assemblages would,
in time, have formed new Maroon
bodies, as difficult to be subdued as
the former ; and so far more dan-
gerous than the original Maroons
were in their outset, that their con-
nexion with the slaves, would have
been more general. It is very well
knewn, that notwithstanding the

vigilance

* Edwards,

794

vigilance and aétivity with which
fugitives were pursued by the Ma-
toons, a small body of them did ac-
tually establish themselves in the
mountains, where they had raised
huts, and made provision grounds,
on which some had lived for up-
wards of twenty years. ‘This body,
called the Congo Settlement, was
discovered in the late war by a party
of Maroons crossing the country,
and was dispersed, some of the ne-
groes returning to the estates to
which they formerly belonged, and
others surrendering with the Ma-
roons at the termination of the war.

That the Maroons had proved
themselves a useful body, cannot be
denied. Besides their utility in pre-
venting assemblages of fugitives,
they had been active in the suppres-
sion of rebellion; in which it was
affirmed, by one of their superin-
tendants*, of whose character you
will presently hear more, that they
stood forth with a determined spirit
against the insurgents; and, in the
conflicts of the year 1760, lost se-
veral of their people. In the year
1766, they were no less active, as I
have been assured by a gentleman
who was an eye-witness of their
servicet+, having been one of a
party that went against a body of
Coromantees, who had taken arms
in the parish of Westmoreland,
massacreing all the white people
they met with. A short engage-
ment took place in the mountains ;
and the rebels, imagining the party,
some of whom were covered by the
trees, much larger than it was, re-
treated fartherinto the woods. Their
assailants having endured excessive

* Major James.

+ Mr. Quarrell, the gentleman alluded to in the preface and to whom these let:

ters are dedicated.
t Mr. Goodin.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

fatigue, were unable to pursue them,
but happened to fall in with a body
of Mareons, who, being hog-hunt-
ing in the vicinity, had not heard of
the insurrection. They were soon
collected, and being apprised of the
danger that threatened the country,
hastened towards the spot were the
engagement had taken place, fell in
with the party who had come out
against the rebels, and found them
so exhausted and crippled, by their
forced marches through the woods,
that all they could do, was to shew
the Maroons the track the rebels
had taken in their retreat. They
went forward with the greatest ala-
crity, and before sun-set, killed and
took two thirds of the number of
the negroes, and dispersed the rest,
whom, in the course of a few days
more, they brought in. The cons
duct ofthe Maroons was highly ap-
plauded by the commandert of the
little party, and he and his follow-
ers received the thanks of the house
ofassembly, On slighter occasions,
likewise, when small bodies of
slaves have committed outrages, the
Maroons exerted themselves suc-
cessfully; and it is but common
justice to say, that they were ever
ready to support the government
whenever it was necessary. ‘They
assembled for the purpose of assist-
ing to repel the invasion of the
island, which, in the year 1779,
and 1780, was threatened by the
count D’Estaing, who was prevent
ed by admiral Rodney from forme
ing a junction of the French with
the Spanish forces collected at St.
Domingo, for a descent on Jamaica.
Prejudice frequently warps truth

without ©

CHARA

without intention, and even without
knowing that it does so; I there-
fore, the more readily record these
facts, as they shew that the Ma-
toons, however culpable in their re-
bellion, or however true the stories
respecting the ferocity and back-
wardness of some tribes of them,
were, in general, of use to the inha-
bitants of the island, and prompt in
their services on public occasions.
Agriculture, among the Maroons,
was a very simple science. They
had few wants, and the supply of
them required neither great know-
ledge nor much labour. They
placed a considerable dependence
on hunting, and on their rewards
for taking fugitives; but they did
not, therefore, entirely neglect the
cultivation of land, and were by no
means so averse from the toil it de-
mands, as they have been represent.
ed. Many of them were negligent
of the more certain modes of la-
bour, for they were strangers to the
passions which stimulate superflu-
ous industry: but none could be
said to be indolent, for their lives
were passed in unusual personal
‘exertions, which, as I before ob-
seryed, conduced to their strength
andsymmetry. A provident disposi-
tion was spreading itselfamong them :
they began to feel the advantages af-
forded by money, and large parties
of them, of their own accord, fre-
quently hired themselves .to the
planters and new settlers, to clear
and plant large tracts of land for
_ certain wages*, and several families
of them, as I have already obsery-
ed, settled by sutferance, on back

; be the case, -

CTERS 795

lands, which they cultivated for
themselves.

Their provision grounds consisted
of a considerable traét of unequal
land, from which was produced a
stock not only suflicient for their
own use, but so superabundant, as
to enable them to supply the neigh-
bouring settlements. Plantain, corn,
or maize, yams, cocoas, toyaus, and,
in short, all the nutritious roots that
thrive in tropical soils, were culti-
vated in their grounds. In their gar.
dens grew most of the culinary ve-
getables, and they were not without
some fine fruits : for though to these,
in general, the soil of their moun-
tains was unfavourable, being-either
moist or clayey, yet they had some
valuable fruit trees, among which
the avocado, or alligator pear, rank-
ed foremost. Mammees, and other
wild but delicious fruits, were at
their hand, and pine-apples grew in
their hedges. They bred cattle and
hogs, and raised a great quantity of
fowls. When to this domestic pro-
vision of good and wholesome food,
we add the luxuries afforded by the
woods, the wild boar, ring-tail
pigeons, and other wild birds, and
the land-crab, which some esteem
the greatest dainty in the West In-
dies, we may doubt whether the pa-
late of Apicius would not have re-
ceived higher gratification in Tre-
lawny town than at Rome.

It has been said, that the Maroons
let their provision grounds, both
those belonging to themselves, and
those they held on sufferance, go to
ruin, and trespassed on the provi-
sion grounds of the settlers in the

mountains.

* This may. appear favourable to the system proposed, of cultivating Trinidad
with free negroes; but let it be recollected, that the Maroons were a small body,
and that power remained with the whites, which, in a general freedom, weuld aot

-

796 ANNUAL RE
mountains. I am informed that the

fact was otherwise, that those of the
settlers were insuflicient, their ne-
groes being employed in different
labour, and that they purchased
the superabundance of the Maroons.
Their grounds, after the corn was
cut down, might, for a length of
time, appear to the eye in a ruinous
state; while, under the surface, a
large stock of nutritive roots were
growing to maturity. These roots
were their surest support, at the
period when a scarcity was most to
be apprehended, after a long con-
tinued succession of dry weather.
In the course of time, these patches
of land were cleared and replanted,
and they again gradually assumed
the appearance of being neglected ;
it is no wonder, therefore, that the
eye of a casual visitor should have
been deceived, and that he should
. have been Jed to declare ** that he
perceived no vestige of culture :”
but I cannot so well account for his
asserting ‘* that the Maroons sup-
plied themselves from the plantations
of the whites, by purchase or theft*,
as I have the best authority for
what I have affirmed, respeéting the
superabundance disposed of by the
people of Trelawncy town.

The women chiefly were employ-
ed in the cultivation of their grounds;
but this they did not account an im-
position upon them by the men.
We are not to imagine that what
would be real cruelty in a refined
state of society, is cruelty, or eyen
hardship, ina rough and unpolished
people, among whom, every indivi-
dual depends upon his own exertions
for his support. In what country
on the globe is it, that, in the class
of mankind doomed to labour, we
Shall not find tribes, the women of

GISTER, 1803.

which participate the toils of the
men? Is it France? Is it Wngland ?
If the Maroon women were em-
ployed in burning trees and in til-
lage, the men, besides hunting and
pursuing runaways, were employed
in fencing the grounds, building and
repairing houses, attending to their
cattle and horses, of which they
had about 200 head, and carrying
on their petty commerce. ‘They
were none of them mechanics ; all
their knowledge of that kind was
confined to the art of erecting a
house and repairing a gun.

Their traflic consisted in the dis-
posal of the increase of their stock of
all kinds, their jirked hog, and sw
perfluous provisions, which enable
them to purchase other commodi-
ties, and to put money by. ‘They
made a considerable profit by ma
nufaéturing tobacco. They bought
the leaf of the plant on the estates
within the distance of twenty or
thirty miles, which their women and
children assisted them in carrying
home, each loaded with a weight
proportioned to the strength of the
carrier. ‘The purchase was put into
bags, which were made by knitting
the fibres of the trumpe-tree, and
mahoe bark, the ends of which were
contracted into a bandage that went
round the forehead, and served as a
stay to the load, which rested on
the back. The leaves were dried
and prepared for use by the men,
who twisted them into a kind of
rope, of about the third of an inch
in diameter, which they rolled up
in balls, and carried out in the same
manner to the different estates for
sale.

The maroon marriages, or con-
tra¢ts of cohabitation, were attend-
ed with no religious or juridical

ceremonies 5

* Edwards,

CHAR ACT ERS.

eeremonies; the consent of the wo-
man to live with the man being
sufficient. That being obtained,
gifts of clothes and trinkets were
made to the bride; and frequently
the bridegroom received presents of
hogs, fowls, and other things, from
the relations of the woman, to
whom, in case of a separation, they
were to be returned. A plurality
of wives was allowed. A man might
have as many as he could maintain ;
but very few had more than two.
and most of them confined them-
selves to one. It was very expen-
sive to have several wives; for the
husband, on making a present to
one, was obliged to make an equal
gift to each of the others. Mach
wife lived in turn with her husband
two days, during which time the
others cultivated their grounds, or
carried their provisions to market ;
the property of each was distinét
from that of the others, but the
husband shared with ail.
dren of the different women were to
| be noticed by their father only on
the days when their respective mo-
thers sojoured with him. A breach
of this decorum would have inflamed
the injured mother with jealousy ;
a passion, however, in every respect
confined to the temperary dame, for
to the others all the extra-gallantry
of the man was a matter of indif-
ference. If the men sometimes be-
haved with brutality to their wives
or children, it was generally the
_effeét of intoxication, It has been
asserted, that they regarded their
wives as so many beasts of burden,
and felt no more concern at the
loss of one of them, than a white

=

* Edwards.

The chil-

797

planter would have felt at the loss
of a bullock.”* . Without saying
how far this observation may be ap-
plicable to ee I will here
introduce an anécdote, though ra-
ther out of time, which will eluci-
date the point. In the course of
an attempt that was made to convert
the Maroons to christianity, which
will appear in its proper place, poly-
gamy was considered, and the Ma-
roon told that, as a christain, he
could not have more than one wife.
Having been attached to two for
some time, and having children by
both — ** Top, massa governor,”
said he, ‘¢ top lilly bit—you say me
mus forsake my wife.””—‘* Only
one of them.”—‘‘ Which dat one?
Jesus Christ say so? Gar a’mighty
say so? No, no, massa; Gar 0’
mighty good; he no tell somebody
he mus forsake him wife and chil-
dren. Somebody no wicked for
forsake his wife! No, massa, dis
here talk no do for we.”—In other
language thus: ‘ Stay sir,” said
the maroon, “ stay a little. You
tell me that I must forsake my
wife.’”—*“* Only one of them,”—
‘¢ And which shall that be? Does
Jesus Christ say so? Does God say
so? No, no, sir; God is good,
and allows no one to forsake his
wife and children. He who for-
sakes his wife must be a wicked
man. ‘This is a doétrine, sir, not

suited to us.”’ +
However, these people were cer-
tainly in a state far removed from
civilization, and I do not doubt that
their passions might haye, occasion-
ally, instigated them to violences
that were savage: yet that at any
time

+ No reader, of common understanding, will ‘see in this any argument against
} the conversion of the negroes to christianity. It must take place gradually; and
Imean, whenI come to that head, to shew that the work may be best attempted

} first among the Maroons remaining in Jamaica,

795
time they would kill their children

by dashing “them against rocks,* [-

cannot but think an assertion with-
eut proof. The murderer would
have been brought to condign pu-
nishment by the superintendant,.who,
so far from thinking it prudent to
keep his distance, would have in-
stantly seized the wretch. I speak
particularly of Trelawney Town,
the superintendant of which had
been long resident there, and whose
charafier, we shall presently see,
fully refutes the charge of dastardly
prudence.

Instances of revenge arising from
‘jealousy seldom occurred among the
Maroons. . Like their African pro-
genitors, they parted with their wives
for incontinency, without inflicting
severer punishments. In Africa the
man had the power of selling the
adultress. ‘The younger females were
not, generally, votresses of Diana.
When a girl was of an age to be-
come a wife, the parents killed a
hog, and madea feast, to which the
neighbours were invited. Plenty of
good things were provided; nor was
rum spared by the elders, while the
younger people danced. Each of
the party put a small piece of mo-
ney in the girl’s mouth, generally a
quarter of a dollar; but the parent’s
piece was frequently gold. Although
this feast was intended by the family
as a signal to the young men. for
making an offer, the girl herself
usually preferred a state of celibacy
for some years after it was known,
that she had killed a hog.

When gentlemen, through curio-
sity, visited the town, which was
very rarely the case, they were hos-

* Edwards.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

pitably and respeétfully entertained.
The visitors could not expeét to
meet in the houses such convenient
articles of furniture as they were
accustomed to at home. Some of
the principal men ‘furnished a table
with a clean damask cloth, on which
they placed the various dainties I
have already mentioned. Several
small articles of silver plate were
used, Sometimes they produced malt
liquor and wine, and always rum.
While the company were at dinner,
the captain, or whoever might be-
the entertainer, appeared in his best
cloaths: if a chief, he wore a kind
of regimentals, perhaps some old
military coat finely laced, which had
been given to him by a gentleman,
whose name he had assumed: + with
this he wore a’ ruffled shirt, linen
waistcoat and trowsers, and a laced
hat. He did not presume to eat
with his company, or to sit at the
table with them, but took his seat
at a respectful distance, and con-
versed occasionally on being address-
ed. The beds with which they pro-
vided their guests were not of fea-
thers, but of wholesome fine-picked
corn trash, with clean sheets. ‘There
was seldom occasion for musquito
nets, the houses being very rarely
infested with those venemous gnats,
that prove such pests in, the low
lands. ‘The Maroons produced can-
dles for the use of their visitors, but,
at other times, a large fire at the
door sufficed them for light. They
are accused of a practice of prosti-
tuting their daughters,, by force, te
their guests, but the faét is, that
compulsion was not necessary ; and,
if ever. it was used, would their more

civilized

+ The Maroon names would appear extraordinary to a reader ignorant of the

Maroon custom
versally. practised among them.

of,adopting the names of the gentlemen of the island, It was une

CHARA

civilized visitors be exempt from a
share of the crime? Would not
such an act of wanton brutality re-
dound infinitely more upon them
than upon those who were consi-
dered so much their inferior in every
respect ? But thus it is, that when
men are intent on arguments to de-
preciate a cause, they run beyond
their objeét, and prove too much
- for the side they maintain. Let me
not commit the same fault: Iam
not the apologist of this body of
people; it is to be regretted that
among them, as among other ne-
_ groes, the young women had no
scruples in offering themselves to
white men, in order to procure dress
and finery. Although they were
naturally attached to lovers of their
own complexion, who participated
their favours, even when kept by
the former in a state of ease and
comparative splendour. Would I
could say that the shocking offers
with which these black fathers are
charged were confined to their com-
plexions! Would to God I could
say that, in religion and in morals,
a great example was set by those
_ who boast a fair skin, and pass with
_ the title of christians.
The funerals of the Maroons were
_ much the same as those of other ne-
_ groes. Deaths were not more fre-
- quent among them than elsewhere.
_ Although they seldom had recourse
tothe aid of medicine. Not that
_they were averse from it, for, if an
opportunity offered, they readily
applied to the plantation doétors,
‘and sometimes they took simple
herbs prescribed to them by their
old women. It was their custom to
sing over the dead previous to bu-
rial; and, inclosing the body in
_ a wooden coflin, they interred it in
_ some part of their inclosure.
_ I have already given you ade.

a.

GT ERS, 799;

scription of their mode of carrying
on war, and of the nature of their
cockpits, which it was necessary for
me to do, to enable you to under-
stand the contest mantained with
the original Maroons under Cudjoe:
Ihave, therefore, before I conclude,
to recal to your mind, that, in the
course of this letter, [ have princi-
pally had in view the people of Tre.
lawney town ; that body, of whose
rebellion I mean to give you some
account in my next. The difference
between the inhabitants of the vari.
ous towns is not very great. ‘Those
of the windward, or eastern part of
the island, are rather more civilized.
Those of Accompong are in every
respect the same as the people of
Trelawney town, being only a part
of them who had followed Accom-
pong, the brother of Cudjoe, to
settle in the town called after him.
But neither the Accompongs, nor
any other of the Maroon bodies,
could be induced to join in the re-
bellion of those of Trelawney town.
On the contrary, they condemned it
severely, and manifested their dis-
pleasure at it, by reviling the mes.
sengers that had been sent to them.

In closing this letter, let me ob-
serve, that the population of the
Maroons in general had rapidly in-
creased. The number that surren-
dered in tha. years 1738 and 1739,
did not amount to, 600; in 1770,
they consisted of 885, men, women,
and children ; in the year 1773, they
were 1028 ; and in the year 1788,
had increased to about 1400.

Description of the Manners and.
Habits of the Spanish Chasseurs,
in the Island of Cuba, with an
Account of the Blood Hound :
from Dailas’s History of the Ma-

TOONS.
THE

800

HE commissioner* every where

met with the greatest hospi-
tality, and received the politest at-
tentions from the most respectable
families. He-was particularly obliged
to an English Guinea merchant,
named Allwood, residing at the Ha-
vanna, through whose influence with
persons of the highest rank and ap-
pointments, hehad great advantages,
many imteresting themselves in pro-
moting his views. One of them,
Don Manuel de Seias, the alcade
provinciale, commanded about six
and thirty chasseurs, who were in
the king’s pay. ‘the employment
of these is to traverse the country,
for the purpose of pursuing and
taking up all persons guilty of mur-
der, and other offences, in which
they seldom fail of success, no aéti-
vity on the part of the offenders
being able to elude their pursuit.—
An extraordinary instance occurred
about a month before the commis-
sioner arrived at the Havanna. A
fleet from Jamaica, under convoy to
Great Britain, passing through the
gulph of Mexico, beat up on the
north side of Cuba. One of the
ships, manned with foreigners,
chiefly renegado Spaniards, being
a dull sailer, and consequently
lagging astern, standing in with the
land at night, was run on shore ;
the captain, officers, and the few
British ‘hands on board murdered,
and the vessel plundered by the
Spanish renegadoes. ‘The part of
the coast on which the vessel was
stranded, being wild and unfrequent-
ed, the assassins retired with their
booty to the mountains, intending
to penetrate through the woods, to
some remote settlements on the south
side, where they hoped to secure
themselves, and elude all pursuit.
Early intelligence of the crime, how-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ever, had been conveyed to the Ma-
vanna, atid the assassins were pur-
sued by a detachment of twelve
chasseurs del Rey, with their dogs.
In a few days they were all brought
in and executed. ‘The head and
right arm of each were suspended in
frames, not unlike parrot cages,
which were hung on yarious gibbets,

.at the port and cther conspicuous

places on the coast, near the en-
trance of the harbour,

‘The dogs carried out by the chas-
seurs del Rey are perfectly broken
in: that is to say, they will not kill
the object they pursue, unless resist~
ed. Oncoming up with a fugitive,
they bark at him till he stops, they
then couch near him, terrifying him
with a ferocious growling if he stirs,
In this position they continue bark-
ing, to give notice to the chasseurs,
who come up and secure their pri-
soner. Each chasseur, though he
can hunt only with two dogs pro-
perly, is obliged to have three, which
he maintains at his own cost, and
that at no small expence. These
people live with theiy dogs, from
which they are inseparable. At
home the dogs are kept chained,
and when walking with their mas.
ters, are never unmuzzled, or let
out of ropes, but for attack. They
are constantly accompanied with one
or two small dogs called finders,
whose scent is very keen, and al.
ways sure of hitting off a track.—
Dogs and bitches hunt equally well,
and the cliasseurs rear ne more than
will supply the namber required.
This breed of dogs, indeed, is not so
prolificas the common kinds, though
infinitely stronger and hardier.
The animal is the size of a very
large hound, with ears ere¢t, which
are usually cropped at the points ;
the nose more pointed, but widen-

ing

* Sent from Jamaica to Cuba to procure blood hounds,

CHARA

ing very much towards the after-
part of the jaw: his coat, or skin,
is much harder than that of most
dogs, and so must be the whole
struéture of the body, as the severe
beatings he undergoes in training
would kill any other species of dog.
There are some, but not many,
ef a more obtuse nose, and which
are rather squarer set. These, it
may be presumed, have been crossed
by the mastiff; but if, by this, the
bulk has been a little increased, it
has added nothing to the strength,
height, beauty, or agility of the na-
tive breed.

The chasseur has no other weapon
than a long strait muschet, or cou-
teau, longer than a dragoon’s sword,
and twice as thick, something like a
flat iron bar, sharpened at the lower
end, of which about eighteen inches
areas sharp asarazor. The pointis
notunlike the old Roman sword: the
steel of them is excellent, and made
at Guanabacoa, about three miles
from the Havanna. The handle of
the muschet is without a guard, but
scolloped to admit the fingers, and
Suit the grasp. These men, as we
have seen, are under an officer of
high rank; the alcade provinciale,
and receive a good pay from the go-
vernment, besides private rewards
for particular and extraordinary
services. They are a very hardy,
brave, and desperate set of people,
scrupulously honest, and remarka-
bly faithfal.

A body of men of the same de-
scription and chara¢ter reside at
Busucal, within the marquisa’s ju-
risdiction. These are not in the
_ king’s pay, butvare chiefly employ-
ed, like the Maroons in Jamaica,
in scouring the mountains of this
extensive country, to take runa-
ways, for which they have a fixed

Vou. XLY.

C/T EYRIS: 801

reward, and to attack all bodies of
negroes collected for hostile pur-
poses, which is sometimes occasion~
ed by the rigour exercised on the
Spanish plantations: for, although
in other employments, and particus
larly in domestic service, the slaves
are treated kindly, and live a very
easy life, it must be owned that the
state of slavery on the settlements is
not unattended with severity. The
greatest commotions, however, have
been occasioned by Spanish piety.
Many of the largest and best sugar
estates in the island of Cuba belong
to the different ecclesiastical orders,
who are the most rapacious of plan-
ters. Under the mask of discou-
raging a vicious intercourse with
the sexes, some of them religiously
resolved to purchase only male ne-
groes; a devout austerity imposed
upon the poor fellows, which, would
the good fathers candidly confess it,
would appear to originate in the

_temporal policy of Quwrenda pecu«

nia primum est, it being thought
that men can do more work than
women, Deprived of connexions
resulting from one of the chief laws
of nature, and driven to despera-
tion, the unhappy negroes, notunm+
like the first Romans, have been —
known to fly to neighbouring estates,
seize on the women, and carry them
off to the mountains. There, in or-
der to secure and defend themselves, .
they fell upon some Spaniards, killed
them, and thus procuring a few fire
arms, lances, and cutlatses, attempt-
ed to make a resistance against the
laws, but in vain; a few of the
Besucal people, with their dogs,
have always proved an overmatch
for them.

The aétivity of the chasseurs no
negro on earth can’elude ; and such
is their temperance, that, with a few

3F ounces

$02

ounces of salt for each, they can
support themselves for whole months
on the vegetable -and farinacious
foods afforded by the woods. ‘They
drink nothing stronger than -water,
with which, when at a distance
from springs, they are copiously
supplied) by the wild pine, by the
black and grape withes, which are
about two inches in diameter, and
the roots of the cotton tree. Of
the last, six feet junked off the
smaller part of the root, where it
tapers to the thickness of a man’s
thigh, will yicld several gallons of
water. in the fgreatest drought
these resources seldom fail. For
the wild pine they are obliged to
clinb trees; but that they do al-
most with the velocity of-a monkey.
This plant takes root on the body
-of a tree} and the leaves of it are
so formed as to catch the rain, and
conduct it to a reservoir at the
base, where being never exposed to
the sun, it is found delightfully fresh
and cool. But the easiest method
ot obtaining water in the woods,
and with less delay on a march, is
from the black and grape withes :
it is done with greater expedition
than drinking at a spring. The
ehasseur catches a pendent withe,
which, with his muschet, he divides
about two feet from the ground,
and applies the end of the withe,
as it hangs, to his mouth, or to his
dog’s, who indicates his thirst: he
then cuts the withe off, about six
_ feet higher, keeping the upper end
elevated, when the air being ad-
mitted above, he receives, through
the porous fibres of it, near a quart
of delightful cold water. With re-
speé& to animal food, if any of them
happen to desire it, they find no
dificulty in obtaining it. The little
finder, if set.on, but.not otherwise,

ANNUAL REGISTER,» 1803.

will soon bay one of the wild -hegs,
with which the woods abound; the
animal, retreating for shelter to the
trunk of a tree, is immediately trans-
fixed with a lance. , The men cure
as much of the flesh as they think
they will have occasion for, by
scoring it internally to the skin,
sprinkling it with salt, and smoking
it; over the smoke they throw some
aromatic leaves, which not only add
to its flavour, but assist im pre-
serving it. The meat thus cured
will keep for months, and is esteem-
ed a very great dainty by the most
refined epicures. It is, in fact, like
the jirked hog, already mentioned
in the account of the Maroon mode
of life. The part of the hog not
preserved, is given to the dogs. The
pursuit of the game is entirely the
province of the finder; the larger
dogs, from their training, would
pass a hog without- notice ; were
one of them to bark at a hog, he
would be severely punished. The
chasseurs beat their dogs most un-
mercifully, using the flat sides of their
heavy muschets. When they are
going out on service, the Jarge
chains in which they are kept at
home are taken off, and a light, but
well twisted, cotton rope substituted, .
to which the muzzle and collar, join-
ed together, are attached at one
end, while the other is fixed to the
belt of the chasseur; who, when a
pursuit is to be made, slips them off,
securing them round his waist with
the rope to which they are tied,
draws his muschet, and pushes for-
ward nearly as fast as his dogs; for
the latter are impeded by the under-
wood, and are sometimes so en-
tangled as to require the assistance
of their masters to cut their way
through the difficulty which ob-
structs their proceeding. Thegreatest

privation

CHARA

privation felt by a chasseur in ser-
vice is, the want of a segar, which
he must not use in the woods, where
the scent, from the freshness of the
trees and stillness of the air, conti-
nues long suspended, and is gradually
spread’in the atmosphere, by which
the company could not but be be-
trayed, in spite of the great si-
lence which they observe on their
marches. At other times the segar
is hardly ever out of their mouths.

I must now complete your idea of
a Spanish chasseur, by giving you a
description of his dress. You may
imagine it will be brief, for the
wearer is not a man of fashion, and
he lives beneath a vertical sun. A
check shirt, open at the collar, so as
to expose the neck, from which
hangs a small crucifix; a wide pair
of trowsers, also check; a straw
hat, or rather one manufactured of
the morass thatch, divided into small
filaments, seven or eight inches in
the rim, with a shallow round crown,
and very light; add his belt and
sword, already described, and a pair
of untanned leather shoes. Into
this dress, put a man with a Spanish
countenance, swarthy but animated,
a person above the middle size, thin,
but not meagre: to his belt affix the
cotton ropes, and imagine them at-
tached by collars round the necks of
his dogs, and you will havea finished
picture of him.

CTERS. 803

Besides his untanned shoe, the
chasseur often contrives, in the
woods, a curious defence for his
feet, which is greatly preferable-
Having skinned the thighs and hocks
of the wild hog, he thrusts ‘his foot .
into the raw hide as far as he can
force it, then cuts a small slip at
the instep, and, with his knife, takes
off the superfiuous skin behind,
adapting the remainder to his ancle
and the lower part of his leg. The
pliant hide takes the shape of a close
short half-boot, fitting like a glove
on the foot, with a lengthened use-
less projection’ beyond the toe,
something resembling the modérn
fashion of our beaux, ‘This contriy-
ance will last a march of weeks or
months; but once taken off, the
skin dries, shrivels, and becomes
useless. ‘There are porco zopatos
made of dried hides that reach to
the calf of the leg; but they are
wide, hard, and not pliant to the
feet.

The Besucal chasseurs had not
above seventy dogs properly broke 5
the others, of which they had many,
though of the same breed; will kill
the object they pursue: they fly at
the throat, or other part of a mag,
and never quit their hold, till they
are cut in two. These dogs, howe
ever, are seldom, if ever, carried
out till perfectly trained.

Eo) ie NATURAL

( 804 )

»

- NATURAL HISTORY.

On the Wax Tree of Louisiana and
Pensylvania, by Charles Louis
Cadet, of the College of Phar-
macy, from the Annales De Chi-
mic.

MULTITUDE of plants, as
the croton scbiferum, the
tomex sebefera, loureiro, the pop-
Jar, the alder, the pine, yield by
decoction, a concrete inflammable
- matter, more or less resembling tal-
low or wax; that is to say, a fixed
oil, saturated with oxygen. The
Jight down, which is called the
flower of fruits, and which silvers
the surface of plums and other
smooth-skinned fruits, is a wax, as
_°M..Proust has demonstrated. But
e tree which affords this. substance
in the greatest abundance, that which
on more than one account deserves
the attention of agriculturists, che-
mists, physicians, and commercial
men, is the myrica cerifera, or wax
tree. ;

We find, in the History of the
Academy of Sciences for the yeais
1722, and 1725, M. Alexandre, a

‘surgeon and correspondent of M.
‘Mairan’s,had observed, in Louisiana,
a tree of the height of a cherry tree,
having the appearance of a myrtle,
and nearly the same smell, bearing
a berry of the size of a coriander
seed. These berries, of an ash-grey

-tables, mentions only the Virginia

colour, contained, he said, a small,
hard, round kernel, covered with a
glossy wax, which is separated by
boiling the berries in water, ‘This
wax is drier and more friable than
the common wax. The natives of
the country make candles of it. M,
Alexandre added, ‘* this berry is
commonly charged with a beautiful
lake colour, and stains the fingers
if merely squeezed between them,
but only at a particular time of the
Fear

M. Alexandre likewise discover-
ed, that the liquor in which the ber-
ries have been boiled, when poured
away aud evaporated to the consist-
ence of an extraét, having previously
skimmed off the wax, was capable
of stopping the most violent dysen-
teries.

The useful properties belonging
to this tree, should induce scientific
men to make enquiries, for the pur-
pose of discoyering what varieties
there are of this vegetable, and what
care is requisite for its cultivation.
It appears to haye been considered
a long time as merely an object of
curiosity.

Linneus, in his System of Vege- —

wax tree, myrica cerifera, with
lanceolated, or rather dentated,

leaves, with a stem like a tree.
I wrote to M. Ventenat, re-
questing

NATURAL

questing him to inform me whether
there are several species of it: he
was so obliging as to answer me
that Ayton distinguished two, name-
ly:—.

9. The myrica cerifera angusti-
folia, which is a native of Louisiana.
This is a delicate tree, is reared
with difficulty in our green-houses ;
its seed is smaller than that of the
other.

2. The myrica cerifera latifolia,
which grows in Pensylvania, Caro-
Jina, and Virginia; it is not so high
as the other, and thrives perfectly
well in France.

Both of these myrice are culti-

_ vated in the museum of plants, and

in the garden of Messrs. Cels and
Lemonier. M. Michault admits a
third species of myrica cerifera,
which he calls dwarf wax trec,, M.
Ventenat thinks that wax may be
obtained from all the myrice.

The authors who haye treated of
these trees, at some length, are Mar-
shall,’ translated by Leserme, Le-
page, Duprat, and Toscan,: libra-
rian of the Museum of Natural His-
tory. A memoir inserted by the
latter in his work entitled, L’Ami
de ta Nature, describes the manner
in which the vegetable wax is ob-
tained in the colonies.

“¢ Towards the end of autumn,”
says he, ‘* when the berries are
ripe, a man quits his house, with
his family, and betakes himself to
some island, or spot on the sea-
coast, where the wax trees grow in
abundance. He carries with him
pots for boiling the berries, and a
hatchet for building a cabin to shel-
ter him during his residence there,
which usually continues three or four
weeks; he then fells trees, and cons
structs a hut, whilst his children

gather the berries. A tree tolera-

HISTORY. 805.

bly. produétive, yields about seven
pounds. When asuflicient quantity
of berries is collected, the family

‘employs itself in extracting the wax.

A certain portion of the berries is
put into the pot, and a sufficient
quantity of water is poured on them
until it rises about six inches above
them. ‘The whole is boiled, and
the berries are stirred and pressed,
from time to time, against the sides
of the vessel, that the wax may be
the more easily detached. Soon
after it is seen floating on the sur-
face in the form of grease, which is
collected with a spoon, and is strain-
ed through a coarse cloth, to sepa
rate any impurities that may be
mixed with it. When no more wax
is detached, the berries are taken
out with a ladle, and fresh ones are
put into the same water, observing
to renew it entirely at the 2nd or 3rd
time, and even to add boiling water in
proportion as it evaporates, that the
operation may not be impeded.
When a certain quantity of wax has
been thus colleéted, it is put to drain
on a piece of Jinen, in order to
separate from it the water with
which it is still mixed. It is then
dried and melted, strained a second
time to render it perfeétly pure, and
is made into cakes. Four pounds
of berries yield about a pound of
wax: that which is first detached is
generally yellow; but in the latter
boilings, the pellicle with which the
stone of the berry is covered gives
it a green tinge.”

Kalm, the traveller, in speaking
of vegetable wax, says, that in the
country where the wax tree grows,
they make excellent soap of it,
which washes linen exquisitely white.

Such was the knowledge we pos-
sessed of the myrice, or, at least, no
other observation had been publish-

3F 3 ed

806

ed relative to it, to my knowledge,
when a naturalist gave me half a
kilo-gramme of the vegetable wax of
Louisiana. I was curious to make
a comparative analysis with it and
bees wax; but before I undertook
it, I wished to make myself ac-
quainted with the tree and berry of
the myrica. I saw.that precious ve-
getable in the garden of plants, and
{ wrote to M. Deshayes, a studious
botanist, who prosecutes the cul-
ture of the myrica pensylvania, at
Rambouillet, requesting him to give
me some details concerning it; he
had the complaisance to answer me,
and to send me some of the berries,
which I immediately examined.

This berry is about the size of a
pepper corn; its surface, when ripe
and fresh, is white, having small
black asperities, which give it a
wrinkled appearance: when rubbed
in the hands, it makes them greasy
and unctuous. If one of these smal]
berries is rubbed hard, a matter is
shelled off apparently of a starchy
mature, and mixed with small round
brown grains like fine gun-powder.
‘The stone, which is left bare, has a
very thick ligneous shell, and con-
tains a kernel of the dicotyledon
kind. By rubbing a handful of the
berries on a hair sieve, [ have ob-
tained a grey dust, in which the eye
can distinguish, without the assist-
ance of a magnifier, the small brown
grains above-mentioned, in the
midst. of a white powder.

I put this dust. into alcohol, which,
with a gentle heat, dissolved all the
white part, and left the black pow-
der. which I colleéted separate.
Water poured on this solution with

alcohol, formed a precipitate, that —

rose and floated on the surface. I
melted it, and obtained a yellowish
wax, similar to that from Louisiana,

ANNUAL REGISTER,’

1803.

which had been sent me. This ex
periment is a sufficient proof that
the wax of the myrice is the white
gritty matter that envelops the berry.

The black powder which I had
Separated, appeared to me to con-
tain a colouring principle, and I

was in hopes of discovering in it the -

beautiful Jake mentioned by M.
Alexandre. Under this idea, I tri-
turated this powder, and boiled it

in a solution of acid sulphat of alu-—

mine; I was greatly astonished upon
obtaining a liquor scarcely coloured
at all, and in which the alumine,
precipitated by an alkali, was only
slightly tinged.

I took another part of this black
triturated powder, and put it to
steep in alcohol; I soon obtained a
dye of the colour of wine lees; I

‘

heated it, and it became as red asa —

Strong quinguina or cachou liquor.
This result made me imagine, that
the colouring principle was resinous ;
but, upon adding water, I saw no
signs of a precipitate.

nk poured into this liquor, weal
charged with sulphat of alumine; a
slight precipitation ensued; a solu-
tion of sulphat of iron instantly
turned it into ink.

What then is this colouring as-
tringent principle, which is soluble
only in alcohol, is not precipitated
by water, and has so little attrac-
tion for alumine? To discover this,
would require a series of experi-
ments, which the want of materials
prevented me from undertaking.
The astringent matter, noticed by
M. Alexandre, must exist in the de-
coétion of the whole berries. Ta
ascertain this faét, I boiled some
berries in a silver saucepan; the de-
coétion,-on-which floated a small
quantity of wax, was of a greenish
colour; its taste was slightly astrin-

gent,

’ astringent than the berries.

WATURAE

gent, and it precipitated ferruginous
solutions of a black colour. 1
heated it ina very clean iron vessel,
and it quickly turned black. ‘Tu
discover whether this. property was
owing to gallic acid alone, or to
the tanning principle, I mixed a
small quantity of the decoétion with
a solution of ‘glue, and no precipi-
tate was formed.

lt is, therefore, to the conside-
rable quantity of gallic acid contain-
ed by the berries of the myrice, that
the property of curing dysenteries,
which its extraét possesses, is ow-
ing; on this account, I think, that
the leaves and bark of the tree
would furnish an extract still more
The
examination of the wax ‘presents
more interesting resuits: whether
this wax be extracted by the decoc-
tion of the berries, or by the solu-
tion of the white dust in alcohol,
precipitated by water, this. melted
wax is always of a yellow colour,
inclining to green. Its consistence
is harder than that of bees wax ; it
is dry, so friable as to be reduced
toa powder; in short, it is evi-
dently more highly oxygenated than
the wax prepared by bees. Candles
made of the wax of the myrica,
give a white flame, a clear light, no
smoke, do not run, and exhale,

_if fresh, a balsamic odour, which
the inhabitants of Louisiana consi-

der extremely salubrious for the
sick. When distilled in a retort;
this wax passes over in great part
like butter. That portion is whiter
than it was; but it loses its con-
sistence, and has only that of tallow.
Another portion is decomposed,
furnishes a small quantity of water,
sebacic acid, and empyreumatic oil ;
much carbonated hydrogen gas, and
carbonic acid gas, is disengaged ; a

HISTO K Y. 80?

black bitumen, resembling charcoal

is left in the retort’: common wait
aéts in the same manner in distillas
tion.

I have said above that alchohol
dissolved the wax of the myrica 5,
but ether dissolves it much better,
and it separates itself in the form of
stalagmites in the evaporation of the
liquid. © Neither the one nor the
other takes away its colour, ~ If
this wax is boiled in weak sulphuric
acid, it becomes rather whiter; but
there is no perceptible combinatiow
of the acid with it. Yellow bees
wax, treated in the same way, does
not change its colour. Oxygenated
muriatic acid perfectly hleaches both
kinds of wax. ‘Vegetable wax, how-
ever, retains its colour with most
obstinacy.

Vegetable wax dissolves in ame
moniac : the solution assumes a
brown colour; part of the wax
turns to soap. Volatile alkali has
much less action on bees wax. Both
kinds of wax, stirred violently in a
boiling solution of caustic pot-ash;
become white, and form a reaj soap,
as Kalm the traveller has observed.

The whiteness which the wax ac.
quires in this saponification, is not
anew phenomenon. M. Chaptals
in his process’ for bleaching, by the
vapour of alkaline leys, has proved
that the colouring matter of vegeta
bles yields to the aétion of alkalis.
Some chemists attribute this effeét to
the direct combination of soda or
pot-ash with the coloured extractive
part ; a combination which'’brings it
into nearly a saponaccous state, and
renders it soluble.

I imagine that, in this operons
the alkali exercises on the oil or om
the wax a double attraction, at first
direét with the constituent princi-
ples of the oil, afterwards predis~

3F 4 posing

e

808

posing and favouring the combina-

_ tion of the atmospheric oxygen with

oil or wax. I know not whether
any person had the idea before me,
but it was given me by the obserya-

tion of what passes in the decompo-

sition of soap by an acid: the oil
is always concrete, and more oxyge-
nated than it was before. It
would be interesting for the theory
of chemistry to make soap, if pos-
sible, in a close apparatus, in which
the air might be examined after the
experiment, or in the different gases
which contain no oxygen,

In decomposing the soap of my-
Tica, a white wax is obtained, but
in a particular state which does not
admit of its being employed for our
purposes.

Litharge, or semi-vitreous Khe
of lead, dissolves very well in melted
Louisiana wax ; it forms a very hard
mass, but the consistence of which
may be diminished at pleasure, by
the addition of a small quantity of
oil. If, as there is reason to sup-
pose, the wax of the myrica retains
a portion of the astringent principle

' obtained by the decoétion of the

berries, the physicians will, perhaps,
discover useful properties in topical
applications composed of this wax.

Upon a retrospect of the preced-
ing facts, it will appear that the
myrica may be rendered extremely
useful to the arts. The wax which
it. yields is in sufficient quantity to
compensate amply the care and ex-
pence of cultivation, since a tree in
full bearing produces six or seven
pounds of berries, from which may
be extra¢ted a fourth of that weight
of wax. This wax'is of a quality
superior to that of bees’ wax.

The astringent principle of the
myrica, extracted on a large scale,
might be very useful either in medi-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809.

cine or the arts: it might, in some
measure, be substituted instead of
the gallnuts, in dyeing-houses, in
the manufacture of hats, and eyen in
tanning certain kinds of leather.—
The colouring principle appears suf,
ficiently solid to deserve some atten-
tion ; and, if it be true that a beau-
tiful lake bine been made from it in
Louisiana, why cannot we likewise
succeed in rendering it useful for
painting ; and seia this. wax be-
comes so common as to be sold at a
low price, of what advantage will it
not be for making soap ?,

The art’ for bleaching this wax
requires a more perfect investiga-
tion for operating on a large scale,
and with @conomy. Two agents
offer themselyes to manufaéturers :
sulphuric acid and oxygenated mu-
riatic acid, But, as, the wax does
not sink in these liquids, means
must be employed for increasing the
contaét, either by putting the wax
in shavings, and sprinkling it with
oxygenated muriatic acid, or by en-
closing it in the same envelop in
casks through which oxygenated
muriatic gas may be passed.

I shall propose a third, which
promises a more expeditious effect.
The, wax, divided into very small
pieces, is laid in strata in a cask,
together with miuriate of lime:
they are thus disposed layer by
layer, and left some time in contact,
in a dry state. The salt is after-
wards decomposed with water aci-
dulated with sulphuric acid, taking
care to pour on the water at differ’
ent intervals, till no mere muriatic
gas be perceptibly disengaged ; then
a, considerable quantity of water
must be added, and the mixture
must be stirred with a stick. In

_ Standing, the insoluble sulphur of

lime is precipitated, and the bleached
wax

NATURAL

wax floats on the surface. It is
then washed, and melted in a bal-
nea marie.

I shall conclude this memoir with
notices relative to the cultivation of
the myrica pensylvania. M. De-
shayes, to whom I am indebted for
the opportunity of making my ex-
periments, has for several years
turned his attention to the wax tree
at Rambouillet.. He writes me as
follows on this subject.

“¢ The myrica latifolia (Ayton)
is perfectly at home here ; the soil,
which is sandy and blackish loam,
is exactly adapted to it: we have
here sixteen produétive wax trees.
Their height is four, five, and six
feet. There is one male tree of se-
ven feet. ‘Ihe berries are abundant
almost every year; I say almost,
because in some years there is a fai-
lure. In general they are very fine
in the English part of the garden,
which is allotted to these plauts.

_ “ Their culture requires no par-
ticular, attention: the numerous
shoots from the foot of the large
trees’ are every year taken off,
and planted in some other place, at
the distance of a metre from each
other.”’ '

_ The berries may be sown in
Spring, in beds, and afterwards
transplanted ; but this method is
thelJongest. The myrica will thrive
every where in a light and rather
humid soil. How many provinces
ave there into which this useful

: branch of agriculture might be in-

troduced, and where lands almost
totally waste, might be turned to
adyantage !

What benefits may not agricul-

ture in general expect from such an

acquisition, since the myrica has

HISTORY. $09

long flourished even in the arid sands
of Prussia !

The French government has al-
ready given encouragement to this
branch of industry, by ordering
plantations of the myrica, At Or-
leans and at Rambouillet there are
two shrubberies of wax trees, con~
taining above four hundred plants.
Too much publicity cannot be given
to circumstances like these; nothing
is more tardily propagated than use-
ful plants. A sterile, but pictu-
resque tree, au agreeable flower, are
soon adopted by fashion. They
ornament the parterres of our mo-
dern Luculluses, and the apartments
of our Phrynes, whilst the indefati-
gable friends of agriculture vainly
attempt to enrich our fields with a
new grass, or to fill our granaries
with nourishing vegetable produc-
tions.

Description of the Secretary Falcon*,
from Bingley’s Animal Biography.

N its external appearance, this
bird (though, in am artificial
system, it is with propriety arranged
immediately after the vultures) re-
sembles, in some respeéts, both the
eagle and the crane, two birds much
unlike each other ; having the head
of the former, and somewhat the
form of the body of the latter.—
When standing creét, it is full three
feet from the top of the head to the
ground. The bill is black, sharp,
and crooked, like that of an eagle.
The cere is white, and round the
eyes is a place bare of feathers, and
of a deep orange colour. The up-
per eyo-lids are beset with strong
bristles, like eye-lashes. Its gene-
ral

* Synonyms.—Falco Serpentarius, Linn.—Secretaire, Sonnerat.—Secretary Vul-

ture, Lath—Secretary, Kerr.—Lathan’s Sin,

Vol. i. tab, 2,

%10

ral colour is a blueish ash colour,
rand the ends of the wings, the
thighs, and vent, are blackish. The
tail is somewhat ash coloured, ex-
cept at the end, which, for above an
inch, is black, and then tipped with
white : the two middle feathers are
as long again as any of the rest.
The legs are long, brown, and
stouter than those of a heron: the
claws are shortish, but crooked,
and of a black colour. From the
back of the head spring several long
dark coloured feathers, that hang
Joose behind like a pendent crest,
which the bird can ereét or depress
at pleasure. ‘* The Dutch,” says
Le Vaillant, ‘ gave it the name of
Secretary, on account of the bunch
of guills behind its head; for, in
Holland, clerks, when interrupted
in their writing, stick their pen in
their hair, behind their right ear ;
and to this the tuft of the bird was
thought to hear some resemblance*.

This bird is found in the interior
parts of Africa, Asia, and the Phil-
lippine islands. The Hottentots, at
the Cape of Good Hope, know it by
a name that signifies the serpent
eater; and it would almost seem
that nature had principally destined
it for the purpose of confining with-
in due bounds the race of serpents,
which is very extensive in all the
countries that it inhabits.

The mode in which it seizes these
dangerous creatures is very peculiar.
When if approaches them, it is al-
ways careful to carry the point of
one of its wings forwards, in order
to parry off their venomous bi tes 5
sometimes it finds an opportunity of

“sparning and treading upon its an-
tagonist, or else of taking it on its
pinions, and throwing it into the air.

* New Travels, ii. 244.—Latham, 1. 20.

T Sparrman.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

When, by this proceeding, it has at
length wearied out its adversary,

-and rendered it almost senseless, it

then kills and swallows it at —
without dangert.

M. Le Vaillant tells us, that he
was witness to an engagement be-
tween the secretary falcon and a
serpent. The battle was obstinate,
and conduéted with equal address on
both sides. But the serpent at
length feeling the inferiority of his
strength, employed, in his attempt
to fiee and regain his hole, all that
cunning which is attributed to the
tribe; while the bird, apparently
guessing his design, stopped him on
a sudden, and cut off his retreat, by
placing herself before him at a single
leap. On whatever side the reptile
endeavoured to make his escape, his
enemy still appeared before him.—
Then uniting at once both bravery
and cunning, he ereéted himself
boldly, to intimidate the bird;
and hissing dreadfully, displayed
his menacing throat, inflamed eyes,
and a head swelled with rage and
venom.

Sometimes this threatening ap-
pearance produced a momentary
suspension of hostilities; but the
bird soon returned to the charge,
and, covering her body with one of
her wings, as a buckler, struck her
enemy w ith the bony protuberances
of the other. I saw him at last
stagger and fall : the conqueror then
fell upon him to dispatch him, and
with one stroke of her beak laid
open his skull.

At this instant M. Le Vaillant
fired at and killed her. In her craw
he found, on disseétion, eleven
pretty large lizards, three serpents,
as long as his arm, eleven small tor-
toises,

NATURAL

toises, most of which were about
‘two inches in diameter; and a num-
ber of locusts and other insects,
most of which were sufficiently
whole to be worth preserving, and
adding to his colleétion. He ob-
served too, that, in addition to this
mass of food, the craw contained a
‘sort of ball, as large as the egg of a
goose, formed of the yertebre of
‘serpents and lizards, shells of differ-
ent tortoises, and wings, claws, and
shields of different kinds of beetles.
This indigestible mass, when it was
become sufficiently large, the secre-
tary would, no doubt, vomit up,
like other birds of prey*.

Dr. Solander says, he has seen
one of these birds take up a snake,
a small tortoise, or other reptile, in
its claw, and dash it with such vio-
Jence against the ground, that the
victim immediately died ; ; if, howe-
ver, this did not happen to be the
case, he tells us that the operation
was repeated till it was killed, after
which it was eaten.

The secretary is easily tamed, and
when domesticated, will eat any
kind of food, either dressed or raw.
If well fed, it not only lives on ami-
¢able terms with poultry, but, if it
Sees any quarrel, will even run to
rt the combatants, and restore or-
er. It is true, if pinched with
nger, it will take care of itself,
nd. fall, without scruple, on the
' ladies and chickens. But this
abuse of confidence, if it may be so
ried, is but the effeét of imperious
ant, and the pure and simple exer-
cise of that necessity which rigor-

usly devotes one half of what has
}

* Le Vaillant’s New Travels, ii, 246.

are very apt to break their legs.
tLe Vaillant. Vol,ii, _

Hi S'T.0 R Y./ 81]

breath to satisfy the appetite of the
other.

Tame secretaries were seen by M.
Le Vaillant in several of the planta-
tions at the Cape. He says they
commonly Jay two or three white
eggs, nearly as large as those of a
goose. The young remain a long
time in the nest, because their legs
being long and slender, they cannot
easily support themselves. Kven at
the age of four months they may be
seen to walk resting on the heel,
which gives them a very awkward
appearancet+. But when they are
seven months old, and have attained
their full growth and size, they dis-
play much grace and ease in their
motions, which well accord with
their stately figure.

However shrewd and cunning this
bird may be in its general conduét,
yet M. de Buifon seems to have at-
tributed to it a much greater degree
of intelligence than is really its due:
‘¢ When a painter, says he, (quoting
a letter of the viscount de Querhcent)
was employed in drawing one of
these birds, it drew near him, looked
attentively upon his paper, streiched
out its neck, and ere¢ted the fea-
thers of its head, as if it admired its
figure. It often came with its wings
raised, and its head projeéted, to
observe what he was doing. It also
thus approached me two or three
times when I was sitting ata table
in its hut in order to describe it.”
This stretching out of its head, and
erection of its crest, seems, however,
to have arisen from nothing more
than that loye which almost al] do-
mesticated birds exhibit te have their

heads

_ + Thunberg says, that they are not to be reared without great difficulty, as aa
Vol, i. p. 148.

812

heads scratched. And these birds,
when rendered familiar, are well
known to approach every person
whocomes near, and to stretch out
their necks by way of making known
their desire.

It is not long that this singular
bird has been known, even at the
Cape ; but when we consider its so-
cial and familiar dispositions, we are
disposed to think that it would be
adviseable to multiply the species,
particularly in our colonies, for it
is hardy enough to endure even Eu-
ropean climates, where it might be
serviceable in destroying, not only
‘the pernicious reptiles, but rats and
mice.

It is a very singular circumstance,
that this bird strikes forwards with
its Jegs, and not, like all others,
backwards. The secretary falcons
make a flat nest with twigs, not
unlike that of some of the eagles,
full three feet in diameter, and line
it with wool and feathers. ‘This is
usually formed in some high tuft of
trees, and is often so well conccaled
as not easily to be found.

Anecdote of the Common Buzzard*,
from the same.

HE buzzard is about twenty

inches in length, and in breadth
four feet and a half. Its bill is lead
coloured. ‘The upper parts of the
body are dusky brown, and the
lower pale, varied with brown. The
wings and tail are marked with bars
of a darker hue. The tail is greyish
beneath, and tipped with a dusky
white. The legs are yellowish, and
the claws black. “This well known

* Synonyms.—Falco Buteo, Linn.—Buse, Buffi—Buzzard, Penn—Common
Buzzard, Lath.—Bew. Birds, p. 15.—-Penn. Brit, Zool. vol, i. tab. 25.

+ Latham, i. 48.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

bird, is of a sedentary and indolent
disposition: it continues perclied
for many hours upon a tree or émi-
nence, from whence it darts upon
such prey as comes in its reach. It
feeds on birds, small quadrupeds,
reptiles, and inseéts. Though pos-
sessed both of strength, agility, and
weapons to defend itself, it is cow-
ardly, inaétive, and slothful : it will
fly before a sparrow hawk, and,
when overtaken, will suffer itself to
be beaten, and even brought te the}
ground, without resistancet.

The ensuing anecdote, will shew
that the buzzard may be so far
tamed, as eyen to be rendered a
faithful domestic. We shall recite
it, verbatim, from the letter of the
relater, M. Fontaine, a most intel-
ligent naturalist. ;

*¢ In 1763 (says this gentleman)
buzzard was brought to me that had
been taken in a snare; it was, at
first, extremely savage, and even
cruel. I undertook to tame it, and}
I succeeded, by Jeaving it to fast,}
and constraining it to come and eat
out of my hand. By pursuing this
plan, l brought it to be very fami-
liar: and, after having shut it up
about six weeks, I began to allow
it a little liberty, taking the precau-
tion, however, to tie both pinions of
its wings. In this condition it
walked out into my garden, and re-
turned when [I called it to feed.
After some time, when I judged that
I could trust to its fidelity, I re-
moved the ligatures, and fastened a
small bell, an inch and a half in dia-
meter, above its talon, and also at-
tached on the breast, a bit of cop-
per, having my name engrayen on it.
I then gave it entire liberty, which
it

|

*

—- >. *

_ off victorious.

NATURAL

jt soon abused ; for it took wing,
and flew as far as the forest of Be-
lesme. I gave it up for lost; but
four hours after, I saw it rush into
my hall, which was open, pursued
by five other buzzards, who had
constrained it to seck again its asy-
lum.

<< After this adventure, it ever
preserved its fidelity to me, coming,
every night, to sleep on my window;

‘it grew so familiar, as to seem to

take singular pleasure in my com-
pany. It attended constantly at
dinner, sat on a corner of the table,
and very often caressed me with its
head and bill, emitting a weak sharp
cry, which, however, it sometimes
softened. It is true, that 1 alone
had this privilege. It one day fol-
lowed me when I was on horseback,
more than two leagues, sailing above

my head.

9*¢ Ithad an aversion both to dogs
and cats, nor was it, in the least,
afraid of them; it had often tough
battles with them, but always came
I had four very
strong cats, which f collected into
my garden to my buzzard. | threw
to them a bit of raw flesh ; the nim-

_ blest cat seized it, the rest pursued ;

but the bird darted upon her body,
bit her ears with his bill, and squeez-
ed her sides with his talons, with

_ such force, that the cat was obliged
to relinguish her prize.

Often ano-
ther cat snatched it, the instant it
dropped, but she suffered the same
treatment, till the buzzard got en-
tire possession ef the plunder. He
was so dextrous im his defence, that
when he perceived himself assailed,

at once, by the four cats, he took

wing, and uttered a cry of exulta-

tion. At last, the cats, chagrined
- with their repeated disappointment,

‘would no Jonger contend,

HMIsil.OrRryY, 813

“¢ This buzzard had a singular
antipathy ; he would not suffer a
red. cap on the head of any of the
peasants, and so alert was he in
whipping it off, that they found their
heads bare without knowing what
was become of their caps. He also
snatched wigs without doing any in-
jury, and he carried these caps and
wigs to the tallest tree in a neigh-
bouring park, which was the ordi-
nary deposit of his beoty.

‘¢ He would not suffer any other
bird of prey to enter his domain ;
he attacked them very boldly, and
put them to flight. He did no mis-
chief in my court-yard; and the
poultry which, at first, dreaded him,
grew insensibly reconciled to him.
The chickens and ducklings receiv.
ed not the least harsh usage, and yet
he bathed among the latter. But,
what is singular, he was not gentle
to my neighbour’s poultry: and I
was often obliged to publish that I
would pay for the damages that he
might occasion. Jlowever, he was
often fired at, and he, at different
times, received fifteen shots without
sufiermg any fra¢ture. But once,
early in the morning, hovering over
the skirts of a forest, he dared to
attack a fox; and the keeper, see-
ing him on the shoulders of the fox,
fired two shots at him ; the fox was
killed, and the buzzard had his wing
breken; yet, notwithstanding this
fracture, heescaped from the keeper,
and was lost seven days. a

“ This man, having discovered,
from the noise of the bell, that he
was my bird, came next morning to
inform me. [sent to make search
near the spot, but the bird could not
be found, nor did it return till seven
days after. I had been used to catt
him every evening with a whistle,
which he did pot answer for. six

days ;

814

days; but, on the seventh, I heard
a feeble cry at a distance, which I
judged to be that of my buzzard. 1
repeated the whistle a second time,
and heard the same cry. I went to
the place from whence the sound
came, and, at last, found my peor
buzzard with his wing broken, who
had travelled more than half a league
on foot to regain his asylum, from
which he was then distant about a
hundred and twenty paces.. Though
he was extremely reduced, he gave
me many caresses. Lt was six weeks
before he was recruited, and his
wounds were healed; after which
he began to tly as betore, and fol-
low his old habits for about a year ;
he then disappeared for ever. I am
convinced he was killed by accident,
and that he would not have forsaken
me from choice*.”

The buzzard is one of the most
common of the hawk kind that we
have in this country. It breeds in
jarge woods, and usually builds in
an old crow’s nest, which it enlarges,
aud lines it in the inside with wool
and other soft materials. It feeds
and tends its young, which are ge-
nerally two or three in number, with
great assiduity. Ray affirms, that
if the female be killed during the
time of incubation, the male buzzard
will take the charge of them, and
patiently rear the young till they are
able to provide for themselves,

On the Culture of the Vine in Crim
Tartary, from the 2d Volume of
the Travels of Professor Pallas.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

bie E grape is not only an inde-
genous produétion abounding
in the mountainous parts of the Cri-
niea, sometimes having oblong white
berries, and sometimes small round
black fruit; but it has also been
planted in different vallies and dis-
tricts from the remotest periods of
antiquity, Strabot+ mentions the
culture of the vine near the Bospho- |
rus, and the care taken to cover it
with earth during the winter, or to
bury its roots in. the soil, in order
to shelter them from the cold ;. as is
still practised in the vicinity of the
Alma and Katsha. It is certain that
the Crimean peninsula is indebted to
the Greeks for the culture of the
vine; which was afterwards extend-
ed by the Genoese in the territories
occupied by that enterprising peo-
ple.

The manner in which this plant is
propagated on the banks of the Al-
ma, the Katsha, and the Belbek, has
already been mentioned. {I am con.
vinced, and experience has proved,
that it is useless to shelter vines from
the cold during severe winters, as is
practised in the vicinity of the above-
named rivers, by accumulating earth
round the crown of their roots. Such
labour is not without some benefit ;
for not only the soil is thus more
frequently stirred, and cleared from
parasitic plants, but vegetation is
likewise promoted; so that the:
leaves and blossoms, as well as the
grapes, appear at un earlier period ;
in consequence of which the latter
may be suffered to become more
perfectly ripe during autumn. The

method

* Letter of M. Fontaine, cure de saint Pierre de Belesme, to the comte de ©

Buffon.

t Lib. VII. “ In ecodum ( Bosphori) trajectu ferunt, Neoptolemum Mithridatis
legatum estate navali prelio, hyeme equestri pugna, barbaris superiorem discesissé.
Sed et vites ajunt in Bosphoro sub hyemem defodi, multa ingesta terra.”

NATURAL

method above alluded to (like that
practised in Hungary) consists ia
training the vines in the manner of
bushes with a stump above the root,
$0 as to produce several prolific
sHoots: it is, doubtless, far more
productive, but can only be pur-
‘sued in the richest soils, and tends
to exhaust the stocks in a shorter
Space of time. On account of their
fertility, the vineyards of these re-
gions are soldat high prices; though
the wine is cheap, and the culture
fequires great labour: they are usu-
ally estimated, according to the
number of fruit-bearing bushes, at
one rouble each. The manner of
planting the layers, on the banks
of those rivers, is altogether different
from that praétised in the southern
vallies. First, the laud, in which
such: plantation is intended to be
made, is prepared by the plough
and spade: next a post with a point
of iron or hard wood, is driven per-
pendicularly into the soil, to a suifi-
cient depth; so that, when the
layer is inserted, there may be from
five to six knots under ground, and
only two visible above the surface.
The stake or piece of wood is now
withdrawn, and a plant deposited in
each hole ; which is then filled up
with loose mould, and afterwards
with water, that remains there fora
considerable time, owing to the
compression of the earth, occasion-
ed by forcing iu the stake. Ac-
cording to the state of the weather,
such are subsequently irrigated every
third or fourth week till autumn, or
until the layers have taken root. In
_ the succeeding year the surrounding
soil is dug up, and these new planta-
tions are supplied with water from
canals.
At Sudagh, and in the other south-
ern vallies, the vine is planted either
1

_remain.

HI SIT. O R Y.

according to the Greek mode, in
small oblong trenches, in each of
which two or three layers are depo-
sited in opposite directions, small
drains being cut from one to ano-
ther for carrying oft the water; or,
long parallel trenches are dug,
wherein the layers are obliquely ar-
ranged on both sides; the latter me-
thod has probably been introduced
by the Genoese. The Tartars, how-
ever, seldom plant new vineyards,
and their manner of cultivating the
yine consists chiefly in making lay-
ers; in burying the old unproduc-
tive vine-stocks in deep pits, either
in the middle or on the borders of
the plantation ; and in leaving a few
good branches above ground, on
which only two eyes are suffered to
When this operation is
performed on the borders, with a
yiew to extend the vineyard, it is
denominated by the Greek word
Usatma; and that executed in the
centre, in order to fill up the vacant
space, is termed Katayolat. ‘There
is, likewise, a third method , of
stocking old plantations, called Dol-
durma ; it is eifeéted by putting long
twigs deeply into the soil, and se-,
parating them from the parent
trunk, as soon as they have taken
root. By such injudicious treat-
ment, however, all the vines in the
plantations on the southern shore
are irregularly set ; their roots pro-
miscuously intertwining, not unlike
espaliers, under ground. ‘There are
only a few foreign proprietors, who
have lately applied themselves to
the propagation of this useful shrub,
by forming new plantations.

As the vine is never covered with
soil, during the winter, in any of
the southern vyallies, where it re-
ceives no injury from the severest
frosts, avd as the ‘lartars stir the

surrounding

$15

$16

surrounding earth only once in the
spring, with clumsy spades, — this
branch of ceconomy is attended with
less expence than in other coun-
tries, but is at the same time less
profitable. The latter circumstance
must chiefly be attributed to the
barrenness of the marly soil, espe-
eially at Sudagh; for that in the
vale of Koos is not only richer, but
also more produétive. The inhabi-
tants exert all their endeavours to
assist nature, by forming canals, in-
to which water-is conduéted from
the springs and streams, for the pur-
pose of copious irrigation both in
the winter and in autumn, as well as
in the spring, and immediately after
the vine has flowered. These irri-
gations are so considerable, that the
vineyards may be compared to fens.
By such mismanagement, the quality
of the grapes is greatly impaired ;
and expert vine-dressers water the
plants only once in the winter, and
in the spring; as, by negleéting
those operations, the stock would
neither shoot forth a sufficient por-
tion of fertile wood for the succeed-
ing year, nor even bear any fruit ;
nay, it would, perhaps, gradually
wither. On account of the drought
usually prevailing in summer, all the
vineyards are planted uniformly in
the vallies, where gutters can be
employed for supplying them with
water.

In the southern dales, the vine
is trained as low as possible, so that
only three eyes are left on its trunk
in the spring, the rest being remov-
ed as superfluous: hence all the
stocks are knotty, crooked, and
Hie on the ground, spread out in the
form of a fan. Those who leave a
greater number of eyes, with the
view of obtaining a more abundant
vintage, incur the: risk of exhaust-

.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ing or spoiling their vines for seéve-
ral years; so that they would be
obliged to saw off their trunks near
the ground, or even to bury them
entirely. After having attained the
height of three feet six inches, they
yield but little fruit, are exposed to
storms, and require to be earthed up
for their support. There are, how~
ever, some kinds of vines, which
may be trained higher, for arbours
and espaliers; nay, if newly
planted vineyards were properly
manured, several varieties would
probably shoot up with greater lux-
uriance, produce stronger branches,
and yield more profit. At the same
time, healthier vine stocks might be
obtained, than at present result from
such frequent cuttings. On the
other hand, this method would be
more expensive than that now prac-
tised, on account of the stakes and
lattices for espaliers, which would
become necessary; nor would the
grapes ripen so completely: for
even the taller sorts mature more
perfectly, and afford sweeter fruit
when they are cropped, and, ac-
cording to the custom of the coun-
try, supported only by the short
trunks of the cornelian cherry-tree,
or Tshatall; to the branches of
which the vine shoots become spon
taneously attached.

At Astrakhan, where the vine is
buried with all its wood, it never
flowers later than the 15th of May,
unless the spring produce some rare
exceptions : it is somewhat later on
the banks of the Alma and Katsha,
where it is simply overspread with
earth which is removed in the ver-
nal season. On the contrary, in
the southern vallies, where the vine
is never covered, the buds and
flowers génerally appear, at least —
fifteen days later: the grapes, like-

wise,

NATURAL

wise; do not ripen till the end of
September ; and, were it not for the
fine long autumns peculiar to Crim
Tartary, no good wine could be
produced in that country. When,
however, the plant germinates at
an advanced period of the spring, itis
attended with this advantage, that
the shoots are never injured by the
late frosts, which frequently occur
in the vicinity of those rivers. Here
the vintage is generally completed
before it begins in the dales of Su-
dagh and Koos, where it usually

- takes place on the first of October,

as, under the government of the
khans, the third day of that month
was the time formerly fixed by law,
for commencing the vintage.

Some Tartars are acquainted with
a mode of engraftiag the vine terin-
ed ashlama. For this purpose,
young layers, or stems not exceed-
ing two inches in thickness, are se-
Jected and stripped for the length of
aspan beneath the uppermost knots,
where they are sawn off, and the
surface is smoothed with a knife:
the stem is afterwards slit, and the
cleft kept open by means of a
wooden wedge. ‘Two grafts, from
eight to ten inches long, are next
cut on both sides, for the length of
an inch and a half, into a cuneiform
shape, immediately below a knot,
and are inserted in the cleft, so that
the grafts cross each other on the
external edge, where their bark

- comes into mutual] contact. The

stump is then tied with strong

_ pack-thread ; a piece of bark from

the vine that has been cut is laid
closely on the incision; a handful

of dried leaves is now pressed upon

it, and some moistened earth is

spread over these in a similar man-

ner, so as to cover two or three

knots with mould, and to leave the
Voz. XLY.

HISTORY.

817

same number above its surface ;
weeping vines only, or such as are
in full sap, are selected for grafting,
Fifteen days after, when the buds
begin to shoot, a full quart of wa-
ter must be poured, eyery third day,
over each stem, into a hole made
for that purpose, till about the sea-
son when barley becomes ripe. The
grafts, in general, shoot forth so
vigorously in the first year, that, in
the following spring, they will afford
layers and yield fruit: thus excel-
Jent varieties of the vine, (not yet
introduced into Crim Tartary),
could be readily propagated, aad
bad stocks be improyed. One man
may engraft from fifty to sixty stems
in the course ofa day.

The vineyards occurring in the
vallies, most favourable to this cul-
ture, such as those of Sudagh and
Koos, are planted with several in-
termixed sorts of vines, which most-
ly produce white grapes; because
these, probably, yield here a much
stronger wine, and succeed better
than the red sort. There is only one
small spot in every Tartar vineyard
containing some tall stems which
bear read and white grapes; in se-
veral of them we observed a similar
piece of ground, planted with vines,
producing black fruit.

The most destructive enemy to
the vine, in*Crim-Tartary, is a
small kind of caterpillar, peculiar
to that country: as soon as the
buds begin to open in the spring, it
eats its way, especially into the
fruit buds, and devours the germ of
the grape. Two or three of these
small worms, creeping from one
germ to another, are sufficient to
injure a whole vine in such a man-
ner, that it bears no fruit, and pro-
duces not a single regular shoot
during the succeeding year. I have

3 secm

$i8

seen some vineyards at Sudagh,
where these vermin have particu-
jarly multiplied for several years, so
as completely to ruin, and strip
them of their leaves. This diminu-
tive caterpillar, with ‘sixteen legs,
which has hitherto remained a non-
descript, commits its depredations
towards the end of April, and in the
month of May, especially in old
vineyards. When full grown, it is
half'an inch in length, and of the
thickness of a straw. Its head is
black, projecting anteriorly, point-
ed at the fangs, and can be with-
drawn under the first ring, which is
scutiform, black, and edged in
front with a yellowish white stripe.
Below, its body is also yellowish
white, and wrinkled ; above, it is
black, as far as the lateral margin,
where this colour terminates. On
each side is a row of pale red tu-
bercles, with tufts of whitish hair ;
and along the back there are two
similar rows with yellowish tufts.
The caterpiller has rather a slow
pace, spins from ‘beneath, and in
genera] fixes on the buds and most
tender leaves, to which it firmly ad-
heres. On being touched, it rolls
itself together, though not very
closely, and remains for some time
in this position: it is uncommonly
voracious. Previously to casting
the skin, it draws a delicate web
over its body upon a leaf. During
the whole month of May, these ver-
min nibble, eat large holes through,
nay, often totally devour the leaves ;
towards the end of that month, they
gradually commence to spin, and to
convert themselves into a chrysalis ;
from which, at the end of a few
weeks, there issues a small moth,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

entirely similar in form, and almost
in size, to the female of the Sphynx
statices, but of a blackish colour,

with a faint lustre (Aenco-fusca).
Next to this caterpillar, the smal.
jer locust with rose-coloured wings,
or Gryllus italicus, (which frequent~
ly commits depredations in Spain),
has, for several years, been very
destruétive to the vineyards of Crim
Tartary. This inseét, indeed, ap-
pears annually ou the dry emi-
nences in the arid southern regions,
from the European boundary, as far
as the Irtish, and the mountains of ©
Alta; but it is only in particular
years, that it multiplies in such
numbers, as to become pernicious.
After the severe winters of 1799,
and 1800, these locusts became so
numerous in the Crimea, that they
traversed the air in prodigious
swarms ; and wherever they settled,
they not only despoiled all the her-
bage and culinary plants of their
verdure, but even stripped such
trees as were agreeable to them, es-
pecially the vines, of all their foli-
age, and committed great ravages
in the country. Their habits, re-
speéting which Bowles relates many
wonderful and true particulars, in
his Natural History of Spain,* are
certainly very remarkable. In 1799,
I had no opportunity of observing
these vermin in the first period of
their existence, with uninterrupted
attention ; nevertheless, they sufli-
ciently distinguished themselves by
the injury they occasioned in many
distriéts, especially in the dry dales
of Sudagh and Koos, where they
caused extensive damage both in the
reptile and in the winged state. In
that year, they appeared chiefly
in

* Introduction a |*Histoire Naturelle et 4 ]a Geographie Physique de l’Espagne,
traduite de Original Espagnol de Guill. Bowles par le Vicomte Flavigny. Paris.

1776. 8vo. pp. 249, arid following.

NATURAL HISTORY.

in July and August, proceeding from
the sea-coast into the valley ; and
where they found no weeds in the
vineyards, they stripped all the
yines of their leaves, especially along
. the borders of plantations, and in
the direétion taken by the swarm.
The clusters of large, but unripe
grapes, remained till the end of
September, on these denuded vines,
withont increasing in size, filling
with juice, or ripening; so that
they were hard and green like pease,
and thus afforded ocular demon-
stration of the detriment that must
arise from the practice of plucking
the leaves from vines, which is re-
commended by many cultivators.*
It was not till Oétober, when the
vines had again acquired leaves from
_ the collateral buds, that they ripened
though imperfectly, and afforded a
bad acidulous must. In a winged
state, these locusts at length devour-
ed the foliage of the trees; and the
Fraxinus ornus, or manna-ash, in
particular, was every where seen
stripped to its very summit; nor
were orange and nut trees exempted
from their depredations. On the
eminences, where the soil was rather
loose, they were observed in com-
‘panies, depositing the eggs in holes,
which they bored with their jagged
posteriors, and which already af-
forded a bad omen for the ensuing
year. Great numbers of them,
however, were carried by northerly
winds into the sea, where they pe-
rished, and were afterwards washed
on shore in heaps.

819

The severe winter of 1799-1800,
instead of diminishing these vermin,
seemed rather to have favoured their
propagation. In the beginning of
May, the young brood appeared
every where in Jarge swarms, and
especially in the southern vallies, at
first taking their course towards the
sea, but afterwards moving to and
fro in various dire¢tions. Some of
the swarms consisted of innumera-
ble millions ; and frequently, where
they lodged, formed an entire black
covering over the ground upwards
of an hundred fathoms in length,
and from forty to fifty in breadth.
In serene warm weather, the locusts
are in full motion in the morning,
immediately after the evaporation of
the dew ; and, if no dew has fallen,
they appear as soon as the sun im-
parts his genial warmth. At first,
some are seen running about, like
messengers, among the reposing
swarms, which are lying partly come
pressed upon the ground at the side
of small eminences, and partly at-
tached to tall plants and shrubs.
Shortly after, the whole body begins
to move forward in one direétion,
and with little deviation. They re-
semble a swarm of ants, all taking
the same course, at small distances,
but without touching each other;
they uniformly travel towards a cer-
tain region, as fast as a fly can run,
and without leaping, unless pur-
sued ; in which case, indeed, they
disperse, but soon colleét and fol-
low their former route, In _ this
manner, they advance from morning

3G2 till

y
* The only work on the subject of gardening in which I find the plucking of the
leaves reprobated, and their utility in nourishing and ripening the fruit, and per-
fecting the buds against the next year, properly inculcated, is “ La Pratique du

Jardinage, par M.l’Abbé Roger Chabol,”

Paris. 1770. 8vo, 11. partie. p. 656. a

work that, on the whole, evinces great experience. The leaves are certainly the or-
gans, by which plants not only imbibe moisture, but also decompose the air and ins
* Spire the requisite portion of caloric and oxygen,

820

till evening, without halting, fre-
quently at the rate of one hundred
fathoms and upwards in the course
ofaday. Although they prefer to
march along high-roads, foot-paths,
or open tra¢éts; yet, when their
progress is opposed by bushes,
hedges, and ditches, they penctrate
through them: their way can only
be impeded by the waters of brooks
or canals; as they are apparently
terrified at every kind of moisture.
Often, however, they endeavour to
gain the opposite bank with the aid
of overhanging boughs ; and if the
stalks of plants or shrubs be laid
across the water, they pass in close
columns over these temporary
bridges ; on which they seem to
rest, and enjoy the refreshing cool-
ness. ‘Towards sun set, the whole
swarm gradually colleét in parties,
and creep up the plants, or encamp
on slight eminences. Woe, then,
to the vineyards in which such
swarm settles for the night ; and if
the following day should happen to
be cold, cloudy, or rainy, (in which
weather they never travel), they
not only consume all the weeds and
vine leaves in it, but frequently,
when the weeds do not supply them
with sufficient nutriment and exer-
cise, they completely strip the bark
and buds off the young twigs ; so
that these shoots remain, through-
out the summer, as white as chalk
and full of sap, without producing
fresh foliage. ‘The same fate awaits
those places on which they settle
for the purpose of casting their
skins. It is a remarkable circum-
stance, that, while the vine blossoms
continue closed, the insect does not
attack them; but, as soon as they
are blown, it devours the whole of
them in the most rapacious manner,
the stalk only being spared. The

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

plants, which they formerly cons
sumed with the greatest avidity,
were those chiefly occurring in vine-
yards ; such as the Carduus tata-
ricus, Salvia nemorosa, Millefolium,
Melilotus Cerinthe; the fetid and
poisonous Conium maculatum, which
does not prove fatal to them; the
Asparagus volubilis, Ebulus, Coro-
nilla varia, and Valentina ; various
kinds of Geranium, Linum and Inula
centaurea solstitialis, and all bitter
vegetables. On the other hand,
they did not prey upon any kinds
of grasses ; some species of grain were
also exempt from their depredations,
especially millet; as well as sedge,
which is the favourite food of the
great erratic locust ; together with
the Aristolochia clematitis, that also
luxuriantly grows in the vineyards ;
the Clematis vitalba, the different
Euphorbia, Rumexpatientia, Mentha
silvestris, Artemisia maritima, Con-
tra, Pontica, and Austriaca; the
rough Kchia; all-the species of the
Atriplex and Salsola, the Stellera
passserina, the milky Sonchus, Chon-
drilla, and Prenanthes, Rhus cotinus,
and Coriaria. After having con-
sumed every other vegetable, they
attack the caper buds, the Beta cy-
cla, and the various Euphorbia ; to
the latter of which it must probably
be ascribed that many inseéts (while -
they were casting their skins for the
last time), in the year above alluded
to, firmly attached themselves to
the stalks of tall plants, and even to
trees, where they ultimately pe-
rished.

Among the innumerable swarms
of the young brood of the Gryllus
téalicus, which has a blackish ap-
pearance, the larger larvae of that
species, as well as of the Gryllus
cerulescens, were seen but thinly
interspersed during their march.

Various ©

NATURAL HISTORY.

Various particular locusts, without
wings, such as the Gryllus verruci-
vorus, Viridissimus,and some others,
had also increased in the last year
far beyond their ordinary numbers ;
but they did not travel in company
with the former, though they like-
wise greatly damaged the vineyards,
and often bit off the stalks of the
grapes. It was remarkable, that in
the same years when these vermin
became so numerous, the large
erratic locust, from the banks of
the Dniepr, together with the small
locust, also overspread the whole
government of New Russia, and a
part of Little Russia, in countless
swarms; they did not, however,
visit the Crimea.

The Hindoo Method of cultizating the
Sugar Cane. From Tennant’s
© Indian Recreations.”

”
R. ROXBURGH, whose pur-
suits after botanical know-
ledge are’now so well known, has
given an ample account of this
branch of Indian husbandry; and
in the district where he resided little
can be added to his remarks in elu-
cidating the present practice.

*¢ Among the natives ef India,”
he observes, ‘‘ the transitions from
one stage of improvement to an-
other are so exceedingly slow, as
scarce to deserve the name, except
it be the few who have benefited
by the example of Europeans. They
naturally possess a strong disinclina-
tion to depart from the beaten path
established from time immemorial ;
however, when they see a certain
prospeét of gain, with little addi,
tional trouble, they have frequently
been known to adopt our prac-
tices. We ourselves ought now ge-

*

821

nerally to keep in view, and to in-
stil into their minds this maxim, that
every new proposition, merely on
account of its novelty, must not be
rejected, otherwise our knowledge
would no longer be progressive, and
every kind of improvement must
cease.

** Ata period, like the present,
when the importation of Kast India
has become so much .an objeét of
importance to Britain, in conse-
quence of the present state of some
of the best of the West India sugar
islands, every inquiry that may tend
to open new sources from whence that
wholesome commodity may be pro-
cured, at the cheapest rate, is of na-
tional importance.

‘¢ T believe there are few distriéts
in the company’s extensive domi-
nions where there will not be found.
large traéts of land fit for the cul-
ture of the sugar cane: yet I know,
from experience, the introduétion
of a new branch of agriculture,
among the natives, to be attended
with infinite trouble ; therefore,
where we find a province or district,
in which the culture of the cane, and
the working of sugar has been im
practice from time tnmemorial, there
we may expeét, without much exer-
tion, to be able to increase the cul-
ture, and improve, if necessary, the
quality.

*¢ Jn the northern “provinces, as
well as in Bengal, Codapah, &c. large
quantities of sugar and jagary are
made: it is only in the Rajamuns
dry and Ganjam distriéts of these
northern parts, where the cane is
cultivated for making sugars, I will
confine my observations to the first,
where I have resided between ten
and eleven years.

*¢ "This branch of agriculture, in
the above-mentioned Sircar, is chief-

3G 3 ly

822.

ly carried on in the Peddapore, and
Pettapore, along the banks of the
Flyseram river, which, though small,
has a constant flow of water in it the
whole year round, sufliciently large,
not only to water the sugar planta-
tions during the dryest seasons, but
also a great variety of other pro-
duétions ; such as ‘paddy, ginger,
turmeric, yams, chillies. This stream
of water, during the dryest season,
-renders the lands adjoining, I pre-
sume, more fertile than almost any
‘other in India, and particularly fit
for the growth of the sugar cane.

In these two zemindaries, from
350 to 700 Vissums ; or from 700
to 1400 acres of land, (the vissum
being two acres), is annually em-
ployed for rearing the sugar cane,
more or less, according to the de-
mand for sugar: for they could, and
-would with pleasure, if they were
certain of a market, grow and ma-
mufacture more than ten times the
usual quantity. It is very profit-
zble; and there is abundance of
very proper land; all they want is
a certain market for their sugar.

Besides the above mentioned, a
third more may be made on the Delta
of Godavery.

From the same spot they do not
attempt to raise a second crop, of-
iener than every third or fourth year.
‘The cane impoverishes it so much,
that it must’ rest, or be employed
during the two or three intermediate
years, for the growth of such plants
as are found to improve the soil, of
which the indian farmer is a perfeét
judge. ‘They find the leguminous
tribe the best for that purpose.

The method of cultivating the
cane, and manufacturing ‘the sugar
by the natives, hereabouts, is like
all their other works, exceedingly
simple. ‘The whole apparatus, a few

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

pair of bullocks excepted, does not
amount to more than fifteen or
twenty pagodas; as many thousand
pounds is generally, I believe, ne-
cessary to set out the West India
planter.

The soil that suits the cane best,
in this climate, is a rich vegetable
earth, which, on exposure to the
air, crumbles down into a very fine
mould: it is also necessary for it to
be of such a level as allows it to be
watered from the river, by simply
damming it up, which almost the
whole land adjoining to this river
admits of, and yet so high, as to be
easily drained during heavy rains.

Such a soil, and in such a situa-
tion, having been well meliorated,
by various crops of leguminous
plants, or fallowing for two or
three years, is slightly manured, or
has had cattle pent upon it. A favou-
rite manure with the Hindoo farmer
is» the rotten straw of the green
and black pessaloo. During the
months of April and May, it is re-
peatedly stirred with the common
Hindoo plough, which soon brings
this rich loose soil into very exccl-
Jent order. About the end of May
or beginning of June, the rains usu-
ally set in, by frequent heavy show-
ers, Now is the time to plant the
cance: but should the rains hold
back, the prepared field is watered
by flooding from the river, and when
perfectly wet is like soft mud, whe-
ther from the rain, or from the ri-
ver, the cane is planted.

The method is most simple: la-
bourers with baskets, of the cut-
tings, with one or two joints each,
arrange themselves along one side
of the field ; they walk side by side
in as straight a line as their eye or
judgment enables them, dropping
the sets at the distance of about

eighteen

NWATURAL

eighteen inches in the rows, and
four feet asunder from row to
row ; other labourers follow, and,
with the foot, press the set about
two inches in the soft mud-like soil :
this, with asweep or two with the
sole of the foot, they most easily
and readily cover: nothing more is
done, if the weather is moderately
showery, till the young shoots are
some two or three inches high ; the
earth is then loosened a few inches
around them, with a small weeding
iron, something like a carpenter’s
chissel : should the season prove
dry, the field is occasionally watered
from the river, continuing to weed,
and to keep the earth loose about
the stools.

In August, two or threé months
from the time of planting, small
trenches are cut through the field,
at short distances, and so contrived
as to drain off the water, should the
season prove too wet for the canes,
which is frequently the case, and
would render their juices weak and
unprofitable ; the farmer, therefore,
never fails to have his field plenti-
fully and judiciously intersected with
drains, while the cane is small, and
before the time of the violent rains.
Should the season prove too dry,
these drains serve to conduct the
water from the river, through the
field, and also to carry off what
does not soak into the earth ina
few hours ; for, say they, if water
is permitted to remain upon the
field for a greater length of time, the
cane waquid suffer by it, so that they
reckon these drains indispensibly ne-
cessary ; and, on their being well-
contrived, depends, in a great mea-
gure, their future hopes of profit.
Immediately after the field is treach-
ed, the canes are all propped ; this
is an operation I do not remember

~
¢

HISTORY: 823°

to have seen mentioned by any wri-
ter on the subjeét, and is, perhaps,
peculiar to these parts. It is done
as follows: The canes are now about
three feet high, and generally from
three to six from each set that has
taken root, and from what we may
call the stool; the lower leaves of
each cane are first carefully wrapt
up round it, so as to cover it com-
pletely in every part; asmall strong,
bamboo, eight or ten feet long, is
then stuck into the earthin the mid-
dle of each stool, and the canes are.
tied to it; this secures them in an
erect position, and gives the air free
access round every part. As the
canes advance in size, they continue
wrapping them round with the lower.
leaves, as they begin to wither, and
to tie them to the prop bamboos
higher up, during which time, if
the weather is wet, they keep the
trenches open; and if a drought
prevails, they water them occasion-
ally from the river, cleaning and
loosening the ground every five or
six weeks. Tying the leaves so care-
fully round the cane, they say, pre-
vents them from cracking and split-
ting with the sun, helps to render
the juice richer, and prevents their
branching out round the sides; it is
certain that you never see a branchy
cane here. gh

In January and February the
canes are ready to cut, which is
about nine months from the time of
planting ; of course I need not de-
scribe it. Their height when stand-
ing in the field, will now be from
eight to ten feet, foliage included ;
and the naked cane from an inch
to an inch and a quarter in diame-
ter.

A mill or two, or even more, ace
cording to the size of the field, is
erected, when wanted, in the open’

3G 4

894

air; generally under the shade of
large mango trees, of which there
are great abundance hereabouts. The
mill is small, exceedingly simple,
and at the same time efficacious.
The juice, as fast as expressed, is
received into common earthen pots,
strained, and put into boilers, which
are, in general, of an oval form,
composed of ill-made thick plates,
of country iron, rivetted. These
boilers hold from eighty to one
hundred gallons; in each they put
from twenty-four to thirty gallons
of the strained juice: the boiler is
placed over a draft furnace, which
makes thé fire burn with great vio-
fence, being supplied with a strong
draught of air through a large sub-
terranean passage, which also serves
for an ash-pit. At first the fire is
moderate, but as the scum is taken
off, a point they are not very nice
about in these parts, as they look
to quantity more than quality, the
fire is by degrees increased, so as
to make the liquor boil very smart-
ly ; nothing whatever is added to
make the scum to rise, or the sugar
to ‘train, except when the planter
wants a small quantity for his own
ora friend’s use; in this case he
adds ten or twelve pints of sweet
milk to every twenty-four or thirty
gallons, or each boiler of juice, which
no noubt improves the quality of the
sugar ; the scum, with this addition,
comes up more abundantly, and is
more carefully removed.

This liquor is never here removed
into a second boiler, but is in the
same boiled down to a proper con-
sistence, which they guess by the
eye, and by the touch; the fire is
then withdrawn, and, in the "same
vessel, allowed to cool a little. When
it becomes pretty thick, they. stir
xt about with stirring sticks, till it

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

begins to take the form of sugar ; it
is then taken out and put upon
mats, made of the leaves of the pal-
mira tree, (Borassus flabelliformis ),
when the stirring is continued till it
is cold: it is then. put up in pots,
baskets, &c. till a merchant appears
to buy it,

The Hindoo name of this sugar is
Pansadurry ; its colour is fairer
than most of the raw sugars made im
our West India islands; but it is
of a clammy unétuous. nature, ab-.
sorbing much moisture in wet wea-
ther, sometimes suilicient to melt
a great deal of it, if not carefully
stowed in some dry place, where
smoke has access to it.

Many of the planters prefer that
sort of sugar which they call Bellum,
and Kuropeans Jagary, because it .
keeps well during the wet weather,
if laid up in a dry place. It gene-
rally bears a lower price; yet, they
say, this disadvantage is often over-
balanced, by their being able to
keep it, with only a trifling wast-
age, till a market occurs—for the
farmer has often to wait for a mar-
ket for his sugar; besides, canes of
inferior quality answer for jagary,
when unfit for sugar.

The process for making jagary
differs from those above described,
in having a quantity of quick lime
thrown into the boiler, with the
cane juice, about a spoonful and a
half for every six or seven gallons of
the juice. Here they do not re.
move the scum, but let it mix with
the liquor ; and when of a proper
consistence, about four or five
ounces of Gengeley (oil of Sesamum
orientale) are added to each boiler
of liquor, now ready to be removed
from the fire ; these are well mixed,
and then poured into shallow pits
dug in the ground, They are gene-

rally

NATURAL

rally about three feet long, half a
foot broad, and three inches deep,
with a mat spread at the bottom,
which is slightly strewed with quick
lime. In a short time the liquor in-
corporates into a thick solid mass ;
these large cakes they wrap in dry
leaves, and lay by for sale.

Their jagary is of a darker co-
lour than the sugar, and contains
more impurities, owing to the care-
less manner they prepare it, by al-
lowing all the scum to incorporate
with the liquor.

The ha't vissum, or one acre of
sugar cane, in a tolerable season,
yields about ten candy of sugar, or
rather more, if made into jagary :
each candy weighs about five hun-
dred pounds, and is worth, on the
spot, from sixteen to twenty-four
rupees. In the West Indies, so far
as my information goes, the cane
yields from fourteen to twenty hun-
dred weight of their raw sugar,
worth, on the island, about twenty
pounds of their currency. Here
e produce is more than double ;
ut, on account of its inferior qua-
, and the low price it bears on
the spot, the produce does not yield
great deal more money than in the
Nest Indies. However, as the la-
our is incomparably cheaper, the
dian planter must make much
rger profits.

The situation of all the lands
ereabouts is exactly alike, being in
e middle of an extensive plain
joining the river: the soil is also
uch alike, so that the produce
nearly equal in all, when no uns
vourable circumstances happen.—
e same result is farther establish-
by the quantity of sugar a mea-
ure of juice will yield. Here it is
ost always, except in a very

Hi SIT. ORY. 825

rainy season, or in lodged or wormy

canes, about one sixth_part; or six.
pounds of juice yield one pound of
sugar. In Jamaica, Mr, Beckford

says, that, on an average, eighteen

hundred gallons of juice may be

reckoned to yield an hogshead of
sugar, or sixteen hundred weight,

that is, one of sugar to eight of
juice. This proves our juice to be

one fourth richer than theirs.

From the above calculation, it is
evident that all the lands in this
neighbourhood are better adapted
to this culture than the lands of Ja-
maica ; for here they not only yield
a larger crop of canes, but the juice
is aJso richer ; and were our planters
here to bring: the molasses into ac-
count, employed i in the West Indies
for the distillation of rum, their
profits would be still greater. At
present this refuse is given to cattle,
or carried away by labourers, for
whatever they think proper. It is
thus produétive of more real benefit
than if converted into ardent spi-
rits. The natives, in other parts of

India, are, however, well acquainted

with the method of making both
rum and arrack, nor have they
learned this pernicious process from
Europeans, as some have supposed.

In this country, the canes, while
growing, are subject to fewer acci-
dents than in the West Indies. I
will mention them briefly.

1. A very hot season is the worst;
it injures the canes greatly, render-
ing them of g reddish colour, yield-
ing a poor, unprofitable juice : here
they reckon the small, heavy, pale
yellow cane the best.

2. Storms, unless they are very
violent, do no great harm, because
the canes are propped ; however, if
they are once laid down, they be-

come

826

come branchy and thin, yielding a
poor watery juice ; and to this they
are sometimes liable.

3. The worm is another evil
which generally visits them every
few years: a beetle deposits its egg
in the young cane. ‘The grubs of
these remain in the plant, living on
its medullary parts, till they are
metamorphosed into the pupa state.
Sometimes this evil is so great, as to
injure a sixth or an eighth part of a
field ; but what is worse, the disease
is commonly general where it hap-
pens, few fields escaping.

4. The flower is the last accident
they reckon upon, although = it
scarcely deserves the name; for it
rarely happens, and never but to a
very small portion of some few
fields.

Those canes that flower have very
little juice left, and it is by no
means so sweet as the rest.

The lands occupied with the su-
gar cane in the zemindaries of Ped-
dapore and Pettapore, exclusive of
those islands formed by the mouths
of the Godavery, amount to five
hundred and fifty vissums, or eleven
hundred acres, and their annual
produce is forty-four hundred
weight per acre: their whole pro-
duce will, therefore, be twenty-se-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.
ven hundred hogsheads, of eighteen: |
hundred weight each, or about one
fourth part of the produce of the
island of Jamaica. It is acknow-
ledged by all, that this quantity
might be increased to any extent,,
with advantage to the zemindar, the
farmer, and government. This ob-
servation applies with double force
to the. upper provinces on the.
Ganges, as far as Rohileund, where
the sugar lands are of indefinite ex-
tent, and where, with a culture infi-
nitely less perfeét than that above
described, great quantities of sugar
and jagary are already made by ais
natives.

All that seems necessary in thie
immense tra¢ts, is to open a market.
to the ryut, and secure to him a
striét agreement to his lease with:
the zemindar.

Transgressions in this point are
the great bar to Indian husbandry ;
for, in a good season, the zemindar.
raises his demands, and makes the
farmers of all denominations pay,
probably, a fourth more than the
rent agreed on. Custom has ren-
dered this iniquity common, and
the farmer has no idea of obtaining}
redress of an evil, which to him aps
pears as irremediable as the ravages
of the elements. |

USEFUL

8

al

ba

USEFUL PROJECTS.

List of Patents for new Inventions,
&c. granted in the Year 1803.

OBERT Wilson, of the parish of

St. Saviour, Southwark, Surry,
plaisterer; for an apparatus for the
‘purpose of stopping ungovernable
horses. Dated January 20.
_ Joseph Jacob, of Greek-street,
of the parish of St. Ann, Soho,
Middlesex, coachmaker ; for a me-
tal box for the axle-trees of wheels,
carriages, mills, engines, and ma-
chines. Dated January 20.

George Matcham, of the city of
Bath, esquire; for a principle or
mechanical power for raising
weights, in preventing ships from
sinking, in raising ships when sunk,
in rendering ships, which are dis-
proportioned to shallow water, ca-
pable of entering rivers, passing
bars or shoals, or otherwise moving
in shallow water; and for a variety
of other useful purposes. Dated
January 29.

Edward Stephens, of the city of
Dublin, for a furnace stove, or fire
place, which can conveniently be
applicd to the burning of limestone,
at the same time that it is used for
the heating of all manner of corn-
kilns, evaporating stoves, and dry-
ing houses. Dated January 29.

- James Gayleard, of New Bond-
street, Middlesex, staymaker ; for
long stays, short stays, and corsetts,
on an improved constru¢tion.—
Dated February 1,

Stephen Hooper, of Walworth,
Surry ; for machines, or machinery,
upon improved principles, and me-
thods of using the same, for the
purpose of cleaning creeks, bars of
harbours, and preventing bars from
making. Dated February 5.

William Henry Clayfield, of the
city of Bristol, wine merchant ; for
a method of reducing and extracting
lead, and other metals, from a com-
pound substance commonly known
by the name of regulus. Dated Fe-
bruary 10.

Timothy Cobb, of Banbury, Ox-
fordshire, woollen manufacturer 5
for improvements -in the manufac-
turing a certain kind of piece goods,
called shag, or plush. Dated Fe-
bruary 21.

Jonathan Woodhouse, of Ashby-
de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, engi-
neer ; for a method of forming a
cast iron rail, or plate, which may
be used in making iron rail roads, or
ways, for the working and running
of waggons, carts, drays, and other
carriages, on public and other
roads, and also a new method of
fixing, fastening, and securing, such
cast iron rail or plate on such roads.
Dated February 28.

Robert Kirwood, of Edinburgh,
engraver and copper plate printer ;
for improvements on the copper plate
printing press. Dated February
28.

Thomas Johnson, of Bradbury,
Cheshire, weaver ; for a method of

preparing

$28

preparing and dressing cotton warp.
Dated February 28.

Robert Mason, of Cumberland-
street, Portsea, Hampshire, gentle-
man ; for improvements on a com-
mon waggon, whereby the same may
be separated, and used as two carts,
which he denominates the ‘* Patent
Hampshire waggon.”” Dated Febru-
ary 28.

Benjamin Haden, of the parish of
Sedgley, Staffordshire, bagging wea-
ver ; for an improvement in the ma-
nufaéture of bagging, for packing of
nails and other purposes. Dated
February 28.

Barker Chifney, of London, gen-
tleman; for improvements in the
manufacturing and preparing roofing
slates, and in laying thesame. Dated
March 8.

James Bennet, of Oldham-street,
Manchester, Lancashire, manufaétu-
rer ; for a method of felting woollen
cloth, and also of felting cloth ma-
nufaétured of sheep’s wool, and
other combined materials. Dated
March 10.

Samuel Miller, of the parish of
St. Pancras, Middlesex, engineer ;
for his improved method of applying
the repelling or repulsive force of
nature, in order to give a stronger
impulse to any substance or body in
motion, as well as to destroy the bad
effects of its baneful activity. Dated
March 16.

Edward Shorter, of New Crane,
Wapping, Middlesex, mechanic ;
for an apparatus for working of
pumps. Dated March 21.

Robert Clark, of Fitzroy-place,
Middlesex, instrument maker ; for
improvements in the construétion of
a truss, to be worn in the case of
rupture. Dated March 23.

Deers Egg, of the parish of St.
Martin’s in the Fields, Middlesex,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

gunmaker ; for improvement upon
fire arms. Dated March 23.

William Bainbridge, of Little
Queen-street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields,
Middlesex, musician ; for improve-
ments on the flagelet or English flute.
Dated April 1.

William Boond, of Manchester,
Lancashire, cotton manufacturer ;
for a new invented manufacture of
mixed and coloured cotton velvets,
velveteens, velverets, thicksets, cords,
and other cotton piece goods, com-
monly called fustians. Dated April

Richard Francis Hawkins, of
Woolwich, Kent, gent. for a method
of applying a certain power to the
working of ships and other wind.
lasses, ship and other winches,
cranes and other purposes, to which
the same hath never been employed.
Dated April 5.

John Leach, of Merton abbey,
Surry, calico printer; for improve-
ments on steam engine boilers,
which improvements are applicable
to boilers in general. Dated April
7.

Daniel Paulin Davis, of Blooms.
bury-square, Middlesex ; for a me-*—
thod of cleansing and sweeping
chimnies. Dated April 11.

John Todd, of Bolton, Lanca-
shire, cotton spinner; for a method
of weaving and manufacturing wool-
Jen cotton, linen, silk, and worsted
cloth or stuffs ; and also certain im-
provements on, and additions to the
machines used in weaving, by means
of Jooms wrought by water, steam- —
engines, or any other power. Dated —
April 14.

William Horrocks, of Stockport,
Cheshire, cotton manufaéturer ; for
improvements on the loom for weay-
ing of cotton, and other goods, by
steam or water. Dated April 20.

Samuel

Samuel Day, of Charter-house,
Hinton, Somersetshire, esq. for an
engine or time piece, which he de-
nominates, ‘¢ The Watchman’s Noc-
tuary and Labourer’s Regulator.”
Dated April 20.

James Hall, of Mellor, in the pa-
trish of Glossop, Derbyshire, weaver ;
for improvements upon looms. Dat-
ed April 27.

Elizabeth Bell, of Hampstead,
Middlesex, spinster; for a method
of sweeping chimnies, and of con-
structing them in such a manner, as
to lessen the danger and inconveni-
ence from fire and smoke. Dated
May 10. .

George Beaumont, of South Cross-
land, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire,
and Walter Beaumont, of the same
place, manufacturers of woollen
goods; for a mixture to be used in
the preparation of sheep or lambs
wool, for various purposes. Dated
May 17.

Joshua Green, of Banbury, Ox-
fordshire, manufacturer ; for a me-
thod of manufaéturing corded and
ribbed shags or plushes, composed
of different materials, on a principle
entirely new. Dated May 17.
James Roche, of King-street,
Holborn, Middlesex, gent. for a
medicine for the cure of the hoop-
ing cough. Dated May 23.

Chester Gould, of Red Lion-
treet, Clerkenwell, Middlesex ; for
a glass on a new principle, to be
used by mariners at sea, instead of
the common sand glasses when heay-
ing the log, for the purpose of as-
ertaining the ship’s rate of sailing ;
and also for other uses, either on
nd or at sea. Dated May 28.
Thomas Fulcher, the elder, of
Ipswich, Suffolk, surveyor and
uilder ; for a water-proof compo-
ition, in imitation of Portland

3

USEFUL! PROJECTS.

829

stone, for stuccoing and washing
new and old stone, and brick build-
ings ; and for cementing the joints,
and tucking and pointing all stone
and brick works that require proof
against water and damps. Dated
May 28.

John Gamble, of Leicester-square,
Middlesex, gent. for improvements
on and additions to a machine for
making paper in single sheets with-
out seams or joinings. Dated June
Tina ee
John Randall Peckham, of White
Lyon-street, Clerkenwell, Middle-
sex, watchmaker ; for improvements
ona lock to a musket, fuzee, car-
bine, fowling-piece, or pistol. Dat-
ed June 10.

James Fussell, of Mills, Somer.
setshire, iron manufaéturer ; for a
method of working water-wheels
for raising of water, and, in a great
measure, preventing water-wheels
from being flooded, and other useful
purposes. Dated June 14.

John Wood, of Manchester, Lan-
cashire, machine-maker; for im-
provements upon machines for spin-
ning and reeling of cotton. Dated
June 14,

James Thomson, of the city of |
Edinburgh, bell-hanger ;° for im-
provements in the hanging of bells,
window-curtains, window and other
blinds. Dated June 14.

John Harriott, of Wapping, Mid. -
diesex, and Edmund Cobb Hurry, of
Gosport, Southampton, esqrs. and
William Crispin, of Gosport afore-
said, shipwright; for a method of
making and working windlasses.
Dated June 14.

Thomas Newstead, of Kingston-
upon-Hull, Yorkshire, chemist ; for
a method of preparing barrilla and
kelp, and the neutral salts obtained
therefrom. Dated June 18.

Peter

830

Peter Storck, of John-street, Tot-
tenham-court-road, Middlesex, ba-
ker ; for a substitute for brewer’s
yeast, which may be made and used
in all weathers and climates, Dated
June 21.

Thomas Brown, of Alnwick,
Northumberland, whitesmith ; for a
machine for the cutting of tobacco,
tallow for tallow-chandlers and soap-
boilers ; and also for the cutting of

turnips, cabbages, carrots, and
other kind of roots, for the feeding
of cattle. Dated June 21.

Joseph Everett, of Salisbury,
Wiltshire, clothier ; for an article
manufactured of different materials,
and woye in a peculiar manner, so as
to give it an appearance of velvet,
which he denominates ‘‘ Salisbury
Angola Moleskin.” Dated June 28,

George Woods, of Barbican, in
the city of London, gent, for a me-
thod of constructing harps, harpsi-
chords, piano-fortes, violins, gui-
tars, and other stringed musical in-
struments. Dated June 28.

Archibald earl of Dundonald ; for
a method of treating or preparing
hemp and flax, so as matcrially to
aid the operation of the tools called
hackles, in the division of the fibres,
and which is likewise attended with
other advantages. Dated June 28.

Edward Warner, the younger, of
Little New-street, in the city of
London, brass-founder, for an im-
provement upon the air-lamp, the
properties whereof consist in re-
Heéting a more general and stronger
light by means of certain valves, and
a newly-construéted burner. Dated
June29.

James Roberts, of Abbotston
Farm, Southampton, yeoman, and
George Cathery, of New Alresford,
in the same county, gent. for a me-
thod of completely and effectually

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

eradicating smut from wheat; and
that wheat, when cleansed by their
invention, will produce flour of as
good quality and value as flour made
from wheat of the best growth.
Dated July 6.

Joseph Manton, of Davies-strect,
Berkley-square, in the parish of St:
George, Hanover-square, Middle-
sex, gun-maker; for a hammer,
upon a new construétion, for the
locks of ali kinds of fowling-pieces
and small arms. Dated July 6. ~

James Stuart, of London-street,
in the parish of St. Dunstan, Step-
ney, Middlesex; for a method to
strengthen ships or floating vessels.
Dated July 27.

John Norton, of Roll’s-build-
ings, Fetter-lane, Fleet-street, Lon-
don, mathematical instrument-ma-
ker; for an improvement in the
construétion of a water-mill, Dated
July 28.
~ Thomas Kentish, of Baker-street
North, Portrian-suare; Middlesex,
esq. for a dewick, far the purpose
of more expeditiously, with less la-
bour, and at léss expence than here-
tofore, loading and unloading ships
and vessels, removing heavy bodies
in any direétion, and which is also —
applicable to qther useful purposes,
Dated July 29.

Arthur Woolf, of Wood-street,
Spa-fields, Middlesex, engineer ; for
an improved apparatus for convert-
ing water or other liquid, into ya-
pour or steam, for the working
of steam-engines, for the heating of

water or other liquid employed in
brewing, distilling, dying, bleaching,
tanning, and other processes con-
nected with arts and manufactures ;
calculated also to make a stronger
extraét than can be obtained by the
processes commonly in use from a
given quantity of any vegetable or

other

SUSEFUL PROJECTS.

ether substance from which ex-
_ ¢raéts are or may be made without
the danger of burning, scorching,
or singeing, such vegetable or other
substance, and applicable to various
other processes. Dated July 29.

Laver Oliver, of Bury St. Ed-
munds, Suffolk, upholder and ca-
inet-maker ; for dining, card, pem-

_ -broke, and other. tables, upon an
improved construction. Dated Au-
‘gust 3.

James Hall, of Mellor, in the pa-
rish of Glossop, Derbyshire, weaver 5
for an improvement to the loom,
whereby a new and cheap method of
perpetually taking away the articles
woven therein, as they aré woven, is

_effeGted. Dated August 3.

Francis Godbold, of Craven-
street, Westminster, dice-maker ;
for new inyented dice. Dated Aut
gust 3.

John Edwards, of Vine-street,
Lambeth, Surry, engineer; for im-
provements in distilling, reétifying,
‘and dying, whereby the same will be
considerably accelerated, and the
‘consumption of fuel will be materi-
‘ally reduced. Dated August 3.

Bryan Donkin, of Dartford, Kent,
mill-wright; for a mode of pro-

' ducing a rotatory motion applicable
to useful purposes. Dated Au-
gust 3.

Michael Logan, of Paradise-street,
in the parish of St. Mary, Rother-
chithe, Surry, engineer; for a con-

_ servative lock for the use of inland
or canal navigation. Dated Au-
gust 5.

Cathcart Dempster, of St. An-

drew’s, North Britain, gent. for
_ improvements in the manufacture of
canvas or strong cloths, of vegetable

831

materials, for sails, tents, packages,
and other useful purposes. Dated
August 30.

Chester Gould, of Red Lion-street,
Clerkenwell, Middlesex, gent. ; for
an hydrometer on a new principle,
for the purpose of ascertaining the
strength of spirits, and determining
the specific gravity of fluids. Dated
September 3.

John Isaac Hawkins, late of Bor-
denton, in the United States of A-
merica, now residing in King-strect,
Clerkenwell,* Middlesex, Merchant;
for machinery and methods for writ-
ing, painting, drawing, ruling lines,
and other things ; and for applying
part of the aforesaid machinery
to other purposes. Dated Septem-
ber 24.

Robert Ransome, of Ipswich,
Suffolk, iron-founder, being one of
the people called Quakers ;* for a.
method of making and tempering
cast-iron plough shares, and other
articles of cast-iron for agricultural
uses. Dated September 24.

Robert Atkins, of Fenchurch-

street, in the city of London, mathe-

matical instrument maker; for im-
provements in the construétion of
hydrometers, for ascertaining the
strength of spirituous liquors ; and a
sliding rule of correction for tempe-
rature to the hydrometer, and various
improvements thereof. Dated O¢io-
ber 31.

Edward Thomason, of Birming-
ham, in the county of Warwick,
button and toy-manufa¢turer ; . for
a new mode of making hearth.
brushes. Dated Oétober 31.

Booth Hodgetts, of Dudley, in the
county of Worcester, nail-ironmon-
ger ; for machinery for rolling iron

for

__ * We are requested to state that Mr, Hawkins has since removed to No. 21
Pall Mall, where he exhibits the above invention,

832

for shanks, and for forming the same
into shanks for nails. Dated No-
vember 8.

Richard Younger, of Pittman’s-
buildings, Old-street, in the county
of Middlesex, gent. ; for an improved
method of extracting worts from
malt, barley, and other grains and
substances. Dated November 12.

William Freemantle, of Bunhill-
row, in the parish of St. Luke, Old-
street, in the county of Middlesex,
watchmaker ; for improvements in
the construction of steam engines.
Dated November 17.

James Bevans, of Castle-street,
City-road, in the county of Mid-
dlesex, carpenter, being one of the
society of the people called Quakers ;
for methods of applying machinery
for the purposes of more expeditious-
ly striking or sticking mouldings,
and for rabbetting, ploughing, or
grooving, fluting, and excavating
wood, in every manner, now usually
performed by any kind of plane.
Dated November 19.

George Penton, of New-street-
square, in the city of London, brass-
founder; for an improvement on
lamps, commonly called Argand’s
lamps. Dated November 19.

James Sturman Searles, of Little
Alie-street, Goodman’s-ficlds, in the
parish of St. Mary, Whitechapel,
-in the county of Middlesex, gun-
maker, for an improvement or im-
provements to be applied to any
kind of fire-arms or defensive in-
struments. Dated December 3.

Charles Wyatt, of New Bridge-
street, in the city of London, mer-
chant; for a new-invented process
of purifying ardent spirits. Dated
December 21.

Robert Cross, of Quakers Brook
within Houghton, in the county of

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Lancaster, tanner, and Thomas
Southworth, of Houghton, afore-
said cotton-manufa¢turer ; for their
new-invented mode of heating such
pans, vats, cisterns, and other ves-
sels, as are required to be heated by
fire, and used for working steam-
engines, and in the businesses of ca-
lico-printer, dyer, brewer, paper-
maker, bleacher, salt-maker, tan-
ner, and other such like trades ;
by which invention much expence
will be saved, not only in the fuel
to be used in the heating of such
vessels, but also in constructing the
vessels themselves. Dated Decem-
ber 31.

Particulars relative to the Construc-
tion of, and Benefits received from,
sundry Life Boats, built by Mr.
Henry Greathead, or under his
Direction, in and since the Year
1789.

Account of the South Shields Life Bout.

ROM the declaration of sir
Cuthbert Heron, bart. of South
Shields, it appears, that when the
Adventure was wrecked in 1789,
on the: [ferd Sands, he offered a re-
ward for any seaman to go off to
save the men’s lives, which was re-
fused ; and that the greatest part of
the crew of the Adventure perished.
within 300 yards of the shore, and
in sight of a multitude of speétators.
The gentlemen of South Shields im-
mediately met and offered a reward
to any person who would give in a
plan of a boat, which should be ap-
proved, for the preservation of men’s
lives. Mr. Greathead gave in a
plan, which met with approbation :
a committce was formed, and a sub-
scription raised for the building of
a boat

USEFUL PROJECTS:

‘a boat upon that plan. After it was
built, it was with some difficulty that
‘the sailors were induced to go off
in her ; but, in consequence of a re-
ward offered, they went off, and
brought the crew of a stranded ves-
sel onshore. Since which time the
boat has been readily manned, and
no lives lost (except in the instances
of the crew trusting to their own
boats); and, in his opinion, if Mr.
Greathead’s boat had existed at the
time of the wreck of the Adventure,
the crew would have been saved.
From other accounts it appears,
that, in the year 1791, the crew of
a brig, belonging to Sunderland,
and laden from the westward, were
preserved by this life-boat, the ves-
sel at the same time breaking to
pieces by the force of the sea.

On January Ist, 1795, the ship

Parthenius, of Newcastle, was dri-
yen on the Herd Sands, and the life
boat went to her assistance, when
the sea breaking over the ship, as
the boat was ranging alongside, the
boat was so violently shaken that
her bottom was hanging loose; un-
-der these circumstances, she went
‘three times off to the ship, without
being affeéted by the water in her.

In the latter part of the year
1796, a sloop, belonging to Mr.
Brymer, from Scotland, laden with
bale goods, was wrecked on the
} Herd Sands ; the crew and passen-
gers were taken out by the life-boat ;
the vessel] went to pieces at the time
| the boat was employed, the goods

were scattered on the sand, and part
of them lost.

In the same year, a vessel, named
the Countess of Krrol, was driven
on the Herd Sands, and the crew sav-
ed by the life-boat.
| Oétober 15, 1797,
. Vou. XLY

the sloop

$33

called Fruit of Friends, from Leith,
comig to South Shields, was driven
on the Herd Sands. One part of the
passengers, in attempting to come on
shore in the ship’s-boat, was wnfor-
tunately drowned; the other part
was brought on shore safe by the
life-boat.

The account of captain William
Carter, of Newcastle, states, that, on
the 28th November, 1797, the ship
Planter, of London, was driven on
shore near Tynemouth-Bar, by the
violence of a gale; the life-boat
came out, and took fifteen persons
from the ship, which the boat had
scarcely quitted before the ship went
to pieces ; and that without the boat
they must all have inevitably pe-
rished, as the wreck came on shore
soon after the life-boat. He con-
ceived that no boat of a common
construction could have given re-
lief at that time. ‘The ships Gates-
head, and Mary, of Newcastle, the
Beaver, of North Shields, and a
sloop, were in the same situation
with the Planter. The crew of the
Gateshead, nine in number, took to
their own boat, which sunk, and
seven of them were lost; the other
two saved themselves by ropes
thrown from the Mary. After the
life-boat had landed the crew of the
Planter, she went off successively
to the other vessels, and brought
the whole of the crews safe to shore,
together with the two persons who
had escaped from the boat of the
Gateshead.

Mr. Carter adds, that he has seen
the life-hoat go to the assistance of
other vessels, at different times, and
she ever succeeded in bringing the
crews safe to shore; that he had
several times observed her come on
shore full of water, aud always safe.

3H Account

$34

Account of the Northumberland
Life-Boat.

The Northumberland ‘tife-hoat,
so called from being built at the
expence of his grace the duke of
Northumberland, and presented by
him to North Shields, was first em-
ployed in November, 1798, when
she went off to the ship Edin-
burgh, of Kincardine, which was
seen to go upon the Herd Sands,
- about a mile and a half from the

shore. Ralph Hillery, one of the
seamen who went out in the life-
boat to her assistance, relates that
she was brought to an anchor be-
fore the life-boat got to her; that
‘the ship continued to strike the
ground so heavily, that she could
not have held together ten mi-
nutes longer, had not the life-boat
arrived; they made her cut her ca-
ble, and then took seven men out
of her, and brought them on shore ;
that the sea was, at that time, so
monstrously high, that no other
boat whatever could have lived in
it. He stated, that in the event of
the life-boat filling, she would con-
tinue upright and would not foun.
der, as boats of common construc-
tion do; that he has seen her go
off scores of times, and never saw
her fail in bringing off such of the
crews as Staid by their ships.

It also saved (as appears from
other accounts) the crew of the
brig Clio, of Sunderland, when she
struck upon the rocks, called the
Black Middens, on the north side
of the eutrance of Tynemouth ha-
ven. 4

October 25, 1799, the ship Quin-
tillian, from St. Petersburgh, drove
on the Herd Sands, from the force
of the sea-wind at N. E. knocked
her rudder off, and was much da.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1808.

maed ; but the crew were brought
on shore by the life-boat. The great
utility of this life-boat is also cons
firmed by many other recent cir
cumstances: One among which is
that of the ship Sally, of Sunder.
Jand, which, in taking the harbour
of Tynemouth, on December 25,
1801, at night, struck on the bar:
the crew were brought on shore by
the life-boat, but the ship was driven
among the rocks.
On the 22d of January, 1802, in
a heavy gale ef wind from the
N.N. W. the ship Thomas and A-
lice, in attempting the harbour of
South: Shields, was driven on the Herd
Sand: the Northumberland _life-
boat went to her assistance; took,
as was supposed, all the people out,
and pulled away from the ship to
make the harbour, when they were
waved to return by a man who had
been below deck. On taking this
man out, they encountered a violent
gust of wind, under the quarter of
the ship; the ship, at the same time,
drove among the breakers; and,
entangling the boat with her, broke —
most of the oars on that side of the —
boat next the ship, and filled the
boat with water. By the shock, —
several oars were knocked ont of |
the hands of the rowers, and that
of the steersman, In this. situation, |
the steersman quickly replaced his —
oar from one of those left in the |
boat, and swept the boat before the |
sea, filled with water inside, as high >
as the midship gunwhale: the boat.
was steered, in this situation, be.
fore the wind and sea, a distance
far exceeding a mile, and landed
twenty-one men, including the boat’s
crew, without any accident but be=
ing wet. 3 ;
Mr. Hinderwell, of Scarborough,
communicated, in a letter to Mr.
. Greathead,,

‘oPiSREUL PROJECTS.

Greathead, the following account of
the Scarborough life-boat.

The life-boat at Scarborough,
which was built without the least
deviation from the model and the
plan which you sent here at my re-
quest, has even exceeded the most
sanguine expectations; and I have
now received experimental, convic-
tion of its great ability in cases of
shipwreck, and of its perfeét safety
in the most agitated sea. Local pre-
judices will ever exist against novel
inventions, however excellent may
be the principles of their construc-
tion ; and there were some, at this
place, who disputed the performance
of the life-boat, until a circumstance
lately happened, which brought it
to the test of experience, and remov-
ed every shadow of objection, even
from the most prejudiced minds.

On Monday the 2d of November,
we were visited with a most tremen-
dous storm from the eastward, and
I scarcely ever remember seeing a
more mountainous sea. The Au-
rora, of Newcastle, in appreaching
the harbour, was driven ashore to
the southward ; and, as she was in
the most imminent danger, the life
boat was immediately launched to
her assistance. ‘The place where
the ship Jay, was exposed to the
whole force of the sea, and she was
surrounded with broken water,
_ which dashed over the decks with

considerable violence. In such a
perilous situation the life boat ad-
ventured, and proceeded through
the breach of the sea, rising on the
summit of the waves without ship-
ping any water, except a little from
the spray. On going upon the lee-
quarter of the yessel, they were en-
dangered by the main-boom, which
_had broken loose, and was ‘driving
ahout with great force. This com-

835

pelled them to go alongside, and
they instantly took out four of the
crew ; but the sea which broke over
the decks, having nearly filled the
boat with water, they were induced
to put off for a moment, when see-
ing three boys, (the remainder of
the crew) clinging to the rigging,
and in danger of perishing, they
immediately returned, and took them
into the boat, and brought the whole
to land in safety. By means of the
life-boat, built from your plan, and
the exertions of the boatmen, seven
men and boys were thus saved to
their country and their friends, and
preserved from the inevitable de-.
struction, which otherwise awaited
them. The boat was not in the
least affected by the water which
broke into her when alongside of
the vessel ; and, indeed, the boat-
men thought it rendered her more
steady in the sea. J] must also add,
that it was the general opinion, that
no other boat of the common cou-
struction could have possibly per-
formed this service; and the fishers
men, though very adventurous, de-
clared they would not have made
the attempt in their own boats.

We have appointed a crew of
fishermen to manage the boat, under
the direction of the committee ; and.
the men are so much satisfied with
the performance of the boat, and so
confident in her salety, that they
are emboldened to adventure upon
the most dangerous occasion.

By other accounts, furnished to
the society, it appears that the
Scarborough life-boat, on the 21st
of November, 1801, was the means
of saving a sloop belonging to Sun-
derland, and her crew, consisting of
three men and boys: also, the Ex-
periment, of London, her cargo and
crew, consisting of eight men and

3H2 boys,

3356

boys, when in a distressed and pe-
rilous situation, on the 22d of Ja-
nuary last, which faéts are attested
by eleven owners of ships resident
in Scarborough.

In the course of the last twelve
months, several ships and vessels,
which have not been included in the
above accounts, have been driven
en shore in bad weather, and got
off again afterwards ; the crews have
been saved by being taken out by
the life-boat, whereas, if they had
remained on board, they must have
‘perished, the sea making a passage
over them. *

.

@bservations on the Culture and
Growth of Oak Timber, by the
Rev. Richard Yates, F. A, S.
from the Transactions of the So-
eicty for the Encouragement of
Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.

(The Silver Medal was voted to the
Author of this Communication. )

T"O expatiate upon the vast im-
portance of increasing the
growth of oak timber, seems unne-
cessary. The national advantages
resulting from this source, appear
to be, in general, well understood ;
and yet the cultivation and manage-
ment of this most useful plant, has
not hitherto obtained that degree of
attention which it most certainly
merits.

Entirely to obviate, or even in
some measure to remove or lessen,
the obstacles that still continue to
impede the planting of oaks, would,
therefore, be rendering an essential
service to the nation. ‘The desire
of accomplishing so beneficial a pur-
pose, has induced the judicious and
public spirited conduétors of the
Society of arts, to propose @ pre-.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

mium for ‘¢ ascertaining the best
method of raising oaks ;” in conse-
quence of which, this paper is sub-
mitted to their candid consideration.
And as the statements here made are
founded upon a sedulous and aétive
experience of fifty years, it is pre«
sumed the spirit and meaning of the
society’s proposal may have been
observed, although it has not been
possible (in this instance), literaily
to fulfil its terms ; at least the very
intention of promoting and forward-
ing the views of so. enlightened, and
highly useful a society, may, it is
hoped, be accepted as an apology
for calling their attention to these
observations.

It forms no part of the present
design to enter minutely into the
various causes that continue to ope-
rate in obstruéting the cultivation of
the oak ; as there is one of peculiar
magnitude, the consequences of
which are highly detrimental and
injurious, and which it is, therefore,
the principal objeét of this paper te
remove.

An opinion is generally prevalent,
that the oak is particularly slow in
its growth, and requires a great
number of years before it affords
any advantage. This idea, too often,
deters from planting, on account of
the very great length of time it is
supposed the Jand must be occu-
pied before any return of valua-
ble produce can be obtained from
it, after a considerable expence
may have been incurred in forming
plantations.

This opinion, I consider as en-
tirely founded in error, and to have
taken its rise, in a great measure,
from the want of proper manage-
ment, that has hitherto commonly.
prevailed in the raising of oaks;
and in this paper, I shall endeavour,

strongly,

USEFUL PROJECTS.

strongly, to state, that the oak may
be rendered very rapid inits growth,
and that, consequently, land may be
employed to great advantage in its
cultivation ; as a very considerable
and profitable produce may, in a
much shorter time than is generally
supposed, be derived from proper
parts of an estate thus employed.

Oak timber in this country, for
the most part, appears in trees ofa
considerable extent of head, but
seldom more than twenty or thirty
feet in stem ; and this, in many in-
stances, the growth of a century.
Now, by the course of management
here proposed, it is conceived that
trees, of at least double this mag-
nitude, may be obtained in half that
_ time.

It is not my intention to attempt
a proof of this proposition by theo-
retical deduétions, but to appeal for
its confirmation to the indubitable
test of faét, which, from the event
of repeated trials, impresses a con-
viétion that experience will be found
to support and establish it in the
most unequivocal manner.

It would be easy to enlarge much
on the various qualities of soil, the
nature and process of vegetation,
and the peculiar properties of the
oak ; but as these topics may be
found amply and judiciously dis-
cussed in many other authors, wha
have expressly treated on these sub-
jects, I shall decline all such specu-
Jations; and, with the hope of be-
ing more essentially useful, shall
¢onfine myself to a statement as
simple and praéticable as possible.

The oak, in the progress of its
growth, spreads numerous roots
near the surface of the ground, and
in an horizontal direction ; these as-
sist in supporting and preserving the
free in its position, but seem to,

;

857

contribute very little to its increase
in magnitude. The oak appears to
derive its chief nutriment and
strength from a root which always
descends at a right angle to the ho-
rizon, and is called the tap root. >
The first thing, therefore, to be
observed is, that, upon a judicious
attention to this peculiarity, the
planters success principally depends ;
and the negleét of this care is the
constant source of error and disap.
pointment. In all climates, and
upon all soils, to preserve this tap
root from injury; and as much as
possible to assist its growth, is a ge-
neral, and, indeed, the most essen-
tial principle in the cultivation of
oak. With a due regard to this
circumstance, the management of a
plantation may be resolved into
the three following practical direc-
tions :

Previously to planting the acorns,
loosen the earth intended for their
reception by deep trenching.

Never transplant, or in any way
disturb, the saplings intended for
timber. And

Keep the plant carefully pruned,
till arrived at a proper height.

More fully to elucidate the sub-
jeét, and to prevent the possibility
of misapprehension, it may be pro-
per to give a more detailed state-
ment,

In determining on a spot to form
a plantation of oaks for timber, it
must always be recollected that the
plants are to remain without re-
moval in their first situation: the
clearing and fencing may then be at-
tended to as usual ; and in the course
of the winter, from September to,
March, the particular spots intend-
ed for the reception of the acorns,
may be prepared for that purpose,
by digging a trench about three feet

3H 3 ; in

838

in width, and from three to six feet
in depth, according to the closeness
and tenacity of the soil. If grass
ground, the first spit. should be
placed at the bottom of the trench ;
and, if more than one trench be
necessary, they should be prepared
in the same manner, preserving a
distance of ten yards between each,
if it be intended to employ the in-
termediate space in underwood, or
for any other purpose,

Having made a careful selection
of acorns that are perfeéily sound,
and in good preservation, they are
to be planted about the middle of
March. Draw a drill in the centre
of the trench, two inches in depth,
if the soil be heavy and loamy, but
three inches in a light and sandy
earth ; in this plant the acorns two
inches asunder, and cover them
carefully with mould. When the
plants appear, they must be weeded
by hand in the rows, and the
earth of the trench round them
cleaned with a hoe, once a month,
during the summer. In October
inspect the rows and thin them, by
pulling up every other plant: atten-
tion will, of course, be paid to re-
move the weak and crooked plants,
and leave those that are tallest and
Straightest. On the second year,
the operation of thinning must be
repeated at the same time, and in
the same manner; and, should any
of the remaining plants have made
side shoots, stronger than the genc.-
yal chara¢ter, they must be smooth.
Jy cut off with a sharp knife, close
to the leading stem. On the third
year, the thinning is repeated, and
the general pruning commenced, by
cutting off close to the leading stem,
all the side shoots of the first year ;
thus leaving the branches of two
years to form the head of the fol.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

lowing year. The removal of every
alternate plant must be continued
yearly, till the trees are about thirty
feet apart, at which distance they
may remain for timber. The prun-
ing is to be continued, by removing,
every year, very smooth and close
to the main stem, one year’s growth
of side branches, till the plants are
arrived,at a stem forty, fifty, or sixty
feet, and they may then be permit-
ted to run: to head without farther
pruning.

The particular arrangement here
recommended, may be varied ac-
cording to any peculiarities of situ-
ation, regard being constantly had
to the general and most important
principle of loosening the ground
(very deep) previously to planting
the acorns. By this mode of cul-
ture, oaks may be raised in almost
any soil; but, where it is possible,
a loam or marl is always to be cho-
sen. Oaks thrive much the best in
such earth, and when assisted by
deep trenching and judicious prun-
ing, attain, in a few years, to an
immense size.

Those who have been accustomed
to notice the slow growth and stwnt-
ed appearance of oak trees, when
denied the assistance of art, and left
to themselves in the common way,
would observe, with astonishment,
the vigorous and rapid increase of
plants under the management now
pointed out.

The plants thinned out the first
three or four years, though not fit
to be depended upon for timber, as
transplanting generally injures very
materially the future growth, may
be replanted in the intermediate
spaces, between the rows, for the
purpose of being afterwards re~
moved; or they may be usefully
placed in hedges, or other spare and

unoccupied

USEFUL PROJECTS.

unoccupied spots of ground. They
should be headed down at the time
of transplanting, as this operation
assists the process of nature, in re-
producing or remedying any injury
the tap root may have received
from the removal, and, if proper
attention be given to loosen the soil
for their reception, and pruning
them as they adyance, in most m-
Stances an adequate profit will be
derived from the labour bestowed
upon them. After.a few years, the
produce of the timber plantation will
be found very advantageous. The
young trees that are to be removed
yearly, will always find a ready
market for a variety of purposes,
unnecessary here to enumerate. In
addition to these advantages, if by
this treatment of deep trenching
previously to planting, and annual
careful pruning during the growth,
timber can be produced in about fif-
ty years, of equal quality, and
much superior in size, to that
which has been above one hundred
years growing under improper ma-
nagement, or without the assistance
of cultivation; it will, doubtless, be
allowed, that a most beneficial, if
not absolutely the best possible me-
thod of “‘ raising oaks,” is here
pointed out and ascertained.

This method of cultivation may,
perhaps, be- thought to occasion so
much expence in manual labour, as
to prevent its being generally adopt-
ed: it might, perhaps, be sufficient
to observe, that if the work be con-
ducted with judgment and cecono-
my, the future produce will afford
ample returns for ail necessary ex-
penditure: it should also be recol-
lected, that the previous prepara-
tion of the ground, and the subse-
quent pruning of the plants, are
both to be performed at that season

839

of the year, when a scarcity of work
will enable the planter to obtain as-
sistance upon easier terms; with
this additional advantage also, of
providing employment for the la-
bourer at those times, when the ge-
neral state of agricultural business
renders it dificult for him to find
maintenance for himself and family
without charitable relief.

In 1750, at Ingestrie, in Stafford.
shire, the seat of lord Chetwynd,
some plantations were formed and
managed, in a great measure, ace
cording to the principles here stat-
ed, and the growth of the plants
was so uncommonly rapid and so
extraordinary, that it could not but
attract the notice of all concerned in
the eonduct of them. The attention
to the subject then excited has been
the occasion and ground of all the
observations and experiments made
from that time to the present, the
result of which is given in this
paper.

The extensive plantations of the
late lord Denbigh, at Newnham
Paddox, in Warwickshire, are well
known and much admired. ‘The
whole has been conducted with
great judgment. About a square
acre has been employed in raising
oaks upon a plan nearly similar to
that now proposed, and affords the
best and most convincing proof of
the superior utility and eflicacy of
such management. Had the noble
earl been now living, I should have
been enabled to have laid before the
society some more detailed particu-
lars: that, however, is now impos-
sible; this paper, therefore, in its
present state, may, perhaps, be
thought not altogether unworthy of
notice, as tending to forward the li.
beral designs of the society, and
contributing to the advantage of the

3H4 ublic,

840.

public, the author conceiving that
the best method of raising oaks is
ascertained and stated in it,

Should the society be in any de-
gree inclined to join in this senti-
ment, tt may, perhaps, induce them
to .make some alteration in the
terms of their proposal; as, accord-
ing to the statement made in this
paper, and, indeed, from what may
be seen in every part of the king-
dom in the character and appear-
ence of oaks growing without cul-
tivation, it seems ascertained that
** acorns set with the spade or dib-
ble, without digging or tillage,” can
never be depended on to form good
timber ; and, even in the most fa-
vourable circumstances of this case,
the growth will be exceedingly slow
and precarious. The same may be
said of ‘* young plants, previously
raised in nurseries and transplant-
ed;” for if the tap root be cut,
broken, or in any degree injured,
which, in transplanting, it is almost
impossible to avoid, that plant will
seldom become a vigorous and flou-
rishing tree. ‘To form a course of
experiments on such a plant as the
oak, is not a very easy matter. To
fulfil, explicitly, the conditions of
the society would xyequire a great
length of time, and would be attend-
ed with considerable expence, from
which future candidates may, in a
great measure, be exonerated. The
raising, even one acre, in the man-
ner here ascertained, might be pro-
ductive of great pecuniary advan-
tage, if the faéts and experience de-
tailed ‘in this paper are permitted
to prove the inutility of the other
two methods, and consequently to
remove the necessity of employing
so much ground upon them, at an
expence they will never repay. —

ANNUAL. REGISTER, 18068.

Account of Experiments, shewing
that violent Conflagrations may be
extinguished by very small Quan-
tities of Water, by Means of «
Portable Hand Engine, by M.
Van Marum, from the ‘+ Annales
De Chimie.”

SWEDE, named Van Aken,

nine years ago, publicly shew-

ed at Stockholm, Copenhagen, and
Berlin, that he could very expe-
ditiously extinguish fires by a small
quantity of a liquor, denominated
anti-incendiary, and which he, for
some time, kept secret. Having
seen, in the journals, that M. Van
Aken had repeated his experiments
with great success at, Berlin, in the
presence of some of the members. of
the academy of sciences, I wrote
to the celebrated M. Klaproth, re-
questing him to communicate to me_
the composition of M. Van Aken’s
anti-incendiary liquor, if he were
acquainted with it, with the inten-
tion of ascertaining the merit of the
invention by an experiment on a
large scale. For this purpose, as
soon as M. Klaproth had communi-
cated to me the method of preparing
it, I caused a quantity to be made
under my own inspection. It con-
sists of a solution of 40lbs. of sul-
phate of iron and 30lbs. of sulphate
of alumine, mixed with 20lbs. of
red oxyd of iron (colcothar) and
200!bs. of clay. I then began te
make comparative experiments, by
setting fire to two masses of com-
bustibles, equal in every respect,
and, by extinguishing one of them, ~
with Van Aken’s liquid, and the
other with common water. I was
surprised to see, in several trials,
that by using the two liquids in the
Same manner, the fire was always
more

USEFUL PROJECTS.

more expeditiously extinguished by
water than by the anti-incendiary
liquor; but 1 observed, at the same
time, that a very small quantity of
water, when properly directed, ex-
tinguished an extremely violent con-
flagration. My first experiments on
this subject, led me to make others,
on a larger scale; I shall take no-
tice only of the latter.

I took two barrels which had
contained pitch, and the inside of
which, was still covered with that
inilammable substance. I took out
the top and bottom of each, and, to
give increased power to the flames,
I altered them to a conical figure,
twenty inches in diameter at the up-
per end, and sixteen inches at the
other. This | placed onan iron frame,
about three inches from the ground,
that a free current of air, rising
through the barrel, might render
the flame as fierce as possible. I
put a fresh covering of pitch over
the inside of each barrel, and, by
means of shavings, set fire to them
one after the other. I began to ex.
tinguish the fire when most violent.
For this purpose, | employed an
iron ladle, containing two ounces of
water, and provided with a very
long handle, as the heat of the fire
kept me at the distance of four or
five feet. I carefully poured the
water out of the ladle in very small
streams over the inside of the barrel,
' applying it to the edge, and moving
it along the edge, according as the
flames ceased. in this manner the
first ladle full put out nearly half of
the fire; and what remained was
extinguished by the second, applied
in the same way.

The uncommon success of this
experiment, induced me to repeat it
in the presence of several persons ;
and by practice in the economical

841°

employment of water, I have more
than once been able to extinguish a
pitched barrel, in a state of the
most complete conflagration, by a
single ladle full, consisting of two
ounces of water.

It must at first appear surprising,
that so small a quantity of water
can extinguish such a violent fire.-—
But the reason will easily be con-
ceived, upon retieéting, that the
flame of any burning substance
must cease, according to the well-
known principles and experiments,
as soon as any cause prevents the
atmospheric air from touchiag its
surface : thus, when a small quantity
of water is thrown upon a body in
a state of violent conflagration, this
water is at first partly reduced to
vapour, which, rising from the sur-
face of the burning substance, re-
pels the atmospheric air, and conse-
quently represses the flame, which,
for the same reason, cannot again
appear whilst the produétion of the
vapour continues.

From these experiments, it ap-
pears that the art of extinguishing a
violent conflagration, with very little
water, consists in throwing it where
the fire is most powerful, so that
the produétion of vapour from the
water, by which the flames are
smothered, may be as abundant as
possible ; and in proceeding te
throw the water on the nearest in-
flamed part, as soon as the fire
ceases in that where you began, till -
you have gone over all the burning
parts as expeditiously as possible.—
In thus regularly following the
flames with the water, they may be
every where extinguished, before
the part where you began has en-
tirely lost, by evaporation, the wa-
ter with which it was wetted, which
is frequently necessary, to oe

the

842

the parts from taking fire again:
after the flames of a burning body
are extinguished, it cannot again
take fire, for the abovementioned
reason, till all the water thrown
Bpon it be evaporated.

Being convinced, by these expe-
riments, that very little water may
suffice for extinguishing ordinary
conflagrations, particularly at their
commencement, -I have endeavoured
to convince many of my fellow-citi-
zens of it, by repeating the experi-
ments just described; and I have
advised the procuring of small por-
table engines, to be used in cases of
necessity. Many followed my ad-
vice immediately, and, after their
good offices had been seen, in some
cases, their numbers increased more
and more in many towns of Hol-
Jand, especially after the experiment

which 1 made here in May, 1797,-

to shew, upon a larger scale, the
advantages that may be derived
from a judicious application of wa-
ter, to extinguish even the most fu-
rious conflagration, by means of
portable engines, with a very small
quantity of water. The experiment
was the following.

I constructed a shed of dry wood,
forming a room twenty-four feet
long, twenty wide, and fourteen
high, having two docrs on one side,
and two windows on the other.—
This shed was provided with the
wood work of a roof, but was not
covered, and stood about six inches
from the ground, that there might
be a thorough current of air to in-
crease the fierceness of the flames,
when the building should be set on
fire. The inside of it was com-
pletely covered with pitch, and lined
with straw, which was likewise
pitched. To this straw lining I
fastened wood shavings and cotton

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

dipped in oil of turpentine, to set
fire to the whole inside of the shed
at once. Soon after the fire was
applied, the flames, being increased
by the wind, were every where so
violent, that all the speétators
thought they could not possibly be
extinguished. I, however, succeed«
ed in about four minutes, by the
method already described, with five
buckets of water, part of which was
wasted through the fault of those
who assisted me, as the following
experiment proved.

Ll invited but very few to be pre-
sent at this first experiment on the
8th of May, but on the 11th I re-
peated it, in the presence of a very
numerous company, after repairing
and restoring the shed to its original
state. The fire was not less violent
than in the preceding experiment.—
I then directed the water myself,
without any assistance, and effeétu-
ally extinguished the fire in three
minutes, having used only three
buckets of water, each containing
about four gallons and a half.

Being at Gotha, in July 1801, the
duke and duchess of Gotha pressed
me, at their expence, to repeat the
experiment, of which they had seen
the details in the German journals,
that it might be made more gene-
rally known in that part ef Ger.
many, where, as in other countries,
great injury is sometimes sustained
from conflagrations, because the
people know not how to employ
judiciously the small quantity of
water they have at hand. The
obliging manner in which their high-
nesses requested me to repeat the
experiment, and my wish to make
it of more general utility, induced ~
me to undertake it. The celebrated
astronomer Von Zach was likewise
present, and drew up the account

inserted

USEFUL PROJECTS.

inserted in a German periodical
publication, intituled ‘* Reichs An-
zeiger,”’ of 6th August, 1798.

M. Lalande arrived at Gotha four
days after the experiment, and was
informed of its result. He men-
tioned it, as he lately informed me,
soon after his return to Paris, to
the national institute, but he, at the
same time, told me, that doubts
were entertained of the truth of his
narrative. To remove all doubts on
this head, I shall annex the follow-
ing account of the experiment,
drawn up by the celebrated astrono~
mer of Gotha, and inserted by him in
the abovementioned periodical pub-
lication.

*¢ Doétor Van Marum, having
made some stay at Gotha, in the
course of a literary tour through
Germany, in 1798, the duke of Go-
tha, known as an amateur of the
mathematical and physical sciences,
expressed a wish that he would ex-
hibit, on a large scale, an experi-
ment of his method of extinguishing
fire, the effeét of which M. Van
Marum had shewn, by extinguish-
ing, by means of a ladle full of wa-
ter, a pitched barrel, which he had
set on fire. A shed of old and per-
feétly dry wood was, in consequence,
erected, under the direéction of M.
Van Marum, in front of the du-
chess’s garden. Its dimensions
were, in every respect, equal to that
which served for the same experi-
ment at Haarlem, being twenty-four
feet long, twenty wide, and four-
teen in height. There were two
doors on the north-east side, and
two large apertures, in the form of
windows, on the north-west side,—
The top was quite open, to give the
flames a free passage.

“The inside of thisshed was cover-
ed with pitch, and afterwards with

é

843

straw mats, plentifully besmeared
with melted pitch. To the bottom
of these straw mats were fastened
cotton wicks, dipped in spirits of
turpentine, that the place might
take fire in every part at once. In
consequence, the fire being consider-
ably increased by the wind, was at
first so powerful, and the flames,
enveloped in thick clouds of smoke,
rose with such violence, to the height
of several feet above the opening of
the roof, that the nearest spectators
were obliged to retire precipitately,
and many of them declared that it
would be impossible to extinguish
the conflagration, and that the shed
would be entirely reduced to ashes.
When the straw mats were com-
pletely consumed, the wood of the
shed was soon in flames in every
part. The circumstances under
which this experiment was made
were highly unfavourable ; for the
wind drove the flame exactly out at
the doors on the north-east side, at
which the water for extinguishing it
was to be introduced. But not-
withstanding this M. Van Marum
placed a small portable engine be-
fore the door, nearest the south-east
side, without regard to the fears and
opposition of his assistants, and or-)
dered it to be worked there, station-
ing himself as near as the heat of the
fire would permit him, he first di-
rected the water to the south-east
side, as near the door as possible,
and as soon as the flame was extin-
guished in one part, he guided the
water to another. He then directed
it along the north-east side, so that
in a few minutes the flames were
completely extinguished on those
two sides. The engine was then
placed before one of the apertures
made in the form of windows, on
the north-west side, and then com-

ing

$44
ing to the middle of the shed, which
was still on fire in several places, in
the crevices of the planks, and the
holes made by the nails, he com-
pletely extinguished the fire, whieh,
from time to time, broke out again
in smal] flames, and this terrible con-
flagration was entirely got under.—
According to the calculation of se-
veral spectators, the fire was extin-
guished in three minutes, at most,
after the engine began to work. It
is true the flames broke out again in
several places, but they were of so
little consequence, that they were ex-
tinguished by means of wet rags fas-
tened toastick. Before the engine
began to work, the reservoir was
filled, at two different times, with
two buckets of water. But in the
removal of the engine to the first
aperture or window of the shed,
and afterwards to the middle of it,
a considerable quantity of water,
that may be estimated at nearly a
pailful, was spilt; so that it may
with truth be asserted, that this vio-
Jent conflagration was extinguished
by three buckets of water, exclusive
of what was afterwards used to ex-
tinguish those parts of the shed that
remained red. When the fire was
out, every one could see that it was
not only the matted straw which
had been burned, but that the wood,
of which the building was coustruét-
ed, had been so completely on fire,
that the space of an inch could not
be found that had not been burned
to a greater or less depth. The
north-east side in particular, against
which the wind had driven the
flames with the greatest violence,
was entirely charred. ‘The experi-
ment made at Gotha differs materi-
ally from that at Haarlem, in the fol-
lowing particulars: that the flames
and thick smoke that issued from
1

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

the doors, rendered the approach te
the shed, with the engine, extremely
difficult at the former place, so that
it was only by persuasion, and the
courageous example he himself set,
by placing himself always in front
with the engine pipe, that M. Van
Marum could induce his assistants
to approach the danger they so
much dreaded.”

From what has been already
stated, it results, that, in the appli-
cation of this methed of extinguish-
ing fire, the whole art consists in at-
tending to what follows: that, to
stop the most violent flame, it is ne-
cessary only to wet the surface of
the burning substance where the
flame appears, and, for this purpose,
only a small quantity of water is re-
quired, if it be applied with judg-
ment to the burning part; thus the
point to be attended to in extin-
guishing a fire, is to direct the wa-
ter so that the whole surface of the
burning part may be wetted and ex-
tinguished, and that in such a man-
ner, that no extinguished spot may
be left between two others that are
on fire ; for, if attention be not paid
to this particular, the heat of the
flame, burning here and there, ra-
pidly changes into vapour the water
with which the extinguished wood
has been wetted, and it again takes
fire. Therefore, to extinguish fire
of every kind, and in whatever
manner it may have happened, no-
thing more is necessary than to ap-
ply to the burning part a sufficient
quantity of water to wet its sur-
face.

On the Advantages resulting to Ves-
sels constructed with Sliding Keels.
From ‘* Grant’s Voyage to the.
South Seas.”

1. VESSELS

= oe aR

WS MPEUL PRO IEC T'S.

I. TESSELS thus’ constrnéted
will answer better as coast-

| ers of all kinds, and for the coal

trade. ‘he advantages which coast-
ers will derive from this construction
are many, It is certain that great
numbers of them are lost, owing to
their great draught of water ; and it
is. also well known that their pas-
sages are frequently much lengthen-
ed, by their being obliged, w hen the
wind is contrary, to run to leeward
to get a good harbour, or roadsted.
In such cases, if they drew a few
feet less water, they would go into
many harbours which they are now
obliged to pass. But the inconve-
nience does not rest here, for, even
when they arrive at the intended
port, they are, perhaps, often
obliged to wait several days for a
spring tide, which, when it comes, a
gale of wind probably prevents them
from taking advantage of, and get-
ting in; and often the same time
may be lost in getting out of ‘the
harbour. » Besides loss of time, and
consequent expences to the owners,
great quarrels are sometimes pro-
duced, through the same causes, be-
twixt owners, captain, and crews
all which would, in a great degree,
be prevented, were these vessels of
a smaller draught of water, Ac-
‘cording to the plan herein recom-
mended, vessels of one hundred and
twenty, to one hundred and forty
tons, would not draw, when loaded,
above 54 feet of water at most; and
all other vessels in the same propor-
tion. They who are concerned in
shipping, and know what water ves-
sels of such burthen at present draw,
must see, with astonishment, the
advantage of this construction ;
which would likewise prove more
<onvenient, as such vessels would
mot require a pier te Jie to, and are

.

845

capable of being moored in any part
of a harbour; and, if the ground
admit of it, carts, &c. might come
along side, and load or unload them,
which would also save a great ex-
pence.

2. Vessels built on this construc-
tion would answer in canals ; where
the canal is above four or five feet
deep. Let us suppose the duke of
Bridgewater’s canals, and all others
now made, or to be made in the
kingdom, to-be equal to the depth
of the Scotch canal betwixt Glas-
gow and Carron, the locks to be
from sixty to seventy feet long or
more, and trom twenty to twenty-
six or more wide ;«in such a case,
all the trade from any part of the
inland country adjoining to the ca-
nals, could load at any public place,
town, or village, where a manufac-
tory was carried on; and proceed
to the most distant parts of the
known world, without the assist-
ance of any other craft. This idea
is submitted to the consideration of
all those who are concerned in such
public undertakings.

3. Vessels thus construéted would
be exceedingly convenient to carry
corn or mixed cargoes, part of which
it is required to keep separate. This
is certainly a great convenience,
when it can be obtained without les-
sening the tonnage, and bulk heads
will serve to separate the cargo, let
it be as opposite as iron and gun-
powder. ‘The bulk heads answer as
separate apartments, or like shift-
ing boards, either for corn, salt,
&c. There is, perhaps, nothing
except masts, which such a@ vessel
will not answer for better than any
other.

4. Vessels built with sliding-keels
have the advantage of all others in
case of losing the rudder. Although

what

846

what has been said respecting the
effeét of the fore and after keel, and
the main or middle keel, are sufli-
cient to prove that vessels with three
sliding keels can, in case of losing
the rudder, be instantly steered with
the keels, either in a tack, or work-
ing to windward; yet as experi-
ments have been made, and the effi-
cacy of keels sufficiently ascertained,
it will be necessary to refer to the
certificate made by lieutenant Mal-
bon, of the Trial cutter, and his
officers, to the lords of the admi-
ralty ; in addition to which, says
captain Schank, I can offer the tes-
timony of the ingenious James Tem-
pler, esq. of Stove, in the county
of Devon, who sailed several leagues
in the same vessel, only using the
keels. ‘¢ 1 myself, (he farther
adds), on many occasions, in the
presence of sea-officers of different
ranks, steered and worked that ves-
se] in every manner possible, with
the keels only: but a still more
flattering and more honourable proof
remains, as this experiment was made
in presence of his majesty, at Wey-
mouth, who was pleased to condes-
cend so far as to examine the con-~
struction of the cutter, and to order
her to sail in company with him,
when signals were settled, by which
she was to steer and work to wind-
ward, with the keels only ; which
was done, and his majesty signified
his most gracious approbation.”

5. Vessels on this construétion
will last longer than those built ac-
cording to the present mode. Long
experience has discovered, that no-
thing destroys timber so much as
being sometimes wet, at other times
dry ; sometimes being exposed to
the air, and at other times air ex-
eluded from it. This is not the case
with ships built according to the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1863.

construction which has been herein
often, but it -is hoped not inconsi-
derately, recommended. It is ge-
nerally known that the bottom of
a ship seldom rots in less than fifty
or sixty years ; and some last even
longer, though the upper works de~
cay much sooner. This may be ims
puted to the distance the timbers
are from each other, or to the cir-
cumstance of the cieling not being
caulked, which defects admit of a
quick succession of different sorts
of air, heat and cold, wetness and
dryness: but, according to the
plan of making the ship more solid,
these would, in a great measure,
be excluded, and ships would last,
at least, one third longer, if not
double the time they do at present.

Method of managing Fish Ponds, for
improving the Size and Flavour ef
Carp, Tench, and Perch; by a
Member of the Imperial Agricul.
tural Society, St. Petersburgh ;
with additional Remarks and Im-
provements, adapted to this Couns
try.

i quantity of fish to be sup-
plied obviously depends upon
the quantity of water, which should
be divided, where it conveniently
can, into five ponds: these may be
distinguished by the first five figures,
as, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

No. 5 is intended for breeding,
and should be double or treble the
size of any of the other ponds. Or
if this be inconvenient, there may
be two marked No. 5. This pond
may likewise be the most distant
from the house. If the breeding-
pond should fail to answer this pur-
pose, it will at least serve as a con~

servatory for fish of a small size, -
@

USEFUL PROJECTS.

be obtained elsewhere ; and, indeed,
fresh stores, in any case, will be
found desireable.

The contents of this pend in carp
and tench, or the greatest part,
should be taken out annually in
September or October, counted in
braces, and such as are from five
to seven inches long put into No. 4.

The contents of No. 4, when
grown one year, from the length of
five or seven inches, must be put
into No. 3. The contents of No. 3
having grown one year, from No. 4,
must be remoyed into No. 2. And,
in like manner, the contents of
No. 2, after one year, must be re-
moved into No. 1, which is to, con-
tain only such fish as are fit for the
table. It is obvious that this pond,
for safety and convenience, should
be nearest the house.

As No. 5 is to be the largest
water, so No. 1 is to be the least ;
the rest of sizes between the two.

The shape of No. 1 should be
eblong, for the convenience of the
net, and the less disturbance of the
fish, in taking out what are wanted
from time-to time.

A book should be kept to insert
‘the number and size of each kind
in every pond, and more particu-
Jarly the number and weight of those
taken out of No. 1, by which you
will always kuow the stock fit for
use. \

If the nature of the ground will
allow it, it would be proper that
those ponds should be ina sequence,
one above another. By this method
all the five ponds could be drawn,
with the loss only of the water from
the uppermost, No. 1.

Carp are fit for the table from
' three to seven pounds each. Tench
from one pound and a half to three
pounds each, Perch from three

847

quarters of a pound to one or twa
pounds,

lt is supposed that none of the
ponds have a current very cold,
acrid, or innutritious water.

One acre of water upon a loam,
clay, or marle, with a mixture of
gravel, has been stated to be capable
of supporting 2000 pounds weight
of fish, the number of the fish mak-
ing that weight, being immaterial.

Carp and tench breed most freely
in ponds or ‘pits newly made.
Tench, likewise, in almost any
ponds were cattle are admitted.
This is a hint, that the mud should
not remain in a pond too long with-
out being taken out. <A great
quantity may readily be drawn out
from the sides, by having a pole
twelve or fifteen feet long, with a
piece of iron fixed to it, eighteen
inches wide and six broad, in the
same manner as mud is drawn to the
sides of a road.

If a pond be five feet deep, and
mud is suffered to accumulate to
the depth of one foot, the fish are
deprived of one fifth part of the
water.

It is evident, that perch and pike
shonld not by any means be admit-
ted into No. 5, but in all the other
numbers ; besides their intrinsic
value, they are of important ser-
vice, provided that they are stri¢tly
confined to a size greatly subordi-
nate to that of the carp or tench.
For they destroy not only the acci-
dental fish which breed, but alse
several animals, whose food is the
same with that of carp and tench, as
frogs, newts, &c.

Pike, above the weight of one
or two pounds, must not be ad-
mitted even amongst carp of the
largest size and weight ; and as they
are of so yoracious a nature, it is

more

845

‘more prudent to admit of perch
only.

The aétual weight of fish, which
any particular pond is capable of
supporting, can only be determined
by observation and experience, as
it depends on the different degrees
of nutriment in different waters.

jt is said that carp and tench, in
- waters which feed well, will, before
they are aged, double their weight
in one year.

The third part of an acre in No.
1, would probably be sufficient for
the demand of a family of four
persons, besides servants; for, upon
.the calculason aboye given, it
would support nearly 700 pounds
of fish, which might be divided
thus :—

80 Brace of carp, of 3lbs. each
and upwards.
50 Brace of tench, of 2lbs. each
and upwards.
50 Brace of perch, of 1lb. each
and upwards.
150

That is three brace of fish, weigh-
ing, at least, upwards of 12lbs. for
the use of every week ; and allow-
ing a few ounces over in each brace,
will make up the weight 700lbs.

Allowing one acre for No. 5;
one-third of an acre for No. 1;
and one acre and two-thirds for the
intervening numbers, the whole wa~
ter would be three acres.

Upon this calculation, the stock
of No 1, at one shilling a pound,

would be worth €.35 per annum ;

so that the value of each acre would
be nearly twelve pounds annually ;
and there is scarcely any place in

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

England, but where such fish would
sell for more, especially tench.

No. 1, being supposed to be near
the house, and at no great distance.
from the garden, if the fish should
not thrive sufficiently (which will be
seen by the disproportioned size of
the head, and the whiteness or pale-
ness of the scales) they may easily
be supplied with food by loose pease
from the garden: the sweepings of
the granary, worms, saved by the
gardener in digging, and gathered
from the walks; and the offal of |
the poultry killed for the kitchen;
or by letting down the water abeut
two feet, in the spring or summer,
where there is a sufficient supply ;
and sowing the sides with oats, bar-
ley, rye, or wheat, very lightly
raked in, and then stopping the
sluice again.

Besides occasionally sowing the
sides of the pond with a little corn,
another method of supplying them
with food should be practised, which,
is known but by few, and costs but
little.

Float.fescue grass is what fish are
extremely fond of, both the leaves
and the seed, and is very nutritious.
It grows very luxuriantly in shallow
water, puts out roots at every joint,
and is found growing naturally in
many parts of England.*

Plant some of this along the edge
of the pond, and if cattle do not
eat it, the seed will be ripe in July,
and aflord food for the fish.

In ponds already stocked, but
not accurately regulated, it would
be adviseable to begin that which
has the most pike, otherwise with
No. 4, or what is intended for No.
A, and throw all the fish under five

inches

* For more particulars relative to this grass, see an account of it in the second
npimber of the Monthly Register asd Encyclopedian Magazine.

USEFULi PROJECTS:

inches length, into No. 5, and the
larger, according to their sizes, into
the other numbers ; and so on with
Mo. 35.2; :1;

Store-fish, procured elsewhere,
if taken in summer, should be mov-
ed in the night, in clean straw,
wetted occasionally after they are
packed ; except perch and pike,
which can only be carried in clean
river, or pond water.

In removing fish from one pond
to another, they should be first put
into tubs of water, already prepared
for them, and afterwards carried in
buckets, without water. In taking
pike or perch, great care must be
observed to avoid raising mud in the
water.

In breeding ponds, all water
fowls, as geese, ducks, &c. should
be discouraged, and herons, in par-
ticular, destroyed. If any white fish,
as roach, dace, &c. should abound,
they are tobe taken: and if therebe
a spare piece of water for large pike,
they should be put into it as food
for the pike.

Eels may be put, with advantage,
into any, except the breeding pond,
in lieu of perch, or some of each
sort, ‘The most easy way of taking
them, is by trimmers laid over night,
baited with small fish, not with
worms, otherwise they may catch
the carp; or with a small thief-net
baited with white fish.

Common sewers and drains from
the laundry are prejudicial to fish ;
so are the leaves falling from trees
in great quantities, which should he
immediately raked out.

The use of grains should likewise
be ayeided in large quantities, as
having little nourishment, whilst
they are thus washei by the water.

It seems better for the use of the

Vou. XLY,

849

table, as well as more humane to
kill fish designed for food by an in-
cision with a sharp. pointed knife,
or puncture made with a pin longi-
tudinally, into the brain, about half
an inch, or an inch, according.to
the size of the fish, above the eyes.
As this produces an instantaneous
eflect, it would, probably, save the
cruel operation of crimping or flay-
ing fish whilst alive, as in the case
of pike and eels.

It is obvious, that this method of
regulating fish, will apply, with its
full effect, in larger spaces of wa-
ter; it will, likewise, apply in a
considerable degree tosmaller pieces,
even where the change is but from
a pond for the use of cattle, toa
single canal in a garden; which, if
narrow and Jong, may be divided
by boards with some holes bored
for the water to make a current
through them.

In situations near the great in-
land manufactures, and near the
turnpike-roads leading from an easy
distance to the metropolis, water
may be made, by this kind of ma-
nagement, with little trouble or ex-
pense, to produce a large annual
rent.

To those, who are yery curious
in the flavour of their fish, another
improvement is recommended, of
castrating the male carp; the me-
thod of performing. the operation
may be seen by referring to the
Gentleman’s Magazine, about forty
years ago, which may readily be
found by referring to the general
index.

Asa regwar system of managing
fish ponds is pursued but by few,
those who chuse to try the methods
here recommended, will find them
attended with pleasure and profit.

31 Observations

850

Observations on the Means of ena-
bling a Cottager to keep a Cow by
the Produce of a small Portion of
Arable Land, From * Essays on
Miscellaneous Subjects,” by Sir

_ John Sincair, Baré.

HE following paper was drawn

up forthe consideration of

the board of agriculture, who, in

consequence of the observations

therein stated, and the great import-

ance of the subjeét, came to the fol-
lowing resolution :

Resolved, (June 9, 1801,) That
a premium of the gold medal be
offered to each of the five persons,
who shall, in the most satisfactory
manner, prove, by experiment, the
practicability of cottagers being ena-
bled to keep: one or two milch
cows, on the produce of land culti-
vated with the spade and hoe only ;
and who shall send to the board,
on or before the first of January,
1803, the best accounts of such: ex-
perinsents, detailing,

1. The expence of erecting the
cottage, shed, and any other build-
ing thought necessary.

2. The expence of providing the
stock and tools necessary.

3. The extent of land, and nature
of the soil occupied.

4. The expence of digging and
fencing the land.

5. The rent, taxes, &c. paid for
the same by the cottager.

6. The course of cropping that
has been adopted.

7. The quantity and value of each
of the different crops.

8. How the cottager and his fa-
mily are maintained, and how they
manage to cultivate the ground, and
to harvest the different crops.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

9. How the cow is paintained
during the year,-and what profit is
derived from it.

10. What profit is derived from
pigs, poultry, and other articles.

11. How many days they were
enabled to labour for other people ;
and,

12. How, on the whole, the
plan has been found to answer.

In several parts of the kingdom,
as in Linconshire, Rutlandshire,
&c, which are calculated for graz-
ing, it is not unusual to give indus-
trious cottagers as much land as
will enable them to keep a cow,
and sometimes two, or more, be-
sides other stock ; and it appears,
from the communication of. lord
Winchelsea, and others, to the
board of agriculture, from the pub-
lications of the society for bettering
the condition of the poor, and from
a late interesting work printed by
Mr. Arthur Young,* that sucha
system is productive of the happiest
consequences. It is supposed, how-
ever, to be totally inapplicable to
an arable district. I trust that such.
an opinion will not be admitted,
without full consideration. Indeed,
so far as 1 can judge, this advanta-
geous system is to the full as well
adapted for the one as for the other.
It requires unquestionably more la-
bour on the part of the cottager,
and of his family ; at the same time,
the occupation ‘of so great an ex-
tent of ground i is not so necessary in
arable, as in grazing countries; a
circumstance, in various respects,
extremely material.

In arranging the following plan,
(which the reader will please to
consider, merely as furnishing an
outlme to be perfeéted by farther

discusssion

* Intituled, “ An Inquiry into the Propriety of applying Wastes to the better

Maintenance and Support of the Poor.”

USEFUL PROJECTS.

discussion and experiment), it is
proposed to keep in view the follow-
ing principles :

1. That the cottager shall raise,
by his own Jabour, some or the
most material articles of subsistence
for himself and his family.

2. That he shall be enabled to
supply the adjoining markets with
the smaller agricultural productions ;
and,

3. That both he and his family
shall have it in their power to assist
the neighbouring farmers, at all sea-
sous.ef the year, almost equaily as
well as it they had no land in their
occupation.

It can hardly be questioned, that
if it were practicable to haye,a num-
ber of cottagers of that description,
in every parish, it would promote,
in yarious respects, the interests of
the public.

1. Extent of Land necessary.

Unless the experiment were fairly
tried, it is impossible to state ex-
a¢tly the extent of arable landre-
quisite to enable a cottager to raise
the articles generally necessary for
‘the sustenance of himself and fa-
mly; and to keep a cow, some
pigs, and poultry. Much must
depend upon the richness of the
soi! (though, under the manage-
ment about to be proposed, almost
any soil would, in time, become
fertile), on the nature of the cli-
mate ; on the size of the cow; on
the industry of the cottager; on
the age and number of his family,
&c. But I should imagine, that
three statute acres and a quarter of

851

good arable land, worth from 20s,
to 30s. per, acre would be suflicient.
It is proposed, that the three acres
shall be under a regular course of
cropping. The quarter of an acre
ought, if possible, to be conyerted
into an orchard, where the cow
might occasionally pasture, and
where a pond ought to be kept in
good order, that it may have plenty
of water at command. Were the
Jand of a quality fit for lucerne, per-
haps two acres and a quarter is
be sufficient.

2. Stock and Instruments of Bfoe:
bandry.

It is evident that so small an ex>
tent of land, as either two or three
acres, under cultivation, excludes
all idea of ploughing,* and indeed,
unless the cottager shall manage the
whole, in the simplest aud cheapest
manner, there is an end to the whole
system. It would require, indeed,
four or five acres to keep a single
horse, and the expence of purchas-
ing horses, or even oxen, ploughs,
and other instruments of husbandry,
must be far beyond the abilities of a
cottager ; whereas, with a spade, a
hoe, a rake, a scythe, a sickle, and
a flail, which are all the instruments
really necessary, heis perfectly com-
petent to the management of his
little farm.

3. Course of Crops, Sc:

The three acres, proposed to be
cultivated, should be divided into
four portions, each consisting of
three roods, under the following syS~
tem of management.

31-2 Under

* Ploughs might be, perhaps, hired; but, on the whole, the spade culture is in-
finitely preferable, and f would much rather see a cottager hire persons to trench

than to plough for him.

852

Roods.
Under potatoes, 2 roods,
- under turnips one,*.._. 3
Under winter tares2 roods,

a tazes one,.-....°3
Under } arley, wheat, or
Fats eee eae yee 3

Under clover, with a mix-
ture of rye-grass,+.._. 8

Total 12 roods.

Other articles besides these might
be mentioned, but it seems to me of
peculiar importance’ to. restri¢t the
attention of the cottager to as few
objecis of cultivation as possible.
It is proposed, that the produce of
the tw roods of potatoes shall go
to the maintenance of the cottager
and his family,t and'that the rood
of turnips should be given to the
cow in winter and during the spring,
in addition to its other fare.

The second portion, sown with
tares, (the two roods of potatoes of
the former year, to be successively
sown with winter tares, and the tur-
mip rood with spring tares) might
partly be cut green, for feeding the
cow in summer and autumn ; but,
if the season will permit, the whole
Ought to be made into hay, for the
winter and spring feed, and three
roods of clover cut green for sum-
mer food.

The third portion may be sown
either with barley, wheat, or oats,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

according to the soil or climate, and
the general custom of the country,
The straw of any of these crops
would be of essential service for lit-
tering the cow, but would be still
more useful, if cut into chaff, for
feeding it. .

The fourth portion, appropriated
to clover and rye-grass, to be cut
green, which, with the assistance of
the orchard, will produce, on three
roods of land, as much food as will
maintain a cow and her calf for five
months, from the end of May, or
beginning of June, when it may be
first cut, to the beginning of No-
vember, besides some feod for the
pigs. It is supposed, that an acre
of clover and rye-grass, cut green,
will produce twenty thousand pounds
weight ot food for cattle. Three
roods, therefore, ought to yield
fifteen thousand pounds weight. A
large cow requires one hundred and
ten weight of green food per day ;
a middling-sized cow, such as a cot-
tager is likely to purchase, not
above ninety pounds ; consequently,
in five months, allowing one thousand
three hundred and twenty pounds
-weightfor the calf and the pigs, there
will remain thirteen thousand six
hundred and eighty pounds for the
cow.|| Were there, however, even
a small deficiency, it would be more
than compensated by the rood of
land proposed to be kept in perpe-
tual pasture, as an orchard.

4, Mode

* I would also recommend a small quantity of flax, where the culture and ma-
agement of the plant was known, to employ the females, particularly in winter,

and to supply the family with huen.

+ Some recommend the proportion, per acre, to be at the rate of one bushel
‘of rye-grass to 12lbs. of red clover; others, 14lb. of red clover to half a bushel of

rye-grass,

t By Sir John Methuen poor’s experiments, it was found that half a rood, or
ne-eizhth of an acre, produced for several years as great a weight of potatoes as
was sufficient for a family of four persons, four acres answered for 131 persons.

|| These calculations are merely given as a data for experiment.

It must depend

upon the season, whether the tares or the cloyer should be made into hay.

USERUL: PROJECTS.

&. Mode in which the Family may
be maintained.

It is calculated, that three roods
and eight perches of potatoes will
maintain a small family of six per-
sons for about nine months in the
year : but, according to the preced-
ing plan, it is proposed to have but
two roods under that article; for
however valuable potatoes are just-
ly accounted, yet some change of
food would be acceptable ; and the
cottager will be enabled, from the
produce of the cow, and by the in-
come derived from his own labour,
and from that of his family, to pur-
chase other wholesonie articles of
provision.

5. Manner in” which the Stock

may be kept,

It appears, from the preceding
system of cropping, that ten roods
of land, or two acres and a half,
are appropriated to the raising of
food for the cow, in summer and
winter, besides the pasture of the
orchard’; and, unless the season
should be extremely unfavourable,
the produce will be found not only
adequate to that purpose, but also
to maintain the calf for some time,
till it can be sold to advantage. It
is, indeed, extremely material, un-
der the proposed system, to make
as much profit of the calves as pos-
sible, as the money thus raised will

853

be a resource enabling the cottager
to replace his cow, when a new one
must be purchased.

For the winter provision of the
cow, which is the most. material,
because summer food can be more
easily procured, there is the produce,

1, Of about three roods of tares,
or clover, made into hay.

9. Of three roods of straw, de-
ducting what may be necessary for
litter ; and if dry earth be put into
the cow’s hovel, and removed from
time to time to the dunghill, little
or no litter will be necessary.

3. Of one rood of turnips.

The whole will be sufficient for se«
ven months in the year, namely, from
the 1st November to the 1st June >
and, during the remaining five
months, the pasture of the orchard,
some of the winter tares, and the
produce of three roods of tares, or
clover and rye-grass, will not only
suffice, but will furnish a surplus
for the calf, if it is kept any length
of time*, and some tares or clover
for the pigs.

The inferior barley, potatoes,
&c. will, of course, be given to the
pigs and poultry.

6. Value of the Produce.

The land, thus managed, will cer-
tainly produce, by means of the ex-
tra industry of the family, and at a
small expetice, a most important ad-

dition

* In a pamphlet just published by Richardson, Cornhill, on the culture of pota-
toes, price 1s. the following mode of applying the refuse potatoes to the feeding ,of

calves is strongly recommended.

“ Take two gallons of small potatoes, wash them clean, put them into a pot of
boiling water sufficient to cover them, and let them boil till the whole becomes 2
pulp: then add more water, and run the whole through a hair sieve, whieh will pro-
duce a strong nutritive gruel. At first use a very small quantity, warmed up with
milk, to make it palatable to the calf, and increase the quantity daily, till it be-
comes equal. A quart of potatoe gruel, and a quart of scald or skimmed milk,
will be sufficient for a good meal, which should he given warm three times @ day.”

313

854

dition to the income which the cot-
tager may derive from his ordinary

Jabour. For instance. ;
Per Ann,
1. The orchard (after
the trees become fruit- £. s. d.
fui) will probably
WIC ite «Reena tgs net tee 6 ae 8
2..Vhree roods of tarnips
and potatoes .....+ 4 0 0

3. Lightecn bushels of
Darley, at 4s.” 20... 3
4, The cow and calf* .. 7
Pe Oh en wee aa ee UA a
6. Poultry and eggs ... 2

ococao

Total 22h “2k :0

Where wheat can be raised in-
stead of barley, the profit would be
still more considerable. Opinions
will differ much regarding the value
put on each article, but that is of
little consequence, as the total can-
not be accounted too high,

7. Time required for cultivating
the Land.

The quantity of land intended to
be cultivated will not materially in-
terfere with the usual labour of the
cottager. It will only require to be
dug once, and is then fit to be crop-
ped. It is proposed that only nine
roods shall be annually cultivated,
{the remaining three roods being
under ‘clover and rye-grass,) and
nine roods may be dug in the space
of about five hundred and fifty-
eight hours, or at the rate of sixty-
two hours per rood. ‘This might
be done at bye hours, (more espe-
cially when the family of the cot-
tager shall be somewhat advanced,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

and consequently more able to fur-
nish assistance) ; but, supposing that
the digging, manuring, harvesting,
&e. will require twenty entire days
per annum, in addition to the bye
hours, and allowing sixty days for
Sunday and holidays, there will
remain two hundred and eighty-
five days for the ordinary hand la-
bour of the cottager, which, at one
shilling and sixpence per day, would
amount to twenty-one pounds seven
shillings and sixpence ; the earnings
of the wife and children may, at an
average, be worth at least four
pounds per annum more. ‘This is
certainly a low calculation, consi-
dering how much may be got dur-
ing the hay and corn harvests: but,
even at that moderate estimate, the
total income of the family will be as
follows :

£. 8. d.

1. Produce of the farm 21 2 O
2. Labour of the cottager 21 7 6
3. Earnings of the family 4 0 O
Total<. 46 9 6G

8. Buildings.

It is impossible to calculate the
expeuce of building a cottage, as so
much depends upon its size, the
place where it is situated, the mate-
rials of which it is composed, the
price of labour in the country, and
a variety of other circumstances.—
On this important subjeét much use-
ful information is contained in the
first volume of the communications
published by the board of agricul-
ture. But it is proper to observe
that no expensive additional build-
ings will be necessary, in conse-

’ quence

% According to Mr. Kent's calculations, a cow should produce six quarts of milk
per day, worth one penny per quart, equal to three shillings and sixpence a weck,
or nine pounds two shillings per annum, setting the profit of the calf against the
loss sustained when the cow is dry; but it is better to be rather under than over

the mark,

USEFUL PROJECTS.

quence of the proposed system. A
shed or hovel for the cow cannot
occasion any very heavy charge,
and a small barn, of the simplest
and cheapest construétion, may be
of use, not only for threshing
the crop, but also for securing the
hay, and making it to more advan-
tage, in case the season should
prove unfavourable ; if the corn is
put up in small stacks, the barn
may be made of very moderate di-
mensions.

9. Rent and Balance of Income.

The rents of cottages, and of
land, vary so much in different
parts of the kingdom, that it is dif-
ficult to ascertain an average. But
if the cottage shall be stated at 3].
per annum, the land at 25s. per
acre, and the orchard at 10s. the
whole will not exceed 71. 15s. The
cottager will also be liable to the
payment of some taxes, say to the
‘amount of 1]. 5s. more. Hence the
total deduétions would be about 91.
leaving a balance in favour of the
cottager of 371. 9s. 6d. Consider-
ing the cheap rate at which he is
furnished with a quantity of pota-
toes, equal to several month’s con-
sumption, and with milk for his
children, surely, with that balance,
he can find {no difficulty, not only

in maintaining himself and family in.

a style of comfort, but also in plac-
ing out his children properly, and
Jaying up a small annual surplus,
that will render any parish assist-
‘ance, whether in sickness or old
‘age; unnecessary ; and thus he will
be enabled to preserve that manly
and independent Spirit, which it so
well becomes a British cottager to
possess.* ;

~Inable body of people.

856

Corclusion—Advaniages of the pro-
posed System,

I shall now endeavour briefly to
explain some of the advantages
which may be looked for with con-
fidence, from the proposed system.

In the first place, the land pos-
sessed by the cottager would be
completely cultivated, and rendered
as productive as possible. The dung
produced by the cow, the pigs, &c.
would be amply suflicient for the
three roods under turnips and po-
tatoes, which would afterwards pro~
duce, 1. tares, 2. barley, and 3,
clover ; with a mixture of rye grass,
in regular succession, without any
additional manure. ‘The barley
should yield, at least, 18 bushels,
besides 3 bushels for seed ; and if
wheat or oats are cultivated, in the
same proportion, ‘The milk, de-
duéting what may be necessary for
the calf, and. for the cottager’s. fa-
mily, might be sold in its original
state, if there shall be a market for
it, or conyerted into butter for the
_purpose of supplying the neighbour-
ing towns or villages. Such cot-
tager also might certainly send to
market both poultry and eggs.

2. It is hardly possible to suggest
a measure more likely to. promote
the benefit of a numerous and va-
The system
of keeping cows by cottagers, which
has been found so advantageous in
the grazing distriéts, may thus be
extended over the whole kingdom 5
and, indeed, if’ the above plan is
found to answer, in place of four
or five acres employed in feeding a
single cow, it would be much bet-
ter, even in the grazing counties, to
restriét the land to a smaller quan-

tity, under a tillage mode of -ma-

nagement ;

- * The-different-expence of fuel, in the various districts, will, it is evident,

greatly affect the annual surplus,

314

856

nagement; for thus not only the
cow, but also the cottager himself,
and his family, would, in a great
measure, be maintained by a less
surface of soil.

3. It is of infinite consequence to
establish the practicability of this
System, as the means of removing a
most unfortunate obstacle to. the
improvement of the country. It is
well known to be the only popular
objeétion to the inclosure of our
wastes and commons, that, while
unmelosed, a number of cottagers
_ are enabled to keep cows, by the

means of their common rights, and’

that their cows disappear when the
commons are inclosed. But if so
small a portion of land as 3! acres,
when improved and properly culti-
vated, can enable a cottager to keep
a ¢ow, even to more advantage than
with a right of common, which can
hardly be doubted, as he is enabled
to provide winter as well as summer
‘food, there is an end to that obstacle
to improvement, Indeed, if suffi-
cient attention be paid to the prin-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ciples above detailed, the situation
of the cottager, instead of being de-
teriorated, would be materially bet-
tered by the inclosure ; and his ris-
ing family would be early accus-
tomed to habits of industry, instead
of idleness and vice.

Ishall conclade with asking if any
one can figure to himself a more de-
lightful speétacle, than to see an
industrious cottager, his busy wife,
and healthy family, living in a com-
fortable house, rented by himself,
cultivating their little territory with
their own hands, and enjoying the
profits arising from their own la-
bour and industry, or whether it is
possible for’a generous land-holder
to employ his property with more
satisfaction, or in a manner more
likely to promote, not only his own,
but the public interest, than by en-
deavouring to. increase the number
of such cottagers,; and encouraging,
by every means in his power, the
exertions of so meritorious and
so important a class of the com-
munity.

Plan of the proposed Cottage Farm, pointing out the Rotation ef Crops in
the different Lots.

2 Reods petatoes.

\! Year 1 Rood turnips.

Lot C.
3 Roads.

“|i Year—barley, wheat, or oats.

Cottage. | The orchard or perpetual pastare. Pond. )
Lot A. Lot B.
3 Roods, Roods.

2 Roods winter tares.

ss a 1 Rood spring tares.

Lot D.

3 Roods.
1 Year—clover and rye grass.

?

The

US EFA BieO0 IEC TS.

The rotation of crops for four years.

1 Potatoes and|Winter and| Barley, wheat, | Cloverand rye-
turnips. Spring tares. or oats. grass.

2 Winter and) Barley, wheat, | Cloverandrye-| Potatoes and
spring tares. | or oats. grass. turnips.

3 Barley, wheat, |Cloverandrye-| Potatoes and| Winter and
or oats. grass. turnips. spring tares.

4 Cloyerpunye- |totaters and| Winter and| Barley, wheat,
grass. | turnips. spring tares.| or oats.

The rotation then begins as at
first. Lot D might continue in na-
tural grass the first season, to di-
minish the labour of that year.

The exaét period when the dif-
ferent crops should be dug for, or
sown, cannot be ascertained, be-
cause it varies so much in different
counties, and depends upon the sea-
sons ; but, according to the above
rotation, the labour of digging for
the various crops is diversified as
much as possible, so as not to in-
terfere, materially, with the other
occupations of the cottager. At no
period would it be necessary for

him to dig more than two roods in
amonth; and both he and his fa-
mily will labour with much more
satisfaction and dispatch, when they
work for themselves than for an-
other. In case of necessity, the
cottager might hire some of his
neighbours to assist him in digging,
which would be much better than
hiring a plough. If it is found that
a cottager, under this system, can-
not work as a common daily la-
bourer, it might at least answer
for labourers by the piece, who
are so extremely useful in all coun-

tries.
ANTIQUITIES.

op C 86 Jj i

ANTIQUITIES.

Description éf Ruan Lanyhorne Cas-
tle, from ** Potwhele’s History of
Cornwall.”

& UAN Lanyhorne- Castle,”

says ‘Tonkin, ** stood to
the south of the church, at no great
distance from it; the reétory-house
lying between them, below that, and
parallel with this ; in a pleasant si-
tuation enough, on the edge of a
creek, into which a small rivulet
empties itself, and the river Fale,
which is here of a considerable
breadth when the tide is in; and sur-
rounded formerly with woods, which
are now mostly destroyed.” Le-
land gives this account of the state
it was in at this time. “+ From Tre-
gony to passe down by the body of
the haven of Falamuth, to the mouth
of Lanyhorne-creeke or kille, on
the south-east side of the haven is a
2 miles. This creeke goith up half
a mile from the principale streame
of the haven. At the hed of this
creeke standith the castle of Lany-
horne, sumtyme a castelle of an
eight toures now decaying for lak
of coverture. It longgid as princi-
pal house to the Archedecons. This
Jand descendid by heires general to
‘the Corbetes, of Shropshir, and to
Vaulx, of Northamptonshir. Vaulx
part syns bought by Tregyon, of
Cornewaule.” By this one may

guess what a stately castle this for-
merly was. For in my time was
only one tower of the castle stand-
ing ; which was so large, that if the
other seven were equal to it, the
whole building must be of a prodigi-
ous magnitude. But I fancy this was
the body of the whole, for there is
not room enough about it for so
great a pile: so that 1 believe the
eight towers, mentioned by Leland,
were only turrets and appendices to
this principal part. {f wish I had
taken a draft of it in season, as I
often intended; for this too was
pulled down in or about the year
1718, by Mr. Grant ; who, having
obtained leave from the lord to do
it, erected several houses with the
materials, and turned it to a little
town; to which ships of about
eighty or a hundred tons come
up, and supply the neighbourhood
with coals, timber, &c. as the
barges do with sand. But, since
the writing of this, I am informed
that six of the eight towers were
standing within these thirty years ;
of which that which 1 have men-
tioned was the biggest and loftiest,
as being at Jeast 50 feet in height.’
Thus Tonkin. On which Whitaker
observes, ‘* The contradi¢toriness
of Mr. Tonkin’s account of the
castle is but too apparent; not in
the posterior information correéting

the

A NWCTTE-Q°Urd Tid E

the priorideas, but in the primaryand
original ideas of all. He considers
the church as denominated the
church of tron from the castle, this
* being, in those times, a place of
great note and strength.’ From
Leland’s account, one may gness,
he adds, what a stately castle this
formerly was: yet, he remarks,
that ‘* there is not room enough
about it for so great a pile ; so that,
i believe, the eight towers mention-
ed by Leland were only turrets.”
And the faét is this, freed from all
its contradi¢tions and embarrass-
ments. ‘The castle consisted only
of seven towers, as Leland had cor-
rected his eight in the M.S. These
were not entire, even in Leland’s
time. The castle was, he says,
** sumstyme a castelle of a seven
toures,” and was then ‘* decaying
for lak of coverture.”” It had been
long deserted. Its roofs had fallen
in. And its seven towers had al-
ready begun to moulder away into
ruins, Of these, however, ‘* six
were standing within 30 years’ he-
fore Mr. Tonkin’s writing, or since
the commencement of the present
century. These had stood all the
beating rains and shaking storms of
a region, peculiarly exposed to
the watery turbulence of the Atlan-
tic, for a whole century and a half.
But they had been crumbling insen-
sibly away under ali. At last, I
suppose, four of the six were thrown
to the ground, in that great storm
of November, which came sweeping
with such violence over the Atlan-
tic, which has made the year 1703
so memorable in our annals by its
destruétiveness, and the fury of
which must have been peculiarly
felt here. Two of its towers re-
mained within the memory of some
diving in 1708. These were ad-

859

joining to the water. One of these
were standing within the memory of
Mr. Tonkin. This ‘ was so large,
that if the other seven [six] were
equal to it, the whole building must
be of a prodigious magnitude. And
‘¢ I wish,” he subjoins, ‘¢ I had
taken a draft of it, as I often in-
tended.” This, however, was not
‘¢ the body of the whole.” Nor
were ‘+ the eight [seven | towers
mentioned by Leland ouly turrets,
and appendices to this principal
part.” This was merely ‘¢ the big-
gest and loftiest.””. The whole cas-
tle, says tradition, spread over the
higher ground immediately is the
north. ‘This, indeed, makes it a
large building. But so it must have
been from its denomination of a
castle, from its being ‘* the princi-
pal house” of its lords; from the
number of its towers: and from the
general extent assigned it by tradi-
tion. The grand part of the castle,
in modern time, appears to have.
been that tower, which was so su-
perior to the rest, and formed a dis-
tinét fortress of itself. ‘This, says
tradition, was round in itsform. It
is stiil remembered by tho appella-
tion of the round tower. And the
others were consequently square.
This was the keep or dungeon of
the castle. It was the place in
which the lord kept the prisoners of
his baronial judicature. The inte-
rior fortress of a castle obtained the
denomination of a keep, from keep-
ing the prisoners in it, as a prison
has now acquired the occasional ap-
pellation of a dungeon, from the
baronial prisons being in the dun-
geon or inner fortress. And alow,
a deep, asubterraneous part of a
prison, is peculiarly entitled a dun-
geon now ; from the baronial prison
being low, deep, and subterraneous.

This

860

‘his was exactly the case here. On
what is now near to the brook of
Ruan, and what was formerly the
very margin of the tide-way, stand
some lofty remains, which always
attract the attention of a surveyor ;
and, in which, is what tradition calls
the dungel, and reports to have been
a prison. And dungel, the popular
appellation among the Cornish of
Ruan, for the round tower itself, is
now confined to its dungeon or pri-
son. That was, ‘* at least, fifty
feet in height, within the present
century. ‘This is placed, by tradi-
tion, where the remains are still
about forty feet high. A thick rem-
nant of the castle shoots up into a
kind of lofty gable end. In this is
a couple of stone chimnies. One of
them is still used in a house, that has
latterly obtained the name of the Mu-
sic Room, from a musical society
convened in it at times by Mr.
Grant. But close to this chimney
on the south, is a kind of funnel in
the wall, about two feet wide, and
five feet deep, that comes down from
the roof, is closed up in the cham-
ber above, is all open to the east in
the ground-room, and descended
lately by a hole in the floor, to an
unknown depth in the earth. Forty
years ago, the boys called this fun-
nel the dungel, threw stones down,
the uncovered hole in the floor, lis-
tened with admiration to their rattle,
as they descended, and then ran
away with terror. All the dust of
the house used, more recently, to be
swept into it. It has thus become
so far filled up im the time, that a
young girl used, a few years ago, to
let herself down into it, in order to
recover any thing that had fallen
down it. It was then about seven
feet deep; and it is now boarded
over. Under this room is a kind of

; 4

‘

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809,

cellar, used as a warehouse now,
but reported, by tradition, to have
been a prison formerly. It was the
real dungel or dungeon of the cas.
tle; being then accessible only
from above. And it must have been
a dark ard dismal dungeon, having
no light into it, even at present,
except a little that comes in by a |
small lattice in the new part of the
wall over the door : having the walls
thick and damp around it, and even
the rock for a yard high on the
north side ; being accessible only by
a rope or ladder, through a trap-
door in the floor above; and being
reached every tide with the waves of
the sca. Such a piéture have we
here of the severity used to crimi-
nals formerly! The milkiness of
compassion, that sensitive plant
which is so much cultivated in our
English soil at present, shrinks up
into itself with a tremulous vivacity
of feeling, at the conception of such
treatment, even for the vilest crimi-
nals. But the temperament of the
British body was infinitely better
calculated formerly for bearing the
damp of such a dungeon than it is
now. Our very prisons are now
dryer than the castles of our barons
were. And, as to the solitude and
darkness of a prison, these, surely,
are very properly adapted to the
purposes of corrective confinement ;
to the sequestration of the guilty
mind from objeéts that divert its at-
tention from its guilt; to enforcing
upon it the consideration of its own
criminality ; and to the produétion
of an useful penitence in it. Imme-
diately over this subterraneous kind
of prison must the jatlor have lived.
The chimney of the room over the
dungeon was the chimney of his
house. But what was the funnel
by it? It was one of the priries .

the

chamber above.

ANTIQUITIES,

the castle. This appears to have
had its seat at the top of that tower,
like the necessaries at the top of the
houses in the crowded parts of Lon-
don; and to have had its pipe, like
those, and like our water-closets at
present, leading down to the ground.
The pipe terminated, together with
its accompanying chimney, on the
flat summit of the tower. It then
went down in the substance of the
thick wall, into the earth below the
dungeon. ‘Three of its sides are
stili preserved, by the preservation
of the chimney, and of the two walls
without ;, while the fourth side is
gone, with the rest of the building.
It has accordingly been plastered up,
with the chimney itself, in the bed-
lt has also been
walled up in the: cellar or dungeon
below. | And, on the north side of
this wall, appears to haye been what
one ‘should naturally expect in a
dungeon, another place that has
been equally walled up, and once
formed a collateral privy for the
prisoners: The grand receptacle
below, I suppose, was washed every
tide through an opening in the foun-
dation ; and, by a dock which was
cut in the beach, the latter of which
ran up then to the very walls, and
continued running up more than
half the way, within the memory of
the present generation. Immedi-
ately on the west side of this, and
connected with it, is another chim-
ney, of stone, shooting up in the
same substance ef the wall, but hay-
ing a different funnel. The fire-
place of the chimney is very large,
and shews the room belonging to it
to have been very ample. Above
also, and at a good height for an
ancient building, in Cornwall, is the
water-tuble of it, being a channel
cut in the face of the wall, for the

861

reception of the end ofa roof. This
continues for a considerable way on
tbe north, and shews the roof to
haye been long and sloping. On
the southern side, it goes off much
sharper, and then is lust in the top
of the wall. And from all, and
from the yicinity of this building to
the dungeon, | suppose it to have
heen the great hall of the castle;
the room in which the baronial
court was held, and the criminals of
the dungeon were tried. The hearth
of this chimney yet remains, com-
posed of several stones, cemented
together. But the chimney, itself,
has been lately contraéted, repaired,
and provided with an oven at one
side; for a building that has been
ere¢ted in the room of the hail, that
had been divided into two dwellings,
and was approached by a flight of
stéps, a narrow access, from the
present wharfs below. ‘The foun-
dations of the hall also still remain
in the ground, above a yard in
height, and three or four yards in
length, linmg with the solid and
massy angle of the dungeon; but
much less massy and solid than that.
Between these two buildings rose up
the round tower, ‘This was so large
in the eyes of Mr. Tonkin, that it
seemed, at first, to have been ‘* the
body of the whole,” and appeared,
at last, as *¢ the biggest and loftiest’””
of them all. Just above the peaked
point of the water-table, and on the
north side, still are seen the evident
relics of a Jarge arch. This must
have been construéted for support-
ing the tower, and have been, there-
fore, accompanied with a similar
arch, on each of the three other
sides. Resting on all, and risng —
about ten feet higher than the pre-
sent remains, was the platform of
the round tower, having two chim-

; nies

862

nics back to back, and the seat of
a privy on the south side of them in
the middle of it, and being secured
with ‘battlements all round. This,
says tradition, just before its demo-
lition, had the daws building their
nests in the holes of. it, and. the
boys, by some broken stops (1 sup-
pose) of the ancient staircase, went
up to rob them. And Mr. Grant
is said, when he wanted the stones
_of it for his buildings, to have offer-
ed a mason a couple of guineas for
the demolition of it, to have after-
wards marked the state of it to be
so tottering, that it all rested upon
a single stone; then to have induced
the mason, without a fee, to go and
remove that stone, and thus, almost
before the mason could get away, to
have brought the whole fabric to the
ground. | Contiguous to the hall on
the west, was the brew house. -.Ac-
cordingly, in the coal-yard)adjoin-
ing to the present garden : of. the
hall, immediately beyond the hedge,
and close to the new: privy. there,
was found, in the coal+yard, a place
that had been built wp tora furnace.
This shewed the capacity of the fur-
nace by its own size. he latter
must have been Jarge enough to con-
tain a hundred gallons. A vessel of
such magnitude apily represents to
us the expensive luxury of a baro-
nial family then, in that great and
almost only liquor of baronial cellars,
ale. And, what corresponds with
this idea of magnificence in brewing,
the furnace had no less than four
-flews to it. A little beyond this,
and in the way from the gate of the
coal-yard, to the ascent into the,
building, there were found two walls,
running parallel with each other,
and leaving only a narrow space be-
tween them. This, no doubt, was
the guarded avenue from the water

ANNUAL REGISTER,

vy in the body of the fabric ; this bee

hold, while that was to the inferior ;

_ dissolved into dust.

1803.

a
gate into the body of the castle.
‘The water-gate stood about the gate
of the coal-yard, but more within
the yard, and in a line with the wall
of the dungeon, and the foundations
of the hall. The narrow avenue
shews it to have had a tower. over it
A couple of moorstone apples also
have been found here, that were
neatly wrought with a tool, and had
once served, assuredly, en ‘top the
pinnacles obtinis tower. And, though
this tower was square, while the first
was round; it was like the «first, I
suppose, in having the seat of a pri-
vy on the top, and the pipe: of a pri-

ing appropriated, perhaps, to the
superior part of the baronial hous-

and ‘this cing washed like that, no
doubt, by an opening in the foun-
dation, and by a dock from the
brook. In the same coal yard, but
two or three yards on the west of
this, and near the rock, now cut
down into a cliff, about forty years
ago was found the skeleton of a man.
A workman employed in digging up
the deep soil that lay here, came
running to his employer in a hurry,
and, with a wildness of wonder, told
him that he had founda man. The
employer repaired to the place ; he
there saw the fair figure of a man,
above six feet high, with his right
hand raised ¢reét above his head, and
with his left reclining along his side.
Ile advanced up to it, and touched
it about the shoulder, and, to his
astonishment, the whole skeleton
vanished from his view at once, and
This person, 1
apprehend, had been employed in the
same work by which he was disco-
vered, and had been levelling the
rough banks of the ground, for the
reception of the castle. ‘The ground

of

ANTIQUITIES.

of this had been originally as steep
and precipitous as it still remains to
the west and east. But the steep-
ness was mitigated, and the precipices
were smoothed, by cutting down the
banks, and spreading their soil into
a slope. A bank occurred here very
tall and big. ‘The man went incauti-
ously to work: it rushed down up-
on him before he was aware, and
buried him as he was found, in twelve
feet depth of earth. This was the
line of the castle towards the water.
Here, and within the western wall
of the coal-yard, I suppose, ranged
the west front of the castle. This is all
gone, and immemorially too. But,
opposite to the present gate of the
parsonage, and néar the village well,
are, and have been, some remains.
A beam of the castle, black with
age, and chisclied for inserting the
ends of joists into it, was found in
‘the gutter west of the well, five or
six years ago, and is now applied to
keep up the failing road immediately
aboye. About the same time, and
in the same gutter, the wall of the
castle was discovered in its founda-
tions. It was first dug up opposite
to the well. It then came up to a
point of the bank, ‘in which I shail
soon shew seme remains of the more
southerly of the two northern walls.
It went on to a wall, that I shall
equally notice soon, as the more
northerly of the two. It was thus
traced for four or five years; and,
in the interval between the two walls,
was Jaid open an arch of stone, up-
on which the wall was supported,
and by which a spring of water was
discharged from the castle into the
lane. The well itself, was the ori-
ginal well of the castle, but it was
not exactly where it now is, A
yard or two from it, appears an arch
in the wall of an adjoining house,
d

863

which has been closed up, and is al-
most buried in the growing soil.—
This was a well, in which a boy
was drowned about seventy years
ago. It was, therefore, walled up
across the mouth, and another made
in a more open and less dangerous
form near it. A few yards to the
right and south of this well, was, no
doubt, the gate-way, into the court
of the castle. It was not at the
well, because a fragment of the wall
that remains there, shews no signs
of an arch springing from it ;_ this it
must have done, if the arch of the
gateway had sprung from it. And
the gate-way probably stood about
the middle of the court, on the scite
of the house belonging to the coal-
yard, and opposite to the present
opening in the area of the castle.—
The fragment of wall mentioned
above, spans across the arch of the
well above the mouth, and forms
more than half the side of a small
house, as the well goes direéily un-
der the honse. The eastern half of
this wall has been thrown down, and
then repaired with its own materials.
The top has been also repaired in
the same manner, and had a window
inserted in it. But the western end
witnesses sufficiently its antiquity by
its aspect. It rises up, like some
of the walls within the parsonage,
contracting its breadth as it ascends.
And it appears again in its founda-
tion, at the bank before it. This,
therefore, is the Gnly relique of that
range of rooms which formed the
northern side of the court; as abont
ten or eleven feet north of it, is
another wall, very entire, and the
back wall of these rooms. ‘he
small house, which has the well un-
der it, is thrust in between this wall,
and that represents, therefore, the
rooms that were formerly inclosed

between

864

between them, and shews them to
have been only ten or eleven feet in
width. The well, projecting with its
broad and arched back into the rooms,
though it was probably covered then,
asitnow.is, with the level ofthe floor ;
shews us the designation of the rooins,
The kitchen of the castle ocen-
pied the western half of this north
side, with its scullery at the western
end of it. And the northerly or back
wall now shows itself very tall, very
Jong, and very ragged, as it has
been skinned of its facing stones,
vor the construétion, of houses ip
the ‘village. It extends to the-very
limit of the castle-ground, easterly,
failing a litile in its upper parts to-
wards the end, but still preserving
its original length in its foundations.
There the end of it coincides with
another wall, that appears by the
dungeon ; that constitutes the east-
erly side of the, dungeon. itself ;
comes out a little to the right of the
door in the well-house ; and ran on
within these six or seven years, and
the slighter because of the fall in
the ground there, to meet the high
wall above, and ‘a be the back wall
of the eastern range of rooms. A
part of it then tell down with age ;
and the breadth in it has been left
unrepaired, as it opens a new road
of access to the houses under the
cliff. We have thus made the cir-
cuit of the castle-court. We have
noted the disposition of the parts
where we had any notes to direét
us. We have also pointed out the
position of two of the towers.
Let us now note the position of two
more. One, of course, was over
the gate of entrance ; another was
over an opposite gate on the east, I
suppose, for the way into what was
then the garden of the castle. A
kitchen-garden, I believe, was all

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

that was then aimed at: and this
Jay, I doubt not, upon the ground
running parallel on the east;
which has been, equally with the
castle area, levelled appavently by
the hand of art; and which, how-
ever, had no part of the castle upon
it, as the terminating walls shew,
and as the non-appearance of any
stones, above or under the ground,
confirms. We have now four of
the seven towers accounted tor :—
bat where shall. we find the other
three? We must find them in a
second court, of which tradition has
lost nearly all. remembrance. It
only said, some, years ago, to me,
that the castle extended to the north
of the road, . Yet the evidence is too
clear to be doubted; and yet it is
merely to be colleéted from that
faint whisper,of expiring tradition,
and from seme: notices minute and
vanishing. ,The more northerly of
the two walls above, that which
yuns so tall, and so long towards
the cast, now. comes out. to the west
beyond the well and the well house,
and was cut through ahout four or
five years ago, on the west side of
the house, to make a way from the
house to the long and narrow gar-
den adjoining: With this breach in
its course, it goes on about a cou-
ple of yards more to the west, and
then ends in a ragged form, that
shews it, by the freshness of the ap-
pearance, to have been recently de-
stroyed here; and it appears to
have come forward to the same
bank, on which the foundations of
the parallel wall still appear, and
had its own foundations there dug
up about forty years ago. Both
terminated at this bank, as I have
already shewn, and so united with
the western line of the castle-wall,

that has been discovered at this {
point,

|
.
|
|

ANOT E OUIETIES.:

pomt, coinciding with the end of
this building in the coal-yard, and
the assigned place of the gateway.
But from this termination of the
northerly wall, another wall must
have commenced, carrying on the
course of the western wall up the
bank of the road from the church
to the mill, and pointing through
the porched house there. A little
to the east of the porch, parallel
with this, have been found, in the
long and narrow garden adjoining,
several walls issuing from the great
wall, and crossing the narrow
breadth of the garden. ‘These were
evidently the foundations of a range
of rooms, that extended along the
northern face of the great wall, as
another extended along the southern,
and constituted one side of a higher
court, as the other did of a Jower.
And as the depth of the garden be-
low the road, about five feet, has
been produced by the cellars under
all, so the breadth of the garden de-
notes the size of the rooms not
much superior in dimensions to
those on the southern side. On the
road then from the church to the
mill, and about the porch of the
porched house, stood the gateway
of the higher court, facing the

greater church stile, admitting the ©

road from it at this front gate, and
dismissing it to the mill at a back
gate, where the great wall and the
‘long garden equally terminate to
the west. How far this higher court
went to the north, I cannot ascer-
tain. No remains are known to
have been discovered behind the
porched house, or behind its accom-
panying house on the west. But it
extended some way, no doubt. It
formed a just quadrangle, or regular
court; and its memory has been
nearly lost, I suppose, to the pre-

Vou. XLY.

863
sent generation, from its materials
having been early begged of the

-lords, by their nomineers, the rec-

tors, for the enlargement of the par
sonage house, for the enclosure of
its courts, and for the re-construc-
tion of some of its offices. Two of
the three towers were fixed, otf
course, upon the two gateways of
this higher court. The third was
fixed, I believe, upon another gate-
way, that opened to the north, and
towards some appendages of the
castle ; the orchard, the farm-yard,
and the fields, retained for its own
use. And there being no space for
these appendages upon the south,
because of the tide-way, on the east,
because of the precipices, or on the
west, because of the parsonage ;
they must necessarily have been on
the north. This was the lower.—
The higher was a much later addi-
tion. This is evident, from the
difference of archite¢ture in the re-
mains of both. Those of the lower
are universally constructed with
clay mortar, while those of the
higher are cemented with lime.—
Both are reciprocally apparent in
all the joints of their stones ; and in
that part of the long wall, the foun-
dation ‘of which has been dug up
lately, at the westerm end, pieces of
lime have been found, so solid and
so massy, that some persons wildly |
supposed the lime to have petrified
in the ground, from age. These
pieces assuredly were the liquid
lime, that had been poured boiling
hot upon the foundations, had form-
ed itself into irregular cakes, in the
interstices between the stones ; and
then, from its close adherence to
the stones, perhaps, from the oppo-
sition between the heat of these, and
the cold of those, and certainly from
the exclusion of the external air af.
3K terwards,

366

terwar 55 had consolidated into
some similarity of nature with the
stones themselves. The mode also
of cons{ruction in the two courts is
very different. In the base court,
the stones are huge, unshapen, and
ill compacted, gaping rudely in the
joints, and presenting a clumsy and
coarse appearance to the eye. But,
in the. ‘higher court, the long wall
exhibits to us a piece of masonry,
that would do credit to a modern
builder ; the stones being shaped i in-
to smooth surfaces, being laid in re-
gular courses, and carrying a fair
and modern appearance with them ;
and both appear to be the stones of
a quarry upon the glebe, which,
only ten years ago, exhibited al] the
aspect of a deep and an ancient
quarry, showing a high face of rock,
being covered eet trees, having
formerly been famous as a harbour
for snakes, and being found, on ex-
amination, to have been perfeétly
worked out. They are certainly
the stones of the glebe, from “their
hue and their hardness. The ground
of the base court has been ‘found to
be remarkably deep in the soil.—
Hundreds of loads of earth have
been carried away from it, for ma-
Huring the adjoining fields. But
the ground of the higher court is
very shallow. This is attributable to
two causes co-operating, The lower
court was construéted with clay
floors generally, and with side walls
of clay entirely, J presume. These,
in the demolition of the whole, have
mingled with the soil, and have
deepened it. But the other was
constructed obviously in a more
modern style of refinement, with
side walls of stone, and with board-
ed floors. And these haye left the
ground in its original shallowness of
Soil, The other cause is this :—

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

The plane of the castle-hill was ori-
ginally uneven and precipicious, and
required much labour of levelling.

This threw vast quantities of earth
into particular places, to fill up hol-
lows, and to smooth the falls. And
i have given a remarkable instance
of a mana caught by a falling bank,
and buried twelve feet deep in
earth. But the ground above was
of a different nature, and required
little levelling, and, therefore, re-
ceiyed little accumulation of earth in
places. It remained, therefore, in
its original state. I was, some
years ago, informed by an old man,
who, from his constant residence in
the village, and from his great age,
was the faithful chronicle of the pa-
rish, that a giant once lived in this
castle—an incident of romance,
which seems to carry us up to some
of the remotest periods of our his-
tory. But he added, that another
giant lived contemporary with him
at Trelouk, an estate in the parish ;
that, two giants so near being sure
to quarrel for exclusive dowinion
and sole sovereignty, the giant of
Lanyhorne fought with the giant of
Trelouk ; and that, as giants scorn
to contend with the ordinary Wwea-
pons of a man, they hurled stones
at one another. But, from the op-
position of the owner of this castle
to the possessor of the house of
Trelouk, I consider the story only
as an echo ; an echo, indeed, that
has redoubled the sounds in the re-
petition, of some pitched battle be-
tween two rival barons. But how
could there be any baron in a pa-
rish that was the property of the
Jord of Lanyhorne pile ? Or how
could any gentleman in the parish
presume to fight with bim who was
the sovereign of the whole? [I ac-
count for both these circumstances

thus.

AIN'T ai@ D1 2A ES.

thus. ‘Trelouk is a house that has a
large barton belonging to it, and is
the only house in the whole parish,
besides what I shall show hereafter
to have belonged to the seignor of
the castle, that has any barton at
all. Its appellation, too, concurs
with its barton, to prove it a very
considerable mansion. Tre Long,
which, in pronunciation, readily
becomes Tre Louk, and is the indu-
bitable analysis of the name, obvi-
ously means the long house. The
word long, indeed, is lost in the
Cornish, but is preserved in the
Welsh and Irish, llong and long, a
ship: a name and a quality nearly
similar, I suppose, to our long-boat.
This implies something considerable
jn the house. But the Jrish language
explains the whole to us at once.
This exhibits the discriminative term
in an idiomatic sense. Long-phort
in Irish, is literally a long fort, or
long house, from port, afort or house ;
but in construction means a palace,
or royal seat. Thus— Drairg se
a long-phoirt,” signifies ‘¢ he plun-
déred the king’s seats.” A long
house, therefore, was the appropri-
ate title among the Britons for a
king’s mansion. ‘They marked the
royalty of the house by the length
ofit. And Treiouk appears from all,
to have been one of the long houses
of Cornwall, one of the mansions
upon the royal demesnes here. In
this view of Trelouk, the owner of
it might maintain a battle with the
eastellan of Lanyhorne, as well as
any other baron in the neighbour-
hood. Ile was not subjeét to the
castellan. He held not Trelouk
from him: He held it only from the
king himself. He had also the ho-
nour to live ina royal mansion, to
receive the king into his house at
times, to have him for a sojourner ip

867

it, to partake in his feasts; and to
sHiate in his sports. Such a man
might well, therefore, bristle up his
back with ‘pride, and even (in the
licentious freedoms of feudal lords)
meet the castellan boldly in the field,
with his servants in arms. How nu-
merous these servants must have
been, Jet tradition further tell us, in
its usual confusedness of remem-
brance. Itsays that there was a city
at Trelouk formerly, and that a king
resided in it. It thus confirms my
deduétions from the name very de-
cisively : and this is the main, sub-
stantial part of the popular narrative.
But when it adds that this city reach-
ed from Trelouk to Reskivers, near
Tregony, and that it was denomi-
nated the city of Reskivay, it con-
founds Tregoney with Trelouk, that
being a¢tually and probably report-
ed to have once shot out to Reski-
vers, and this additional town being
said to have been denominated the
city of Reskivers or Reskivay. It
says, however, that Trelouk was a
city. In this it may have been equally
deceived by the same assimilation of
circumstances... Yet that is not like-
ly. The appellation of a city for
Trelouk was the very circumstance
which occasioned the assimilation—
the very link that tied the tradition of
Tregony to Trelouk. Anditsubjoins
what corroborates the substance of its
verdict in the point, that a king re-
sided in this city. Ail shows it to
haye been a capital house, the na-
tural, though unequal rival of the
castle. The house is remembered
about forty years ago, to have had
a narrow approach to it, with a wall
on each side, and a reom (for a por-
ter’s lodge) above, in the style of a
castellated mansion ; to have then had
a gate and a wicket, with a small court
before the whole. The barton also
3K2 is

868

is remembered to have been set to
different tenants, who resided in
different parts of the house. ‘Three
or four years ago, in a plat of ground
which was covered with briars and
brambles, the soil was found to be
black earth, four or five feet deep,
and a regular pavement, the area of
a court was discovered beneath. And
about thirty years ago were also
found what spoke to vulgar antiqua-
rianism, the existence of three ditfe-
rent smiths’ shops at Trelouk, but
what only denoted probably the
three different stations on the bar-
ton, at which the king’s smith had
successively exercised his business ¢
a quantity of cinders in the ground
of three different places there, and
fragments of iron among them. So
closely does tradition unite with ety-
mology, and discoveries incorporate

ANNUAL REGISTER,’ 1803.

with all; to shew the greatness of
Trelouk as the antagonist of this
castle, and the superior greatness of
this castle still to its antagonist of
Trelouk.

Copy of an Original Manuscript,
containing Orders made by Henry,
prince of Wales, respecting his
Household, 1610 ; communicated
by Francis Douce, Esq. F. AS.
from * The Archeologia.” Vol.14.

RDERS for his highnes court,
given at Richmond the 16th

of Oétober, 1610.
Especiall ordinances for the ad-
vancement of my service, and or-
dering of my household affaires,

given the 16th of October, 1610;
at Richmond.*

For

* In a rare tract, entitled, “ A Discourse of the most illustrious prince Henry,
Jate prince of Wales,” written anno 1626, by sir Charles Cornwallis, knight, some-
times treasurer of his highnesse house, printed in 1641, are the following traits of
that prince’s character, which may serve to illustrate these orders.
taken from a copy in the possession of the rev. John Brand, Sec. A. M. .

“ Tn the government of his household, in yeares so very young, hee gave ex-
amples to all other princes.

“ His family was ample, as that which consisted of few lesse then five hundred,
many of them young gentlemen, borne to great fortunes, in the prime of their
years, when their passions were most strong, and their powers and experiences to
temper and subject them to reason most weake, his judgement, his grave and
princely aspect, gave temper to them all; his very eye served for a commande-
ment, and more and better service have I noted to be done by the very lookes of
him, then by sharpe reprehensions of some other princes: if any questions or
quarrells were moved amongst his servants, he would give a stoppe and stay to
them, at the very beyinning, by referring them to some such of his principal offi-
cers as hee thought to bee most scient in matters of that nature, and best did know
to give just compensation to the injured, and reproofe to them that should be
found to have offered the wrong; so as in so numerous a family, there was not

so much as any blows given, or any countenance of quarrell or debate betweene
any.

They, are

“ Plenty and magnificence were the things that in his house he especially af-
fected, but not without such a temper as might agree with the rules of frugality
and moderation; he caused to bee set downe in writing unto him the several heads
of alle his annual charges, the ordinary expence of his house and his stables, the
charge of his apparrell and wardrobe, his rewards, and all such other things,
as yearly were to be issued out of his coffers, and comparing them with his an-

al revenue, did so judiciously fashion and proportion them by shortening what

he

ANSTIQUITIE,S. 869

For that I am now tpon the thinck on some especiall matters,
point to sett downe officers and or- that I would have precisely lookt
ders, for the settling of my hous- unto, and duly observed, as well
hold, I have myselfe taken care to for the advancement of my service,

as

he found superfluous, and encreasing what was wanting and too short in any of
them, as hee reduced them to a certainty, and such as his revenues would well
defray, besides a yearly spare of some thousands of pounds which hee reserved
for a store or treasure, to be ready for all events and occasions accidentall.

“ By giving of which so good and solid foundation and order unto his state, hee
delivered himself from all necessity of becoming rigid or strait to his tenants,
either by any unmeasureable improving their farmes, or thejr tines, or seeking or
taking advantage of any their forfeitures, and became also unnecessited to take
the benefit that both law and right afforded unto him, of such as had in time
of former princes purchased lands appertaining to his dutchy of Cornwall, which
could not, by law, be alienated from the same, to whom out of his princely bounty
and gracious compassion upon resuming of them, hee gave some reasonable sa
tisfaction.

“ The banquets and feasts that any time he made, his desire was, should be
magnificient and agreeing with his princely dignity, yet not without an especiall
€ye and care had, that nothing should bee spent in disorder, or the charge made

greater through the want of providence, or wel! manageing by his officers; in

those hee ever affected the demonstration of a princely greatnesse, and that all
things should pass with decency and decorum, and without all rudeness, noise or
disorder, :

- © In any thing either committed or permitted unto him by the king his father,
concerning the state and defence of the kingdome, exceeding willing, sedulous and
carefull hee ever shewed himselfe, to perform all offices and duties-undertandingly,
and with much circumspection.

“ He was oncesent. by his majesty to take a view of the navy at Chatham,
wither myselfe waited upon him, and observed how great his desire was, not onely
to see with his owne eyes eyery particular ship, but to inable himselfe, by con-
ference and consultation with the best experienced of his majesty’s officers of the
navy, in the fashion and fabricature of the ships, to understand their strengths and
the forme of their sailing, to take knowledge of such as were then perfitted and
fitted for the present service, and which defective, and in what several parte,
to the end there might instantly be order given for the repairing of them; he also
very particularly enformed himselfe of their several equipages and furnitures, went
in person to take an exact view of them, and of .his majesiies store for that pur-
pose, and would not bee satisfied without understanding the special uses of ever
of those things, and of all other that tended to make them serviceable and usefull ;
what further in yeares more ripe was in naval affaires, wherein consisted the prin-
cipall strength, honour, and advantage of this kingdome, to be expected of him,
may easily be discerned by his will, his diligence, his understanding and princely
courage, shewed upon occasion of discourse, delivered unto him by a servant of his
own, concerning a navall warre with Spaine, whensoever that king shall give cause
of a publicke hostility. ’

_“ To publish particulars agrees not with the rules of state, but two especiall
thinges being propounded, which were the preparation of a navy, consisting of
a certaine number of sbips to bee sent into the West Indies, and another to
attend the coasts of Spaine, to prohibit all entry or issue of ships either into or
out of the same.

-“ Admirable“it was in one of yeares so young, to“theare what interrogations he
used of every particularity of that designe, of the feisiblenesse, and of the diffi-

3K 3 culties

870° ~ANNUAL REGISTER, i803.

ag for tle hovor of my court; and dence of my officers, yet these pti
although there be many other things culers hereafter sett downe my will
very requisite to be considered of and pleasure is to be especially ob-
concerning the same, which I must served and respected. ;
reierre to the diligence and provi- That when I am at divine service
culties of every branch of it, how he insisted upon-every doubt, until by the best)
experienced and practised both in sea services and in navigation, with reasons and)
demonstrations he became fully satisfied, and that done, how narrowly and neerly
he searched into every knot, both of the honour and utility, and of the danger and)
charge that an attempt of that nature would draw with it, and ceased not untill he:
understood every particular of the same, and especially the yeerly charge which’
that whole expedition would amount unto; which having found so very reason-
able, and the hopes so great, and all doubts so well resolved, to shew the valour
of his own heart, hee openly protested to such as were present, that should the
king his father bee pleased, upon any, future occasion to breake with Spaine, him-
selie (if so it should agree with his majesties pleasure) would, in person, become:
the executor of that noble attempt for the West Indies.

“ He so distributed the day by dividing his houres into the services of God, to:
the apting himselfe to the office hee was born unto, both in government civill and:
mihtary, and to necessary exercises and regreations, as no part of if could: be in
vaine bestowed; to inable his knowledge of government civill, lie read histories),
the knowledge of things passed conducing much to resolution in things present,)
and to prevention of those to come.

“In the military, hee added thereunto the mathematicks, study of cosmo-
graphy, and had one that. instructed him in the matter and forme of fortificas
tions,

‘© For practice, hee used in a manner daily to ride and manage great horses:
with which hee had. his’ stables most excellently furnished, eftimes to ranne
at the ring, and sometimes at. tilt, both which he so well and dexterously
performed, and with so great a comelinesse, as in those first. yeares, he be-
came second to no prince in Christendome, and to many that practised with him,
much superiour, suit

“ His other exercises were dancing, leaping, and in times of yeare fit for learn-
ing to swimme, at sometimes walking fast and farre, to accustome and enable
himself: to make a long march when time should require it; but most of all at
tennis play, wherein, to speak the truth, which in all things [ especially affect,
hee. neither observed moderation, nor what appértained to his dignity and per-
son, continuing. oftimes his play for the space of three or foure houres, and:
the same in, his shirt, rather becoming) an artizan than a prince, who, in things
of that nature, are only to affect comelinesse, or rather a kinde of careless-:
nesse In shew, to make, their activities seeme the more naturall, thena laborious:
and toiling industry. F :

“ Of this, and.of his diet, wherein he shewed too much inclination to excessive:
eating, of fruits, he was, as in al other things, content to heare advice, but in these:
two particulars not to follow it.

“ In other, play or gaming he, shewed himselfe- not much: inclined, yet would
sometimes play at Obesse, at Biliors, and at Cards, but so very nobly and like him-
selfe, as plainly shewed his. use of it to be only for recreation, not for appetite of
gaine ; for whether he woune or lost, his countenance was ever the same, and,
or the most part, greater appearances of mirth in him when he was in losse,
than when he wonne, thereby plainly demonstrating both his judgment:in adven-
turing no more. than what be.made no regard of if he lost it; and: his princely,

galt : z magnanimity

ANP t-OU-1 PLES.

in my private closett, the dores and
privieé wayes be carefully looked
unto by the ushers and groomes,
and my gentlethen in ordinary to
be generally warned to attend me,
anid be present at times of prayer,
and to doe the like, when I goe to
my publique chappell to service and
sermons, wherein I will’ dispense
with no man, holding him unfitt to
serve me, that with me will for-
beare to goe to heare the word of
God, which example of liberty shall

never be tolerated in’ my court, nor:

made an example to encourage others
in like disobedience and contempt
towards religion.

That whilest I am at my pub-
lique chappell hearing divine service
‘and sermons, twoe of my guards be
appointed by course to wayte with-
out at the dore, as well as an usher

or groome within the dore, and ,

not to depart from that charge
untill myselfe be gone out of the
place.

That the ante-chambers of my
_ court bé better attended at due
howers' in the morning, afd other
tymes, as my presence chamber, and
privie chamber, which are often
found without any pson in them,
whilest I am retyred in my more
private lodgings ; ffor reformation
whereof, the ushers, groomes and
pages must be warned to give more
diligent and orderly attendance.

That there be not too many dou-
ble keys allowed of my privie lodg-
inge, close, gardens, and retired
walkes, and those double keyes that

S71

dré delivered out to be it the hands

_of men of god trust, and notice to

be taken by thé gentlemen eae
of my privie chamber who they ar
that have such Keyes, being a chargé
6f no small cén8equence, consider-
ing the dangér and practizes of theis
tymes. .
That iy privié chatiber be more
reservedlie kept, ‘and none jinitted
so familiarly t6 frequent it!- But!
such a$ are alldwed theréof arid’
swore to the ‘place, for’ Hére
shall my presence chamber''be thé
better furnished with gentlemen to
the hondur of my court, and ihy
privie chamber be held in that
égteeme and dccount’ tat. it ought
when the rights and respeéts that
dulie appertaiie theretinto dre ré-
garded and observed. But if in
my court thére should not be madé
an orderly distinétion, both of places
and psous, it would breed a confu-
sion, and as good it were to bea
groome of my greaf chamber, as a
gentleman of .my privié chamber, ‘if
the places be madé comon alike.
And, therefore, my will age
sure is, to have it more carefully’
look’t unto and speedily reformed.
That when I am myself at thd
tennys play, or the ballon, or such
exercise, twoe of my guards be pre-
sently appointed to attend about the
dore untill my departure thence 5
for it hath byn noated and told me,
that sometimes when I have byn at
the tennys play, there hath scarcely
byn six prsons about the tennys
court, and most of them but lackeys
3K 4 or

magnanimity and temper in suffering no passion or alteration to take hold of him
through any crossnesse of cards or chance. east

“ In some young gentlemen whom he affected, he seemed to mislike too much
disposition to play, and did not only disadvise them from it, but gave unto some 0
them matter of value to become bound to leave the use of it; for pleasure hee
tooke them all as it were in passage without semblance, eitherto desire them, or

at least to have a will to dwell in them,’

872

fitt for the state of a prince.
_ That in my standing-house, where
Tam resident, there be ever a con-
yenyent store of munition and armes
proportionable to furnish myne own
famely withall upon any suddaine
occassion if need require: for as it
is both safe and princely to have it
in geod order and readiness, so were
it a great defect to want that in my
court that every nobleman and gen-
tleman will be provided of in his
owne house,
_,That amongst other good ordi-
frances for my houshold, it be
thought on and provided, that some
one of my principall officers that és
allowed a standing tablein my court,
doe keepe the same so orderly fur-
nished and attended, as that it may
e able in good fashion to receive
and entertayne any nobleman’ or
stranger of account, that shall come
to visitt me upon any suddaine, as
many tymes it may happen: for it
were a great indignity unto me, and
disparagement to my court, that
upon any such unexpected accident

there should be no place of receipt.

able to give good entertaynement in
that kinde, and although this may
be a cause of some extraordynarie
charge, yet lett it be p’formed, and
that expence saved in some other
needles sup iluity, flor parsimony in
these thing that concern the honor
and state of my court, were as
great an error as prodigalify in idle
waste.

That in the services about my
p son or place in my house, my of-
ficers and servants in general doe
take knowledge from me that is nei-
ther agreeable with my liking and
pleasure, that any one man should
sue or seeke for multiplicity of of-
Aces appertayning to’ my service,

ANNUAL REGISTER, : 1803.

or pages, which is.neither safe yor

especially if they be of charge or
ymportance, for that course t doe
well know to be a great hinderance
to the exaci service due to a prince,
for one office of consequence is
cnough to imploy the witt and in-
dustry of one man if hee discharge
his duty there thoroughly. Ee-
side, it deprives a prince of-the
meanes to grace and gratifie many
of his able and faithful servants,
when one man ingrosseth sondry
offices, and it deminisheth the ma-
jesty of a court, when there are not
so many officers as offices disposed
of, they charge being all one, but
the honor and benefit much lesse,
for the prince, when he _ respects
more any one mans p ticular avarice
or ambition, then the advancement
and countenance of his own service.
Wee sce, that noblemen in the or-
dering of their owne families, will
admit no such confusion ; and, there-
fore, lesse fitt to be tollerated in a
princes court, that is well ordered

and disciplined as it ought to be.
That the like knowledge be taken
from me, as a matter that I will
have duly observed in my house or
service; that is, that I myself doe
make a choice and free election of
my principall officers and servants
without partiality or other respects,
then for the worth or desert of the
psons themselves, and doe accord-
inglie dispose thereof by myne owne
guift, to the end that thereby I may
binde my servants the more faith-
fully unto me, and not to transferre
the thanck for my benefitte to other
men. So, likewise, it is my will
and pleasure, that the chief officers
doe not in any sort traflique or
conferr the inferiour offices and
places by partiality and bribery, but
freely and without corruption, and
not to preferre strangers before
; myne

ANHL OF T1 Bs.

myne owne servants, if they be fitt
and able for the places. And this
wil be a meanes to make men dili-
gent, and industrious to attayne to
p fection, when they shall see that
in my, Seryice and fayour, no par-
tiall respects shall depresse or over-
weigh desart or vertue.

That the officers and equerries of
my stable, doe looke carefully that
the groomes be not suffered to putt
any under boyes or hirelings to
serye and dresse my horses, which
will make a great disorder in my
equerry, cause my horses to be ill-
looked unto, and shortened of their
allowance to releive such beggarly
creatures as they entertayne, to sup-
ply their pleasures elsewheare, and

negle¢t their charge.

That hereafter this be observed in
election of my guard as places doe
fall, that such men be recommend-
ed unto me for that service, as are
well known to be of honest conver-
sation, and -withall able and aétive
men qualified with some fection,
as wrestling, tossing the pike, shoot-
ing in a musket, or skill in his
weapons, and such-like activity,
more than to be able onely to wayte
with a holberd in my great cham-
ber, for I hold it fitting for. the
court for a manly yong prince to
have such a seleét guard of able bo-
dyes, as may match any other men
for their number, in all manly ex-
ercises whatsoever, wherein [ re-
spect not so much the greatness of
their stature as these other habilities
aforenamed, so that withall they be
well shapt and comely psonages,
and amongst them to have some that
have been either lieutenants, anci-
ents, or sargeants in the warres, I
specially allowe of,

And that these places of my

873

guard be not traffickt or sould, but

freely disposed of for meritt and suf-
ficiency, for otherwise it must needs
be a hinderance to my service to have
them impoverished by purchasing
their places in a mercinary manner,
unworthie of a princes court. that
would be truly and worthily served.

That when my revenues and re-
ceipts are truly resolved of and
knowne to what yearly value they
will certainely amount (for, in this
poynt, wee must stand upon cer-
tayneties) that then my counsell and
chiefe officers do proportion and or-
der the allowances and expences for
all offices, tables, servants wages,
equerry, and other necessary charges
whatsoever, proportionably, accord-
ing to the meanes of the yearly
rent, and yet, not to extend it to
the uttermost value thereof, but to
hold it so within the compass of my
revenues, as that there may remayne
a sufficient proportion in honorable
and plentifull manner to supplie my
extraordinary expences, ever keep-
ing such store, as that my coffers
may never be utterly bare.

And, for the first yeare, I will,
that my counsell and chiefe officers
doe meete and sitt together month-
lie, for the establishing and preserv-
ing of the good orders of my court,
until they be perfeéily settled, and
then afterwards to continue those
meetings as cause shall require,

That there be certayne register
bookes made of all my silver and
plate, whereof my counsell to have
one, the chiefe officers of my house-
hold another, and the third to re-
mayne in his hands that hath the
chiefe charge thereof, and that, every
quarter, my councell and chiefe of-
ficers doe purposely meete together
to call an account, whereby the

same,

874

Satne;' by such orderly care, miy bé
better’ preserved from imbédselling
anid stéalth.

* Bhat, in liké manner, there be
ééFtayue register books made of all
miy jewels aiid rich’ robes, whereof
éfie booke to bé in nyne owne’cus-
tody, another if the hands of my
councell, and the thitd with him
that hath the charge thereof, arid’ so,
quartétly, to lHdve those bookes
survayed and altered, as’ need shall
réquire, by thé increasing or: dimi-
nishing of my jewells.

That, in like sort, an ordétly ac-’
count be kept and given, quarterly,’
of the receipt arid expences yssuing
out of my privie sith, as a matter
very convenient and necessary for
the holding of correspondencye of
order in that point as well as others,
wheréby a suessé may be given to
What proportion that yearly exs
pence may growe, and soe, hee
that kéepes my privie purse, may,
by delivering his accompts, the bet-
ter aunsweare and cleare his re-'
ceipts, and except theré be'siich an
order kept of my privie purse, theré
can be no trae accotint made how
my revenues are expended: for alll
other waste will be coulourably layd
upon the expence of my privy purse,
when they knowe there is no good
account kept of what is received and
disbursed that way, for the expences
of a prince in that kyndeé, are son-
dry atid great, in such sort, as if it
be layd out without a reckoning,
and received in without charge ; my
purse may easily be made bare, and
niy coffers emptie, and no good ac-
compt given which way it comes to
passe, other then to lay generally

upon my privie purse, and make
that a cloake for many other idle
and lavish expences.

ANNUAL REGISTER,
That’ there be charge and. coni-
“aundément> given’ unto ‘thy porters

1803.

by my chiefe officers, that they’ ‘dod
looké caréfully “and diligently” unite
their charge, as well for thé aie
gates a8 thé fore-gates of my hous
where ain resident, and that wit ait
as a point of their duty and charge,
they dod’ Jooke carefully that the
provisions of my housé Be not pur
loyned nor carryed away, edtly or
lite, otit of the gates, which is an
usuall costome in princes courts,
but neither profitable nor honour-
able ; ffor in true consideration, such
things dre more fitt to bé spent to
the ereditt of my house, or the charge
thereof to be saved, then’ to Be i im-
béaselled in’such, as “retirees neither
honour nor acknowledgement : and
if my porters bé as honest and trus-
ty servants as they ought, they will
rather s¢eké to deserve favour and
reward for faithful service, then con-
sent to such pititloining, to have a
share therein themselves. And no
man can justly thinck it too great
frugality in a princes court, rather
to have allowances publiquely and
honorably spent, then secréttly im-
bezelled and stolne.

That the marshalls doe looke
more carefully to purge and free
those places where my court is resi-
dent, of that scumme of vagrant and
idle rogues, that followe the trayne

and my stables with their wives and ,

children, committing many disorders
and stealthes, ahd Withall ever like-
ly to bring the danger of infectious
sickness to my court, besides, that
in a rable of ill-disposed persons, ma-
ny a dangerous villany may be shel«
tered.
That if any questions or quarrels
doe arise amongst my ordynarie ser-
vants, which sometimes happens in
princes

ANTIQUETIES.

princes courts; and most likely there,

Wléré store of youth is, my will and
confaundéement is, that the partic’
sieved! aid wrorged shoul rather
muké complaynt tHéreof to some of
my counsell atid Chiefe OMfiders, thert
fo’ right and revenge himselfé by vio-
Ikhicé, or With thé sword. And, up-
oti stich itiformatioh and complaynt
midds that it be difiketitly enquired’
in wHpthie tié fault Tyeth, and what
partie hath récéived’ thé wronk, atid
t6 compell’ hit that ‘Hath done the’
injury, to give such satistaction as shall
stand with the points of rédson and
honor, thereby to avoyd fitter mis-
cheife, which is‘nof fitt tobe suffered’
viblently to run on to extremities in
a well disciplined covrt, as neither
agrecing with piety nor civilitie.
And stich as will’ not informe being
wronged, but followe révenge after
their own fancie, anid those that will
not give safisfiction for injiiries
offred ‘in matiner'aS T dée appoint
and cormmatnd;, LT will hold both of
thesé sort’ neither worthy to enjoy
my favour, dor fitt to be lotiger re-

tayned in ‘thy service, arid therefore’

doeT straightly commaund my coun-
sell aiid chiéfe officers td lodke se-
ridusly thereunto, and to inform me
of any, that shall vyolate or neg-
leét this my ordynance in either
Kinde.

That twoe of my guard, every
niglt, be appointed orderly in their
ttirnes, to walke the round in all
parts of my court, where I am resi-
dent, as well for safety, and good or-
der, as to avoyd the danger of fire,
which many times: happeweth by in-
considerate servants, and oftenty mes
runhés on very dangerously before it
be discovered.

That there be a. reasonable pro-
portion of ladders made with joynts,
for the purpose; aud leather bucketis

l

oss
$73

for water provided in all my chicfé!
stinding houses, to free the dangér
that may fall out by fire, without
which provisions, great mischiefes’
may happen, but by, theis helpées, be’
thé better avoyded.

That wheresover atiy of my stand-
ing houses aré kept, and my stables
about them, that straight charge anil
conf auiidement be given to nity prin-
cipall officers, to my equerriés, ri-
ders, arid groomeés, that nore of my
great horses or hunting horses be
riddén or ¢ullopt over any ploughed
fields where corné is sowed or
groweés, whereof heretofore com
plaint hath byn made unto me, and
Ihave so highlie disliked thereof, bé-
ing.a great impietie so barbarously.
aud wilfully to destroy and wast
the food of man, as that, whosoever
shall transgresse and offend therein,
I- will hold’ him worthie of gréat
punishment, and unfitt to remayne
in my service, and, therefore, dbe
comaund that it be strictly and ab-
solutely forbidden.

That, as I began with the due di-
vine service unto Allmichtie God,
without which nothing can prosper
nor yield comfort, either in this
world, or in the world to come, so
doé I conclude, that amongst other
my. ordynances, for the well-go-
vernmeént of my court, that’ by my
councell and principall officers, if
be stricktly and carefully lookt unto
and observed, that fower times in
the yeare, namely, at Christmas, at
Easter, at Midsummer, and at Mi-
chaellmas, all my ordynarie ser-
vants, im generall, without excep-
tions of any whatsover, doe receive
the confunion at my publique
chappell, a place uséd for divine
service, where my houshold shafl be
then resident, and that, before the
receiving. of the confunion, one of

my

$76

my chaplyns or some other good
preacher doe make a sermon, or
read a lecture, tending to instruct
men to the reverent and worthy re-
ceiving of that holy and blessed sa-
crament, And such as shall either
willfullie refuse so to doe, or cauti-
ously absent themselves of purpose,
that good notice be taken of such
by my counsell or officers, and my-
selfe informed thereof, to give such
further order therein as may stand
for an eminent example and chas-
tisement to such ungodly and unchris-

tianlike disposition ; for the which =

kinde of people my court shall be no
shelter, nor my service any protec.
tion.

wlccount of Ancient Welsh Manu-
scripts, in a Letter from William
Owen, Esq. F. A. S. to the Rev.
John Brand, Secretary: from the
same.

Sir,

HAVE sent herewith, the two

first volumes of the Archaiology
of Wales, as an acknowledgment of
my respect to the society ; the ar-
chives-of which, are well adapted to
secure the longest duration to a copy
of the work, which is of a character
that requires some precaution of this
kind*,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

The contents of the Archaiology |
of Wales are derived from various
tollections of old manuscripts, pre-
served, for the most part, within the.
principality; sources but little
known to the inquisitive antiquary. ;
sources of which even the existence
hath been doubted by the candid
literati ; and, I may add, of course
denied by the captious, ever more
indulgent to their own prejudices,
than anxious to investigate’ the —
truth. But such must unavoidably
be the case with respect to a people
so circumstanced as we are in Wales,
insulated from the nation, at large,
by the barrier of a peculiar lan-
guage: for, in this language, is
written every thing deemed worthy
of preservation ; and, as none study
it but ourselves, the whole remains,
generally speaking, unknown to the
rest of the world. ei

There are some instances, indeed,
of a few articles having been pre-
sented to the public, through the
medium of translation, by those,
whose partiality for the subject,
hath enabled them to overcome the
obstacles which, in their situation,
thwarted very much their wishes to
bestow proper attention to the stu-
dy of the literary remains of their
ancestors. But they came forward,
in all that simplicity of heart that is
the attendant of truth, without the

precaution

* The first of these volumes contains the Welsh poetry from the sixth century to
the fourteenth. ‘The most ancient, or those preceding the tenth century, are ar-
ranged under the title of Cynveirz.. The bards of the middle ages follow the for-

mer, under the title of the Gogynveirz.
the poets less ancient.

These words imply the early poets and

The second volume consists of the Triads, which are our ancient traditions, ar-

yanged under that peculiar form; a form which I admit to be capricious, but
which was probably used to fix them better in the memory. After these, are our
genealogies of the founders of the British churches. Several ancient Welsh chro-
nicles then follow. The others are genuine annals of Welsh history, in a plain sim-
ple form, from the seventh to the thirteenth century, A life of Grufudd ab Cy-
nan, who died in 1137, and written soon afterwards, follows ; and some ancient
divisions of Wales close the volume. Other ancient documents of our nation are
now printing.

A NEE QOW 2 TE. EF §:

precaution of being guarded with
any kind of defence: for, being
themselves convinced, by internal
evidence, of the genuineness of what
they produced, they gave no other
opportunity for the curious to be
Satisfied, and thus left every thing
open to the attacks of the infidel.

To multiply the means of intro-
_ ducing the ancient British remains
to the world, by other persons, was,
next to their preservation, the mo-
tive which occasioned the Archaio-
logy, under consideration, to be
undertaken by the editors; and, as
in the progress of ‘bringing it for-
ward, a sentiment hostile to the au-
thenticity of its contents was disco-
vered to prevail, with considerable
influence, amoung men of jeiters ; it
was, therefore, found expedient to
prefix to the volumes, a summary
history of the present state of Welsh
manuscripts.

Before I proceed, however, I
cannot help expressing my satisfac-
tion at the happy circumstance ; that
such a doubt of the authenticity of
our old writings hath been thrown
out, and that such an account hath
now become necessary, while the
publication is carried on; and more
especially, while we have those ma-
nuscripts in existence to produce,
so as to convince all those who are
anxious to establish the truth of this
point, by taking the trouble of
making the necessary inquiry: for,
had it not been done until a century
or two more had elapsed, endanger-
ing the still farther decay of those
mouldering records, at which period
should the authenticity of the Welsh
archaiology be arraigned at the bar
of strangers to the language of it,
by the stern advocate of truth, still
uninformed as to all the internal evi-
dence; then, indeed, might the vo-

Squire 3

877

tary of our venerable bards attempt
in vain to stem the torrent of po-
pular opinion, and have only to de-
plore that rigid fate, which would
envelop at once, with the veil of
oblivion, the memorials of a thou-
sand years of our history.

In reverting to the proposed ac-
count of manuscripts, it may be of
some importance to observe, that
a very general habit of reading was
created by the bards, whose system,
though declining, hath continued,
in a very considerable degree, a-
mong the commen people of Wales,
down to the present period ; inso-
much that various editions of many
hundred books have been published
in their language, as appears by a ca-
talogue of them, printed by the rev.
Moses Williams, about a century
ago; which is a remarkable faét,
and unknown to the world in ge-
neral. But of these-books, how-
ever, none bear any proportion, in
extent of circulation, to the different
editions of the bible ; for it may be
remarked, with pleasure, that the
demand for the scriptures hath been
extraordinary among so small a po-
pulation ; as may be conceived from
knowing that nineteen editions, con-
sisting of upwards of one hundred
and thirty thousand copies, haye
been called for, since the first trans-
lation of the bible into Welsh.

The invention of printing hath
obviated the necessity of using ma-
nuscript books for the common pur-
poses of reading ; but among a peo.
ple, circumstanced as the Welsh
are, this has not taken place en-
tirely, even to this day ; though the
use of manuscripts is gradually di-
minishing, and the bad consequence
of it is, that great numbers of them
have been destroyed, and many
more have mouldered away in large

collec.

$78
colleétions, remaining in old de-
serted maasjons ; I can certify that
such a date hath befallen some col-
lections, from my own knowledge ;
and am sorry to be able to point
out three aacient houses, now in
the hands of tenants, in each of
which there are large chests of old
writings, which have been locked
up for many years. It is lameat-
able to think how many valuable
manuscripts haye been lost in this
manner; so that it may be safely
ayerred, that a number equal to
what now remains, hath perished
through neglest, within the last two
bundred years; that js to say, since
the higher ranks of Welshmen have
Withdrawn their patronage from the
cultivation of the literature of their
natiye country.

Before that time the bards were
patronized, not only by the natives,
but by the lords of the marches, and
other strangers of distinction, who
obtained possessions in Wales, whose
policy it was to ingratiate themselves
with the people, hy encouraging
their ancient Jearning.

_ Seyeral of these strangers eyen
surpassed most of the natives im
their zeal in this respect ; for among
the most distinguished patrons of
the bards, we cam» boast of the fol-
lowing illustrious names: Jasper
and William Herbert, earls‘of Pem-
broke 5s Richard Nevill, lord of
Glamorgan ;,and sir Richard Bas-
set, of Bewpyr Castle. To the three
personages Jast named, and sir Kd-
ward Lewis, of Van, we owe a
grateful remembrance, for being the
meaps of preserving to us one of

* In the years 1467, 1612, and 1681.

ANNUAL BEGISTER, 1803.

the mast curious treasures of ancient
times, that any nation can produce ;
i mean the system containing the
institutes and discipline of the bards
of the isle of Britain, as they always
styled it themselves, but which was
more generally known by the name
of Druidism. For such a person
the above noblemen caused several
congresses to be held* for the bards
to bring together whatever had been
handed down. to them from their
predecessors; all of which was care-
fully entered into books, by persons
appointed to pertorm that office; + this
was the state of things in South
Wales; a similar spirit preyailed
in the north distriéi of that princi-
pality, and of the foreign families
who settled there, the names of se-
veral of the Salesburies, the Mid-
dletons, and the Buikeley’s, stand
distinguished as patrons and writers,
whose memories are still revered. by
the natives.

To such a spirit then is to be at-
tributed the many colle¢tions of va-
luable manuscripts, which kave been
formed: in different pants of Wales ;
and seyeral of which stil] (nemain 5
and detached yolumes also are
commonly to be met with, in the
hands of obscure individuals. There-
fore, according to the nearest cal-
culation that can be made, we
haye still preserved upwards of two
thousand manuscript books, of va-
rious ages, from the beginning of
the ninth, to the close of the six-
teenth century.

The most yaluable of those col-
lections are in the possession of
some of the leading families in the

principality 5

+ And if ought not to be forgotten, that the royal sanction was obtained from
Ifenry Vilth, for holdig such’ meetings, of the bards, as it is. stated in the

preface to the

belies.

papers whicli contained the transactions of one of those assem

principality ; yet several others have
een removed out of the country by
‘various means.

OF such treasures of British ma-
nuscripts, the following are to be
pointed out as most deserving of
‘attention : —
tg ‘Tn North Wales, the collections
of ¢
Be en Williams Wynne, bart.
ij ynnestay,
ig homas Mostyn, bart. at Glod-

daith,

Griflith Howell Vaughan, esq. at
* Hengwrt,

‘Paul Panton, esq. at Plas Gwyn,
George Leo, esq. at Llanerch,
Grifith Roberts, M. D.-at Dolgelly.

In South Wales, the colleétions
Ore
Phomas Johnes, esq. at Havod.
John Turberville, esq.at Lian Aran,
Herbert Hurst, esq. at Keibalva,

near Llandaf, '

‘Dayid Thomas, esq. at Trey y Groes,

Cowbridge,

Rey. Josiah Rees, at Gelli Gron,

“near Swansea,

‘Mr. Edward Williams, at Flimston,
near Cowbridge.

Out of Wales, the colleétions of
The earl of Macclesfield, in Oxford-

shire,

Jesus College, Oxford,
The British Museum, ‘London,
fhe Welsh School, London,

Ir. Owen Jones, ‘London,

Rev. Mr. Kenrick, Exeter.
The principal heads under which

* This curious manuscript contains,

Dialogue between, Merzin (Merlin) of Caledonia, and Taliesin

The Graves of the Warriors of Britain, by Taliesin -

He y on Geraint, Prince of Devon. by Llyware Hen -
ragment of the Prospect of Dinbyc, by bam -

to Yscolan, by Merzin (Merlin)
Tnyocation to the Swine, by Merzin

AN:-EIQUdZ TIES.

‘portion may be reversed.

879

the contents of the before-mentioned
stores of British learning may ‘be
classed are, poetry, bardic institutes,
laws, history, theology, ethics, pro-
verbs, dramatic tales, grammars.

The first of these classes, the po-
etry, is by far the most extensive ;
for it may be computed to fill about
eight parts out of ten of our old
writings, omitting to take into ac-
count the heraldric colleétions all
together ; but with respect to the
quantity that is printed, such a pro-
On this
subjeét I have made a calculation,
so as to enable me to infer, that I
have perused upwards of thirteen
thousand poetical pieces, of yarious
denominations, for the purpose of
colleéting words, in the course of
about eighteen years that I have
been compiling the dictionary of the
Welsh language.

Among 167 manuscript yolumes

in the Hengwrt colleétion, the lead-

ing articles of which are detailed by
Lhvyd, in the Archaeologia Britan-
nica, the oldest that I have seen of
Welsh poetry, is the Black Book,
of Caermarthen ; the first half of
which, appears to haye been written
as early, at least, as the beginnin

of the ninth century ; but the latter
part of it is of later date, being ge-
nerally supposed the hand- -writing
of Cynzelw, about the year 1160,
one of whose produétions, compos-
ed in that year, being added at the
end of the book*. The next de-

serving
M.S. Arch,

Page Page

: eee.

- $2 = 79

- 96. - 101

- 93- - 67

ee ne

: WM hch WY ae oe AE

the

880 ANNUAL

serving of notice, for their antiquity,
are two volumes of the same collec-
tion, written towards the close of
the eleventh century ; of which, one
is filled with the works of Taliesin,
and the other with the odes of A-
neurin. ‘Transcripts of the more
early poetry are also numerously
interspersed among the productions
of the bards who flourished under
the auspices of the latter princes of,
Wales, of which there are many co-
pies, as well in the Hengwrt collec-
tion, as among 106 volumes in the
Wynnestay library, and, indeed, in
most of the colleétions already enu-
‘merated. The red book, of Jesus
College, in Oxford, written about
the year 1360, is, for the most
part, filled with the carlicr poetry,
mixed with other pieces, written at
various times, down to the date of
the book. I do not pretend to
state all the manuscripts now ex-
tant ; of our ancient poets of those
which exist, I only mention what I

The Apple Trees, by Merzin
Moral verses, by Elaeth

A Moral ode, by Gwyzno
‘On the Inundation of Cantrev GAsclod, by
Contention with Gwyn ab nuz, by Gwyzno

Dialogue between Arthur, Cai, and Glewlwyd

A Religious Ode, by Cuhelyn
The same subject, by ditto
The same subject, by ditto
The same subject, by ditto
The same subject, by ditto
The same subject, by ditto.
The same subject, by ditto
The same subject, by ditto
The same subject, by ditto
The same subject, by ditto
The same subject, by ditto
The same subject, by ditto
To the Birch, by Merzin

To a Horse

Moral verses, by Lig are
Verses, by Gwyzno
Dialogue betweén Taliesin Sad Ugnac

REGISTER,

18053.

have seen myself. Some collections,
as the earl of Maccletield’s, which,
I believe, to be valuable, and others
I have had, as yet, no opportunity
of examining. I hope, that some
persons better qualified than I am,
will be induced to. give an exact ca-
talogue of all our MSS. now in
being.

J he bardic institutes were not re-
gularly committed to writing, until
they were arranged together under
the authority of the congresses con-
yened by the English noblemen in
South Wales, as already mentioned.

The original manuscripts then —
drawn up of such institutes, are in
the collection of Mr. Turbervilles
at Llanaran, in Glamorganshire.

Ancient copies of the Laws of
the Britons are common in most
colleétions: there are eighteen of
them in that of Hengwrt; four in
that of Wynnestay; and. several -in
the British Museum and elsewhere :
but I have not met with a late tran-

script

M:S. Arch.

Page Page
- - - - 24 - 150
- - - - 35. - 161
~ 5 = - 80 -) 165
Gwyzno - =" 58) ase 6S
= : - 49 <- 165
- = Sp they 16%
- - - * 16 - 182
< = ott2- = 184
- - - 12 = 184
- - = 4153 185
- - - 5 - 186
- - 2, 18° <1 575
- = - 20 - 576
- - = Fee = OTT
- - - _23-- 578
- - - 37 - 578

- - =, 42 = 579), |

- - - 43 - 580
- < - - 94. =" -578
- - - 42 .- 576
- - - ~ 45. % 0
- ~ - 49 - 166
5 - pl = 46

ANT IQ WI P1E S.

script, that is, since the introduction
~of paper ; for they are all on vellum.

Of historical documents, such as
the Triads, Chronicles of the Kings
of Britain, of the Saxons, and of
the Princes of Wales, copies abound
in most of the colleétions, written
at various times; in the twelfth,
thirteenth, and fourteenth centu-
ries. _

Theological Tracts, Legends, and
Lives of Saints, appear at the com-
mencement of the fourteenth cen-
tury.

~ Our proverbs began to be gather-
ed together at an early period :—
Cadoc, the first abbot of Lian Car-
van, about the close of the sixth
century, stands at the head of those
who laboured in this branch, from
whom we have any remains: in the
eleventh century, the aged Cyrys,
of Jal, appeared conspicuous in the
same track ; again ine the fifteenth
century, Sypin, of Cyveilioc, in-
creased what his predecessors had
done. Colleétively, from these and
others, I have by me upwards of
ten thousand adages and aphorisms,
the result of the observations of the
Britons. .

The Mabinogion, or Juvenile
Amusements, being a kind of dra-
matic tales, are, in themselves, some
of our most singular productions ;

and I have little hesitation in assert-
ing them to have been the origin of
romance writing in Europe.

It is to be lamented, that, owing
Vou. XLV.

881

to the credulity, or want of, pene-
tration in our early chroniclers, the
high colouring and the ideal actions of
those tales, were incorporated into
our national history ; so that it is
from thence we are to account for
the chara¢ter drawn of Arthur and
his knights, with other extravagan-
cies of a similar kind. Detached
pieces of this sort are very common,
but there is a splendid treasure of
them in the Hengwrt library.
There are about thirty different
old treatises on Welsh grammar and
prosody preserved ; of these, oneis
particularly deserving of notice, as
a curious relic: it was composed
by Geraint, about A. D. 880; re-
vised by Einion, about A. D. 1200 ;
and again by Edeyrn, about the
year 1270; and regularly privi-
leged by the different princes who
then exercised sovereignty in Wales.
Such, reverend sir, is the brief
account which I presume to send
you, with a design of giving to the
society some information respecting
the existence, and the general con-
tents,of the old manuscripts, intend-
ed to be transmitted to posterity, by
means of the Archaiology under con-
sideration.
I remain,
Reyerend sir,
Your most humble, and obliged
servant,
William Owen.
Penton-street, Pentonville,
Jan. 21, 1802.

3L MISCELs

. oon YT 188th)"

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. —

The State of marricd Women among
the Mahommedans. By Abu Ta-
leb Khan, a Native of Lucknow,
from “* Tennant’s Indian Recrea-
dions.”

F this important part of do-

mestic economy, among Asi-
atics, Europeans are, notwithstand-
ing all that has been written upon
the subject, worse informed than of
any other. The very name of the
apartments destined for the residence
of married women, haram, (forbid-
den), implies the exclusion of all
strangers, particularly males, from
their abodes. Our medical gentle-
men, (and even with them the oc-
currence is very rare), are the only
persons ever suffered to apprdach
the dwelling of a married woman
of rank : when, in case of any dan-
gerous illness, a physician is appli-
ed to, he is only permitted to ap-
proach,the door of the apartment,
which is covered with a screen, and
there he must prescribe without see-
ing her, according to the replies he
receives to his enquiries, relating to
her complaint. Hence the various
relations, regarding the privileges,
customs, and employment of Asi-
atic females, are generally the off-
spring of the narrator’s vanity, and
may be regarded as destitute of truth

and aceuracy, since the writers en-
joyed no opportunity of better in-
formation. Of. the general . fa¢t,
only, the seclusion of all females of
rank, an European can decide ;
and when he urges the advantages

of a freer intercourse on the female

charaier, he can speak on no sub-

ject on which he is less likely to

persuade. ‘lo a Mussulman, our

notions regarding the treatment of

females, always appear. absurd and ©
ridiculous; and he seldom seems

more Satisfied with his wisdem, than

when he expatiates on thebad conse-

quences which are sometimes the

result.of them.

it was to a conversation on this
subject, with a learned Mussulman,
who lately visited England, that we
are indebted for ‘¢ A Vindication
of the Liberties of Asiatic Women,”
written in Persian, by Abu Talcb
Khan, a native of Lucknow, in the
province of Owde. This paper,
the produétion of a learned Asiatic,,
upon this interesting subject, is a
more authentic document, than,
perhaps, the public are yet in pos-
session of, relating to the married
state of the Orientalists.

‘¢ One day,” says Abu Taleb,
‘Cin a certagn company, the con-
versation turned upon /éberty, in re-
speét of which the English consider

their

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.

their own customs as the most per-
fect in the world. An English fady,
addressing herself to me, observed,
that the women of Asia had no
liberty at al), but live like slaves,
without honour aud without autho-
rity, in the houses of their hus-
bands; and she censured the men
for their unkindness, and the wo-
men also, for submitting to be so
undervalued. However much I at-
tempted, by various ways, to unde+
ceive her, by observing that the
truth is exactly the reverse (for it is
the European women who do not
possess so much power), yet it did
not bring convi¢tion to her mind.
She, however, began to waver in
her own opinion, and falling into
doubt, requested me to write some-
thing on the subjeét, the purport of
which she might comprehend at one
view, aud be enabled to distinguish
the truth from falsehood.

‘© Since the same wrong opinion,
is deeply rooted in the minds of all
other Europeans, and has been fre-
quently held forth, I considered it
necessary to write a few lines con-
cerning the privileges of the female
sex, as established both by law and
custom, in Asia, and in Europe;
omitting whatever was common to
both, and noticing what is peculiar
to each, in the manner of compa-
rison, that the distinétion may be
the more easily made, and the real
state of the case become evident to
those capable of discernment.

*¢ Tt must first be laid down as a
general maxim, that, in social or-
der, respect to the rules of polite-
ness, and forbearance from injury,
is a necessary condition ; for other-
wise, the liberty of one would be
destructive of the liberty of another ;
thus, if a person be at liberty to do
in his own house what way endan-

883°

ger the safety of his neighbour’s,
this must be in direét opposition to
the liberty of that neighbour ; or
if, in order to free himself from the’
inconvenience of the kot weather,
he should visit his friend in his dres-
sing-gown, or night-shir't, although
it would be ease and liberty to him,
yet it would be'sowing the seeds
of ill-breeding ; therefore, the ob-
servance of these rules is essential. ¢

‘¢ Those things, which make the
liberty of the Asiatic women appear
less than that of the Europeans, are,
in my opinion, six:

‘¢ First.—The little intercourse
with men, and concealment from
view. agreeable to law and their own
habits; and this is the chief of the
whole: for it has been the cause of
those false notions, entertained by’
European women, that the imclina-
tion of the Asiatic females leads~
them to walk out in the streets, and
market-places, and that their hus-
bands keep them shut up, .and set
guards upon their door. It may be
observed, that the advantages of
this /éié/e intercourse, which pre-
vents all the evils from the admit-
tance, of strangers, and affords so
much time for employment and use-
ful work, are so very manifest, that
they need not be enlarged upon:
the praéticein London of keeping the
doors of the houses shut, and the con-
temptible condition of the Dutch, at
the Cape of Good Hope, aresuflicient
proofs. If, notwithstanding this,
the custom of the intercourse of
the sexes is allowed in England ; it
is owing, both to the force of cus
tom, and good morals ‘among the
English, and to the appreheusion
of greater inconveniencies in the
contrary practice. The chief of these
inconveniencies are four; first, the
hgh price of all things, and the

sL2 small

884

small number of servants, and
rooms; for were there a separate
house and table, and equipage for
the wife, the expence would be too
great to be borne; and therefore, of
necessity, both husband and wife
eat their food with their guests in
one place, sleep together in the same
chamber, and cannot avoid being
always, in each other’s company ;
whereas, in Asia, where, by the
¢heapness of the work, the women
have separate apartments for them-
selves, they have not to make their
time and convenience suit that of
their husbands. When their parti-
cular friends are with them, they do
not desire their husband’s company
for several days, but send his vic-
tuals to him in the murdannah
(men’s apartment); and, in like
manner, when the husband wishes
to be undisturbed, he eats and sleeps
in the murdannah.

*¢ A second reason for this inter-
course in England is, the coldness of
the climate, which requires exercise
and walking, and the husband to
Sleep in the same bed with his wife:
but concealment from view is incom-
patible with walking ; and as for the
second case, the want of room is the
cause : for it is natural for mankind,
when under distress and affliGtion of
mind, to wish frequently for retire-
ment and privacy, by sleeping alone.

“* A third cause is, the people
here being all of one race; for in
this kingdom, placed in a corner of
the globe where there is no coming
nor going of foreigners, the inter-
course of the sexes is not attended
with the same consequences of a cor-
ruption of manners as in Asia, where
people of various nations dwell in
the same city ; and to allow the wo-
men such a liberty there, where
there is such danger of corruption,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

would be an encroachment upon the
liberty of the men, which (as shewn
in the beginning) is contrary to jus-
tice. Thata corruption of manners
must ensue, where various kinds of
people mix together, is too evident
to need demonstration. Before the
Mussulmans entered Hindostan, the
women did not conceal themselves
from view ; and even now, in all the
Hindoo villages, it is not customa-
ry: and it is well known how invi-
olable the Hindoos preserve their
own customs, and how obstinately
they are attached to them: but now
so rigidly do women in the great
towns observe this pra¢tice of con-
cealment from view, that the bride
does not even shew herself to her
father-in-law, and the sister comes
but seldom into the presence of her
brother.

“6 A fourth cause of the custom
in Europe is, the necessity which
the women there have to acquire
experience in the affairs of the
world, and to learn various arts, on
account of the duty laid upon them
of taking part in their husband’s bu-
siness. This experience could not
be obtained by keeping in conceal-
ment; whereas the duties of Asiatic
women consisting only in having the
custody of the husband’s property,
and bringing up the children, they
have no occasion for such experi-
ence, or for laying aside their own
custom of concealment. What has
been just said, was to shew that the
Asiatic women have no necessity to
expose their persons; but it must —
also be observed, that they have
many reasons for preferring privacy.
One is the Jove of leisure and repose
from the fatigue of motion; a se-
cond, a desire of preserving their
honour by not mixing with the vul-
gar, nor suffering the insults of the

: low

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.

tow and rude, who are always pass-
ing along the streets. This feeling
they have in common with the wives
of European noblemen, who, to
preserve their dignity, are never
seen walking in the streets; and
also with ladies in private life, who,
when walking out at night, and even
in the day, are always attended by
a male friend, or servant, who pro-
tects them.

*¢ The notion which the Euro-
pean women have, that the women
of Asia never see a man’s face but
their husbands, and are debarred
from all amusement and society,
proceeds entirely from misinforma-
tion: they can keep company with
their husband’s and father’s male re-
lations, and with their old neigh-
bours and domestics ; and at meals
there are always many men and wo-
men of this description present ; and
they can go in palankeens to the
houses of their relations and of la-
dies of their own rank, even though
their husbands are unacquainted ;
and also to walk in the gardens, af-
ter strangers are excluded, and they
can send for musicians and dancers,
to entertain them at their own
houses, and they have many other
modes of amusement besides those
mentioned.

*¢ The second cause why the liber-
ty of Asiatic women appears less than
that of Europeans, is the privilege of
the husband, by law, to marry seve-
ral wives. ‘This, to the European
women, seems a grievous oppres-
sion; and they hold those very cheap
who submit to it. But, in truth,
the cause of this law and custom is
the nature of the female sex them-
selyes, which separates them from
the husband the several last months
of pregnancy, and time of suckling ;

885

and, besides these, the Asiatic wo-
men have many other times of being
separate from their husbands. ‘This
privilege, not being allowed by the
English law, is, indeed, a great
hardship upon the English husbands;
whereas the Asiatic law, permitting
polygamy, does the husband justice,
and wrongs not the wife; for the
honour of the first and equal wife
is not afieéted by it: those women
who submit to marry with a married
man, not being admitted into the
society of ladies, as they are never
of high or wealthy families, no man
of honour ever allowing his daugh-
ter to make such a marriage.

The mode in which these other
wives live is this :—those who are of
genteel extraétion have a separate
house for themselves, like kept mis-
tresses in England; and those who
are not, live in the house with the
equal wife, like servants, and the
husband, at times, conveys himself
to them in a clandestine manner.—
Besides, these wives cannot invade
any of the rights of the equal wile ;
for although they and their chil-
dren are, by law, entitled to inhcrit-
ance, yet, since the equal wife never
marries without a very large dowry
settled upon her, all that the hus-
band leaves goes to the payment of
this dowry, and nothing remains for
his heirs!) The opinion, that the
men of Asia have three or four
wives, is .very ill founded ; for, in
common, they have only one; out
of a thousand, there will be fifty
persons who have from one to two,
and ten out of these who have not
more than two. The fear of the
bad consequences of polygamy
makes men submit with patience to
the times of separation from the
equal wife, as much the better way ;

3L3 for,

"886

for, from what I know, it is easier
to live with two gisates than two
wives.

¢¢ The third cause is the power of
divorce being in the-hands of the
husband. This is ordained by law,
but not practised ; for tf a great of-
fence be the motive to divorce a
wife, and if it be proved against her,
she receives panishment by the or-
der of the magistrate, or from the
husband, with the corcurrence of
all her relations ; and if the offence
be of a trivial nature, such as a dif-
ference of temper, and insociability,
the husband punishes her by leaving
the female apartment, and living in
his own. But the reason for divorce,
being at the will of the husband,
lies in the very justice of the law,
‘and the distinétion of the male sex
over the female, on account of the
greater share they take in the ma-
nagement of the world; for all the la-
borious work falls to their lot, such
‘as carrying heavy burdens, going to
war, repulsing enemies, &c. and the
women generally spend their lives in
repose and quiet. Nevertheless, if
a wife establish a criminal offence
against her husband, such as an un-
fair distribution of his time among
them, or a diminution of the neces-
saries of life, she can obtain a di-
yorce, in spite of him.
- © The fourth is the little credit
the law attaches to the evidence of
‘women in Asia ; for, in a court of
justice, every faét is proved by the
testimony ‘of two men—but if wo-
men be the witnesses, four are re-
quired. This does: not arise from
the superiority ot the one over the
other, but it is founded on the little
experience and knowledge women
‘possess, and the fickleness of their
‘disposition.

“ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

‘“¢ The fifth is, the Asiatic women
having to leave off going to balls and
entertainments, and wearing shewy
dresses,and ornaments, after the
death of their husbands. This is
owing to the great aflection for their
husband’s memory, and their own

modés and habits ; for there is no-
thing ‘to prevent a woman from do-
ing otherwise, or inarrying a second
husband, but the dread of exposing
herself to the ricicule and censure of
women ol her own rank.,

‘* The sixth is, the Asiatic daugh-
ters not having the liberty of choos-
ing their husbands. On this head
nothing need be said ; for in Kurepe
this liberty is merely nominal,
since, without the will of the father
and mother, the daughter’s choice is
of no avail; and, in its ‘effects, it
serves only to encourage running
away, (as the male and female slaves:
in India do) and to breed coldness
and trouble among the members of
a family. But, granting that such
a liberty does exist in England, the
despair and misery it must always
entail are very evident. ‘The choice
of agirl just come from the nursery,
and desirous, by nature, to get a
husband, in an aflair upon which
the happiness of her whole life de-
pends, can neither deserve that re-
spect nor consideration which is due
to the choice of her parents, who
have profited by experience, and
are not blinded by passion.

*¢ But what the Asiatic women
have more than the European, both
by law and custom, may be ranked
under eight heads:—Virst, their
power over the property and chil-
dren of the husband, by custom ;
for the men of Asia consider the
principal object of marriage, after

the ipheorgatian: of their owm species

tor

--MISCELLANEOUS' ESSAYS:

for the worship of God, two things
—the one, to have their money and
effects taken care of, and the other,
to have their children brought-up,
so jthat they themselves, being en-
tirely disengaged of these concerns,
may turn the whole of their endea-
vours to the attainment of their va-
rious pursuits. The chief part,
therefore, of whatever wealih they
May acquire, they give in charge to
their wives, and thus the women
have it in their power to annihilate,
in one day, the product of a whole
life. Although this seldom happens,
yetit often occurs, that the husband,
who has amassed a large fortune in
youth and power, and has delivered
it in charge to his wife, when he
demands it back, in old age and ne-
cessity, she does not allow him more
than daily support, and lays the
rest up in a place of security, for
the sake of her children; and so
great is the power they possess, as
to the disposal of their children,
that frequently they are brought up
without any education, or die in
childhood ; for .the women, on ac-
count of their little sense, are never
pleased to part with their children,
by sending them to school, and to
aequire experience by travelling;
_ and when they fall sick, they give
them improper medicines, ‘by the
advice of their own confidants ; or,
from their softness of heart, indulge
them in whatever it is the nature of
the sick to take a Jonging for, and
thus they cause tieir death.

*¢ Second, Theie power, by cus-
tom, as to the marriage of. their
children, and choice of their religious
faith ; for if the husband wishes to
give one of them in marriage to a
person the mother disapproves of,
the match does not take place; but
i in the other way it generally does,

"887

All the children, both male and fe-
niale, from being mostly in the com-
pany of the mother, and looking
upon her as their proteétor against
the father, whom, on account of his
wishing to haye them educated, they
consider as their tormenter, follow
the religious tenets of their mother,
and remain perfect strangers to
those of their father. It often hap-
pens, when the wife is a Schia, and
the husband a Sounie, the children
having been Schias from their own
natural disposition, and the instruc
tion of the mother, speak disre-
spectfully of the chiefs of the Sounie
sect, in their father’s presence ; and
he, who never in all his life bore
such language from any person, but
was ready to put the speaker of it
to. death, has no redress, but pa- -
tiently to hear from them, as, on
account of their want of under-
standing, they are excusable; and

3)
thus, by frequent repetition, his at-

tachment to his faith is shaken, and,

in the course of time, he either for-
sakes it entirely, or remains in it
with lukewarmness,

‘¢ Third, Dheir authority over

their servants; for the servants of

the murdannah, the keeping and
changing of whom is in the hands of
the husband, throngh fear of ex-
posing themselves to the displeasure
of the wife, when she finds a proper
opportunity, by their committing
some. fault, which servants are con-
stantly doing, are more obedient to
her than their own masters ; and the
servants of the zenana, whom the
wife has the care of retaining or
turning off, stand so much in awe of
their mistress, that many of them
pass their whole lives in the zenana,
without ever once coming into the
presence of the husband. Some of
them never perform any service for

3L4 him

“\

838
him at all, and others, who do, en-
ter not into discourse with him;
and the women are so obstinate in
this respect, that their husbands can
never turn off one of the servants,
but his very complaint against them
is a recommendation; and his re-
commendation has the effeét of a
complaint, by subjecting them to
their mistress’s resentment.

‘¢ Contrary to this is the manner
ofthe Kuropean ladies, who have
not their own will with their chil-

-dren and servants, but live more
like free and familiar guests in their
husband’s houses; and the houshold
establishment and equipage being
common to both, if any part, as the
carriage, for example, is previously
employed by the one, the other has
to wait till it is disengaged : of this
there is no doubt, that if a quarrel
ensues between an English husband
and wife, the wife has to leave the
house, and seek her dinner, either
at her father’s, or a_ friend’s;
whereas, in Asia, it is the husDand
who has to go out; for frequently
the utensils of cookery are not
kept in the murdannah.

** Fourth, The freedom, by cus-
tom, of the Asiatic women, from
assisting in the business of the hus-
band, or service of his guests ;
whereas this is generally the business
of Kuropean wives, whether their
husbands be of a genteel business,
such as jewellery, mercery, or per-
fumery; or the more servile ones: I
have seen many rise from their din-
ner, to answer the demands of a
purchaser; and although these du-
ties are not required of the ladies,
yet some, especially the entertaining
of the guests, carving, and helping
the dishes at table, and making the
tea and coffee, are generally per-
formed by them. Now the Asiatic

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ladies have no such duties at all,
but live in the manner before de-
scribed. /

‘¢ Fifth, The greater deference
the Asiatic ladies tind paid to their
humours, and prescriptive right of
teasing their husbands, by every
pretext, which is considered as an
essential quality of beauty ; for, if
a wife does not put these in prac-
tice, but is submissive to her hus-
band’s will in every thing, her
charms very soon lose their bril-
liancy in his eyes. ‘Thus, when a
wife goes to visit her father, she
will not return to her husband till
he has come himself several times to
fetch her: and being as often vexed
by breaking her promise. And
every day when dinner is served,
by pretending to, be engaged at the
time, she keeps her husband wait-
ing, and does not come till the meat
is cold ; and in the same manner at
bed-time; for returning quickly
from their father’s house, is consi-
dered as a sign of fondness for the
husband, which looks ill, as they
think ; and coming soon fo dinner,
in their opinion, betrays the dispo-
sition of a hungry beggar. In these
and such cases, the husband has no-
thing for it but patience ; nay, it
ever pleases him. 1 have known
many beautiful women constant in
their affection, and obedient to their
husbands night and day; whom, for
want of these qualities, their hus-
bands quickly grew tired of, and
unjustly deserted for the sake of
plain women who possessed them.

‘¢ Sixth, The greater reliance .
placed by the Asiatic husband in
their wives’ virtue, both from law
and custom. Although European
ladies can go out of doors, and dis-
course with strangers, yet this is
not allowed, unless they havea trusty

person

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.

person along with them, either of
the husband’s or the father’s; and
sleeping out all night is absolutely
denied them.

The Asiatic ladies, on the con-
trary, when they go to the house
of a lady of their acquaintance,
‘though their husbands be entire
strangers, are not attended by any
person of the husband’s or father’s,
and they spend not only one or two
nights in that house, but even a
whole week ; and in such a house,
though the master is prohibited from
entering the apartments where they
are, yet the young men of fifteen,
belonging to the family or relations,
under the name of children, have
free access, and eat with, and enter
into the amusements of their guests.

‘¢ Seventh, Their share in the chil-
dren by law ; for, if a divorce hap-
pens, the sons go to the father, and
the daughters to the mother, con-
trary to the custom in England ;
where, if a divorce happens, the
mother, who for twenty years may
have toiled and consumed herself in
bringing up her children, has to
abandon al] to the father, and, full
of grief and affli¢tion, leave his
house.

‘¢ Kighth, The case both by law
and custom, with which the wite
may separate herself from her hus-
band, when there may be a quarrel
betwee¢n them, without producing a
divorce. ‘Thus the wife, in an hour’s
time after the dispute, sets off with
the children and her property to the
house of her father, or relations,
and until her husband makes her
satisfaéiion, she does not return:
and this she can always do without
a moment’s delay.

*¢ Besides these cight, as above
noticed, of the superior advantages

* Dr.

889

the Asiatic women enjoy over the
European, there are many others
here omitted for brevity’s sake.—
What has been said is enough for
people of discernment.”

Authentic Narrative of the Fidelity
and Sagacity of a Dog, from
¢ Gleanings in England,” by Pratt.

AM called upon most tenderly

to be the historian of one more
quadruped hero; not only because
1 think you will feel, with me, it is
more interesting than any of the
former, but, as I receive many of
the circumstances, of which I had
only an imperfect knowledge before,
from the gentleman* who has al-
ready enriched my late correspon.
dence with so many anecdotes.

And if I suffer the opportunity of
the present tranquil moment to es-
cape, | know not when I may be
able tu give it to you. I do not,
certainly, present it as any particu-
Jar feature in the mind or character
of my nation, or of my countrymen,
or of human beings in any country ;
but [ exhibit it as another most im-
portant feature in the character—
I will not say the mind—but assur-
edly in the noble instinéts and affec-
tions of a sincere and steady friend
to mankind in all countries : a friend
to whose merits and generous quali-
ties 1 have been assiduous to do
justice, and assign the rank that is
due, in various parts of our corres-
pondence.

Not, however, solely for those
ends, but to excite that sense of gra-
titude, honour, and justice in our
own nature, towards this excellent
creature, in return for his attach-
ment and,—frown not ye proud—

to

Duncan.

890

to imitate his perfection. To fol-
low, in fine, the amiable and inte-
resting example which, in this, as in
various. other instances, the servant
instructs the master, and, above all,
to rescue the former from that wan-
tonness, that tyranny, which the
proud and the strong so often exer-
cise upon the humble and weak.
But you are. anxious for the circum-
stances.

They relate to a dog belonging to
an English nobleman. ‘The favou-
rite had fallen into disgrace from an
incorrigible habit of annoying the
flocks of the neighbouring farmers.
One of these having,.in vain, driven
the depredator from his premises,
came, at length, to the ofiender’s
master, with a dead lamb under his
arm—the viétim of the last night’s
plunder, The plaintiff farmer, be-
ing admitted an interview with his
lordship, the culprit, who happen-
ed, at that moment, to be enjoying
the smiles and caresses of his pa-
tron, no sooner saw the poor dead
lamb, than he confessed the crime
by an universal tremor; then leap-
ed, in a confused manner, from. his
master’s lap, and slunk from his ac-
cuser. The farmer now lodged his
indigiment, with due formality; en-
tered into the particulars of his
grievance, and went away sturdily
declaring, that he had suffered so
often and so long, from that daily
and nightly robber, that he hoped
justice would overtake the guilty,
that due punishment be infli¢ied, and
adequate atonement made for the
damages. ‘

The accuser being departed, a
long and awful pause ensued, which
the accused put an end to by thrust-
ing part of his head from the table
under which he had seught shelter,
and casting a conscious yet appeal.

ANNUAL REGISTER, | 1803.

ing look at his offended master, as
if to claim his mercy or to temper —
his justice. Neyer was confession
and contrition for a fault more ho- ©
nestly or more penitently dis~
played. :

His master still keeping silence,
the culprit seemed to think he might
hazard something more, and accord-
ingly discovered the rest of his, head;
and this advance producing nothing
to terrify, or even to discourage, he
venturcd to put forth his paws, and
raised them, as if in supplication, to
his master’s knee, which, having
gently patted to no purpose, he
grew more importunate, and, at
length, by along sighing kind of pe-
titionary whine, drew upon his de-
voted head the following denuncia-
tions.

‘* Base and ungrateful wretch! thou
hast been nursed in luxury and fon-
dled by atiection,—thy blood-thirs-
ty wantonness shall, at length, meet
its reward.”

Saying this, his indignant master
rang the bell, at whose dread sum-
mons a servant no sooner appeared,
than the accusations were accumu~
lated and the menaces resumed.

‘¢ | have too often forgiven this har-
dened offender to hope any good
from farther lenity, continued his
lordship. Another heinous com-
plaint has been lodged against hiin.
He is the. scourge of the whole
neighbourhood ; and I will endure
it no longer—away with him !”—The
judge haying thus pronounced sen-
tence of deep displeasure, left the
condemned criminal to the execu-
tioner.

The trembling culprit still remain-
ed under the table, but justas the
servant was stooping to drag him
forth from his. retreat, the master
returned, and brought a eens

im ; y

MISCELLANEOUS. ESSAYS.

‘by observing he had recojleéted an
immediate busmess, which demand-
ed dispatch—*‘ let my horse be got
ready,”’ said his lordship, *‘ and do
you attend, and let that meorrigible
‘creature be hanged, or some other
way disposed of, so as I may never
‘set eyes on him again, when you
return.”

They left the apartment, and the
fate oi the dog was for a few hours
suspended. The interval, though
short, was not thrown away. ‘The
condemned was sufficiently an adept
‘in the tones of his master’s yoice and
in the history of his master’s looks,
to believe there was any thing left
for hope of a reversal of his sen-
‘tence, or even for a longer respite.
He, therefore, adopted the only al-
ternative between life and death, by
atiempting to escape, which, while
the judge and the executioner were
performing their other engagements,
he was fortunate enough to effect.

In the course of the same evening,
while the same servant was waiting
at table, his lordship demanded if
his‘orders had been obeyed respe¢t-
ing thedog. ‘* After an hour’s search,
he is no where to be found, my
Jord,” answered the servant. The
rest of the domestics were question-
ed, but their replies were similar,
“not a soul in the house had set
eyes on him since his lordship rode
out.” Indeed, every one of the
household supposed he had, as usual,
followed his master. a

The general conclusion for some
days was, that the dog, conscious of
being in disgrace, and of deserving
it, had hid himself in the house ofa
tenant, or some other person ‘who
knew him, till his master’s displea-
sure should be passed. A month,
however; succeeding without any
thing being heard respecting him, it

891

was thought that he had fallen into
the hands of his late accuser, the
farmer, who perceiving him still at
liberty, fancied it would combine
public good with ‘private vengeance,
to unite, in his own person, the tri-
ple office of accuser, judge, and
executioner.

in process of time, however, the
memory of both the otiender and the
fault died gradually away, till the
fate of the poor dog, like other un-
happy favourites, ceased either to be
thought of or lamented.

About a year after this suspen-
sion of the circumstance, while his
lordship was journeying into Scot-
land, attended only by one servant,
it happened that a severe storm
drove him to shelter under a hovel
belonging toa public house situated
some distance from the road, upon
a heath. ‘The tempest continuing,
threatening rather to increase than
abate, the night coming on, and no
town or house suitable to the ac-
commedation of such a guest, his
lordship was, at length, induced to
dismount, and togo into the littleinn
adjoiing the shed. On his en-
trance, an air of surprise and con-
sternation marked the features and
conduct of both the innholder and
his wife. Confused and incoherent
answers were made to common
questions, and soon after a whisper-
ing took place between the two fore-
mentioned persons. At length,
however, the guest was shewn into
a'small parlour, a faggot was thrown
on the fire, and such refreshments as
the house atlorded were preparing,
there being no appearance whatever
of more favourable weather allowing
them to depart.

As the servant:maid of the house
was spreading the*cloth, a visible
tremor shgok her frame, so'that it

was

$92

was not without difficulty she per-
formed her office. Lord C. noticed
a certain strangeness of the whole
groupe, but remembering to have
heard his servant mention the words
‘© my lord,” as he alighted from his
horse, he naturally imputed this to
their having, unexpectedly, a guest
in their house above the rank of
those whom they were accustomed
to entertain. ‘The awkwardness of
intended respect, in such cases, and
from such persons, will often pro-
duce these embarrassments.

The noble guest having now made
ip his mind to remain that night,
supper was served; when a most
unexpected visitor made his appear-
ance. ‘* Good heavens !’’ exclaim-
ed his lordship, ‘* is it possible I
should find my poor dog alive, and
in this place. How wonderful!
how welcome !”

He stretched out his hand to ca-
ress his long lost favourite ; but the
dog, after looking earnestly at his
ancient master, shrunk from him and
kept aloof. He even refused food,
though offered him with kindness,
and took the first opportunity of the
door being opened to leave the
room. Mauy efforts were atfter-
wards made on the part of lord C.
during the evening, to revive the re-
membrance and affection of the alie-
nated favourite, who still resisted
them all. As often as he was led
into the apartment, he appeared to
wish himself out of his master’s sight,
but still took his station on the
other side of the door, as if watch-
ing some expected event.

Of the dog’s history, from the
time of his elopement, little more
resulted from enquiry, than that he
had one day followed some drovers
who came to refresh themselyes and
their cattle; and that, appearing to

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

be foot sore with travel, and as un-
willing as unable to proceed with —
his companions, he staid in the house,
and had remained there ever since.
This account was obtained from the
ostler, who added, that the dog was
as harmless a creature as any be-
twixt Scotland and Ireland, but that
he thought him rather given to me-
lancholy, as if, poor fellow, he had
something on his spirits.

Lord C, intending to rise early in
the morning to make up the time
thus sacrificed to the night; which
was still stormy, ordered the servant
to shew him to his chamber.

As he passed the common room,
which communicated with the par-
lour, he noticed the innkeeper and
his wife in earnest but governed
discourse with three men muffled up
in horseman’s coats, who seemed to
have just come from buffeting the
tempest ; and not a little anxious to
counteraét its effects; for both the
landlord and his wife were filling
their glasses with spirits. His lord-
ship, on going up to his chamber,
after the maid and his own servant,
heard a fierce growl, as from the top
of the stairs. ‘* Here is the dog
again, my lord,” exclaimed the ser-
vant. ‘* He is often cross and
churlish to strangers,” observed the
maid, ‘¢ yet he never bites.” As
they came nearer the door, his growl
increased to a furious bark. But,
upon the maid’s speaking to him
sharply, he suffered her to enter the
chamber, and the servant stopped
back to hold the light to his lord.
On his old master’s advancing to-
wards the chamber, the dog drew
back, and stood with a determined
air of opposition, as if to guard the
entrance,

Lord C. addressed him by his
name; and, for the first time, since

their

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.

their unexpected meeting, he deign-
ed to make a return to his offered
kindness: and, on his lordship’s re-
peating some terms of fondness with
which, in times past, he had been
familiar, he licked the hand from
whose endearments he had been so
long estranged.

But he still held firm to his pur-
pose. Nor did Cocles more brave-
ly defend the bridge, when he op-
posed the whole army of Porsenna ;
nor Leonidas, the straits of Ther-
mopyle ; or even that hero of his
‘country, who, occupying a narrow
pass with his two sons, rallied the
flying army of Scots, and having,
by his bravery, turned the fortune
of the day, became “founder of the
ngble family of Hay, than did onr
canine hero oppose his master’s
passing to the chamber.

Yet the servant was suffered,
without farther disputing the point,
to go out, not, however, without
another growl, though one rather of
anger than of resistance, and which
accompanied her with increased
fierceness all the way down stairs,
which she descended With the same
strange kind of hurry and confusion
that had marked her behaviour ever
since the noble stranger had arrived
at the inn. And just as the woman
was at the stairs foot, and passing
out of sight, the voice of the dog
was raised to a volley of barking,
which denoted, at once, indignation

and contempt.
“Lord C. was prevented from
dwelling long on this circumstance
by attention to the dog, who, with-
out being solicited farther, went a
few paces from the threshold of the
door, at which he had kept guard ;
and, after caressing his lordship, and
using every gentle art of affe¢ction-

893

ate persuasion, speech alone left
out, went down once of the stairs, as
if to persuade his master to accom-
pany him. And that this was really
his wish and endeavour, is apparent
from his impetuously turning round
and running to resume his station,
the instant he observed his master,
as if taking advantage of a favoura-
ble position, hurry to his now unob-
structed apartment.

His lordship had his foot upon
the threshold when the dog caught
the skirt of his coat between his
teeth, and tugged it with great vio-
lence; and although the disputed
point was, notwithstanding, thus
gained by lord C. who entered the
chamber, the dog, with every token
of love and of terror, for he now
appeared to partake the general con-
fusion of the family, laboured to
induce him to leave the room. The
poor animal again renewed his fond-
ling, rubbed his face foftly along his
master’s side, sought the patting
hand, raised his soliciting feet, and
during these endearing ways, he
whined and trembled to a degree
that could not escape the attention
both of the master and servant.

‘6 I should suspect,” said his
lordship, ‘‘ were I apt to credit
omens, from a connexion betwixt
the deportment of the people of this
inn, and the unaccountable solici-
tude of the dog, that there is some.
thing wrong about this house.”

*¢ T have long been of the same
opinion,” observed the servant,
“¢ and wish, your honour, we had
been wet to the skin rather than
have stopped here.”

‘¢ It is too late,” rejoined his
lordship ; ‘‘ neither can we set off
now, were I disposed: for you hear
the hurricane is more furious than

ever.

$94
ever. Let us, therefore, make the
best of it. In what part of the

house do you sleep =”

¢ Close at the head of your lord-
ship’s bed,’’ answered the domestic,
‘¢ im a little closet, slip side of a
room by the stairs. “There, my
lord,” added the servant, pointing
to a small door on the right.

“¢ Then go to bed. | We are not
wholly without means of defence,
you know, and which ever of us
shall be first alarmed may apprize
the other. At the same time, all
this may be nothing more than the
work of our own fancies.’”

The anxi¢ty of the dog, during
this conversation, is not to be ex-
pressed. On the servant leaving the
room, in obedience to his master’s
commands, the dog hastily ran’ to
the door, as if in hopes his lordship
would follow, and looked as if to
entice him so to do.

Upon lord C.’s advancing a few
steps, the vigilant creature leaped
up with every sign of satisfaction ;
but when he found those steps were
directed to the door only to close
it, his dejeétion was depitted in a
manner no less tively than had been
his joy.

He returned into the chamber
under the most visible distress, then
ran toa corner of ‘the room, and
there seated himself ; but still trem-
bling in every limb. Presently he
rose, and gding to another part of
the room near the door of ‘a closet,
seemed somewhat composed, and at
length Jaid down.

It was scarcely possible not to be’
more or less impressed by these un-
accountable circumstances, yet his
lordship was almost ashamed of
yielding to them, and finding all
quiet, both above and below, ex-
cept the noise of the wind and rain,

=)

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

and ‘finding that no caresses could’
draw the dog from the part of the
room he had chosen, lord C. made
a bed for the poor fellow with one.
of the mats which were in licu of
foot carpets, and then sought re-
pose himseif.

Neither the dog, however, nor
the master could rest; the former
rose often, and paced about the
room ; sometimes he came close to
the: bed) curtains, and sometimes.
whined piteously, although the hand
of reconciliation was put forth to
soothe him.

In the course of an hour after
this, his lordship, wearied with con-
jecture, fell asleep 5 but he was
aroused by his® four-footed friend,
whom he heard scratching violently
at the closet door: an aétion which
was accompanied by the gnashing of
the dog’s teeth, intermixed with the
most furious growlings:

Lord C. who had long laid him-
self down ‘in his cloaths, and lite.
rally resting on his arms~his brace
of pistols being under his pillow—
now sprung from his bed. ‘The rain
had ceased, and the wind abated,
from which circumstances he hoped
to hear better what was passing.

But nothing, for an instant, ap-
peased the rage of the dog, who,
finding his paws unabiec to force a
passage ‘into ‘the closet, put his teeth
to a small aperture at the bottom,
and attempted to’ gnaw away the
obstruction. There could be no
longer a doubt that the cause of
the mischief or danger, whatsoever
it might be, lay in'that closet. Yet
there appeared some risque in open-
ing it; more particularly when, on
trying to force the lock, it was found
to be secured by some ‘fastening on
the inside.

A knocking was now heard at

the

the chamber door, through the key- |
hele of which a voice exclaimed—
* Kor God’s sake! my lord, let
me in.” His lordship, knowing
this to proceed from his servant,
vanced armed, and admitted him.

low stairs and above,” ‘said the
man; ‘* for I have not heard so
much as a mouse Stirring till this
dismal barking : for heaven’s sake!
what can be the matter with the
oo 2?

*¢ That I am now resolved to
know,” answered his lordship, furi-
ously pushing the closet door.

- No sooner was it burst open, than

the dog, with inconceivable rapidity,
rushed in, and was followed both by
the master and the man.
The candle had gone out, and the
xtreme darkness of the night pre-
ted them from seeing any object
hatever. But a hustling sort of
oise was heard at the farther end
of the closet.

Lord C. fired one of his pistols at
random by way of alarm. A pierc-
ing cry, ending in a loud groan, im-
mediately came from the dog.

. Great God !” exclaimed his
ordship, ‘‘ I have surely destroyed
my defender!” He ran out for a
ight, and snatched a candle from
he innholder, who came in appa-
ent consternation, as to enquire into
the alarm of the family: Others of
e house now entered the room.
t, without paying any attention to
heir questions, his lordship ran
ack towards the closet, to look
fter his dog. “* ‘The door is open,
he door is open,” ejaculated the
blican; “ then all’s over.”

As lord C. was re-entering’ the
loset, he was met by his servant,
ho, with every mark of almost
peechiless consternation in his voice

MISCELLANEOUS ESSSAYS.

«¢ All seems quiet, my lord, be-.

895

and countenance exclaimed—‘ O,
my lord, my lord—I have seen such
sHocliae sights ;”. and, without be-
ing able to finish his sentence, he
sank on the floor.

Before his master could explore
the cause of this, or succeed in raising
up the fallen domestic, the poor dog
came limping from the closet, while
a blood-track marked his path. He
gained, with great difficulty, the
place where his lordship stood aghast,
and fell at his master’s feet.

Every demonstration of grief en-
sued, but the dog, unmindful of -his
wounds, kept his eyes still intent
upon the closet door ; and denoted
that the whole of the misery was not
yet developed.

Seizing the other pistol from the
servant who had fallen into a swoon,
his lordship now re-entered the
closet.

The wounded dog crawled after
him. Lord C. examining every part,
perceived in one corner an opening
into the inn-yard, by a kind of trap-
door, to which some broken stone
steps descended.

The dog seated himself on the
steps; but there was nothing to be
seen but a common sack. &

Nor was any thing visible on the
floor, except some drops of blood,

/part of which were evidently those
which had issued from the wound
of the dog himself, and part must
have been of Jong, standing, as. they
were dried into the boards.

His lordship went back into the
bed-chamber, but the dog remained
in the closet. Going again in search,
lord C. met him breathing hard, as
if from violent exercise, and he fol.
lowed his master into the chamber. »

The state of the man-servant,
upon whom fear had operated so as
to continue him in a succession of

swoons,

g96 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

swoons, now claimed his lordship’s
affections, and while those were ad-
ministered, the dog again left the
chamber. <A short time after this
he was heard to bark aloud, then
ery; accompanied by a noise as if
something heavy was drawn along
the floor.

On going once more into the clo-
set, his lordship found the dog try-
ing to bring forward the sack which
had been seen lying on the steps
near the trap door. The animal re-

newed his exertions at the sight of |

his master, but, being again ex-
haused, both by the labour and the
loss of blood, he rested his head
and his feet on the mouth of the
sack.

Excited by this new mystery,
Jord C. now assisted the poor dog

in his labour, and though that la-—

bour was not light, curiosity and
apprehension of “discovering some-
thing extraordinary on the: part of
his lordship, and an unabating pere
severance on that. of the dog, to ac-
complish his purpose, gave
strength to bring, at length, the
sack from the closet to the cham-
ber.

The servant was somewhat re-
stored to himself as the sack was
dragged into the room, but every
other person who, in the beginning
of the alarm, had rushed into the
apartment, had now disappeared.

The opening of the sack surpassed
ali that human language can convey
of human horror.

As his lordship loosened the cord
which fastened the sack’s mouth,

the dog fixed his eyes on it, stood

oyer it with wild and trembling ea-
gerness, as if ready to sieze and de-
your the contents.
The contents appeared, and the
extreme of horror was displayed.
1

them.

An human body, ‘as if murdered iv
bed, being covered only with a
bloody shirt, and that clotted and
still damp, as if recently shed ; the
head severed from the shoulders, and —
the other members mangled and se-
parated, so as to make the trunk
and extremities lie in the sack, was
now exposed to view.

The dog smelt the blood, and af-
ter surveying the corpse, looked pi-
teausly at his master, and licked his
hands !

Jf, my friend, this faithful crea-
ture had been "endowed with the,
privileges allowed to man—if speech
had been bestowed for a few mi- _
nutes only, this poor—this lately —
proscribed — this condemned ani- |
mal—this offender, and outcast, —
flying from death, would have re-
lated his history of the murdered
man; and all. that. produced the
mysterious behaviour which led to
*the discovery. *

He would -have explained, also,
the narrative of his own love, fears,
and terrors, all of which’ he would
have brought Home to the business
and bosom of his master. He would
have stated, what alterwatds proved,
that a traveller had really been mur-
dered two nights before his lord’s
arrival at that haunt of infamy ; and
that the ofience was’ committed in
the very chamber, and, probably,
in the very bed wherein his lordship
had. lodged; and to prevent his re- -
maining in which, so many vain at-
tempts and warnings had beem made
and given.

He would have accounted for the
generous rage with which he as-
sailed? the maid servant, who was an »
accomplice in the guilt; and he
woud have related the cause of
placing himself as a volunteer cen-
try at the door of the common sit-

fing

ey,

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.

ting room, while those rufhan tra-
vellers were confederating with the
innholder and his wife. Those
wretches, he would have said, my
henoured master, are the murderers

of the bloody remains that have just

been emptied from that sack, and-the
business of the past night, he would
haye added, was to have hid their

dead in a pit, which their guilty
“hands had dug in an adjacent field

belonging to the innholder.

._ To this awful piece of intelli-
gence, would have succeeded other
communications ; the appearance of
a fresh traveller, the faithful dog

_ would have continued, suggested the
- perpetration of anéther crime, even

that of thy death, my. devoted lord ;
and but for my unwearied cares,
thou hadst, ere this, been added to.

the sanguinary mass before thee !

Yes, my dear Baron, thus might
one single hour’s pgssession of that
sacred distinétion of man—the hu-
man voice, have enabled the pre-
server to have explained himself to
the preserved.

But how far, my friend, Srl
you have felt this proud slinga@ierisa
tic of our kind, necessary in the
case -before you? It would: have
been superiluous: for could all the
powers of speech more eloquently
have explained the force of love,
gratitude, courage, honour, or fi-

_ delity. Did not his every look, his

every movement, his caresses—his
cries—his very silence—did not the
honest disdain of. a bribe — his
marked indignation of the guilty
servant—his forgiveness of the mas-~

ter who had devoted him—did not

all these speak, trumpet-tongued,

the eulogy of honest instinét, ren-

dering useless man’s pr oudest pre-

rogative? Did not all these display

whatever is most honoured and most
Vou. ALY,

897

loved? Did they not set at nought
the best arranged and best deliv ered
form of words?

It will not be a question in your
mind, whether the humble but hap-
py inatxanp a under providence, of
this escape, was taken again into
service; whether his wounds were
bound up, and the balm of love and
of penitence were infased? The
master’s hour of contrition was now
come, but the dog had no memory
of past alienation, or of present

pains. He had found whom he had
lost; he had rescued whom he
loved.

You see the faithful companion
depart from the house of blood with
his lord. You behold the trans-
port of both on their way. You

observe the now restored favourite

making his triumphal entry into
that mansion, which he left in dis-
grace. .

And, as you follow the reflection,
to which a train of events, thus pro-
duced, naturally lead, you will adopt
the sentiment of our great Shakes.
peare, and might exclaim, by his
language, ‘‘ There is more in this,
my friend, than our philosophy cam
find out. *

On the Originality of Doétor Frank.
lin's Writings. From “ Davis's
Travels in North America.”

OBTAINED accommodations at
the Washington tavern, which
stands opposite the Treasury. At

this tavera I took my meals at the

public table, where there was every
day to be found a number of clerks,
employed at the different offices un-
der government; together with
about half-a-dozen Virginians, and
a few New England Men. ‘There

3M was

898

was a perpetual confliét of opinions
between these southern and north-
ern men; and one night, after sup-
per, I was present at a vehement
dispute, which terminated in the loss
of a horse, a saddle, and a bridle.

The dispute was about doétor
Franklin; the man from New Eng-
land, enthusiastic’in what related to
doétor Franklin, asserted that the
doctor, being self-taught, was origi-
Nal in every thing that he had ever
published.

“ Sir,” replied the Virginian,
“¢ the writings of Franklin, so far
from being original, exhibit no-
thing but a transposition of the
thoughts of others. Nay, Frank-
“in is a downright plagiarist. Let
him retain only his own feathers,
Jet those he has stolen be restored
to their lawful possessors, and
Franklin, who now struts about,
expanding the gayest plumage,
will be without a single feather to
cover his rump.” (A loud laugh
from the whole company.)

New England Man. “ If accusa-
tion, without proof, can condemn a
man, who, sir, shall be innocent? Sir,
you area Virginian. I intend no
personal refle¢étion, but it is notori-
ous that the southern people do not
hold the memory of Franklin in
much estimation ; but hear what a
Latin writer says of him: Eripuit
cele —something Gentlemen, I
have forgot the most of my Latin ;
- E cannot quote so correétly as I did
once; but this I can assure you,
and you may rely on my word for
it, that the gcmpliment is a very fine
one.”

Virginian. ‘* 1 know the line you
advert to ; it is an eruption of mad
enthusiasm, from the disordered in-
tellect of Turgot. But this is di-
gressing from our subject. I main.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

tain,\ and can prove, that Franklix
is a plagiarist; a downright, bare-
faced, shameless plagiarist.”

New England Man. ‘‘ Franklin,.
perhaps, sir, had not that stoical
calmness, which a great man in
your state is remarkable for ; he did
not endeavour to catch applause, by
baiting his hook with affeéted diffi-
dence. Franklin was above it. His
penetration discovered, and his can-~
dour acknowledged, that sheer im-
pudence was at any time less inju-
rious than mock modesty.”

Virginian, “Sir, an oracular dark-
ness accompanies your discourse.—
But why retreat? Why not stand
your ground? Why not evince.
yourself the champion of Franklin ?
Again U throw down the gauntlet !
Franklin, T maintain, was a shame-
less plagiarist.”’

New England Man. ‘“ Have you -
a horse here, my friend ?”

Virginian, ‘* Sir, I hope you ¢o
not suppose I came hither on foot
from Virginia. J have, sir, in Mr.’
White’s stable, the prettiest Chicka-
saw that ever trod on four pasterns.
I swopped for her a roan horse.—
Mr. Gibbs, you remember my roan
(turning toa man in company.) I
say, I swopped for her a roan, with’
Mad-Dog, the Chickasaw chief, who °
lives on the Mississippi.”

New England Man. “* And [have ~
a bay mare here, that I bought of
Nezer Mattocks, at Salem. 1 gave’
ninety dollars in hard cash for her.
Now, I, my friend, will lay my bay
mare against your Chickasaw, that
doétor Franklin is not a plagiarist.”

Virginian. ‘* Done! Go it!—
waiter !—you waiter !”

The waiter obeyed the summons,
and, making the Virginian a bow,
replied, *¢ You call, massa Ryland?”

Virginian. ‘6 Yes, Atticus. Bring

down

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.

down my portmanteau out of my
room. I never travel without books.
And it critically happens, that, in
my portmanteau, I have both Frank-
lin’s Miscellanies, and Taylor’s Dis-
courses.”” ;

The trunk being opened, the
Virginian put Franklin’s Miscella-
nies into the hands of the disputant,
and desired he would read the cele-
brated parable against persecution.

New England Man, (reading.)
*¢ And it came to pass, after these
“things, that Abraham sat in the
‘s door of his tent, about the going
€: down of the sun, And behold a
*¢ man, bent with age, coming from
** the way of the wilderness leaning
** on his staff! And Abraham arase
** and met him, and said unto him,
“turnin, I pray thee, and wash
‘* thy feet, and tarry all the night ;
‘* and thou shalt arise early in the
** morning, and go on thy way;
‘* and the man said, nay : for I will
% abide under this tree. But Abra-
** ham pressed him greatly ; so he
“‘ turned, and they went into the
“ tent.——And Abraham baked un-
*< Jeavened bread, and they did eat.
*¢ And when Abraham saw that the
“man blessed not God, he said
‘unto him, wherefore dost thou
¢ not worship the Most High God,
‘¢ creator of heaven andearth? And
*< thee man answered, and _ said,
€ Ido not worship thy God, nei-
* ther do I call upon ‘his name;
*< for I have made to myself a God,
*¢ which abideth in my house, and
*¢ prayideth me with all things. And
© Abraham’s zeal was kindled
*‘ against the man; and he arose
** and fell upon him, and drove him
“¢ forth with blows into the wilder-
© ness. And God called unto Abra-
** ham, saying, Abraham, where is
* the stranger? And Abraham an-

899

‘¢ swered and said, Lord, he would
‘* not worship thee, neither would
“¢ he call upon thy name; therefore
‘¢ have I driven him out from before
‘¢ my face into the wilderness. And
‘¢ God said, have I borne with him
‘¢ these hundred and ninety and eight
‘¢ years, and nourished him, and
“¢ cloathed him, notwithstanding his
6 rebellion against me; and couldst
‘¢ not thou, who art thyself a sin-
“ ner, bear with him one night ?”

The New England Man having
read the parable, he turned to the
company, and, with tumultuous
rapture, exclaimed,

‘¢ What a noble lesson is this to,
the intolerant! Can any thing
speak more home? Why the writer
appears inspired.”

- *¢ And inspired he was,” eried the.
Virginian. ‘¢ There is nothing in the
parable, sir, natural ; every word of
it was revealed. It all came to
Franklin from bishop Taylor.—
There, sir; read, and be convinced,
This book was printed more than a
century ago; it is a volume of po~
lemical discourses.’’

New England Man, (reading.)—
‘¢ When dbraham sat at his tent
‘¢ door, according to his custom,
waiting to entertain strangers, he
‘¢ espied an old man, stooping, and
‘¢ Jeaning on his staff, weary with
‘¢ age and travel, coming towards
‘Chim, who was an hundred years
‘¢ of age. He received him kindly,
“¢ washed his feet, provided supper, .
“ and caused him to sit down; but
‘¢ observing that the old man ate,’
‘* and prayed not, nor begged for a
‘+ blessing on his meat, he asked him,
‘¢ why he did not worship the God
‘¢ of Heaven? The old man told
‘t him, that he worshipped the fire
*¢ only, and acknowledged no other
‘God, At which answer Abraham

ek A “© crew,

n
n~

900

*¢ grew so zealously angry, that he
¢ thrust the old man out of his tent,
“ and exposed him to all the evils of
“ the night, and an unguarded con-
** dition. When the old man was
“gone, God called to Abraham,
* and asked him where the stranger
“was? He replied, I thrust him
“* away, because he did not worship
“* thee. God answered him, I have
“ suffered him these hundred years,
* although he dishonoured me ; and
€ couldst not thou endure him one
*¢ night, and when he gave thee no
“ trouble ?”

The New England man _ having
done reading, the Virginian leaped
from his seat, and, calling the wai-
ter, exclaimed, “¢ Atticus! Tell the
ostler to put the bay mare into
the next stall to the Chickasaw,
and, do you hear, give her half a
gallon of oats more, on_ the
strength of her having a new
master.”

- Here followed a hearty laugh
from the audience; but the New
Englund Manexhibited strong symp-
toms of chagrin. *¢ Devil take
Franklin,” said he: ** an impostor;
a humbug. If he ever obtains
the wish he expresses in his epi-
taph, of undergoing a new edition
in the next world, may his plagia-
risms be omitted, that no more
wagers may be lost by them.”

“¢ His epitaph, did you say, sir?”
eried the Virginian. “ I hardly
think he came by that honestly.”

New England Man. | * Sir, I will
lay you my saddle of it; a bran new
saddle. Jonathan Gregory, of Bos-
ton, imported it from London.”

* An university near Boston.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

Virginian. ‘‘ My saddle, sir, is
imported, too.—I swopped a double
barrelled gun for it, with Mr. Ra-
cer, of Fairfax County. And I will
not only lay my saddle against
your’s, sir, that Franklin did not
come honestly by his epitaph ; but
I will lay my snafile bridle, and my
curb, my plated stirrups and stir-
rap leathers; aye, and my martin-
gale into the bargain.”

New England Man. “ Done! Go
it! Now for your proof.”

Virginian. ‘Is there any gentle-
man in company, besides myself,
who understands Latin. If there
is, let him have the goodness to speak.”

New England Man. “‘ This gentle-
man, who came with me from Sa-
lem, is not only a Latin, but a
Greek scholar. He was reared at
Cambridge.* He will talk Latin
with professor Willerd, an hour, by
the clock.”

Virginian. ‘* Then, sir, 1 believe,
he will adjudge to me your imported
saddle. Will you do me the favour
to introduce me to your companion.”

New England Man. ‘ This, sir, is
Mr. Meadows. He is the author of
an Ode on the Clam Feast. +’

Virginian. ‘“ Mr, Meadows, give
me leave; within the cover of this
book, you will find the epitaph
which passes as Franklin’s; I en-
treat you to read it aloud.”

Mr. Meadows, (reading). i
sé The: Body :
Of:1} 41

Benjamin Franklin, Printer,
(Like the cover of an old book,
Its contents torn out,

And

t The first emigrants to New England appeased their hunger upon landing on the
spate of America, with some shell-tish they found on the beach; known, in popu-
lar language, by the name of clams. The anniversary of this day is every 1% cele-
brated on the spot, by their descendants, who feast upon clams.

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS:

And stript of its lettefing and
gilding),
Lies here, food for worms.

Yet the work itself shall not be
lost:
For it will (as he believes) appear
once more
In

Anew and more beautiful Edition,
Correéted and Amended

By
The Author.”

New England Man. “ Well, sir!
and what objection can you make to
this ? Does it not breathe humility ?
Is it not a leéture on morality ?”

Virginian. ‘ Sir, it was not ho-
nestlycome by. Franklin robbed a
little boy of it. The very words,
sir, are taken from a Latin epitaph,
written on a bookseller, by an Eton
scholar. Mr. Meadows, do, sir,
read the epitaph which I have pasted
on the other cover.*”

Mr. Meadows (reads).

¢ Vits volumine peratto:
Hic finis Jacobi Tonson,
Perpoliti Sosiorum principis
. Qui, velut obstetrix musarum
In lucem edidit
Felices ingenii partus.
Lugete, scripterum chorus,
Et frangite calamos ;
Ile vester, margine erasus, deleter!
Sed hee postrema inscriptio.
Huic prime mortis pagine
Imprimatur,
Ne prelo sepulchri commissus,
Ipse editor careat titulo :
Hic jacet bibliopola,
Fotio vite delapso,
Expectans Novam Editionem
Auctiorem et Emendatiorem.

901

Virginian, ** Well, Mr. Meadows,
what say you ?

Is this accidental or studied simi-
litude? What say you, Mr. Mea-
dows 2”

Mr, Meadows. ‘‘ The saddle, sing
is yours !”?

On hearing this laconic, but deci-
sive sentence pronounced by his
friend, the New England Man grew
outrageous—which served only to
augment the triumph of the Virgi-
nian. ‘* Be pacified,” cried he, ‘+ will
give you another chance. I wiil lay
you my boots against yours, that
Franklin’s pretended discovery of
calming troubled waters, by pour.
ing upon them.oil, may be found in
the third book of Bede’s History of
the Church; or that his facetious
essay on the air bath, is poached
word for word from Aubrey’s Mis-
cellanies. What say you?” _

“Why, Isay,”’ returned the New
England Man, “‘ that I should be
sorry to go bootless home, and, there-
fore, I will layno more wagers about
doctor Franklin’s originality.”

Letter of the late Mr. Cowper, on
the Subject of Face Painting, from
Hayley’s “ Life of Cowper.”

May 3, 1784.

My dear Friend, ;

HE subject of face-painting

may be considered (1 think) in

two points of view. First, there is
room for dispute with respeét to the
consistency of the practice with
good morals ; and, secondly, whether
it be on the whole convenient or not,
may be a matter worthy of agita-
tion. I set out with all the forma-
3M 3 lity,

* Tfit should be objected that Franklin was ignorant of Latin, let it be told thar
‘an English translation of this epitaph may be found in the Gentleman’s Magazine
for Feb, 1736. The source, probably, from which Franklin got his thought. .

902

lity of logical disquisition, but do
not promise to observe the same re-
gularity, any farther than it may
comport with my purpose of writ-
ing as fast as [ can.

« As to the immorality of the cus-
tom, were I in France, I should see
none. On the contrary, it seems,
in that country, to be asymptom of
modest consciousness, and a tacit
confession of what all know to be
true, that French faces have, in fact,
neither red nor white of their own.
This humble acknowledgment of a
defect, looks the more like a virtue,
being found among a people not re-
markable for humility. Again, be-
fore we can prove tke practice to be
immoral, we must prove immorality
in the design of those who use it;
either, that they intend a deception,
or to kindle unlawful desires in the
beholders. But the French ladies,
so far as their purpose comes in
question, must be acquitted of both
these charges. Nobody supposes
their colour to be natural for a mo-
ment any more than he would, if it
were blue or green: and this unam-
biguous judgment of the matter, is
owing to two causes: first, to the
universal knowledge we have that
French women are naturally brown
or yellow, with a very few excep-
tions ; and secondly, to the inartifi-
eial manner in which they paint: for
they do not, as I am most satisfae-
torily informed, even attempt an
imitation of nature, but besmear
(themselves hastily, and, at a ven-
ture, anxious only to lay on enough.
When, therefore, there is no wan-
ton intention, nor a wish to deceive,
I can discover no immorality. But,
in England, (if -am afraid) our
painted ladies are not clearly entit-
led to the same apology. They
even imitate nature with such ex-

ANNUAL REGISTER, {s03.

aétness, that the whole public is
sometimes divided into parties, who
litigate, with great warmth, the
question, whether painted or not.
This was remarkably the case with -
a Miss B , whom I well remem-
ber. Her roses and lilies were never
discovered to be spurious, till she
attained an age, that made the sup-
position of their being natural im-
possible. This anxiety to be not
merely red and white, which is all
they aim at in France, but to be
thought very beautiful, and much
more beautiful than nature has made
them, is a symptom not very favour-
able to the idea we would wish to
entertain of the chastity, purity, and
modesty of our countrywomen. That
they are guilty of a design to de-
ceive, is certain. Otherwise, why so
much art; and if to deceive, where-
fora, and with what purpose; cer-
tainly, either to gratify vanity of
the silliest kind, or, which is still more
criminal, to decoy and inveigle, and
earry on, more successfully, the bu-
siness of temptation. Here, there-
fore, my opinion splits itself into
two opposite sides upon the same’
question. I can suppose a French
woman, though painted an inch
deep, to be a virtuous, discreet, ex-
cellent charaéter, and, in no in-
stance, should I think the worse of
one, because she was painted. But
an English belle must pardon me, if
I have not the same charity for her.
She is, at least, an imposter, whe-
ther she cheats me or not, because
she means to do so; and it is well,
if that be all the censure. she de-
serves.

This brings me to my second
class of ideas upon this topic, and
here I feel, that I should be fear-
fully puzzled, were I called upon to
recommend the practice on the

score

MISCELLANEOUS. ESSAYS.

score of convenience. Ifa husband
chose that his wife should paint,
perhaps it might be her duty, as
well as her interest, to comply.
But, I think, he would not much
consult his own, for reasons that
will follow. In the first place, she
would admire herself the more;
and, in the next, if she managed the
matter well, she might be more ad-
mired by others ; an acquisition,
that might bring ‘her virtue under
trials, to which, ‘otherwise, it might
never have been exposed, In no
other case, however, can I imagine
the pra¢tice, in this country, to be
either expedient or convenient. As
a general one, it certainly is not ex-
-pedient, because, in general, English
women have no occasion for it. A
swarthy complexion is a rarity here;
and the sex, especially since inocu-
lation has been so much in use,
have very little cause to complain,
‘that nature has not been kind to
them in the article of complexion.
They may hide and spoil a good
one. But they cannot (at least,
they hardly can) give themselves a
better. But, even if they could,
there is yet a tragedy in the sequel,
which should make them tremble. I
understand, that, in France, though
the use of reuge be general, the use
of white paint is far from being so.
In England, she that uses one, com-
monly uses both. Now all white
paints, or lotions, or whatever they
be called, are mercurial, consequent-
ly poisonous, consequently ruinous,
in time, to the constitution. The
Miss B—— above mentiowed, was
_a miserable witness of this truth, it
being certain, that her flesh fell from
her bones before she died. Lady
C—— was hardly a less melancholy
proof of it; and a London physi-

905

cian, perhaps, were he at liberty to
blab, could publish a bill of female
mortality, from this cause, of a
length that would astonish us.
¥or these reasons, I utterly con-
demn the practice, as it obtains in
England: and, for a reason supe-
rior to all these, [ must disapprove
it. I cannot, indeed discover, that
scripture forbids it in so many
words. But that anxious solicitude
about the persons, which such an
artifice evidently betrays, is (1 am
sure) contrary to the tenor and spi-
rit of it throughout. Show me a
woman with a painted face, and I
will shew you a weman, whose
heart is set on things of the earth,
and not on things above. But this ob-
servation of mine applies to it only,
whenit is an imitative art. For, in
the use of French women, I think it
is as innocent as in the use of the
wild Indian, who draws a circle
round her face; and makes two
spots, perhaps blue, perhaps white,
in the middle of it. Such are my
thoughts upon the matter.
Vive valeque,
Your’s, ever,
W:.€.

Description of a Village in Benares
Distriét, from “ Tennant’s Indian
Recreations.”

HE mode of living, and the cli-
mate of India, preclude Eu-
ropeans, ina great measure, from
acquiring any intimate or minute
knowledge of the manners of the
natives. Unless I had made parti-
cular enquiry for the express. pur-
pose of laying before you the fol-
Jowing account of a village ; 1 might
have ‘remained in this country for
3M4 half

904

half my life without any knowledge
of the partial detail which 1 now
intend to present to you.

The inhabitants of this small ze-
mindary, of which you lately had a
description, live together in one
village, which contains about one
thousand souls ; a population of
nearly one person to each Scotch
acre ; and twelve individuals to each
plough. The number of working
cattle on this property is four hun-
dred; that of ploughs ninety.

After the zemindar, the person
next in rank and importance is the
Pulwari, the faétor or keeper of
accounts between the proprietor
and tenants: he colleéts the rents,
whether in grain or in money, mea-
sures the ground, and, in the ab-
sence of the zemindar, succveds to
any petty jurisdi¢tion which the
small society may require. In him
you may recognize the Baron Bailie
of Scotland: the salary of this offi-
cer is paid by the farmer, at the
rate of one seer and a half each for
every hundred paid to the proprie-
tor. Sugar, cotton, and other ar-
ticles, not consumed on the estate,
pay a certain portion for their va-
jued price to the landholder, and for
each rupee paid to the landlord,
athe Putwari receives half an ana, or

1-30th part nearly.

The Byah, or weigher of grain,
is the next to the Putwari; this
man divides the grain between the
vemindar and the tenant by weight,
in their respective proportions. The
Byah is paid by both parties, at the
rate of twelve seer for every hun-
dred mauns.

From the mean habitations of the
Farmers, and their scanty and wretch-
ed implements of every kind, I had
egueeived that there were but little

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

division of labour, and few pré-

fessed tradesmen. Iron-smiths and
carpenters make two separate pro-
fessions in the smallest village. A
Sochar, or master tradesman, re-
ceives from each plough a maun of
grain, consisting of a part of each
sort. This is in the nature of a re-
taining fee, and must be paid an-
nually, over and above his allow-
ance, when a¢tually employed in
your house. As often as you have
occasion for his services there, whe-
ther in constructing the building, or
making furniture, he is entitled to
a daily allowance of one pukka, or
great seer of grain. During each of
the three harvests he receives one
sheaf of wheat, barley, or rice, ac-
cording to the nature of the crop
then reaped. ‘This sheaf is not un-

defined in quantity, but consists of

about three seer.

Whether it arises from indolence,

or superstition, I am unable to de-
termine, that the poorest Hindoo
families do not wash their own
clothes; it is certain, however, that
each village retains a number of
‘washermen as a distinét profession.
The washerman receives from each
plough twenty seer of grain an-
nually ; and three sheayes during
the three harvests, as in the case of
the other tradesmen already men-
tioned. ‘The families of tradesmen,
who have no plough, pay the wash-
erman in specie, at the rate of two
anas yearly. A sum not exceeding
four pence, of British money, an-
nually, is certainly a small allow-
ance ; ‘but you will recolleét, that
the quantity of clothing used by a
family of Hindoo peasantry, is not
the forticth part of what is necessary
for one of your tenants. The chil-
dren, till they are ten or twélve,

seldom

—— eae Cae ae or a ar | a

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.

seldom put on any clothing at alls
and after that season, a small piece
of cloth covering the middle, is the
whole attire of the lords of the
creation in this country. Washing,
to Europeans in this country, is
performed by a servant, hired by
each individual, at the rate of from
eight to ten pounds annually; a
very small sum if you advert to the
quantity of work. Here our whole
‘dress is white cotton, and must, on
account of the heat of the climate,
be changed twice or thrice every
day.

The superstition of the country
‘occasions another profession, not
‘common in your villages, that of a
shaver. Part of the beard, the
arm-pits, &c. are regularly shaved,
‘even among the lowest classes. As
one person in this capacity can ac-
commodate a considerable number
of individuals, his wages are settled

_‘at one ana, or two pence sterling
per anninn ; a plough giving twenty
seer.

The greater part of cooking uten-
sils, and vessels for holding water,
are of earthenware ; sevcral of these
‘are in daily use in each family, and
‘from their frangible nature, the con-
‘sumption of them is considerable.

This occasions the trade of a potter’

-to be universal in every village of
the country. The potter receives
of each plough his three sheaves in
the three successive harvests ; he is
paid besides for each pot, according
to its size; only the zemindar has
his at half price: aud custom also
obliges the potter to provide uten-
sils for the soldiers, or such tra-
'vellers as may pass the night in the
village. Karthen pots are very com-
mon through all Asia; and by what
we read concerning the ‘* potter’s
field,” they seem to have been in
. 3 ,

905

use in Judea, and have had an al-
lotment of ground for their manu-
facture. In India the ground is
furnished by the proprietor, and for
this reason he is supplied at an ins
ferior price.

The lowest and most despised or-
der of tradesmen in India are the
Chumars, or leather cutters. The
Chumar receives, in the harvest,
three sheaves from each plough 5
but, besides this annual fee, he is
paid for every set of ropes or har-
ness he furnishes for a plough, two
seer and an half of grain. For each
pair of shoes the customary price is
ten seer of grain: tradesmen pay
two anas, which is deemed, in ordi-
nary times, a high price; but they
pay no part of his annual fee of three
sheaves; when cattle die the hide
goes to the Chumar.

The bad police of the East im-
poses the necessity of employing
watchmen, during the night, to pro-
tett the property of individuals, and
to preserve the peace. This busi-
ness is committed to the Dussauds er

-Chockidars, several of which are

required even in the sequestered
villages. The nature of their em-
ployment invests these people with
some power, resembling that of a
constable. ‘They apprehend delin-
quents, or report disturbances to
the magistrate, like all other ser-
vants of the public in this country,
the chockidars have an annual fee of
three sheaves from each plough dur-
ing the harvest; ten biggah’s of
ground are allowed to each for ‘his
support; and as several are neces-
sary, the police of the country, im-
perfect as it is, constitutes a heavy
burden on the community. In the
vicinity of Europeans there is a
greater circulation of property, and,
of consequence, greater temptation

to

906

to the violation of it. Even in our
military cantonments, an officer can
by no means trust the charge of his
house to centinels ; he is obliged to
hire two or three Chockidars, the
only terms upon which he can hope
for security; without this precau-
tion, the thieves have attained to
such dexterity in their trade, that
they can easily steal the pillow from
ander his head during night.

The most numerous class of la-
bourers in a country village is that
of the ploughmen. In this village
they amount to about an hundred ;
and the wages of each is five seer of
grain daily, and one rupee each hul-
wary, or ploughing season: two
stated ploughing seasons occur each
year, one at the setting-in of the
rains in June ; the other after they
break up in November. The wages
of other country-labourers is five
seer of grain per day 5 and, during
harvest, the twenty-fifth sheaf.

The Aheer or Burdiah (cow-herd)
is another necessary profession in
every Hindoo farm. ‘The ploughed
Jand is neither fenced nor lying con-
tiguous, but in scattered detached
spots, perfectly exposed to every
invader. The cow-herd receives
two mauns of grain each month;
and for every ten cows under his
charge, he receives the milk of one;
if butlaloes are under his manage-
ment, he is entitled to the milk of
every fifth beast. ‘The cause of this
difference I have not learned ; but
conceive it to be the greater trouble
occasioned by keeping these bulky
and obstinate animals. The pasture
is common to the whole village, and
the tradesmen graze cows on paying
their proportion of the cow-herd’s
fee, which is two anas per month
for each buffalo, or the milk of the
cow every fifth day. Sometimes the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

pasture fields lie far from the vils
lage ; to it, however, they are driven ;
and should it be necessary to cross
a river, the cow-herd lays hold of
the tail of a buffalo, and transports
himself to the farther side with
great ease. In the community of the
pasture grounds the joint possession
of several tenants, and the payment
of rent in kind, you will perceive
a strong similarity to the pra¢tice of
certain distriéts in the Highlands of
Scotland.

The two trades I am next to de-
scribe, are so different from every
profession to which European man-
ners give rise, that I beg leave to
refer you to the authority upon
which this narrative is grounded;
for I here wish to disclaim all re-
sponsibility, as well as merit, in
giving the information they may af-
ford. —

The trade of a Barhi, is to pre-
pare dishes of leaves from which the
Hindoos eat their food. In Bengal
the plantain Jeaf is so common, and,
from its size, so commodious. for
this purpose, that the objeét is at-
tained, at once, without the inter-
vention of professional skill ; but,
in the upper provinces, there is no
single leaf which can supply the
place of the plantain ; an artificial
combination is made up, by patch-
ing different leaves together, which
forms a substitute for a plate at the
Hindoo meals. Five or six different
kinds of Jeaves are employed for
this purpose, according to the pre-
duce of each distriét. In all, how-
ever, the manufacture is carried on;
and, for every hundred plates fur-
nished by the Barhi, he receives two
anas; the zemindar paying half that
sum, either because he affords a
house to the Barhi, er because he
takes the leaves from his trees.

ring

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.” *

During festivals and religious solem-
nities, the Barhi carries a torch, and
performs the oilice of a Mussalgee.

The other profession alluded to,
is that of a Bhaut, or poet, a person
who celebrates the family, and the
achievements of his patron; and,
indeed, of every one who employs
him. He is recognized as a mem-
ber of the community, and has. an
_annual fee of three sheaves from
each plough of the village. Should
a man’s vanity lay him under no
contribution, he has nothing more
to pay to this officer. A share of
this, however, falls to the lot of
many; and to gratify it, they call
upon the bhaut, to compose a poem
in their praise; for every such com-
position, he receives a gratuity pro-
portioned to his merit, or the grati-
fication afforded to his employer.
Before marriages, which are con-
traéted by the parents, it is not un-
common to empley, on each side, a
Bhaut, who celebrates the wealth,
influence, and respectability of the
party who employs him. And, af-
ter the, marriage, or the birth of
their first child, the married persons
give him a present of a bullock, or
a piece of cloth, according to their
circumstances.

These particulars are offered on
the authority of a native officer of
the Bengal army, who, at my re-
quest, made the necessary enqui-
ries upon his own estate. The re-
sult he has obligingly communicated
in a manuscript in the Hindivi, tak-
en upon the spot. A translation
of this manuscript forms the sub-
stance of this account; and, as
this gentleman hears a very respect-
able charaéter, I haye, on my part,
perfeét confidence in the accuracy
and truth of every part of his nar-
rative. It ought, in fact, to be re-

1

907

garded as neither absurd nor incre-
dible, that in a country where every
great man retains, in his service, a
domestic merely for the purpose of
proclaiming his titles to the mob as_
he passes, there should exist a race-
of men who subsist by flattery. Our
own manners, a few centuries ago,
are said to have countenanced a
race. of bards, who frequented the
houses of chieftains, and celebrated
their praises in as rude poetry, and
by flattery as gross as the Bhauts of
the Hindoos, There are a thou-
sand particulars in which the Euro-
pean custom and manners in the
twelfth century, seem to have re«
sembled those of Hindostan. The
practice of entertaining buffoons and
jesters at court, was common to

‘both countries, and seems to an-

nounce a state of manners equally
indelicate with that above described.

In this community, we have to
notice five families of shepherds who
possess fifteen hundred sheep; they
constitute a particular class whe
shear their sheep, and manufaéture
the wool. The finer blankets are
sold for one rupee each ; the coarse,
eight anas; but the zemindar is en-
titled to what he uses, at an inferior
price. Mutton is ate, on certain
occasions, by almost every cast, at
least, the rams; and the case is the
same with goat’s flesh- In this part
of the country, there is a price fixed
by Europeans for every sheep ;
three for a rupee, or about ten
pence each. This is lower than
the real value, and must operate
as a grievance: it explains the rea-
son why the natives are so averse to
sell their produétions ta Euro-
peans.

From the shepherd we pass to the
village Brahmin. As often as the
Ryut has colleéted a particular har-

vest,

‘908

vest, the Brahmin-is sent for, ‘who
burns ghee, and says prayers over
the colleéted heap ; all present join
in the ceremony ; and the Brahmin
receives, as his part, one measure of
grain in’ that implement which is
employed in winnowing it. He is
employed by all the farmers, and at
each harvest he colleéts no con-

temptible tithing for a village curate ;

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

besides this, the Brahmin’ receives
many different fees and annuities.

At each marriage he claims five, per

cent. of the bride’s whole portion ;
in cases where the parents can afford
no marriage dower§ the bridegroom
pays the Brahmin his fee, which
rises with the circumstances of the
party: but even to a poor man it

POETRY.

‘costs five rupees.

f 909). Ah *
POE’ Pr: BY.

ODE for the New Year, 1803.
By Henry James Pye, Esq. Poet-Laureat.

HOUGH the tempestuous winds no more
_ The main with angry pinion sweep,
‘Though raging ’gainst the sounding shore,
No longer how! th’ impetuous seas 5
But sooth’d to rest, the billows sleep,
Save where soft zephyr’s tepid breeze
-Fans with its silken wing the rippling deep 5
Yet still with unremitting eye
The pilot marks th’ uncertain sky,
‘The seaman watches still the gale,
Prompt or to spread or furl the sail,
Mindful of many a danger past,
‘Tost by the turbid wave, check’d by the adyerse blast,

Not keen Suspicion’s jealous glance,

Not fierce Contention’s feverish rage,
Shall bid Britannia point the lance

New realms to grasp, new wars to wage.
In conscious reétitude elate,
In conscious power securely great,
While she beholds the dangerous tide
Of Battle’s crimson wave subside,
Though firm she stands in act to dare
The storms of renovated war,
Her ready sword, her lifted shield,
Provoke not the ensanguin’d field,
More than the wary pilot’s cautions urge
The wind’s tempestuous strife, or swell the foaming surge.

O from our shores be, exil’d far Fil
* Ambition’s wild and restless crew,
Who through the bleeding paths of war,

False Glory’s demon form pursue 5
Whose

910 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Whose burning thirst, still unsubdu’d

By deluges of guiltless blood,

Glares on the regions round with fiend-like eyes,

While scarce a vanquish’d world its wish supplies ;

Yet ne’er may Sloth’s inglorious charm

Unnerveethe.manly Briton’s arm,

Nor Sophistry’s insidious art

(er lull the manly Briton’s heart.

May Reace, with Plenty by her side,

Long, long o’er Albion’s fields preside !

Long may, her breath, with placid gale,

Of Comnierce swell the happy sail ;

But, rous’d in Justice’ sacred cause,

Insulted rights, or violated laws, '

Still may her sons with fierce delight

Flame in ‘the gleamy van of fight,

Spread o’er the tented plain, or brave

With warlike prow the hostile wave ;

And on each firm ingenuous breast

Be this eternal truth impress’d,

Peace only sheds perennial joys on those
Who guard with dauntless arm the blessings Peace bestows,

}

'

ODE for His Majesty's Bintu-Day, 1803. By the Same,

_-
RITAIN, alas! has woo'd it vain,
Reluctant Peace, thy placid charms ; Hoo!
Compell’d, she treads once more th’ ensanguin’d plain,
Where Fame, where Freedom call aloud far arms,
Yet be awhile the battle’s sound
In notes of festive triumph drown’d; |
Whether the fiends of Diseord fly
Portentous through the fiery sky,
Or, bound in Fate’s coercive chain,
How] ’mid th’ infernal seats in vain ;
On this auspicious day the Muse,
Jocund, with graceful voice, her wonted theme pursues,
Amid the boast of tyrant pride, * : .
The pomp of state, the arm’d array, |
,. Can all the shouts of Slavry hide
- That slaves unwilling homage pay ?
No force can shield Ambition’s head
From noontide care, from midnight dread,
When the still monitor within f
Scarches ‘th’ abode of blood and sin; ’ ’

eee.

ier A ple Ee s, jib

While he who rules with virtuous sway,
Whom freemen glory to obey,
Sees ev’ry breast the bulwark of a throne,
His people’s surest guard, its sacred rights their own,
‘Then let the Muse, with duteous hand,
Strike the bold lyre’s responsive strings,
_ While ev’ry tongue through Albion's land
Joins in the hymn of praise she sings ;
And Labour, from the furrow’d plain,
And Commerce, from the billowy main,
With voice symphonious bid arise
That purest incense to the skies,
Above the proudest wreath of fame,
Which ever grac’d the viétor’s name, —
A nation’s votive breath by truth consign’d
- To bless a patriot King—the friend of human kind.

NATIONAL ADDRESS,

> Written by Sir Jamxs Brann Bureess,

And spoken by Mr. Raymonn, previous to: the Performance of the
Tragedy of ‘% Edward, the Black Prince,” at Drury Lane Theatre,
on Thursday, October 27, 1803.

cS ee charm, instruét, and dignify the age,

Was long th’ acknowledg’d province of the stage,
When the free Muse, by fashion undebas’d,
Through Nature’s range her great examples trac’d,
Rescu’d Desert from all-subduing Time,
Stamp’d Worth with glory, with dishonour Crime ;
And, unseduc’d from Virtue’s sacred laws, .
Disdain’d by ribaldry to seek applause. '

Such were the themes which once true Genius fir’d,
Which Britain’s sons with patriot zeal inspir’d ; ~
When, as their fathers’ yalour was rehears’d,

O’er every soul congenial ardour burst ; F
And, while they crown’d the band with just applause,
They grew enthusiasts in their country’s cause.

Such are the themes which now attention claim,

. The field of Poiétiers, and young Epwarn’s fame!
When England’s harass’d, but determin’d host,
Uncheck’d by toils, unaw’d by Gallia’s boast, .

The shock of countless multitudes withstood,
When, as each sword was dy?d in hostile blood,

England's

12 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

England’s triumphant Genius soar’d on high, '"
And led her daring bands to victory.
Since, ere the recent wounds of War are heal’d,
Gallia’s stern tyrant dares us to the field,

- Let this proud record ey’ry feeling nerve,
And teach us new distinétions to deserye..
While Cressy, Potétiers, Agincourt, proclain
Our ancient prowess, and our Foeman’s shame ;
Acre, Lincelles, and Egypt's blood-stain’d plain,
Prove, in their sons, their virtues bloom again.
When, fairly pitted in the tented field,
To Gallic force did British valour yield ?
When, if your gallant tars they dare to face, »«
Did Conquest’s meed their puny efforts grace ?
And shall we now, though on their adverse coast
Drawn, out, in arms appears their savage host,
Enflam’d by vengeance, avarice, hate, and lust,
Shall we our own resources dread to trust?
No! while our hands the patriot-sward can rear,
While every Briton is a Volunteer,
We'll circle round our altars and our throne,
And prove our fathers’ virtues are our own.
Like them our hearts with honest zeal expand,

’ We love, and can defend our native land ;
‘Like their’s, our Monancu is his people’s friend 3
He too has Sons our Island to defend;
And, whether on the coasts of faithless France,
To check a despot’s rage, our hosts advance;
Or, our own laws and liberties to save,
On England’s shores his mad attack we brave.
Let us our great forefathers’ worth recall,
Resolv’d to triumph, or like men to fall.

AS)

OCCASIONAL ADDRESS TO THE VOLUNTEERS,

Writien by Wri.t1am Boscawen, Esq.

Spoken by Mr. C. Kemsrx, at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, on Fri-
day, 25th November,-1803, after the Performance of the Play of ‘‘ King
Henry the Fifth,” for the Benefit of the Patriotic Fund.

N Spartan bands to wake heroic fire,
Renown’d Tyrrzxus strung his martial lyre ;
Tyrraxus, lame and weak, unskill’d to wield
The flying spear, or grasp the ponderous shield ;
Nor by.cxperience taught in just array
.) + To form the files, and guide the doubiful fray ; !
ret,

PO, E:T Y: 913

Yet, heayen-inspired, he knew, beyond contro}
With strains sublime, to rouse the torpid soul,
Swell with proud hopes the heart, and, by his breath,
Kindle the love of fame, the scorn of death,

And shall the British Muse, ’midst war’s alarms,
In silence rest, nor rouse her sons to arms?

Shall Britons yield an unresisting prey,

And own a base Usurper’s foreign sway ?
No—when ye march to guard your sea-girt shore,
*¢ Return victorious, or return no more.”

Greece, in her freedom’s most propitious hour,
Wag’d impious wars, in quest of spoil, or power ;
And Rome, through many an age, unjustly brave,
Fought to oppress, and conquer’d to enslave.
F’en the bright wreaths, our Edwards, Henries, claim,
Crown’d not the cause of Freedom, but of Fame ;
While fond Ambition, with misguided zeal,
Sought England’s glory more than England’s weal,
But when, of old, to chase a foreign host,

The painted guardians of our Albion’s coast,

O’er her white cliffs descending, from afar,

On Cesar’s legions pour’d the tide of war,

When scythed chariots swept th’ ensanguin’d plain,
Then bards, enraptur’d, sung this patriot strain :
¢ Ye generous youths, who guard the British shore!
Return victorious! or return no more !”

Again Britannia sounds her just alarms ;
Nor lures by Int’rest or Ambition’s charms,
But prompts to deeds, which fairer trophies yield
Than grac’d e’en Agincourt’s immortal field,
And bids you guard, in free and gallant strife,
All that adorns, improves, or sweetens life.
Your homes, by faithful love and friendship blest,
Each pledge of love, now smiling at the breast.
Your daughter’s, fresh in bloom, mature in charms,
Doom’d (should he conquer) to the spoiler’s arms ;
Yoursons, who hear the Tyrant’s threats with scorn,
The joys, the hopes, of ages yet unborn ;
All, all, endear this just, this sacred cause,
Your Sov’reign’s throne, your Freedom, Faith, and Laws,
Champions of Britain’s cherish’d rights ye stand :
Protect, preserve, avenge your native land !
For lo! she cries, amidst the battle’s roar,
** Kketurn victorious, or—return no more!”

Vou. XLV. . 3N From

914

ANNUAL REGISTER, ,1803.

FROM THE CRISIS, A POEM.
By the Rev. Mr. Maurice.

RITONS! the crisis of your fate draws near,
Exalt your standards, grasp th’ avenging spear ;
In radiant arms indissolubly join’d,
Be firm, and brave the pow’rs of earth combin’d.

But oh! Britannia, what immortal strain
Shall paint thy triumphs on the boundless main ;
Who sing the heroes that, from age to age,
Thro’ ev’ry clime have bid thy thunder rage ;
«: From burning realms, where southern deeps resound,”
‘To where eternal frosts the pole surround ! |
Who shall thy Howard’s deathless feats recite,
Thy fearless Drake’s, invincible in fight ?
Whose valour, with the storms of heay’n combin’d,
The proud armada to the depths consign’d !
To ardent glory’s noblest fjres awake,
What terrors could appal the soul of Blake?
When on the Belgic chief, that dared to sweep
With high-suspended broom, th’ insulted deep,;
Furious he rush’d, and tore, indignant, down
The barb’rous emblem of usurp’d renown :
Then, driving o’er the surge the routed foe,
Swept the proud yaunter to the gulphs below !

Far distant on the vast Atlantic main,
To check the ravages of hostile Spain,
Skilful as brave, along a dread-fraught coast,
Pocock to viét’ry leads a gallant host :
Condemn’d to perish on a barb’rous strand,
Pale round his vessels glides a speétred band ;
And oft before his midnight couch they rise,
Flames in their hands, and lightning in their eyes 5
Revenge, they shout, and tow’rds Havannah’s spires
Wave their red arms, and point their hostile fires.

*Mid threat’ning rocks, and waves in mountains roll’d,
Great Hawke, contending with the storm, behold!
Nor rocks, nor roaring surge, nor madd’ning wind,
Fron its firm centre, shake his stedfast mind 5
On Fate’s tremendous verge, the line he forms,
To France, more dreadful than a thousand storms ; - gid
ids, _

PO ‘Edi nay.

Bids, through a night of clouds, the fleet advance,
And hostile fires illume the gay expanse.

In vain their broken line their Gauls oppose,
While, as the furious conflict fiercer glows,

The British cannon raising, tier o’er tier,

Flame on their van, and thunder on their rear.
Wild as the whirlwinds, that impetuous sweep
The raging surface of the troubled deep ;

The Gallic vessels o’er the surge are toss’d,

Or swell the pomp of Britain’s viétor host!

?Twas then, from heav’n, the brilliant deed to crown,
Britannia’s angel rush’d in lightning down;

From France her naval wreath for ever tore,

And stamp’d to dust, on Biscay’s stormy shore !

If, urg’d by rage, and furious from despair,
Again her bafiled fleets the ocean dare, )
Terrific Neptune, on thy billowy field,

The lion Howe shall British vengeance wield ;
Or Rodney, dreadful in her kindled ire,

Rain on those fleets a storm of liquid fire.
While far remote, in India’s sultry sky,
Cornwallis bids her flag thiumphant fly ;

And, by her Barrington resistless hurl’d,
Albion’s deep thunder shakes the western world.

Sublimely thron’d on Vincent’s rocky height,
Hark! Glory, from her shrine of circling light,
‘Loud hails her Jervis, on th’ Iberian main,
Resistless bursting thro’ the line of Spain !
Ardent to gain the wreath that Russel crown’d,
And brave Boscawen’s vet’ran temples bound,
Reckless of storms, behold intrepid Hood,
Plough, with unwearied toil, the briny flood ;
In ali her ports the skulking foe he braves,
And burns to plunge him in the whelming waves.
Last, but not humblest, on the roll of fame,
With nerve of adamant, with soul of flame,
See fearless Duncan, ranging urdismay’d,
Belgium’s dire shore, with death and peril spread,
And rush, regardless of impending doom,
Where ev’ry billow yawns—a wat’ry tomb !
Tho’ ruin hover in a thousand forms,

Resolv’d Batavia’s marshall’d fleet he storms ;

Tremendous on the foe his vengeance falls,

And thick around descend the rattling balls.

Retreat is vain ; behind the breakers roar,

While Britain’s pei thunders urge before ;
3N2

91S

Ths

916

»

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

The doubling game the dauntless Scott pursues,
And, in the jaws of death, the fight renews ;
Aloft in air, her tattered plandands fly,

Low bends the stately mast, that piere’d the sky ;
Devouring flames consume the glowing deck,

And a third navy floats—a boundless wreck !
Gaul views, enrag’d, her strongest prop o’erthrown,
And into air her daring proje¢ts blown.

Rage, baffled Gaul, for thus, ere yonder sun,
Thrice his bright journey round the zodiac run,
In black disgrace shall all thy triumphs end,

And all thy tow’ring pride in smoke ascend.

The injur’d objeét of thy jealous hate,

Hurls at thy impious head the bolt of fate ;

On outrag’d heaven’s and man’s determin’d foe,
Slow, but resistless, rolls the fatal blow !

Ye myriads, whom her direful thirst of blood
Plung’d in the rapid Rhone’s empurpled flood,
Or from’ the cannon’s rending mouth consign’d,
In mangled fragments to the blasting wind ;
All whom dire Robespierre’s unsparing rage
Crush’d in the blooming vigour of your age ;
Or by succeeding Molocks dragg’d to death,
Who, in deep dungeons, drank infe¢tion’s breath ;
All, who by Hunger’s pangs to madness fir’d,
On your own sabre’s guiltless edge expir’d ;
Or, to avoid unnumber’d horrors, quaffd,
With pale and quiv’ring lips, th’ empoison’d draught ;
Shout from the grave!—in your, in Nature’s cause,
Th’ avenging sword insulted Britain draws!
See her bright ensigns blaze from shore to shore,
S2e her bold offspring round those ensigns pour ;
Her ancient nobles, warm with all the fires
That burn’d at Cressy in their daring sires ;
Her valiant knights, whose streaming banners show
Their blazon’d triumphs o’er the haughty foe ;
Her gen’rous merchants, fam’d thro’ every clime,
Of spotless faith, and dauntless sou) sublime ;
Whose flags, thro’ many a distant sea unfurl’d,
Uphold the commerce of the ravag’d world ;—
In social bands remotest nations join,
Chill’d at the Pole, or scorch’d beneath the Line ;
Patriots, to virtue dear, for freedom bold,
Who honor still, their proudest treasure, hold ;
Her peasants glowing with a Briton’s zeal,
Whose loyal hearts are oak, whose sinews steed ;

All

PO:‘IE. ER Y. O17

All ranks, all ages, feel the high alarms,

At Glory’s call, impatient rush to arms ;

Ardent to meet a foe their souls disdain,
Conqu’rors on shore, and sovereigns on the main!

To victory rush on, ye dauntless bands,
The fate of Europe trembles in your hands !
Oh! still for glory pant, for Britain burn,
Nor to the sheath the avenging blade return,
Till Liberty her trampled rights regain,
Till justice re-assume her ancient reign,
Till vanquished Gaul in blood her crimes bemoan,
And heaven’s avenging arm repentant own ;
Or, in the chains she forg’d for Europe, bound,
Spend her vain rage, and prostrate bite the ground !

Britons! the criss of her fate draws near ;
Advance your standards, launch th’ avenging spear,
In radiant arms indissolubly join’d,

Your firmness hath subdu’d the world combin’d!

LINES

On James IV. of Scotland, who fell at the Battle of Flodden, by T. Camr-
BELL, Esq. (unpublished. )

26 Bhi he that rul’d his country’s heart,
With more than royal sway ;
But Scotland saw her James depart,
And sadden’d at his stay.
She heard his fate—she wept her grief—
That James her lov’d, her gallant chief,
Was gonefor evermore: -
But this she learnt, that, ere he fell,
(Oh Men! oh Patriots ! mark it well)
His fellow soldiers. round his fall,
Enclos’d him like a living wall,
Mixing their kindred gore!
Nor was the day of Flodden done,
Till they were slaughter’d one by one ;
. And this may serve to shew:
; When Kings are Patriots none will fly—
When such a King was doom’d to die,

Oh who would death forego* ?
3N3 EPITAPH,

* The gallant promise, made by our beloved monarch, that, in case of invasion,
he would be found, in the hour of danger, at the head of his troops, gave birth to
the above effusion,

918 ANNUAL REGISTER,. 1803.

EPITAPH,

On a Lady in Ickworth Church, Suffolk, by the Brother of the Deceased.
(unpublished. )

ENEATH the covering of this little stone,
Lie the poor shrunk, yet dear remains of ore,
With merit humble, and with virtue fair,
With knowledge modest, and with wit sincere ;
Upright in all the social paths of life,
The friend, the daughter, sister, and the wife—
So just the disposition of her soul,
Nature left reason nothing to control!
Firm, pious, patient ; affable of mind ;
Happy in life, and yet in death resign’d ;
Just in the zenith of those golden days,
When the mind ripens, ’ere the form decays,
The hand of Fate unkindly cut her thread, \

‘

And left the world, to weep that virtue fled,
Its pride when living, and its grief when dead.

LINES,

Addressed to Earl Nugent, by the late Dean of Cork, Ersckine, then Cu«
rate of Gosfield, his Lordship’s Seat, in Essex. (unpublished. )

ENVY not thy spacious seat,

Beyond my hopes and wishes, great ;
Nor do thy woods, and lawns, and lake,
My unambitious quiet shake :
But cheerfulness, which never fails,
A wit humane which never rails ;
Bounty which bids the wretched live,
Nor needs a call to feel and give.

All these my envious bosom sting,

These suit a curate or a king.

YARDLEY-OAK,
A Fracment, dy Cowrer.
Not published in his Works, from “+ Hayley’s Life of Cowper,” 3d Vol.
URVIVOR sole, and hardly such, of all .
That once liv’d here thy brethren, at my birth,

(Since which I number three scores winters past)
A shatter’d veteran, hollow truak’d, perhaps,

PIO EER VY. 919

As now, and with excoriate forks, deform,
Relicts of ages! Could a mind, imbued

With truth from Heaven, created thing adore,

I might with rev’rence kneel, and worship thee!

It seems idolatry with some excuse,
When our forefather Druids in their oaks
Imagin’d sanétity. ‘The conscience, yet
Unpurified by an authentic aét
Of amnesty, the meed of blood divine,
Lov’d uot the light, but, gloomy, into gloom
Of thickest shades, like Adam after taste
Of fruit proscrib’d, as to a refuge, fled !

Thou wast a bauble once ; a cup and ball,
Which babes might play with ; and the thievish jay,
Seeking her food, with ease might have purloin’d
The auburn nut that held thee, swallowing down
Thy yet close-folded latitude of boughs,

And all thy embryo vastness, at a gulp.

But fate thy growth decreed: autumnal rains,
Beneath thy parent tree, mellow’d the soil,
Design’d thy cradle, and a skipping deer,

With pointed hoof dibbling the glebe, prepar’d
The soft receptacle, in which secure

Thy rudiments should sleep the winter through.

So fancy dreams—disprove it if ye can
Ye reas’ners broad awake, whose busy search
Of argument, employ’d too oft amiss,
Sifts half the pleasures of short life away !

Thou fell’st mature, and in the loamy clod
Swelling with vegetable force, instinét
Did’st burst thine egg, as their’s the fabled twins,
Now stars ; two lobes protruding pair exact :
A leaf succeeded, and another leaf,
And, all the elements thy puny growth
Fostering propitious, thou becam’st a twig.

Who liv’d when thou wast such? Oh! coulds’t thou speak,
As in Dodona once thy kindred trees
Oracular, I would not curious ask
The future, best unknown, but at thy mouth
Inquisitive, the less ambiguous past!

By thee I might correét, erroneous oft, |
The clock of history, faéts and events

3N4 ‘Timing

920 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Timing more punctual, unrecorded faéts.
Recov’ring, and mis-stated setting right—
Desp’rate attempt till trees shall speak again !

Time made thee what thou wast—king of the woods!
And time hath made thee what thou art—a cave
For owls to roost in! Once thy spreading boughs
O’erhung the champaign, and the numerous flock
That grazed it, stood beneath that ample cope
Uncrowded, yet safe sheltered from the storm.
No flocks frequent thee now ; thou hast outliv’d
Thy popularity, and art become
(Unless verse rescue thee awhile) a thing
Forgotten, as the foliage of thy youth !

While thus through all the stages thou hast push’d
Of treeship—first a seedling hid in grass ;
Then twig; then sapling; and, as century roll’d
Slow after century, a giant-bulk
Of girth enormous, with moss-cushion’d root
Upheav’d above the soil, and sides imboss’d
With prominent wens globose—till at the last
The rottenness, which time is charg’d to inflict
On other mighty ones, found ako thee.

What exhibitions various hath the world
Witnessed, of mutability in all
That we account most durable below!
Change is the diet on which all subsist,
Created changeable, and change at last
Destroys them—skies uncertain, now the heat
Transmitting cloudless, and the solar beam
Now quenching, in a boundless sea of clouds—
Calm and alternate storm, moisture and drought,
Invigorate by turns the springs of life
In all that live, plant, animal, and man,
And in conclusion mar them. Nature’s threads,
Fine passing thought, e’en in her coarsest works,
Delight in agitation—yet sustain
The force that agitates not unimpair’d,
But worn by frequent impulse, to the cause

~Of their best tone their dissolution owe.

Thought cannot spend itself comparing still
The great and little of thy lot, thy growth
From almost nullity into a state
Of matchless grandeur, and declension thence
Slow into such magnificent decay. Neier

me

POETS Yt. 991

Time was, when settling on thy leaf, a fly

Could shake thee to the root—and time has been
‘When tempests could not. At thy firmest age
Thou hadst within thy bole solid contents

That might have ribb’d the sides, and plank’d-the deck
Of some flagg’d admiral, and tortuous arms,

The shipwright’s darling treasure, didst present
To the four quarter’d winds, robust and bold,
Warp’d into tough knee timber,* many a load}
But the axe spared thee ; in those thriftier days
Oaks fell not, hewn by thousands, to supply
The bottomless demands of contest, waged

For senatorial honours. Thus to time

The task was left to whittle thee away,

With his sly scythe, whose ever-nibbling edge,
Noiseless, an atom, and an atom more,
Disjoining from the rest, has unobserv’d
Achiew’d a labour, which had far and wide,

(By man perform’d) made all the forest ring.

Embowell’d now, and of thy ancient self
Possessing hought, but the scop’d rind, that seems
An huge throat calling to the clouds for drink,
Which it would give in rivulets to thy root ;
Thou temptest none, but rather much forbid’st
The feller’s toil, which thou could’st ill requite :
Yet is thy root sincere, sound as the rock,

A quarry of stout spurs, and knotted fangs,
Which, crook’d into a thousand whimsies, clasp
The stubborn soil, and hold thee still erect.

So stands a kingdom, whose foundation yet
Fails not, in virtue and in wisdom lay’d,
Though all the superstruéture, by the tooth
Pulveriz’d of venality, a shell
Stands now—and semblance only of itself!

Thine arms have left thee ; winds have rent them off
Long since, and rovers of the forest wild,
With bow and shaft, have burnt them. Some have left
A splinter’d stump, bleach’d to a snowy white ;
And some, memorial none where once they grew. —
Yet life still lingers in thee, and puts forth
Proof not contemptible of what she can,
Even when death predominates. ‘The spring
Finds thee not less alive to her sweet force,
5 Than
* Knee timber is found in the crooked arms of oak, which, by reason of their

peertion, are easily adjusted to the angle formed where the’ deck and ship sides
ect.

922

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

Than yonder upstarts of the neighbouring wood,
So much thy juniors, who their birth receiy’d
Half a miilennium since the date of thine.

But since, although well qualified by age
To teach, no spirit dwells in thee, nor voice
May be expected from thee, seated here,
On thy distorted root, with hearers none,
Or prompter, save the scene—I will perform
Myself the oracle, and will discourse
In my own ear, such matter as I may.

One man alone, the father of us all,

_ Drew not his life from woman; never gaz’d,

With mute unconsciousness of what he saw,

On all around him ; learn’d not by degrees,

Nor ow’d articulation to his ear ;

But moulded by his Maker into man

At once, upstood intelligent, survey’d

All creatures, with precision understood

Their purport, uses, properties, assign’d _

To teach his name significant, and, fill’d

With love and wisdom, render’d back to Heaven,
In praise harmonious, the first air he drew.

He was excus’d the penalties of dull

Minority ; no tutor charg’d his hand

With the thonght-tracing quill, or task’d his mind
With problems; history, not wanted yet,

Lean’d on her elbow, watching time, whose course,
Eventful, should supply her with a theme.

LOW MAR Meu
By Cowrer.

(Unpublished in his Works.) From the Same.

HE twentieth year is well-nigh past,
Since first our sky was overcast,
Ah! would that this might be the last !
My Mary !

Thy spirits have a fainter flow,
I see thee daily weaker grow—
"Twas my distress that brought thee low,
My Mary!

‘

POETRY. 923

Thy needles, once a shining store,
For my sake restless heretofore,
Now rust disused, and shine no more,
My Mary!
For tho’ thou gladly would’st fulfil
The same kind office for me still,
Thy sight now seconds not thy will,
My Mary !
But well thou play’dst the housewile’s part,
And all thy threads, with magic art,
Have wound themselves about this heart,
My Mary !
Thy indistinét expressions seem
Like language utter’d in a dream ;
Yet me they charm, whate’er the theme,
My Mary!
Thy silver locks, once auburn bright !
Are’ still more lovely in my sight
Than golden beams of orient light,
: _ My Mary!
For could I view nor them, nor thee,
What sight worth seeing could I see?
The sun would rise in vain for me,
My Mary!
Partakers of thy sad decline,
Thy hands their little force resign ;
Yet gently prest, press gently mine,
, a My Mary!
Such feebleness of limbs thou prov’st,
That now at ev’ry step thou mov’st, ,
Upheld by two, yet still thou lov’st,
My Mary!
And still to love, tho’ press’d with ill ;
In wintry age to feel no chill,
With me is to be lovely still,
My Mary!
But, ah! by constant heed I know,
How oft the sadness that I shew
Transforms thy smiles to looks of woe, ~
My Mary!
And should my future lot be cast,
With much resemblance of the past,
Thy worn-out heart will break at last,
My Mary!
TH
. EB

924

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

wn

an nan A ann wn a nnn

nanan nh

THE MARKET NIGHT,
From “ Rural Tales,” by Buoomrrexp.

WINDS, how! not so long and Joud ;
‘ Nor with your vengeance arm the snow =
Bear hence each heavy-loaded cloud :
And let the twinkling star-beams glow—
2

Now sweeping floods rush down the slope,
Wide scattering ruin, . . Stars shine soon!
No other light my love can hope ;
Midnight will want the A fe Moon—

O guardian spirits!... “Ye that dwell
Where woods, and pits, and hollow ways,
The lone night trav’ller’s fancy swell
With fearful tales of older days, ..

4

Press round him. . . guide his willing steed

‘Through darkness, dangers, currents, snows ;

Wait where, from shelt’ring thickets freed,

The dreary heath’s rude whirlwind blows—
5.

From darkness rushing o’er his way,

The thorn’s white load it bears on high!

Where the short furze all shrouded lay,

Mounts the dried grass ;... Earth’s bosom dry—
6.

Then o’er the hill with furious sweep

It rends the elevated tree....

Sure-footed beast, thy road thou’lt keep:

Nor storm nor darkness startles thee!

7.

O blest assurance, (trusty steed)

To thee the buried road is known ;

Home, all the spur thy footsteps need,

When loose the frozen rein is thrown—

8.
Between the roaring blasts that shake
The naked elder at the door,
Though not one prattler to me speak,
Their | sleeping sighs a me more,

Sound is their rest. . They little know
What pain, what cold, their father feels ;
But dream, perhaps, they see him now,
While each the promis’d orange peels—

|
|

10, -§ Would,

PO: EB TR YY; 925

10.
Would it were so!.. the fire burns bright,
And on the warming trencher gleams ;
In expectation’s raptur’d sight
How precious his arrival seems !—

"hie Wale

Tl look abroad!... ’tis piercing cold!...
How the bleak wind assails his breast!
Yet some faint light mine eyes behold :
The storm is verging o’er the west—

12.
¢ There shines a star.... O welcome sight!
© Through the thin vapours bright’ning still,
6
¢

a nnn

a fF AON

Yet ’twas beneath the fairest night
The murd’rer stain’d yon lonely hill—
- 13.
© Mercy, kind heav’n! such thoughts dispel !
© No voice, no footstep can I hear!’
(Where night and silence brooding dwell
Spreads thy cold reign, heart-chilling fear.)
14.

¢ Distressing hour! uncertain fate!
¢ O mercy, mercy, guide him home!.. .
¢ Hark! ... then I heard the distant gate
¢ Repeat it, echo ; quickly, come! ’
15.
¢ One minute now will ease my fears. ...
- © Or still more wretched must I be?
¢ No: surely heav’n has spar’d our tears :
‘ I see him, cloath’d insnow:... ’tés he...
16.
Where have you stay’d? put down your load.
How have you borne the storm, the cold?
What horrors did I not forebode.. .
That beast is worth his weight in gold !’
AK:
Thus spoke the joyful wife . . . then ran
And hid in grateful steams her head :
Dapple was hous’d, the hungry man
With joy glane’d o’er the children’s bed—
18.
What all asleep! ... so best ;’ he cried;
O what a night Pve travell’d through ;
Unseen, unheard, I might have died ;
But heav’n has brought me safe to you—
19.
Dear partner of my nights and days,
That smile becomes thee! . . . Let us then
Learn though mishap may ¢ross cur ways,
It is not ours, to reckon when !——

c
‘
C4
c

CADYOW

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

CADYOW CASTLE,
Addressed to the Right Hon. Lady wits Hamilton.

By Watrer Scort.

HEN princely Hamilton’s abode
Ennobled Cadyaw’s gothic towers,
The song went round, the goblet flow’d,
And revel sped the laughing hours.

Then, thrilling to the harp’s gay sound,
So sweetly rung each vaulted wall,

And echoed light the dancer’s bound,
As mirth and music cheer’d the hall.

But Cadyow’s towers, in ruins laid,
And yaults by ivy mantled o’er,

Thrill to the music of the shade,
Or echo Evan’s hoarser roar.

Yet still of Cadyow’s faded fame,
You bid me tell a minstrel tale,
And tune my harp of Border frame,
On the wile banks of Evandale.

For thou from scenes of courtly pride,
From Pleasure’s lighter scenes canst turn,
To draw Oblivion’s pall aside, ,
And mark the long-forgotten urn.

Then, noble maid! at thy command,
Again the crumbled walls shall rise ;
Lo! as on Evan’s banks we stand,
_ The past returns—the present flies.

Where with the rock’s wood-cover'd side,
Where blended late the ruins green,
Rise turrets in fantastic pride,
And feudal banners flaunt between :

Where the rude torrents’ brawling course
Was shagg’d with thorn and tangling sloe,
The ashler buttress braves its force, _
And ramparts frown. in battled row.

Tis

PO PR Y.

>Tis night—the shade of keep and spire
Obscurely dance in Evan’s stream,
And on the wave the warder’s fire '
{s chequering the moon-light beam.

Fades slow their light ;. the east is grey ;
The weary warder leaves his tower ;
Steeds snort ; uncoupled stag-hounds bay,
And merry hunters quit the bower. —

The drawbridge falls—they hurry out—
Clatters each plank and swinging chain,
As dashing o’er, the jovial route
Urge the shy steed, and slack the rein.”

First of his troop, the chief rode on ;

His shouting merry-men throng behind ;
The steed of princely Hamilton

Was fleeter than the mountain wind.

From the thick copse the roe-bucks bound,
The startling red-deer seuds the plain,
For the hoarse bugle’s warrior sound
Has rous’d the mountain haunts again.

Through the huge oaks of Evandale,
Whose limbs a thousand years have worn,
What sullen roar comes down the gale,
And drowns the hunter's pealing horn ?

Mightiest of all the beasts of chace,
That roam in woody Caledon,
Crashing the forest in his race,
The mountain-bull comes thundering on.

Fierce on the hunter’s quiver’d band,
He rolls his eyes of swarthy glow, -
Spurns with black hoof and horn the sand,
And tosses high his mane of snow.

Aim’d well the chieftain’s lance has flown,
Struggling in blood the savage lies ;

His roar is sunk in hollow groan—
Sound merry huntsmen! sound the pryse.*

* Pryse-—the note blown at the death of the game,

997

Tis

993 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

’Tis noon; against the knotted oak
The hunters rest the idle spear ;

Curls through the tress the slender smoke,
Where yeoman dight the woodland cheer.

Proudly the chieftain mark’d his clan
On greenwood lap all careless thrown,

Yet miss’d his eyes the boldest man,
That bore the name of Hamilton.

“« Why fills not Bothwellhaugh his place,
Still wont our weal and woe to share?

Why comes he not our sport to grace ?
Why shares he not our hunter’s fare?”

Stern Claud replied, with darkening face,
(Grey Pasley’s haughty lord was he)
‘* At merry feast, or buxom chace,
No more the warrior shalt thou see.

‘¢ Few suns have set, since Woohouselee
Saw Bothwellhaugh’s bright goblets foam,
When to his hearths in social glee, :
The war-worn soldier turn’d him home.

‘¢ There, won from her maternal throes,
His Margaret, beautiful and mild,

Sate in her bower a pallid rose,
And peaceful nurs’d her new-born child.

‘¢ O change accurs’d! past are those days ;
False Murray’s ruthless spoilers came,

And, for the hearth’s domestic blaze,
Ascends destruction’s volum’d flame.

‘¢ What sheeted phantom wanders wild,

Where mountain Eske through woodland flews,
Her arms enfold a shadowy child —

Oh, is it she, the pallid rose?

‘¢ The wildered traveller sees her glide,
‘And hears her feebled voice with awe—

‘ Revenge,’ she cries, on Murray’s pride!
And woe for injur'd Bothwellhaugh !”

He

POETRY. 929

He ceased—and cries of rage and grief
Burst mingling from,the kindred band,
And half arose the kindling chief,
And half unsheath’d his Arran brand.

But who o’er bush, o’er stream and rock
Rides headlong, with resistless speed,

Whose bloody poniard’s frantic stroke

Drive to the leap his jaded steed ?

Whose cheek is pale, whose eye-balls glare,
As one some vision’d sight that saw,

Whose hands are bloody, loose his-hair ?—
’Tis he! ’tis he! ’tis Bothwellhaugh.

From gory selle,* and reeling steed,
Sprung the fierce horseman with a bound,
And, reeking from the recent deed,
He dash’d his carbine on the ground.

Sternly he spoke—“‘ ’Tis sweet to hear
In good Greenwood the bugle blown,
But sweeter to Revenge’s ear,
To drink a tyrant’s dying groan.

‘¢ Your slaughter’d quarry proudly trod,
At dawning morn, o’er dale and down,

But prouder base-born Murray rode
Thro’ old Linlithgow’s crowded town.

*¢ From the wide border’s humbled side,
In haughty triumph, marched he,
While Knox relax’d his bigot pride,
And smil’d, the traitorous pomp to see.

** But, can stern Power, with all his vaunt,
Or Pomp, with all her courtly glare,
The settled heart of Vengeance daunt,
Or ’change the purpose of Despair ?

*¢ With hackbut bent,+ my secret stand,
Dark as the purpos’d deed I chose,
And mark’d, where, mingling in his band,
Troop’d Scottish pikes and English bows.
74 Dark
* Selle, saddle. A word used by Spenser and other ancient authors. ;
+ Hackbut bent—gun cocked,
Vor. XLY. 30

950 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1802.

6¢ Dark Morton, girt with many a spear,
‘Murder’s foul minion, led the van ;

And clash’d their broad-swords in the rear,
The wild Macfarlane’s plaided clan. .

¢¢ Glencairn and stout Parkhead were nigh,
Obsequious at their regent’s rein,

And hagger’d Lindsay’s iron eye,
That saw fair Mary weep in vain.

¢¢ >Mid Pennon’d spears, a steely grove,
Proud Murray’s plumage floated high,
Scarce could his trampling charger meve,
So close the minions crowded nigh.

6¢ From the rais’d visor’s shade, his eye,
rk-rolling, glane’d the ranks along 3
And his steel truncheon, wav'd on high,
Seem’d marshalling the iron throng.

** But yet his sadden’d brow confess’d ,
A passing shade of doubt and awe ;
Some fiend was whispering in his breast,

¢ Beware of injur’d Bothwellhaugh Y

«¢ The death-shot parts, the ralvses springs,
Wild rises tumult’s startling roar !

And Murray’s plumy halmet rings—
Rings on the ground to rise no more.

“ What joy the raptur’d youth can feel,
To hear her love the lov’d one tell ;.
Oy he, who broaches on his steel
The wolf, by whom his infant fell!

_ # But dearer to my injur’d eye,
To see in dust proud Murray roll ;
And mine was ten times trebl’d joy,
To hear him groan his felon soul.

#¢ My Margaret’s spectre glided near ;
With pride her bleeding victim saw,

And shriek’d in his death-deafen’d ear,
* Remember injur'd Bothwellhaugh

« Then

a

POETRY. 931

s< Then specd thee, noble Chatlerault!
Spread to the wind thy banner’d tree!

Each warrior bend his Clydesdale bow !
Murray is fall’n and Scotland free.”

Vaults every warrior to his steed,
Loud bugles join their wild acclaim,

<¢ Murray is fall’n, and Scotland free’d ! .
Couch, Arran! couch thy spear of flame !”

But, see! the minstrel vision fails,

The glimmering spears are seen no more 5
The shouts of war die on the gales,

Or sink in Evan’s lonely roar.

For the loud bugle, pealing high,

The blackbird whistles down the vale,
And sunk in ivy’d ruins lie

The banner’d towers of Evandale:

For chiefs, intent on bloody deed,
And vengeance shouting o’er the slain ;
Lo! high-born beauty rules the steed,
Or graceful guides the silken rein.

And long may peace and pleasure own,
The maids, who list the minstrel’s tale 3
Nor e’er a ruder guest be known,
On the fair banks of Evandale!

- LINES

Written a few Miles above Tintern Abbey, on revisiting the Banks of
the Wye.

By Mr. Worpswortn.

ny years have pass’d 5 five summers, with the length
Of five long winters! and again I hear
These waters, rolling from their mountain springs
With a sweet inland murmur.* Once again
Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,
Which, on a wild, secluded scene impress
Thoughts of more deep seclusion ; and connect
The landscape with the quiet of the sky.
The, day is come when I again repose,
Here, under this dark sycamore, and view
302 These

* The river is not allegted with the tide a few miles above Tintern,

932

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

These plots of cottage ground, these orchard tufts,
Which, at this season, with their unripe fruits,
Among the woods and copses lose themselves ;
Nor, with their green and simple hue, disturb
The wild green landscape. Once again I see
These hedge rows, hardly hedge rows, little lines,
Of sportive wood run wild; these pastoral farms
Green to the very door; and wreaths of smoke
Sent up, in silence, from among the trees,

And the low copses—coming from the trees
With some uncertain notice, as might seem,

Of vagrant dwellers in the houscless woods,

Or of some hermit’s cave, where by his fire

The hermit sits alones

Though absent Jong,
These forms of beauty have not been to me,
As is a landscape to a blind man’s eye :
But oft, in lonely rooms, and ’mid the din
Of towns and cities, I have ow’d to them,
In hours of weariness, sensations sweet,
Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart,
And passing even into my purer mind
With tranquil restoration :—feelings, too,
Of unremember’d pleasure ; such, perhaps,
As may have had no trivial influence
On that best portion of a good man’s life ;
His little, nameless, unremembered acts
Of kindness and of love. Nor less, I trust,
To them I may have ow’d another gift,
Of aspect more sublime; that blessed mood,
In which the burthen of the mystery,
In which the heavy and the weary weight
Of all this unintelligible world
Is lightened :—that serene and blessed mood, >
In which th’ affeétions gently lead us on,
Until the breath of this corporeal frame,
And even the motion of our human blood
Almost suspended, we are laid asleep
In body, and become a living soul ;
While with an eye made quiet by the power
Of harmony, and the deep power of joy,
We see into the life of things.

If this
Be but a vain belief; yet, oh! how oft,
In darkness, and amid the many shapes
Of joyless day-light, when the fretful stir,
Unprofitable,

POETRY. 933

Unprofitable, and the fever of the world,

Haye hung upon the beatings of my heart,

How oft, in spirit, have I turn’d to thee,

O Sylvan Wye! Thou wanderer through the woods,
How often has my spirit turn’d to thee!

And now, with gleams of half-extinguish’d thought,
With many recognitions dim and faint,
And somewhat of a sad perplexity,
The piéture of the mind revives again:
While here I stand, not only with the sense
Of present pleasure, but with pleasing thoughts,
That in this moment there is life and food
For future years. And so I dare to hope,
Tho’ changed, no doubt, from what I was, when first
I came among these hills ; when, like a rve,
I bounded o’er the mountains, by the sides
Of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams,
Wherever nature led ; more like a map
Flying from something that he dreads, than one
Who sought the thing he lov’d. For nature then
(The coarser pleasure of my boyish days,
- And their glad animal movements all gone by,)
To me was all in all.—I cannot paint
What then I was. The sounding cataraét
Haunted me like a passion ; the tall rock,
The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood,
Their colours and their forms, were then to me
An appetite; a feeling and a love,
That had no need of a remoter charm,
By thought supplied, or any interest
Unborrow’d from the eye.—That time is past,
And all its aching joys are now no more, _
And all its dizzy raptures. ‘ Not for this
Faint I, nor mourn nor murmur : other gifts
Have follow’d, for such loss, I would believe,
Abundant recompence. For I have Jeari’d
To look on nature, not as in the hour
Of thoughtless youth, but hearing oftentimes
The still, sad music of humanity,
Not harsh, nor grating, though of ample power
To chasten and subdue. And I have felt
A presence that disturbs me with the joy
Of eleyated thoughts ; a sense sublime
Of something far more deeply interfus’d,
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
And the round ocean, and the living air,

303

And

934 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803,

And the blue sky, and, in the mind of man,

A motion and a spirit, that impels i
All thinking things, all objeéts of all thought,
And rolls through things. Therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows and the woods,

And mountains, and of all that we behold
From this green earth ; of all the mighty world
Of eye and ear, both what they half-create*,
And what perceive ; well pleas’d to recognize,
In nature and the language of the sense, \
The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse, ~
The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul

Of all my moral being. :
Nor, perchance,

If I were not thus taught, should I the more
Suffer my genial spirits to decay ;

For thou art with me, here upon the banks

Of this fair river ; thou, my dearest friend,
My dear, dear, friend, and in thy voice I catch
The language of my former heart, and read

My former pleasures in the shooting lights

Of thy wild eyes. Oh! yeta little while

May [ behold thee what ! was once,

My dear, dear sister! and this pray’r I make,
Knowing that natare never did betray

The heart that lov’d her ; ’tis her privilege,
Thro’ all the years of this our life, to lead
‘From joy to joy: for she can so inform

The mind that is within us, so impress

With quietness and beauty, and so feed

With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues,
Rash judgments, or the sneers of selfish men,
Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all
The dreary intercourse of daily life,

Shall e’er prevail against us, or disturb

Our cheerful faith that all which we behold

Ts full of blessings. Therefore let the moon
Shine on thee in thy solitary walk ;

And let the misty mountain winds be free

To blow against thee: and, in after years,
When these wild ecstasies shall be matur’d
Into a sober pleasure, when thy mind

Shall be a mansion for all lovely forms,

Thy memory be as a dwelling place

For all sweet sounds and harmonies ; oh! then,

*

{ If”
* This line has a close resemblance to an admirable line of Young, the exact
expression of which I do not recollect.

‘ ; as
PORZR Y. 9395

; If solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief,
Should be thy portion, with what healing thoughts
Of tender joy wilt thou remember me,
And these my exhortations! Nor, perchance,
If I should be where I no more can hear
Thy voice, nor catch from thy wild eyes these gleams
Of past existence, wilt thou then forget
That on the banks of this delightful stream
We stood together, and that I, so long
A worshipper of nature, hither came
Unwearied in that service; rather say,
With warmer love, oh! with far deeper zeal
Of holier love. Nor wilt thou then forget,
That, after many wand’rings, many years
Of absence, these steep woods and lofty cliffs,
And this green pastoral landscape, were to me
More dear, both for themselves, and for thy sake.

LINES

Written on a Visit to Stowe, the Scat of the Marouts of BuckincHam, in
1801. By K. N. Esq. (Never published.)

HO’ Stowe, long known as classic ground, contains
A splendid palace, ’midst its vast domains ;
Its owner’s grateful friends can only find
A seat just suited to his lib’ral mind ;
Where bounteous nature trac’d the great outline,
' And chgicest culture fill’d up the designs

304 ACCOUNT

[ 936 ]

Account of Books

Rerum Hisernicarum Scrirrones
ANTIQUI, ex vetustis MSS. Codici-
bus descripti, recogniti, nunc pri-
mum in lucem editi, Adjectis Variis
lectionibus, Glossario, Disserta-
tionibus. Indiceque copioso. A
Carolo O'Conor, D. D.*

ARIOUS historical writers of
the most respeétable authority,
amongst whom are numbered that
father of British history, the ve-
nerable Bede, Nennius, William of
Malmesbury, Giraldus Cambrensis,

for the Year i803:

ters, Camden, Usher, and Pare,
had turned the attention of the
learned to the ancient annals of Ire-
land, as to a fund of interesting’
knowledge respecting the religion,
laws, government, manners, lan-
guage, and general history of a
people, who were supposed to have
retained distinétions in all these mat-
ters, long after their neighbours had,
in most of those points, been amal-
gamated to a certain extent. The re-
ferences made by these writers to
Irish documents, had induced the

and others of our early chroniclers,

literati of Europe, and more parti-
and, latterly, those invaluable wri-

cularly those of the British isles, who
were

* Although it vary from our asual mode to review an article yet unpublished,
we are contident, that,in the present deviation from an established rule, our readers
will acknowledge, that it has been “ more honoured in the breach than in the ob-
servance.” By a reference to page 820 of our last vol. it will be found, in an
original letter of the illustrious Burke’s (there preserved) to col. Valancey, that
he earnestly expresses himself on the subject of what yet remains of the antient
literature of Ireland, in the following terms :—“ Will you pardon me for re-
minding you of what I once before took the liberty to mention; my earnest wish
that some of the antient Irish historical monuments should be published as they
_ stand, with atranslation in Latin or English. Until something of this kind be
done, criticism can have no secure anchorage. How should we be enabled to
judge of histories, or historical discussion on English affairs, where references
are had to Bede, to the Saxon Chronicle, to Ingulphus, and the rest, whilst those
authors lurked in libraries, or what is worse, lay in the hands of individuals?” A
little farther he adds, “ There is no doubt of a subscription sufficient to pay the
SPENCE. 20.2 cradle the ability to undertake it has been found: But if any acci-
dent should happen to you and to Mr. O’Conor, what security have we that any.
other like you should start up =”

We

ACCOUNT OF BOOKS.

were attached to the study of local
history, and antiquities, to look
with peculiar attention to every pub-
lication that appeared to promise
sources of interesting Irish know-
ledge hitherto withheld.

It is not necessary here to dwell .

on the political reasons which, for
many centuries, appear to have in-
fluenced the government of Ircland
to discourage all discussions tending
to keep alive distinétions, which,
from the days of Henry II. it had
endeavoured, by various plans of very
different rate in the scale of political
wisdom, to abolish. This system,
however, as well as the disastrous
events which, at different times, dis-
turbed the internal peace and secu-
rity of Ireland, all combined with
other causes, to put down enquiry ;
and when, at length, more quiet
times permitted the partial publica-
tion of extracts from Irish annals,
enlightened readers felt their under-
standings insulted by the grossest
fables, tending to fix upon Irish his-
tory imputations the most disgrace-
ful and disgusting.

Authors of a more modern date,

937

unacquainted with the Irish lan-
guage, and unprovided with original -
documents, have, under all these
difficulties, rather’chosen to reje&
nearly the whole of the materials of
this description, already before the
public, than subjeét themselves to
the questionable task of undertaking
to winnow the few pure grains from
the mass of chaff with which they
were mixed.

Under these impressions, an Eng-
lish nobleman, to whom, for many
years of his life, the investigation of
every subject relative to the history
of that part of the United King-
dom was a matter of duty, and to
whom it was always matter of anxi-
ous interest and gratification to de-
vote his time and study to every
point conneéied with the true ho-
nour and national pride of Ireland,
has given much attention and ex.
pence to collect, from every quarter
in both islands, the originals, or
faithful transcripts, of all the known,
most ancient documents tending to
illustrate its history prior to its con-
nexion with England, and having
formed an Irish library, perhaps the

most

We have made these extracts, less to shelter our subject under the ‘sanction and
authority of this great man, the ornament and boast of the age in which he lived,
than, in order to shew their happy coincidence with the present article; the inhe-
rent value of which will be too justly appreciated by the learned, to need any
incitement, or cause of interest in it, to be derived from extrinsic sources.

Any eulogium on Col. (now Lieut. Gen.) Valancey, whose merit in this species .
of research is already well established, would be foreign to our present purpose ;
our praise of the ever venerable and truly learned Mr. O’Conor (now, alas! no
more) would be equally superfluous; sufficient for us to observe, that, in the
grandson of the latter has been found, the worthy inheritor and able representa-
tive of the peculiar attainments of his progenitor.

But however delightful and satisfactory the pursuit of recondite knowledge
may he to the secluded scholar; sterile and useless to the world would prove the
labours of the most erudite, when uninvigorated and uncheered by the warm beams
of munificent patronage: happily, in the present instance, they have not been
withheld, but have been employed with a generous profusion, in calling forth the
abilities of doctor O’Conor into light and activity; thereby conferring on Ire-
land in particular, and the antiquarian and scholar of every clime, the most
weighty obligation.

958

most complete that exists, he was
fortunate enough to find, in the rey.

Doétor O'Conor, the grandson of

the late Charles O’Conor esq. of
Belanagare, in the county of Ros-
common, a gentleman qualified, by
his superior knowledge of the Lrish
language, and indefatigable industry,
to remove from a great and high-
spirited people the imputation of
being unacquainted with their own
annals, at a time when even the Ice-
landers have published theirs.

In publishing the original Irish
annals with translations into Latin,
Doctor O’Conor may be depended
upon as contraéting a solemn ecn-
gagement with the public for the fi-
delity of his work. In the various
notes and dissertations which he
has thought necessary for illustrat-
ing his originals, his first principle is
that ancient history rests on the
sole foundation of ancient authority.
Rejecting theories which he feels he
has no right to impose upon his
readers, he endeavours to elucidate
his originals by a patient and labori-
ous investigation of ancient facts,
the only guides to truth in historical
research, and in questionable points
of chronology, he is studious to re-
move all future occasion of contro-
versy, by establishing leading events
on the immutable basis of astrono-
mical calculation. Proceeding on
these principles, he hopes that he
may have been able to lay the foun-
dation of future inquiries into many
points of general and local know-
ledge, and of a dignified, and genuine
erudition, and to save to future his-
torians the labour of constant refer-
ence to documents, foreign and do-
mestic, for the accuracy of dates ;
and if, in some instances, it should
he found that dynasties and genea-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

logies, hitherto received, are altered
by his labours, let it be remembered
that nothing but dishonour can be
derived from falshood; that where
chronology is erroneous, and gene-
rations unfounded are multiplied to
fill up fabulous antiquity, any system
conneéted with such a chronology is
radically defeétive ; and that, though
Doétor O’Conor feels anxious to re-
move the imputation of imposing on
the world an imaginary race of
Irish kings, he has been equally
careful not to fritter away the au-
thority of any one ancient, genuine
written record of antiquity. The
documents which he is about to of-
fer will, on the contrary, contribute
to render more interesting several
traditions and monuments hitherto
of dubious date, which will hereby
be placed beyond the reach of con-
troversy.

The principal annals which will
compose this work are

1. The Annals of Cluan, to the
year 1088, better known by the
name of their writer, Tigernach,
who died in the course of that year.
These annals Doétor O’Conor has
decyphered, and transcribed from
the ancient Bodleian MS. Rawlin-
son, No. 488, deposited in that
magnificent colleétion from the li-
brary of sir J. Ware.

2. The Annuals of Ulster, to the

‘year 1131, decyphered and tran-

scribed from the MS. deposited like-
wise from sir J. Ware’s library in
the Bodleian, and carefully collated,
with two others, brought from Ire-
Jand, by the earl of Clarendon, and
now extant in the library of the
British Museum.

3. The Annals of Innisfallen, de-
cyphered and transcribed fram the
original autograph, written in 1318,

and

ACCOUNT OF BOOKS.

and deposited from sir James Ware’s
library in the Bodleian.

4. The Annals of Boyle, decy-
~ phered and transcribed from the
MS. in the Cotton library, Titus
A. xxv.

5. The Annals of Donnegal, com-
monly called of the IV. Masters ;—
the first volume of which, in the
original autograph, is in the marquis
of Buckingham’s library, at Stowe,
and éhe second in that of Trinity
college, Dublin, but of which a
faithful copy, transcribed by the late
Charles O’Conor esq. is likewise in
the Stowe library.

6. Certain metrical and other an-
cient compositions, written on vel-
tum, in Irish language and charac-
ters, some of which precede the age
of Tigernach, being quoted by him,
and belong to the 7th, Sth, 9th,
10th, and 11th ages, forming a chain
of traditional history, to the days of
Tigernach. Of these, some very an-
cient copies, of various dates, are
extant in the Bodleian, and others in
the Stowe library.

Of all these several annals, it has
been found necessary to offer to the
public a critical examination of their
chronology, and of various matters
connected with them ; but, far from
obtruding his own opinions as a
standard to others, Doétor O’Conor
considers himself only as a labourer,
who employs himselfin clearing away
heaps of rubbish, and in offering ma-
terials for the employment of the
Yearned of Europe, and particularly
of Ireland, of whom there are many
‘whose talents would do honour to
any country, aud whose attainments
would do ample justice to works
even more difficult than those which
are here oflered to their considera-
tion. He professes that he does not

undertake, in any instance, to jus-
tify or to defend any national pre-
3

939

judice, nor would it become him to
attempt to amuse where he could
not convince. ‘The subjeét he has
undertaken is so severe, that the
reader is relieved from any appre-
hension of being seduced by inge-
nuity of conjecture, or plausibility
of declamation. Doétor @’Conor
gives the originals as he finds them,
with all their imperfections, what-
ever they may be, on their heads ;—
but those imperfeétions will be found
not to affect the historical part, and
he trusts that, as faithful chronicles
of events anterior to the 12th cen-
tury, the Irish annals will be es-
teemed, if not more, certainly not
less, interesting than those of the
northern nations of Europe, which
are unquestionably of a later period.
It has been deemed expedient to
print them in their original dialeé,
and to add fac similes of each, for
the sake of preserving a language
which, in its various idioms through-
out these islands, viz. Irish, Erse,’
Welch, Cornish, necessarily loses
ground every hour.

In the arrangement of this work,
Doétor O’Conor has endeavoured to
pursue the system adopted by bishop
Gibson, in the compilation of the
Saxon Chronicle. On the same
plan he offers a Topographical chart
and di¢tionary, which, he trusts,
will materially assist local researches
of every sort that may arise out of
the study of his originals.

It is jnipossible to close this sub-
ject without dwelling with a national
pride of the purest and most justifi-
able description, on the distinguished -
superiority and pre-eminence which
the British islands claim over all
other nations of Europe, since the

‘decline of the Roman empire, in the

mass, and in the quality of their
early chronicles, as well as in the
learning, diligence, and application

with

940

with which our ablest writers, of
every succeeding age, have studied,
and preserved these, and every
other branch of antiquity, illustrative
of the history, laws, and customs of
our ancestors. Irom these sources,
our ablest statesmen, our. wisest
lawyers, our writers the most dis-
tinguished in eyery branch of con-
Stitutional or literary pursuit, have
drawn their purest and amplest sup-
plies; and though the language of
the ancient chronicles was obscure,
the style confused, and harsh, and
many of the faéts uninteresting,
from change of time and manners, —
yet the public has long since ac-
knowledged its debt of gratitude to
those invaluable characters who
edited and illustrated them for gene-
ral use.

Yet the greater part of our early
chronicles, and all those which have
been given to the public as the found.
ation of the northern foreign histo-
rics, by Saxo Grammaticus, Snorro,
Torffeus, Adam of Bremen, and
Nestor, their first writers, are long
subsequent, in, point of time, to
Cennfaclad, Flann mac Lonan, Mal-
mura of Othna, Flann of Bute, Coc-
man, and other Irish writers who
preceded Tigernach, and whose me-
trical fragments and lists of kings,
exist in the Irish language and cha-
raéters, and in ancient vellum MSS.
now preserved in the library at
Stowe.

Some time must necessarily elapse
before this great national work can
be completed. Of the transcripts
and Latin translations of the five
first articles, part is already in the
press, and much progress has been
made in decyphering, translating,
and collating several of the docu-
ments that are classed under the 6th.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1803.

It is therefore to be hoped that the
period is not very distant, when
Doctor O’Conor will be able to look
for the reward of his labours, in the
gratification of haying contributed
to that general mass of national in-
formation, which, for succeeding
centuries has been one of the most
interesting and proudest ornaments
of the British empire.

History of the British Expedition to
Egypt, §c. By Sir Robert Wilson,

HAVING, in our preceding
Vol.* already given an elaborate re-
view of this justly celebrated work,
it is not here our object to make
any farther remark thereon, or even
draw from it an additional extract,
Our motive for offering any addi-
tional matter, on a subject sufficient-
ly discussed, originates in our desire
of preserving, with some degree of
propriety, in a repository not un-
worthy of the high reputation of

this gallant officer, a letter of his

upon a most important subject, aris-
ing out of the publication in ques-
tion, and which we haye already
contributed our feeble efforts to com-
memorate.

Sir R. Wilson’s publication pro-
duced a very striking cffect both on
the political and moral world: he
was the firt writer ‘‘who entered
the stupendous crimes of Bona-
parte in Egypt, upon the records of
his country, and thus rendered an
essential benefit to mankind, by
shewing, in its proper light, the
Gallic idol, that all nations were cal-
led upon to bow down to and wor-
ship.” To the uncontroyerted, be-
cause uncontrovertible, statement

nade

* Annial Register for 1802, page $35. é,

ACCOUNT OF BOOKS.

made by our author of the atrocities
of the massacre of the Turks at Jafia,
and the poisoning of the wounded
soldiery in the hospitals, had the
French minister at the court of Lon-
don the hardihood to attribute the
mission of Sebastiani, notwithstand-
ing thé glaring fact of the report of
the latter having been actually pub-
lished before Sif Robert Wilson’s
book had appeared! Although far-
ther confutation of this impudent
falshood was unnecessary, yet, as the
veracity of our author was likewise
attacked in the ‘official correspond-
ence,” he thought it proper to make
the following remarks on the French
statement, to secure the publicity of
which, and its perusal on the conti-
rent of Europe; he addressed to the
editor of the Courier de Londres ;
and which, without farther preface
or comment, wé shall lay before our
readers.

Sir,

In the official correspondence
lately published, there appears some
remarks which the French ambassa-
dor was instructed to make on my
History of the Expedition to Egypt,
and of which I feel called upon to
take notice, not in personal contro-
versy with general Andreossy, for,
conscious of the superior virtue of
my cause, I. find myself neither ag-
grieved nor irritated by the language
he has used ; but that the public may
not attribute my silence to a desire
of evading further discussion, and
‘thus the shallow mode of contradic-

tion, adopted by the chief consul, ac-
quire an unmerited consideration.

_ The ambassador observes, ‘¢ That
a colonel in the English army has
published a work in England filled
with the most atrocious and disgust-
ag calumnies against the French

941
army and its general. The lies it
contains baye been contradicted by
the reception which colonel Sebasti-
ani experienced. ‘The publicity of
his report was at once a refutation
and reparation which the French
army had a right te expect.”

But surely a new signification
must have been attached in France
to the word calumny, when such @
term is applied to my account of the
conduct of the French troops in
Egypt, and the consequent disposi-
tion of the inhabitants towards him !

Independent, however, of the
proofs to be adduced in corrobora-
tion of my statement, Europe may
justly appreciate the probable truth
of what I have written when she re-

collects the unparalleled sufferings
endured by the unoffending countries
into which, during the last war, a
French army penetrated, and she will
at least hesitate to believe that the
same armies should voluntarily ame-
hiorate their conduct in a country
more remote, where the atrocities
they might commit would be jess
liable to publicity, and that this extra-
ordinary change should be in favour

-of a people whose principles and re-

sistance might have excited the re-
sentment of more generous invaders.
I will not enter into an unneces-
sary detail of numerous facts which
I could urge; but I appeal to thé
honour of every British officer em-
ployed in Egypt, whether those ob-
servations are not sacredly true,
which describe the French as being
hateful to the inhabitants of that
country, which represent them as
having merited that hatred from the
ruin and devastation with which
their progress through it has been
marked ; and I am ready, if there
be one who refuses to sanction this
relation, to resign for ever every
pretension

G42,

pretension to honourable reputation,
and submit, without a further strug-
gle, to that odium which should at-
tach to calumny, and a wilfui per-
version of truth.

But, Sir, I feel confident there is
no individual who will not amply
confirm all that F have written on
this subject; and. perhaps Europe
has a right to condemn me for not
having made the accusations still
stronger, when I can produce fre-
quent general orders of the French
army for the destruétion of villages,
and their inhabitants; when I can
prove, that above 20,000 of the
natives perished by the swords of
the French soldiery ; and that every
act of violence was committed, and
particularly in Upper Egypt, which
e6uld outrage humanity, and disgrace
the character of civilized nations.—
When writing an history of the
campaign, was it possible not to
express indignation against the au-
thors of such calamities? Would
it have been natural not to have felt
the animation of that virtuous pride,
which a reflection on the different
conduct of the British soldiery must
inspire in the breast of every bri-
ton? I have asserted that a British
soldier could traverse alone through
any part of Egypt, or even pene-
trate into the Desart, secure from
injury or insult. 1 have described
the natives as considering the Bri-
tish their benefactors and protectors,
soliciting opportunitics to manifest
their gratitude, and esteeming their
uniform as sacred as the turban of
mahometanism ; and I may venture
to prediét, that, hereafter, the
French traveller will be compelled
to conceal the name of his nation,
and owe his security to the assump-
tion of the British character.

But, sir, does the effect of colonel

ANNUAL, REGISTER, 1803. -

Sebastiani’s report justify the chief
consul’s conclusion, ‘* that it is a
complete refutation of what I have
advanced, even if we attach to that
report implicit belief in its candour
and veracity?” Is it possible that
the chief consul can suppose the
world will trace respect for the

French name in the circumstance

which occurred to colonel Sebas-
tiani at Cairo, and which rendered
it necessary for him to demand pro-
teétion from the vizier? or, would
he imagine, that the apologue of
d’Gezzar pacha was not intelligi-
ble even previous to the instruétions
being published, which M. Talley~
rand sent to the French commercial
agents ?

That illustrious senator, to whose
virtues and stupendous talents Eng
land owes so much of her prospe-
rity, has declared that this report
of colonel Sebastiani, in no case
contradiéts my statement; and I
should consider that high opinion as
amply sufficient to remove any im-~
pression which the French ambassa-
dor's note might otherwise have
made, did I not think it a duty to
press some observations on that
part of the paragraph which alludes
to the direét accusation against ge-
neral Bonaparte; that the public
may know I| was fully aware of the
important responsibility which I had
voluntarily undertaken, and in which
much national honour was involved.
I would wish the world seriously to
examine, whether the accuser or ac~
cused have shrunk from the investi-«
gation, and then hold him as guilty
who has withdrawn from the tribue
nal of inquiry. .

IT avowed that I was his public
accuser; I stood prepared to sup-
port the charges. The courts of my
country were open to that mode of

trial 5

ACCOUNT

trial ; which, as ap innocent man,
he could alone have required, but of
which he did not dare to ayail him-
self. It was no anonymous libeller

against whom he was to have filed
his answer, but against one, (and
without any indecent vanity I may
say it,) whose rank and chara¢ter
would have justified his most serious
attention.

The charges were too awful to be
treated with neglect, and we know
that they have not been read with
indifference. Nor is it possible that

' the first consul can imagine the fame

of general Bonaparte is less sullied _

because a few snuff boxes, bearing
his portrait, were received by some
abject or avaricious individuals with
expressions of esteem. Or can he
hope that the contemptible, but not
Jess unworthy, insinuation dire¢ted
against the gallant and estimable
British general, will divert mankind
from a reflection on the crimes with
which he stands arraigned ?
Fortunately for Europe, she is
daily becoming more intimately ac-
qguainted with the character of this
hitherto misconceived man; and I

confess that I feel considerable gra-°

tification when I indulge the thought
that I have contributed to iis deve-
lopement.

Success may, for inscrutable pur-
poses, continue to attend him. Ab-
ject senates may decree him a throne
or the pantheon, but his history
shall render injured humanity jus-
tice, and an indignant posterity in-
Scribe on his cenotaph.

Z Ille venena Colchica
“Et quicquid usquam concipitur nefas
* Tractavit.
I am, sir,
Yours,
Robert Wilson, K. M. T.
Lieutenant-colonel.

® Vide “ Review of Books,” Annual Register for 1802.

°

OF BOOKS. 943

Journal -of the late Campaign in
Egypt, &¢. by Capt. Thomas
Walsh, Aide de Camp to. Major
General Sir Eyre Coote.

AVING, in our account of sir_

R. Wilson’s valuable work*,
taken an extensive view of the objects
of the French government in the inva-
sion of Egypt, we shall not here reca-
pitulate our observations thereon, but
content ourselves on the appearance
of another record of British valour,
with congratulating the public, on
the very respectable manner in
which the work before us has pre-
served it ; and which bears every
internal mark of correétness and au-
thenticity.

Captain Walsh commences his
entertaining and highly interesting
narrative from the date of the 24th
of Oétober, 1800, the day on which
orders arrived at Gibraltar for the
future operations of the two armies
under sir Ralph Abercromby, and
sir James Pulteney, to the period of
the final conquest of the French
force in Egypt. Cursory accounts
of that celebrated fortress, Minorca,
and Sardinia, are given by our au-
thor, who, however, very properly
becomes more diffuse in his descrip-
tion of Malta, a theme always inte-
resting to the general reader; but
now become infinitely more so to
Britons, as forming the objeét of
the
France and England; and, as being
to be considered, hereafter, in all
probability, as one of the bulwarks
of our empire, and a. valuable ap-
pendage to its dominion.

This little island, a fief of the
crown of Sicily, was granted by the
empéror Charles V. to the knights
of the order of St. John of Jeru-
salem, in 1523, who had, at that
epoch,

renewed contention between ~

944

epoch, been driven ont of Rhodes
by the Turk, and in whose posses-
sion it remained till’ the month of
June, 1798, when Bonaparte, partly
through the incautious negligence of
the grand master, and partly by the
treachery of the knights compa-
nions, seized upon the forts, the
magazines, treasures, &c. and of
which the French remained in pos-
session, until compelled to submit to
the united forces of the native Mal-
tese, Neapolitans, and British, on
the 5th of September, 1800. Under
the government of the latter staté
has it remained to this hour: and
the detention of which, has proved
eventually the ostensible cause of
the renewal of the war, for the am-
ple discussion of which we beg to
refer our readers to the historical
part of this volume.

Captain Walsh supposes that the
value of Malta was not justly ap-
preciated by Great Britain, before
the period of her having acquired its
possession ; and that previously to
that event, its safe and commodious
harbour, its advantageous situation,
its immense population and impreg-
nable fortifications, were by no
means estimated according to the
pre-eminence they hold, if not in
the world, at least in the Mediter-
ranean. Before the calamitous in-
vasion of the French, this spot of
rock, was supposed to contain the
almost incredible number of 100,000
inhabitants.

But it is time to give. the reader a
specimen of the style and manner of
this lively and instructive writer ; he
thus describes the seat of govern-
ment, and also the principal town of
the island.

«¢ La Valette, isa very regularly
built town. Its principal streets
are wide and straight, well paved,

1

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

and furnished with good foot paths.
The buildings are all of free-stone,
with which the island abounds; and
the numerous superb edifices and
hetels, formerly belonging to the
knights of the order, give to la Va-
lette, a superiority over any town of
equal size in the world. The two
palaces of the grand master, adjoin-
ing each other, are fine struétures.
Their interior seems to have been very
magnificent, and still retain several
marks ef splendour, though they
are much injured by delapidation,
and the greater part of the costly
furniture has been taken away or
destroyed. The council chamber is
lined with the most beautiful go-
belin tapestry, and the other apart-
ments are adorned with paintings of
the different actions and valiant ex-
ploits which occurred during the
memorable siege of the island by the
Turks. Adjoining ‘to the palace,
and communicating with it, is the
armoury, which was found in the
best possible state on our taking
possession of the place.

It contains eighteen thousand
stand of fire arms, independently of
a variety of swords, spears, and
other ancient weapons, all of which
are very tastefully and neatly ar-
ranged.

The churches are extremely nu-
merous, and all very fine buildings.
That of St. John, the patron of the
order, is, however, far superior to
the rest. The roof is most beauti-
fully sculptured, and adorned with
some good paintings. ‘* The grand
altar,” says Brydone, “is a piece
of very curious and elegant marble 5
the pavement, in particular, is the
richest in the world. It is composed
entirely of sepulchral monuments
(of persons belonging to the order)
of the finest marbles, porphyry, and

a variety

ACCOUNT

a variety of other valuable stones,
admirably joined together at an in-
credible expence, and representing,
in a kind of mosaic, the arms, in-
signia, &c. of the persons whose
names they are intended to comme-
morate. In the magnificence of
these, and other monuments, the
heirs of the grand-masters, com-
manders, &c. have long vied with
each other.” Vol. ii. p. 226.

Water, which in a climate like
this is so great a luxury, is found
every where in abundance, and
scarcely a street is without one foun-
tain at least.

The works round this town, and
the adjoining places, as Floriana,
Cottoniera, and Vittoriosa, are, per-
haps, the most extensive of any in
the world, and, as I before ob-
served, extremely strong. They
were, however, in many parts, and
especially at Floriana, in a. véry
ruinous state; owing to the little
attention paid to them ry the French,
and to the very remj's administra.
tion of the late gran¢| master Hom-
pesch, who is exceyively disliked
by the Maltese, and generally ac-
cused of having occasioned the over-
throw of the order. These works
are also nearly deprived of their
guns ; upwards of one hundred of
the finest, and of the heaviest ca-
libre, having been carried by the
French to Egypt. A great num-
ber, however, still remain in the
arsenals, and might be mounted on
the ramparts with very little dif_i-
culty. The following particulars
relative to the foundation and pre-
sent state of the town of La Valette
may, perhaps, be acceptable to the
reader.

**On the 18th of May, 1565, the
Turkish fleet, having on board forty

Vou. XLY.

OF BOOKS. 945

thousand men, appeared off Malta ;
and, on the 24th of the same month,
this formidable armament opened its
batteries against Fort St., Elmo,
which was taken on the 25th of
June following, notwithstanding the
almost incredible efforts ‘of the
knights composing the garrison, eve-
ry man of which was either killed or
wounded.

This did not, however, discourage
the gallant La Valette, then grand
master of the order. With a valour
and constancy, that have rendered
his name for ever celebrated, he con-
tinued to resist and repel the reite-
rated ‘attacks of his numerous ene-~
mies, and at@ength forced them to
raise the siege on the 8th of Septem-
ber in the same year, after having
left thirty thousand men under the
walls.

This almost unexampled bravery
and perseverance of a handful of
knights, when compared with the
multitude of the assailants, almost
surpassed credibility ; and so damped
the ardour of their inveterate ene-
mies, as te secure the order for ever
after from Turkish invasion.

Previous to the siege, the princi-
pal residence of the order was at
Borgo, on the eastérn side of the
great harbour; but La Valette, hay-
ing experienced its inconvenience,
formed the resolution of building the
town that now bears his name, the
first stone of which he laid in 1566,
immediately after the fatigues of the
glorious siege he had sustained. He
died in 1568, before it was com-
pleted, and his successor De Mont
finished it in May 1571; on the
18th of which month, the order left
the Borgo, and took up their resi-
dence in the new city, The king’s
of France, Spain, and Portugal, and

3P likewise

946

likewise the pope, contributed very
considerable sums towards the ex-
pence.

La Valette is situate in 35 deg.
54 min. north. It has three gates :
the Porta Reale, towards Citta Vec-
chia, and the interior; that of Mar-
sa Muscet, leading from the har-
bour of this name; and that called
La Marina, being the entrance to
the town from the eastern and prin-
cipal harbour. The chiet street is
the Strada Reale, extending from
the Porta Reale, to the castle of St.
Elmo. The rest interseét each other
at right angles, and are generally
narrow, for the purpose of keeping
out the sun. They are all paved,
and the town being principally built
upon a hill, very low and easy
steps are placed on either side of the
Streets, for the convenience of foot-
passengers.

The tops of the houses are all flat
terraces, from which the rain-water
is conduéted by pipes into a cistern
below provided for the purpose.

Every family is thus furnished
with abundance of good water at
home, and there are, besides, pub-
lic reservoirs and fountains, placed
in diilerent parts of the town, which
are supplied by an aqueduét com-
mencing at Dier Chandal, in the
southern part of the island, and up-
wards of nine English miles in length.
This aqueduét was erected, at a very
considerable expence, by the grand-
master de Wignacourt.

The houses and edifices of every
kind are built with a white stone,
Obtained from the quarries in the
island. ‘It is of, a very soft nature,
which renders it easily adapted to
any purpose; and to this facility
we are to ascribe the numerous or-
namenis, with which all the archi-
tecture of the island abounds, as also

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

the beautiful symmetry of the forti-
fications.

There is a public library, which
is well provided with books, both
as to choice and number. It be-
longed to the order, and was in-
creased by the private libraries of
the knights, which, at their deaths,
augmented the general colleétion.
The duplicate copies were sold, and
the produce thence arising served
to purchase such eligible books as
it did not possess. The library con-
tains, likewise, many gbjetts of cu-
riosity, as some fine statues, prints,
and several valuable articles of na-
tural history. No book is suffered
to be taken out of the library, but
seats and tables are provided for
the use of those who frequent it.

An immense and very beautiful
building had lately been ereéted, to
which the library was to have been
transferred. This, however, has never
been carried into execution, and the
house is now converted into a vast
assembly and coffee-room.

La Valette possesses an opera-
house, small indeed, but neat, though
now much out of repair. Italy and
Sicily supply it with very tolerable
vocal performers, and it is a very
agreeable entertainment for the gar-
rison. It was excessively crowded
every night by the officers of the
expedition, to whom it was a great
source of amusement. The price of
admission is one shilling.

Provision of every kind is here in
the greatest abundance. Though
we overran the island with troops,
every thing was pretty reasonable,
and no want was perceived. Sicily
furnishes a sufficiency of cattle; and
Malta and Gozo produce quantities
of excellent fruit and vegetables.
They possess a very great luxury
here, which I never knew in any

island

ACCOUNT

island equally hot; this is ice, which
they import in very large quantities,
and of the finest quality, from Mount
‘Etna. It is sometimes so abundant,
that water is generally cooled with
it. In any coffee-house you can
call for an ice-cream, with as much
certainty as in a confectioner’s shop
in Bond-street. The trade carried
on at this time was extremely brisk.
The English faétories from Naples,
Leghorn, and Palermo, had taken
refuge in this town, which was the
emporium of the British trade in the
Mediterranean, and whence English
goods were smuggled into Italy,
and thus found their way to the con-
tinent.

Conyents and religious houses are
nowhere more numerous than in
Malta. Priests and friars are met
at every step, and still retain over
the minds of a superstitious people,
an unbounded and despotic sway.

Although La Valette is built with
great care and regularity, yet it is
sufficiently obvious, that the chief
attention has been directed to the
construction of the fortifications.
This, in part, accounts for their
being, perhaps, the finest and best
finished of any in Europe. Besides,
the successors of La Valette, de-
sirous of emulating his example,
have constantly added. to them; and,
in faét, rendered the works so con-
siderable and extensive, that several
of them have become nearly useless,
and would require, in case of siege,
much too great a number of troops
to defend them.

The modes of conveyance used
here are carriages without springs,
made to contain two or four per-
sons, and drawn by a Single mule,
driven by a man on foot, whose
station is close to the vehicle, and
who, sometimes at a trot, but most

OF BOOKS. 947

generally at a gallop, keeps’ pace

with the animal. ‘They are very

clumsy, awkward carriages, and, as

they pass over the rough pavement,

shake the unfortunate passenger al-

most to pieces. A long string of

these vehicles, numbered, always

stands in the Strada Reale for hire.

Drays also, drawn by one mule,

are found in every part of the town,

and are very useful. The mules in

this island are very tall and strong ;

it is surprising how they go up and

down the steep slippery streets, |
some of which are literally flights of:
steps, without eyer stumbling.

Civita, or Citta Vecchia, the re-
sidence of the bishop, is about six
miles distant from La Valette. It
stands upon an eminence, and is sur«
rounded with fortifications. It is
impossible sufficiently to admire the
cathedral of St. Paul, the tutelar
saint of this island, on which he was
wrecked. Its wonderful symmetry,
its dome, and the fresh and highly
coloured paintings, with which it is
adorned, must strike the most incu-
rious beholder. :

In this church is the greatest va-
riety of marble I ever beheld: the
lapis lazuli, the green and yellow |
antique, with several others, meet
the eye in every direétion. The
most admirable effect is produced
from the ingenious manner in which
this different assortment of marbles
is disposed and combined.

Without the town, in what is
called the Rabatto, is the grotto of
St. Paul. To this highly venerated
spot you descend through numerous
chapels, and at length come to a
small space, scooped out of a soft
and chalky kind of white earth, in
the centre of which stands a marble
statue of the saint; far inferior,
however, to another very beautiful

3P2 one

948

one of the same saint, placed in an
adjoining chapel, and executed at
Rome by Melchior -Caffa, a native
of Malta. People never leave this
grotto without filling their pockets
with pieces of St. Paul’s stone, to
which the superstitious inhabitants
ascribe all possible powers; they
also affirm, that the mass never de-
creases whatever quantities are taken
from it. At the extremity of the
Rabatto are the catacombs. ‘These
are excavations divided into nu-
merous passages, most of which are
stopped up, as, otherwise, it would
be very easy to lose yourself in this
subterranean labyrinth, and, most
probably, perish there.

During the frequent wars and re-
volutions which this island has ex-
perienced, the catacombs have been
used as a place of safe retreat. In
them are still shewn the remains of

a chapel, and of two mills for grind- ;

ing corn; a small statue, said to
be St. Peter; and a recess, near
_ the entrance, where a centinel was
* placed on the look out, to give
alarm’on the approach of an ecne-
my.”

We hurry over our author's de-
scription of the delightful Bay of
Marmorice, which is, however, ex-
tremely worthy the reader’s perusal,
and hasten to his animated descrip-
tion of the ever-memorable landing
of the English force, on the 8th of
March, at Aboukir ; a detail which
must strike on every Briton’s heart,
and which, if he have a spark of
genuine patriotism, must cause the
flush of honest pride to glow upon
his cheek, at this recital of the va-
jour of his countrymen.

<¢ At two o'clock in the morning
a rocket was fired from the ad-
miral, which was the signal for all
boats to repair to the appointed

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ships. About half after three, the
boats, being filled with troops, be-
gan to move off towards the ren-
dezvous. ‘Three armed vessels were
stationed in a line opposite the
shore, and out of gunsitot, round
which the boats were to form, and
wait the order for pushing to the
Jand. Lach flat-bottomed boat con-
tained about fifty men, exclusive of
the sailors employed in rowing. The —
soldiers were ordered to sit down
on the bottom, holding their fire-
locks between their knees. All the
boats of the fleet were engaged
either if towing the flats or car-
rying troops. They might have
contained, in all, near five thou-
sand men. .Six thousand had been
intended for landing, but above a
thousand remained in the ships,
from the want of means to. convey
them.

The moment was awful; and the
most solemn silence prevailed, as
the boats pulled to the rendezvous,
a distance of about five miles. No-
thing was heard but the hollow and
dismal sound of the oars, as they
dipped into the water.

The boats continued coming up
till a little after eight, when every
arrangement being made, and as
correét a line as possible formed,
the centre boat, in which was the
honourable captain Cochrane of the
navy, who superintended the whole,
threw out the signal to advance.—
Every oar was instantly in motion,
pulling eagerly towards the shore,

In order to proteét our approach,
the Tartarus and Fury bomb ves-
sels commenced throwing shells as
we passed them. Two gun-boats, ~
and three armed launches, kept up
a constant firing for the same pur-
pose, though with little effeét. We
continued to adyance unmolested,
oat Ine ~ and

ACCOUNT OF BOOKS.

apes
and not a Frenchman was to be
seen, either on the sand-hills, or on
the strand; when, suddenly, as we
got within reach, they opened a
-tremendous and well-supported fire
from fifgeen pieces of artillery,
which had been disposed on the
hills that lined the beach, and from
the guns of Aboukir castle. Shot
and shells now fell in profusion,
striking the water all around the
boats, and dashing it upon us.—
This, however, was comparatively
but a feeble opposition. On our
nearer approach, we were assailed
with such a terrible shower of grape
shot and langrage, as was never
before probably direéted against so
small a point, and could be com-
pared only to the effeéts of a vio-
lent hail storm upon the water.

Never was there a more try-
ing moment. Our troops penned
-up so close, as to be unable to
move, and exposed to a galling and
destructive fire, without the power
of returning it, or taking any mea-
sures of defence. Two boats were
sunk. |Close to that in which I was
embarked, a flat, conveying part
of the Coldstream guards, was struck
in the middle by a shell, which,
bursting at the same instant, killed
and dreadfully wounded numbers ;
the rest went to the bottom. Many
were picked up, but in such a state,
as to be insensible of the obligation.
The sinking of a boat could, indeed,
_Searcely be otherwise than fatal.
Embarrassed with belts, loaded with
three days provision, and_ his car-
touch box filled with sixty rounds
of ball cartridge, a soldier could
find in swimming only an ineffectual
struggle for life.

Nothing, however, could dismay
troops so brave. Surrounded by
death, in its most frightful shapes,

94!

their courage was not to be damp

ed. Through a fire rendered doubl)
tremendous by the impossibility o

resistance, we continued steadil:

to advance, cheering and huzzain

as if yiétory had already been i °
our hands, though yet without th

power of returning a single sho

It was near nine when the first boat

took the ground. Numbers of ou

men were at this moment lost, bein;

shot in the boats, or bayonetted. ii

the act of stepping out, by. the ene.
my, who had come down to the wa-
ter’s edge to receive us as we land-
ed. The regiments formed imme-
diately as they got out of the boats,
and lost not a moment in advance-
ing.

The four flank companies of the
fortieth, on the right of the whole,
and the twenty-third next to them,
in the most spirited manner, charged
up a hill rising almost perpendicu-
larly from’the sea-side, the sand of
which yielded under their feet as
they climbed up. A body of the
French, the brave sixty-first demi-
brigade, who were drawn up on
the top, panic struck by such intre-
pidity, precipitately retreated, leav-
ing two pieces of cannon behind
them. - On the left, where majors~
general Coote and Ludlow omy
manded, a body of upwards ef two
hundred’ of the enemy’s cavalry,
charged part of the guards and of
the royals, as they came out of the
boats; but more of the troops
landing, and.coming to their assist-
ance, the French were speedily
repulsed, suffering a very conside-
rable loss.

The contest on shore lasted about
twenty minutes, when the enemy
gave way in every quarter, and we
got possession of the hills, whither
the body of seamen under Sir Sydney

3P3 Smif?

950

Smith, with their accustomed ala-
crity, dragged up several ficld-
pieces.

The French retreated along Lake
Abouker, called by them Lake
Maadie, having first detached a part
of the fifty-first demi-brigade to
Aboukir castle. They took a po-
sition in the plain, a mile from the
beach, with their right to the Lake,
and their left towards the sea,
which point was protected by two
guns, and all their remaining ca-
valry.

The force that opposed our land-
‘ing, was commanded by general
Friant, and consisted of two batta-
lions of the grenadiers of the sixty-
first demi-brigades, two battalions
of the seventy-fifth, once of the fifty-
first, one of the twenty-fifth, the
eighteenth aud twentieth dragoons,
about one hundred and twenty ar-
tillery ; in all, about two thousand
five hundred men, and fifteen pieces
ef cannon. Their loss, at a very
moderate computation, was four
hundred men in killed, wounded,
and taken; six pieces of cannon
and one howitzer. General Mar.
tinet, who was a captain in the
French army at the battle of the
Nile, and at the time of this aétion
commanded the nautical legion, was
left dead on the spot.

Scarcely was our debarkation ef-
feéted, and our efforts crowned with
victory, when our anxious comman-
der in chief came on shore. Until
that period, major-general Cuvote
-was the senior general officer with
the troops.

We now drew up opposite the
enemy, and in this position both
armies remained cannonading each
other till about eleven o’clock, when
the French were perceived retreat-
ing sdently along the Lake, and ap-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

parently in good order. They
halted, however, for a short time, |
at the post of Mandara, a small re- ~
doubt, built on a height in the nar-

-rowest part of the Peninsula, about

four miles from the place of landing.
Immediately upon the retreat of
the enemy, our armed launches en-
tered into Lake Maadie, or Abou-
kir, and measures were adopted for
supplying the army by means of the
boats of the fleet, a depdt of provi-
sion and ammunition being establish-
ed on its banks for that purpose.
The second division, having land-
ed, came up at this junéture, which
made us change our position, ad-
vancing in columns of regiments, by
brigades, and halting about dark.
The army was then formed in four
lines, extending from the sea on the
right, to Lake Aboukir on the left,
the reserve and the guards forming
the first line; major-general Coote’s
brigade the second ; major-general
Cradock’s the third ; and major-ge-
neral the earl of Cavan’s the fourth.
Such part of brigadier-gen. Stuart’s
and Doyle’s corps, as had landed in
the course of the day, took their
ground in front of Aboukir castle,
which had refused to surrender on
being summoned. About seventy
mounted, and two hundred dis-
mounted cavalry, also came on shore
in the evening. They that were
mounted, immediately took the duty
of vedettes, and of the advance ;
the rest remained near Aboukir.”
The last extraét (but one) we
shall lay before our readers, is the
account of the decisive and brilliant
victory achieved by the British arms
over the French force in the battle
ef the 21stof March; and which,
thenceforward, completely establish-
ed its superiority in Egypt.
‘¢ At half-past three this morn-
ing,

ACCOUNT OF BOOKS.

ing, the troops were getting under
arms, when they were alarmed by a
pretty smart fire of musquetry, pro-
ceeding from the farthest fléche, on
the canal towards our left. This
was conceived to be nothing more
than a feint, to harass our troops,
or try their alertness; for we were
yet ignorant of the junction of all
the French forces at Alexandria.
However, on its continuing for some
time, with now and then a cannon
shot, brigadier-general Stuart was
actually on his march with his bri-
gade, to support the point attacked,
when he was stopped by a very
heavy fire both of cannon and mus-
quetry, which commenced on our
right.

In this false attack on the left,
the enemy, rapidly advancing, en-

tered a small fléche at the same time.

with the out-centinels. They imme-
diately turned the twelve pounder,
which was mounted init, upon our
men, and had aétually fired one shot
from it, when a redoubt in the rear
of this fléche opening its fire upon
them, they quickly retreated, car-
rying oif with them three officers,
one serjeant, and ten rank and file,
of the fifth brigade. They had one
officer and four privates killed in
the fléche, but took away their
wounded. The French, thinking
to have drawn all our attention to
the left hand, had hastily advanced
with their whole body, having easi-
ly driven in our picquets. Their
object, as it afterwards appeared,
was first, by a sudden and spirited
attack, to turn and overthrow the
reserve, which, by its advanced po-
sition, was separated a little from
the rest of the army, This accom-
plished, their next aim was to force
our centre with their united troops;

951

and, while the attention of oar left
was fully occupied by the false at-
tack, the whole force of their cayal-
ry, in which they were very strong,
was to avail itself of a favourable
opportunity, and, by an impetuous
charge, drive us into lake Aboukir ;
thus, at one blow, deciding the
contest. For this purpose, general
Lanusse’s division, forming their left
wing, advanced boldly against our
right ; general Sylly’s brigade march-
ed straight upon the redoubt ; while
another, under general Valentin,
proceeded along the sea side, to
penetrate between it and the old
ruins.

General Syily’s brigade took pos-
session of a small redan, in which
there was a gun; but, staggered by
the heavy fire from the redoubt,
was obliged to fall back. The
brigade moving along the sea,
was stopped in its progress by the -
fire from the old ruins, which were
defended by the twenty-third and
fifty-eighth regiments, and the flank
companies of the fortieth. Still at-
tempting to force its way between
them and the redoubt, the sixty-
ninth demi-brigade was taken in
flank by one of the twenty-four
pounders, loaded with grape-shot,
and nearly exterminated. On this
the remainder of the corps refused
to advance ; when general Lanusse,
using his utmost eijorts to rally
them, and bring them to the charge,
had his thigh carried off by a can-
non-shot. Complete confusion then
ensued, and a general dispersion of
this column took place. .«

General Sylly’s troops, not being
able to clear the ditch of the redoubt,
attempted to turn it, but were re-
pulsed, with great loss, by the spi-
rited opposition of the twenty-

3P4 eighth

4

952

eighth regiment posted in it. While
this was passing on the right of our
line, general Rampon’s — division
made an attack on the centre, ex-
tending as far towards the left as
the ninety-second*. It attempted
to turn the left of the brigade of
guards, which was a little advanced ;
but was received with so warm and
well kept up a fire from the third
regiment of guards, whose left was
thrown back, and from the royals,
as to be forced, after a sharp con-
test, to retreat with great loss.
General Destin, with his division,
penetrated through the hollow,
leaving the redoubt on his left, and
endeavoured to reach the old ruins.
He was there .warmly received by
the forty-second, and attempted to
withdraw his. troops; but a batta-
lion of the twenty-first demi-bri-

gade having advanced too far, was’

surrounded, aud obliged to lay
down its arms, and surrender to the
forty-second and fifty-eighth regi-
ments.

Repulsed in every quarter with
the same obstinate resolution, and
finding it impossible to penetrate
through any part of our line, the
French infantry, at length, gave
way, and dispersed, in all dire¢tions,
behind the sand hills.

At this junéture, the French ge-
neral in chief, Menou, foiled in all

“his attempts, determined to make

one last desperate effort at carrying
our position. For-this purpose, he

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

ordered the main body of the caval-
ry, under brigadier-general Roize,
to charge; and general Regnier, at
the head of the divisions Lanusse,
Rampon, Friant, and the eighty-
fifth demi-brigade, to support it.
General Roize, convinced, at once,
of the inutility and hazard of the
attempt, twice remonstrated ; and it
was only at the third peremptory
order that he obeyed.

Accordingly, the third and four-
teenth dragoons, under general Bous-
sart, came up with all the impetuous
fury of men certain of being sacri-
ficed, and charged through the for-
ty-second regiment, reaching as far
as the tents. Here, however, they
were effectually stopped ; the horses,
entangled in the cords, were, for the
most part, killed+, and many of the
men were obliged to seek their
safety on foot. At this juncture,
the Minorca regiment came to sup-
port the forty-second, and drew. up
in the vacant space between the re-
doubt and the guards. The second
line of French cavalry, composed of
the fifteenth, eighteenth, and twen-
tieth dragoons, with general Roize
at their head, made another despe-
rate charge upon these regiments.
As it would have been impossible to
withstand the shock, they opened
with the most deliberate composure
to let them pass ; then, facing about,
they poured upon them such vol-
leys, as brought numbers, both of
men and horses, to the ground. The

cavalry

* When the firing commenced in the morning, the ninety-second was on its
march to Aboukir, and already two miles from the camp. As soon as the firing
was heard, it returned, under the command of major Napier, rejoined major-gene-
ral Coote’s brigade, and behaved with its usual gallantry.

+ A circumstance, as fortunate as it was unexpected, contributed also very mate-
rially to the overthrow of the French cavalry, The ground, in the rear of the forty-
second, was full of holes, between three and four feet deep. These excavations had
been made by the twenty-eighth regiment, as conveniences to sleep in, previous to
the landing of the camp equipage. The enemy’s cavalry, charging over these, was

.

completely broken and routed,

ACCOUNT OF BOOKS.

cavalry then endeavoured to force
its way back, but this they were
unable to effect, and the greater
part were killed or wounded in the
attempt, general Roize, himself,
falling on the spot. A standard,
covered with the military exploits
of the corps to which it belonged,
according to general Regnier, a bat-
talion of the twenty-first demi-bri-
gade, fell into the hands of the Mi-
norca or Queen’s German regiment.
It was taken by a private, named
Anthony Lutz, for which he receiv-
ed a certificate from the adjutant-
general, and the sum of twenty
dollars. This man never having
learned to write or read, was inca-
pable of being made a serjeant,
to which post he would otherwise
have been adyanced. In the early
part of the aétion, a standard had
been wrested from the French by
the 42d regiment, which was, how-
ever, unfortunately retaken from
them, at the moment of the impe-
tuous charge of the enemy’s cavalry.
The French infantry, unable to give
any assistance, and exposed to the
fire of our guns, lost a great number
of men. General Beaudot was mor-
tally wounded; and, when the
broken remains of the cavalry form-
ed again in-the rear of their infan-
try, not one fourth of those who had
charged could be colleéted.

It must have been at this period,
that the gallant veteran, sir Ralph
Ambercromby, received the unfor-
tunate wound, which deprived the
army of a distinguished and beloved
commander. It is impossible to as-
certain the exaét moment, as he
never complained, or revealed the
circumstance of his being wounded
to any one, till it was perceived by
those about him. No entreaty
could even then prevail on him to

953

leave the field, till convinced, by his
own eyes, of the enemy’s retreat.

During this, the right of the
French army continued motionless
opposite to our left; but a warm
cannonade was maintained on either
side, and the riflemen and sharp-
shooters, scattered along the fronts,
kept up an incessant fire.

After the last effort of the caval-
ry, the French army remained drawn
up in order of battle, contenting
itself with keeping up a heavy can-
nonade, which we warmly returned.
By this cannonade our second line
suffered very considerably, because,
great part of the first line being dis-
posed along a height, the French
were obliged to give great elevation
to their guns, so that the balls,
clearing the height, fell in among
the ranks of the second line posted
behind it. The enemy seemed wa-
vering and uncertain, whether to
attempt another attack; and, in
this debate between prudence and
courage, their troops lay completely
under the fire of our guns, which
caused a dreadful havock among
them. Presently, however, two of
their ammunition waggons blew up,
with a dreadful explosion, and their
fire began considerably to slacken,
most probably from a want of am-
munition.

Things remained in this state’ till
about half after nine, when the ene-
my, losing numbers to no purpose,
and not daring to renew the attack,
began their retreat under the fire of
all our artillery. At ten o’clock
the firing totally ceased on both
sides; and thus ended the glorious
and ever momorable aétion of the
21st of March.

Our loss being one thousand four
hundred and sixty-four, in killed,
wounded, and missing, was certain] g

. Fars

954

very considerable; though slight,
when compared with that of the
enemy, which, at a very moderate
calculation, must have amounted to
four thousand men ; for no less than
one thousand one hundred and sixty
were counted by the provost mar-
shall, left dead upon the field of
battle, exclusive of those within the
French yedettes, which, of course,
he could not reckon, and of which
there were certainly many. Gene-
rals Lanusse, Roize, and Beaudot
were killed, and generals Desten,
Sylly, Eppler, and several other of-
ficers of rank, wounded. In the
pocket-book of general Roize were
found some interesting’ papers,

We took in this engagement two
hundred and fifty prisoners, two
pieces of cannon, and one standard.

On our side, the commander in
chief was mortally wounded ; major
general Moore, brigadier-general
Hope, adjutant-general to the army,
and brigadiers-general Oakes and
Lawson were likewise wounded*,

The gun-boats on the right, un-
der the command of captain Mait-
land, of the royal navy, were of the
most essential service, and did very
great execution among the French
troops posted behind the sand hills.

At one time, during the engage-
ment, we were in the greatest dis.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

tress imaginable, for want of ammu-
nition ; several guns were left with
scarcely one round, and many regi-
ments were in a similar situation.—
This circumstance was owing to the
want of means of conveyance. Had
it not been for this temporary defi-
ciency, the loss of the enemy would -
have been much more considerable.

As general Menou built his chief
hopes of success upon the sudden
overthrow of our right wing, and
the consequent consternation of the
army, he had preferred making his
approach while favoured by the
night, that he might arrive close to
our position unperceived, and thus
avoid the destructive fire of our en-
trenchments, and of the gun-boats.
In faét, the attack was as sudden as
it was unexpeéted ; and had general
Lanusse waited a little longer for
the effeét produced by the false
alarm on our left, the consequence
might have been very serious, as the
Minorca regiment, and the rest of
general Stuart’s brigade, afterward
of such very essential service on the
right, were aétually on their march
to the threatened quarter.

The five hundred Turks remained
in the rear during the whole aétion.
When the danger was over, they pa-
raded on a small hill in our front,
with their numerous flags flying.—

About

* The effective force of the British army, in the field on this memorable day,
was under twelve thousand men ; that of the French, from the most exact compu-
tations that could be made, cannot have been less than twelve or thirteen thousand
able and experienced soldiers, exclusive of artillery.

Our effective strength on the 7th of March, as appears by the official returns at
the end of the Appendix, was 14697 rank and file.

Subtracting from the number ..

666 our loss on the 8th of March. z

1129 ditto 13th ditto.
13 on the 18th ditto,
520 strength of the marines left before Aboukir

castle.

About 600 sick or convalescents.

2938

/

Reduces our force actually in the field, on the 21st of March, to 11759.

. ACCOUNT OF BOOKS.

About two hundred Bedoween
Arabs, mounted on horseback, came
in to us, across the ancient bed of
Lake Mareotis, before the firing had
entirely ceased, and expressed their
joy at the defeat of the French.

The ground in our front, and
even between our lines, was strewed
with the bodies of the enemy’s slain,
which the Turks and Arabs were
very desirous to strip and plunder,
had they been allowed by us. Be-
fore night, almost all the dead with-
in our yedettes had been buried;
but within the French lines it was
very different,—for numbers: of
men, horses, and camels, were there
Aeft to rot, and infect the air with
their noisome exhalations.

When sir Ralph Abercrombie had
- seen the enemy retreat, he attempted
to get on horseback ; but his wound,
which was probed and dressed in the
field by an assistant surgeon of the
guards, having become extremely
stiff and painful, he could not
mount, and reluctantly suffered him-
self to be placed upon a litter, from
which he was removed into a boat,
and carried on board the Foudroy-
ant. Here lord Keith received him
with all possible affection, and every
care and attention which his state
required were early paid him.

This misfortune befalling our il-
lustrious commander, of whom it
threatened to deprive us, combined,
with the refle¢tion on the many va-
luable lives that had been lost, to
damp the joy and triumph we
should otherwise have felt on ob-
taining such a brilliant victory.

There being some reason to ap-
prehend that the enemy intended to
repeat their attack during the night,
our troops remained under arms,
and at their alarm posts, till morn-
ing. Had the French again tried

‘ 1

beloved commander,

955

our strength, however, they would
have met even a warmer reception
than they had received this morning.
Two additional twenty-four-pound-
ers had been brought up, and placed
on a commanding ground in the rear
of the third regiment of guards ;
great abundance of ammunition of
all kinds had been also conveyed
from the depét to the lines, which
had been strengthened by trous de
loup, trenches, &c,”

The following passage does so
much credit to the feelings and cha-
ra¢ter of the author, that we cannot
deny ourselves the pleasure of ‘its
insertion.

‘¢ On the morning of the 29th of
March, arrived the melancholy tid-
ings of sir Ralph Abercrombie’s de-
cease. At eleven, the preceding
night, death snatched from us this
The wound
which he received on the @2lst,
bringing on fever and mortification,
occasioned this lamented event, and
our valiant general was lost to us at
the moment when we stood most in
need of his assistance. The ball had
entered the thigh very high up, and,
taking a direction towards the

‘groin, had lodged in the bone,

whence it could not be extra¢ted.
In the action of the 13th of
March, he had suflered a contusion
in the thigh, from a musket-ball,
and had a horse killed under him.
On the 21st, at the time when he
received his death wound, he was
in the very midst of the enemy, and
personally engaged with an officer of
dragoons, who was at that moment
shot by a corporal of the forty-se-
cond. Sir Ralph retained the offi-
cer’s sword, which had passed be-
tween his arm and his side the in-
stant before the officer fell.
During the seven days which
elapsed

956

elapsed from the period of his being
wounded till his death, the anguish
and torture he endured must have
been extreme. Yet not a groan,
not-a complaint escaped his lips, and
he continued to the last a bright ex-
ample of patience and fortitude.—
He thought and talked of nothing
else, to all around him, but of the
bravery and heroic conduct of the
army, -which he said he could not
‘sufficiently admire.

A man who had served his
country in every quarter of the
globe; who, as a commander, de-
votes to his troops an attention al-
most parental; as a soldier, shares
in all their hardships and all their
dangers ; who, at an age when he
might retire from the field crowned
with glory, comes forth, at the call

j :

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803.

of his country, a veteran in experi-
ence, youthful in ardour ; whose
life is a public blessing, his death an
universal misfortune, is beyond the
hackneyed phrase of panegyric.—
Such a man was Sir Ralph Aber-
crombie. Dead to his country, his
name will ever live in her recollec-
tion. Through his exertions, se-
conded by the co-operation of those
he commanded, a nation, long op-
pressed by a sanguinary war, caught-
the first glimpse of an honourable
peace ; and while a grateful people
bent over the grave of their de-
parted hero, they beheld the yet
timid olive, sheltering itself in the
laurels which encircled his tomb.—
‘The command of the army now de-
volved upon major-general Hut-
chinson.”

CONTENTS

eo NOL ENO S-

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

p CHAP. I.
Preliminary Observations.—Meeting of Parliament.—Eleétion of a
Speaker.—Mr. Abbot proposed—chosen without Opposition.—King’s
" Speech.—Address moved by Lord Arden—seconded by Lord Nelson.—
Speeches of the Marquis of “‘Abercorn—Lord Carlisle—the Duke of Nor-
folk—Lords Grenville—Pelham—Carysfort—and_ Hobart. Address
carried nem. diss.—Moved the same Day in the Lower House by Mr.-
Trench—seconded by Mr. Curzon.—Speeches of Mr. Cartwright—Sir
John Wrottesley—Mr. Pytches—Fox—Canning—Lord Hawkesbury—
Mr. Windham—Addington—T. Grenville—Lord Castlereagh—and Mr
Whitbread.—Address carried unanimously. : 1

CHAP. II.

Report, of the Address brought up—Debate on the second reading.—
Speeches of Mr. Wilberforce—Eliot—Sir Francis Burdett—Mr. John-
stone—Earl Temple—Generadl M aitland—Sceretary at War—Mr. Fox—
Archdall—Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Report agreed. to.—Address
presented—Gracious Answer of the King.—Observations. : 20

CHAP. Il.

Resolutions of the Committee of Supply. Debate on the first Resolution.
~—Speeches of Mr. T. Grenville—Addington—Sir S$. Smith—Lord
Hawkesbury—Mr. Canning—Attorney General—Dr. Lawrence.—Re-
solutions agreed to.—Lord Moira’s Motion for Papers on the Assump-
tion of the Dominion of the Carnatic, in the House of Lords, agreed to.
—Proceedings on the Middlesex Petitions.—Military Estimate.—De-
bate.—Secretary at War—Mr. Bankes—Eart Temple—Gener al Mait-
land— Turleton— Mr. Archdall— Whitbread — Sheridan—Canning—
Wilberforce—Fox—Windham—Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Resolu-
tions committed.—Debate resumed on the bringing up the Report of the
Committee—Mr. T. Grenville—Lord Hawkesbury—Sir F. Burdett—
Dr. Lawrence—Mr. Fou—Windham—Lord Castlereagh.—Resolutions
carried unanimously. : : : 3 INS Ge

CHAP.

_

CONTENTS.

CHAP, IV.

Preliminary Observations.—Committee of the House of Commons on the Sup-
ply and Ways and Means.—General Statement of the Finance, by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Four Millions granted from the Excess of
the consolidated Fund, towards the Supply.—Petitions from the Ship-
Owners against the Tonnage Duty—ordered to lie on the Table.—Bill for
appointing Naval Commissioners, for the Purpose of Enquiry into Naval
Abuses-—Debate thereon—farther Debate on the second reading—and on
the third reading—carried,—Debate in the Lords on the Malt Duty Bill.
Speeches of Earl Spencer—Lord Pelham—Earl of Carlisle—Lords Lime-
rick—Grenville—the Lord Chancellor—read a first Time—Debate on the
second Reading.—Speechkes of Earls Spencer—Suffolk—the Lord Chan-
cellor—Earl of Carlisle—Darnley—Lord Hobart—the Duke of Norfolk—
Lords Grenville—Pelham—and Minto.—Bill committed and passed.—
Naval Commission Bill passed in the Lords.—Observations.—Christmas
Recess. 4 ‘ : E 48

CHAP. V.

Discouraging Prospects at the Commencement of the Year.—Meeting of Par-
liament after the Recess.—Chancellor of the Exchequer moves for a Con=
tinuation of the Bank Restriction Bill—Debate—supported by Sir F.
Baring—Lord Hawkesbury—and Mr. Princep—opposed by Mr. Tierncy
For—Banks—passes the Commons—moved in the House of Lords by Lord ~
Pelham—Debate—Lord Auckland—Moira—King.—Second reading— ,
Debate—Lord Auckland—Grenville—Sheficld—passes without further
Oppositton.—Message from the King, on the Prince of Wales's Affairs.—
Congratulatory Address to His Majesty from both Houses, on his provi=
dential Escape from the Machinations of Despard and his Associates.—
Account of the Conspiracy—Trial of Despard—and Execution of the
Traitors. : : : . . 65.

CHAP. VI.

King’s Message, respecting the Affairs of the Prince of Wales, taken into
Consideration in the House of Commons—Committee of the whole House
—Debate—Mr. Addington—Solicitor General—Sir RK. Milbank—Mr.
Harrison—Lord Castlereagh—Mr. Sheridan—and Mr. Fox.—The Minis-
ter’s Resolution for allowing 60,0001. to the Prince of Wales, from
the Consolidated Fund, unanimously agreed to by the Committee—Message
taken into Consideration by the Lords—.4ddress of Thanks moved—car-
ried.—Message from the Prince of Wales to the House of Commons.—Bill

. for increasing the Period of Annual. Exercise of the Militia—passes both
Houses without Opposition.—Interesting Debate on Mr. Calcraft’s Mo-
tion respecting the Prince’s Establishment—lost by a small Majority—
original Proposition finally agreed to—abrupt Relinquishment of the
Prince's further Claims—Considerations and Remarks thereon. 76

CHAP. VII. .

Kwme's Message —Probability of immediate War.—His Majesty's sen

taken

CONTENTS.

taken into Consideration in the Lords—Address moved by Lord Hobart— ,
Debate—Earl Spencer—Lord Grenville—Earl Moira—Address of
Thanks carried—and in the Commons same Day.—Address moved by Mr.
Addington—Debate—Mr. Foxr—Lord Hawkesbury—Mr. Windham—
Sheridan—Grenville—Dr. Lawrence—Address carried.—Message for
the embodying the Militia.—Motion for 10,000 additional Seamen—De-
bate—Mr. Francis—Chancellor of the Exchequer—Mr. Dent-—For—
Burrovghs—Lord Hawkesbury—Mr. Elliot—Canning—Trench—In-
erease agreed to—Remarks. 5 : 3 87
£

CHAP. VIfI.

India Budget—Lord Castlereagh—Mr. Johnstone—Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer—Mr. W. Dundas.—Prince of Wales’s Annuity Bill—passes the
House of Lords without Opposition—Irish Militia Bill—Debate—
Mr. Wickham—Elliot—Sir Lawrence Parsons—Yorke—Coionel Fitz«
gerald. Proceedings on the Nottingham Election Bill—Bill brought in to
regulate them in future by Mr. Hawkins Browne—supported by Mr.
Prerrepoint and Mr. Bond—Petition against it from the Mayor and Cor-
poration of Nottingham—presented by Mr. For—ordered to he on the
Table.—Further Proceedings on the Irish Militia Bill—Debate—Mr.
Windham—Secretary at War—Sir W. Pulteney—General Tarleton—
Sir. L. Parsons—Mr. Wilberforce—Mr. Elliot—Resolutions agreed to—
and @ Bill ordered pursuant thereto.— Remarks. ° OF

CHAP. IX.

Debate in the House of Lords on the Earl of Carlisle’s Motion for Naval
Enquiry—in the Commons on the Militia Officers’ Bill, and on India

’ Affairs.—King’s Message to reward Sir J. Saumarez—Lord Eilen-
borough’s Chalking Bill—Debate on the Punishment of Trotter, for Con-
tempt of the Orders of the House —General Gascoyne moves for a Bill to
equalize the Measure of Foreign Salt.—Proceedings on the Clergy Resi«
dence Bill—Debate on the Pancrass Workhouse—and on the Coroner's
Bill— Granada Loan Bill,—Easter Recess. ‘ : 105

CHAP. X-

Proceedings in Parliament after the Easter Recess.—Committce of the
House of Commons on the giving Facilities to Mercantile Transactions. —
Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Plan for the Consolidation of the Duties.—
Proceedings on the Report of the Ilchester Election Committee—and
on, the Coroner's Bill—lost.—Lord Folkstone moves for Papers re-
specting the Cape of Good Hope—refused.—Debate in the Lords on the
Trish Bank Restriction Bill—Lord King—Earl of Limerick—Lord
Auckland.— Nottingham Election Bill carried unanimously.— Clergy Bill.
—Mr, Markham’s Divorce Bill—Sir H. Mildmay’s Motion on Navat
Abuses—Debate.—Irish Bank Restriction Bill.—Clause agreed to in the
Clergy Residence Bill, allowing the Rector Leave of Absence for three
Montis.—Debate in the Lords, on the Insolvent Debtor's Bill_—
Retrospect. : . ‘ ‘ 118
CHAP.

CONTENT S$:

CHAP. XI. :
Communication by Lord Pelham to the House of Lords.—Motion for Ad-+
Jjournment—opposed—carried on a Division—to the House of Commons
by Mr. Addington—and similar Motion—Division upon it—carried.—
Proceedings in the House of Lords pursuant to Adjournment.—Further
Adjournment—and in the Commons.— Bill of Indemnity for the Export
of Corn, by Order of the Ministers, brought in and carried.—Debate on
Lord King’s Motion for Financial Enquiry—able Speech of Lord Gren-
ville—Observations.—R epeated Adjournments of both Houses.—King’s
Message to Parliament, announcing the Recal of Lord Whitworth —All
Hopes of Peace at an End.—Copies of the Correspondence with France
laid before Parliament. — Motion for farther Information in both
Houses—deferred.—Conversation on Malta, and on the conquered Colo-
nies in the West Indies.—Day appointed to take the King’s Message and
the ** Correspondence” into Consideration in both Houses. ‘ 129

: CHAP. XII.

Inportant Debates in Parliament on the Negotiation and Correspondence—
in the House of Lords—Speeches of Lord Pelham—Duke of Cumberland
—of Clarence—Lord Mulgrave—Melville—Duke of Richmond—Marquis
of Lansdowne—Duke of Norfolk—Lord King—Ellenborough—Earl of
Moira—of Rosslyn—Spencer—Marquis of Sligo—Lord Grenville—
Division—great Majority on the Part of Government—in the House
of Commons—Public Anxiety to witness the Debate—Defjiciency in the
Reports thereof—why—Mr. - Piti?s Sentiments—Amendment to the
Address moved by Mr, Grey—Debate adjourned—Speeches of Mr. T,
Grenville—Whitbread—Dallas—Elliot—Serjeant Best—Mr. Canning—
Fox-—Addington—Attorney General—Mr. Windhum—W. Smith—Di-
vistion—Address carried by a great Majority—Message from the
King to Parliament.—Supplementary Militia embodied.—Clergy Resi-

_ dence Lill carried.—Motion by Mr. Fox on the Russtan Mediation—op-

, posed by Lord Haweksbury and Mr, Pitt—withdrawn.— Observations, 145

CHAP. XIII.

Debates in both Houses of Parliament on tie Conduct of Ministers.—In the
Lords—Speeches of Earl Fitzwilliam— Limerick—Grosvencor—Lord
Mulgrave—Earl of Caernarvon—Lord Ellenborough—Melville—Ho-
bari—Grenville.— Resolution for the Censure of Ministers negatived by
a great Magority.—Débates, the following Day, in the Commons, on st-
milar Resolutions, moved by Colonel Patten.— Colonel Bastard and Mr.
Hawkins Browne vindicate the Conduct of Ministers—Lord Kensington
—Earl Temple—Mr. Hobhouse—Mr. C. W. Wynne—Courtenay—T.
Grenville—Chancellor of the Exchequer—Mr, Piit—Lord Hawkesbury
—Mr, Canning.—Resolutions negatived by a great Majority.—In the
Lords, Earl Fitzwilliam moves for Censure on the Ministers—supported
by Lord Minto and Lord Grenville—opposed by the Duke of Clarence—
the Lord Chuncellor—and Lord Hi obart.— Motion aN a i y

CONTENTS.

CHAP. XIV. xe
Secretary at War brings forward the Army Estimates for the Year—De-
bate—Opinions of Mr. Windham—Pitt—Addington.—Budget brought
forward by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.—New Taxes—Objcétions by
Lord Folkstone.— King’s Message announcing the Commencement of Hos-
tilities against the Batavian Republic—Another on the Augmentation, of
the Means of Defence of the Country—Thanks voted fox Goth.— Army of
Reserve Act brought into the House of Lords by Lord Hobart.—
Speeches of the Duke of Clarence—Earl of Caernarvon—Suffolk—Moira—
Lord Mulgrave—Grenville.— Address. of Thanks voted unanimously.—
The same Measure moved in the Commons, by the Secretary at War—
Debate—Mr. Windham—Chancellor of the Exchequer—Address carried.
—Clergy Bill read a second Time in the Lords.— Army of Reserve. Bilt
read a second Time in the Commons—Debate—Mr. Calcraft—Sheridan—
Elliot—Yorke—Pitt— Windham — Addington.— Bill re-committed—De-
bate—Colonel Craxford—Mr. M‘Naughton—Windham—Chancellor ‘of
the Exchequer—Mr. Johnston—Hutchinson—Archdall—Lord de Bla-
quiere.—Bill finally passes the Commons, and, after a Debate, the
Lords.— Remarks. : 182

CHAP. XV.

Proceedings of Parliament on the Property Tax Bill—Chancellor of the
Exchequer moves for a Committee thereon—Debate—Opposed by Alder-
‘man Combe—Mr. William Smith—Supported by Mr. Addington—
Lord Hawkesbury— Mr, Erskine— Recomimitted.— Debate _on_ the
Irish Army of Reserve Bill—Speeches of General Gascoyne—Loftus—
House cleared—Renewal of Debates on the Property Tux Bill—Mr. W.
Smith—Addington.—Unexpeéted Motion of Mr. Pitt—Division—De-
bate resumed next Day.—Desultory Conversation—Bill passed.—Addi-
tional Proceedings on the Defence of the Country.—Sccretary at War

_ proposes a Levy en Masse—Speech—Debate—Mr. Windham—Lord
Hawkesbury—Sir Francis Burdett—Mr. Pitt—Lord Castlereagh—Mr.
Fox—Addington—Bill read a first and second Time—Debate resumed—
Mr. Sheridan—Kinnaird.—Last Debate thereon—Colonel Crawford—
Mr. Pitt—General Tarleton.—Bill passes the Commons—Debates
thercon in the Lords—Passes with little Opposition.—Remarks.— Pro-
ceedings on the Affairs of the Prince of Orange.—Observations. 192

CHAP. XVI.

King’s Message on the Irish Insurreélion.—Speeches of Tord Hobart—
Lord Limerick.—Address of Thanks unanimously carried-—Proceedings
in the House of Commons thereon —Bills brought into both Houses for
the Trial of Rebels, and for the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Att.
Discussion in the Commons—Mr, Addingion—Windham—Sheridan—
Hutchinson—Lord Hawkesbury—Dr. Lawrence—Lord Castlereagh,—
Debate closed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. Windham—Bill
passes in both Houses the same Night.—India Budget.— Debates on the
Defence Aét.—Mr. Sheridan’s Motion of Thanks to the Voluntcers—And
Vou. XLY. 3Q Mr.

CONTENTS.

Mr. Hutchinson’s on the Affairs of Ireland.—Session closed by a Speech
from the Throne.—Obdservations. 202

CHAP XVII.
Negotiation of the Minister with Mr. Pitt—Conditions on which the latter
agrees to come into Office—unpalatable—and why.—Rejetted—and total
- Failure thereof.—Subscquent Changes in Administration.—No Acquisition
‘of Strength thereto.—Obscrvations. : 213

CHAP. XVIII.

Recapitulation of the relative Circumstances of England and France, previ-
ously to, and immediately after, the Treaty of Amiens. —Course of the
Aggressions of France, under the Heads of Commerce, the Press, Malta,
Switzerland.—Report of Sebastiant.—Gencral Insolence and Injustice.—
King’s Message.—Declaration of War. : 5 220

CHAP. XIX.

Declaration of War—Different Opinions thereon—State of both Countries
at its Commencement—Mode of Warfare which each naturally resolves
on.— Attack of the lesser French West-India Islands determined upon by
England.— France prepares to extend her Conquests on the Continent.—
Attack of Hanover by the Army of General Mortier—OQperations there
—Entirely reduced, and occupied by the armies of the French Republic.
—Navigation of English Vessels in the Elbe and Weser impeded—
Blockade by an English Squadron of the Mouths of those Rivers.—Far-
ther Violation of the German Empire by the French.—Preparations of .
Denmark suspended.—French Armies invade Naples, and the Territories
of the Pope.—Ancona and Turentum occupied by them at the same Time.
—French Project ef invading Great Britain—Prcparations therefor—
Means of Defence of the latter Power.—Holland and the Italian Repub-
lic compelled by France to engage in the War.—Unjustifiable Detention
of all the English Subjects residing in France.—Great national Exertion
and Spirit of the British Nation.—Volunteers.—French and Dutch colo-
nial Possessions attacked.—St. Domingo lost to the French.—St. Lucia
and Tobago taken.—Gallantry of the British Vorce.—Demerara and 1Is-
sequibo taken.—Present Views of Bonaparte.—Situation of France and
England at the Conclusion of the Year. 280

CHAP. XX.

Affairs of Ireland.—Retrospeét —Tumults in the South put down by Legal
Authority.—Mildness of Government.— Rumours of War with France
excite Uneasiness in the lower Orders.—Their Disaffeélion—acted upon
by Republican Agents.—New Conspiracy.—Charatters of the Leaders—
Emmett—Dowdall—Quigley—Russcl.—Overture of theirs to the Outlaw
Duyer—Rejetted.— Profound Secrecy’ observed in their Proceedings.—
Provide Arms and Stores in Dublin.—Grand Attempt to be made in the
Capitul.— Explosion of one of their Gunpowder Magazines — Alarm ex-
eited.— Attack determined to take Place on the 23d of July—and why.

by 4 “Folly

CONTENTS:

Folly and Madness of their Scheme.—Enthustasm of Emmett.—Forces of
the Conspirators assemble in Dublin on the appointed Day.—Arm them-
selves without Molestation.—Possess themselves of a considerable Quarter
of the Town.—Fire at Mr. Clark, and desperately wound him.—Emmett
heads his Party, and the Commencement of the Attack:—M urder of Col,
Browne—and of others.—Tumult and Irregularity of the Insurgents—
Totally unmanageable.—Emmett and the other Chiefs abandon them in
Despair.—Completely subdued and dispersed by a handful of Troops.—
Particulars of the Massacre of the Lord Chief Justice—his Death—and
Charatter.—Depét of the Rebels discovered, and their Proclamation.—
_ Fate of Emmett and Russel.—Execution.—Tranquillity restored.—Gene=
ral Reflections. ‘ : ; ; 294:

CHAP. XXI.

State of Europe.—Effect of the Peace of Amiens upon Spain—Portugal—
Austria —Prussia—Sweden*_Denmark—Italy.—Only beneficial in its
Effects to France.—Discontent of Russia.—War breaks out between
England and France.-—Ambitious Views of Bonaparte on the Turkish
Empire in Africa —Europe—and Asia.—Mission of Scbastiant.—Views
of Bonaparte frustrated by the War—directs his whole Attention to the
Invasion of Britain —Vast Preparations at Bologne—at Brest—and at
Bayonne.—Levies Contributions on Portugal.—Tyrannical Conduct to
the Dutch.—Designs in Germany.—State of the Empire.—French in-
vade and conquer Hanover.—Acquiescence of Austria and Prussia thereto
—and why.—Spirited Conduct of Denmark.—Insolence of Bonaparte to
Russia, and Violation of his Treaties with that Power.—Posture of Eu-
rope at the Close of the Year.—Conclusvon. : “ 318

CHAP. XXII.

Affairs of the West-Indics.—Transactions of the French in St. Domingo.—
Dreadful Cruclties exercised by them towards the Black Inhabitants.—
Yellow Fever breaks out.—Great Ravages among the French Forces.—
General Insurrection——Partial Successes of the Blacks.—Great Dis-
tresses of the French.—Cape Town besieged by the Insurgents.—Sickness
of General Le Clere—and Death.—Command of the Army devolves on
General Rochambeau:-—Cape Town relieved—Action at the Mole—G reat
Slaughter of the Negroes.—Effect of the War between England and
France, on St. Domingo.—British Squadrons blockade the several Ports
of the Island.—Critical Situation of the French.—Capture of the Towns
on the Coast.—Out Posts successively fall into the Hands of the Negroes.
—Fort Dauphin taken by the English.—Gallant Defence of the Cape
Touwn.—Erench Force capitulate—carried off the Island by the English
Squadron.—Frecdom of St. Domingo proclaimed by the Negro Chiefs.—
Reflections.—Effect of the War on the British West Indian Islands.—
Greatly benefited thereby.—Disputes in Jamaica—not terminated.—Af-=
fairs of the United States of America.—French Encroachments and De-
signs—totally defeated by the Declaration of War.—America thus rescued
from the most serious Danger.—Observations.—G lance at.the Situation

of India,—Conclusion. -
3Q2 CHRONICLE.

CONTENTS.

CHRONICLE. 353—468

Births in the Year 1803 ; i : t 469
Marriages F : : : 4 475
Promotions 7 - : % 480
Deaths : a ‘ : 2 is 493
Sheriffs appointed by his Majesty in Council 5 : 531

APPENDIX TO THE CHRONICLE.

Dispatch from Lieutenant General Grinfield, Commander in Chief of his
( « Majesty’s Troops in the Windward and Leeward Charibbee Islands, to Lord
Hobart, Principal Secretary of Sate for the War Department. Dated St.
Lucia, June 22 : ; : : 533
Letter from Commodore Hood, Commander in Chief at the Leeward Islands,
to Sir E. Nepean, Bart. dated on board the Centaur, in Choque Bay, St.
Lucie, June 22 : 5 2 : 534
Dispatch from Lieutenant General Grinfield, Commander in Chief of his Ma-
~ gesty’s Troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands, Dated Scarborough,
Tobago, July 1. : : t : 535
Terms of Capitulation agreed upon between General Grinfield and Commo-
dore Hood, and General Bertiier, dated Providence House, June 30 536
Dispatch from Commodore Hood, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships
and Vessels at the Leeward Islands, to Sir Evan Nepean, Bart. dated To-
bago, July 1 ; ; : ; : 537
Letter from Captain Malbons commanding his Majesty Ship Aurora 539
Dispatch from Licutenant Colonel Nicholson, to General Grinfield, Com-
mander wm Chief in the Windward and Leeward Charibbee Islands. Dated

New Amsterdam, Berbice, Sept. 25 F ; : 2b.
Extract of a Letter from Rear Admiral Sir J. T. Duckworth, K. B. Dated
Shark, Port Royal, Jamaica, Sept 29 ; : . 541
Letter from Captain Bligh to Admiral Duckworth. Dated Theseus, Port
Dauphin, St. Domingo, Sept. 8 : . 542

fetter from Admiral Duckworth, detailing the Particulars of a Negotiation
" with General Rochambeau, Jor the Surrender of the French Force in St.
Domingo. Dated Sloop Shark, Port Royal, November 30 1 543
Extract of a Dispatch from Governor the Hon. Frederick North, to the
Right Hon. Lord Hobart, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of
State. Dated Columbo, 8th July, 1803 e 549
Dispatch from his Exceliency the Commander in Chicf, to his Excellency the
Most Noble Marquis Wellesley, Governar General, &c. Dated Fort Wil-
ham, Sept. 23 : ; d : : <p eS 2
The like, Sept. 24 3 : : - ; om 2B,
The like, Sept. 23 , 3 : 4 ; rey 554

Dispatches

CONTEDES.

Dispatches from the Hon. Major General Wellesley, to his ee the
Most Noble the Governor General. Dated Fort William, Oct. 30 556
Dispatch from his Excellency the Commander in Chief, to his Excellency the
Most Noble the Governor General. Dated Fort William, Nov. 15 559
Correspondence between his Majesty, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York,
and Mr, Addington, respecting the Ofer of Military Service made by his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ‘ 504
Letter from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, ‘to the Right Hon.
Henry Addington, Dated Carlton- House, July 18 : : 504
Letter from his. Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to the King. Dated

Brighthelmstone, ‘August 6 565
Letter Srom the King fo his Royal Highness the Prince - of Wales. Dated
Windsor, August 7 567
Letter from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to the King. Dated
Brighthelmstone, August 23 2b.
Letter from his Royal Highness the Prince of li ‘ales, to tis Roy yal Highness
the Duke of York. Dated October 2 : 508
Letter from his Royal Highness the Duke of ¥ ork, to his Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales. Dated Horse Guards, October 6 x 569
Letter from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to his Royal Highness
the Duke of York. Dated Br ighthelustone, October 9 . 570
Letter from his Royal Highness the Duke of York, to his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, Dated Horse Guards, October 11 ~ 572
Letter from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to his Royal Highness
the Duke of York. Dated Brighton October 12 ; 2b.
Letter from his Royal Highness the Duke of York, to his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales. Dated Horse Guards, October 13 573
be Sor his Royal Highness the Prince ‘of Wales, to his Royal Hichniss
the Duke of York. Dated Carlton House, October 14. . s 57 4:
Letter from the Right Hon. Henry Addington, to his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales. Dated Richmond Park, October 23>: 575
Letter from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to the Right Hon.
Henry Addington. Dated Carlton House, October 24 : . wb.
Correspondence ‘between the Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor of Ireland and
the Earl of Fingall ' 575
Letter from the ‘Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, to the Right
Hon. the Earl of Fingall. Dated Ely Place, August 18 : ab.
Letter from the Right ‘Hon. the Earl of Fingall, to the Right Hon. Lord
Redesdale, Dated Great- Denmark Str eet, ” August 19 : 578
Letter from the Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor, to the Earl of Fingall.
Dated Ely Place, August 21 "579
Letter from the Earl of Fingall, to the ‘Right Hon, the Lord Chancellor,
Dated August 27 581
Letter from the Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor, ¢ t8 the Earl of Tingalt,
Dated Ely Place, Dublin, August 28 “582
Letter from the Earl of F ingall, to the Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor:
Dated Great Denmark Street, September 4 ; ; 583

3Q3 Letter

CONTENTS.
Letter froin the Right Hon, the Lord Chancellor, to the Bait of Fingall.

Dated Ely Place, September 6 4 B84
A abe Considerations for the People of this Kingdom . 585
Lrial of Colonel Marcus Despard : ; A < 594
Trial of Jean Peltier for a Libel on Bonaparte : 600
General Bill of Christenings and Burials, ae December 14, 1802, to De-
cember 13, 1803 618
Prices of Stock for the Year 1803 619

Amount of the Annual Charge of the Public Debt, andthe Py bdtuee of the
several Duties granted for defraying the same, from the Year 17 94 to

1804 i “ 620
Supplies granted by Parliantent for the Year 1803 : ‘ 621
Ways and Means for raising the Supply r ; : 632
Taxes imposed in the Year 1803 633

A Last of the Public Bills which receiv ed the Royal Assent m the Course of
the Third Session of the Second Parliament of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland : : : , 634

STATE, PAPERS.

Message from his Majesty to the House of Commons, Feb.16 . 646
The likes March 8 J r . ! A ib.
The like, March 10 ; f s 2b.
The like, May 16 : . P . 647
The like, June 17 Ae x a c ab.
The like, June 18 - “ : y 648
The like, July 20 . - : ; ab.
The like, July 24 : : ; : ab.
The Tie: July 28 2b.

His Majesty's Speech.on the Prorogation of Par liament, August 12 649
Resolutions moved by Earl Fi itzwilliam, in the House of Peers, on the 2d of

June, 1803, on the Conduct of Ministers - 650
The Official Correspondence between Great-Britain and France, on the Sub-
Ject of the Negociations subsequent to the Treaty of Amiens — . 652
Letter from M. Otto to Lord Hawkesbury. Dated London, May ty 23,
1802 - ab.
Letter from Lord Hawkesbury to M. Otto, dated May o4 ib.
Extract of a Dispatch from Lord St. Helens to Lord Hawkesbury dated St.
Petersbur gh, April 23 ‘ : ‘ 2b.
The like, May 7 ¥ 653 |
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury y to Mr. Merry ‘Ys dated June 5. ab.
Extract of a Dispatch from Mr. Merry to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris,
June 17 , 654

Note Verbale from Mr. Mer ry to M. Talley yrand, dated Paris, June 8 — %b.
Note from M. Talleyrand to Mr. Merr ‘y, dated Paris, 20th Prazrial,

Year 10 : 2 ; 3 4 2 655
Dispatch

CONTENTS

Dispatch. from Mr. Merry to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris, June 4 656
Dispatch. from Lord Hawkesbury to Mr. Merry, dated’ June 10 -. 657
Dispatch from Mr. Merry to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris, June 17 658
Letter from M. Otto to Lord Hawkesbury, dated July 25 Bee -; 659

Letter from Lord Hawkesbury to M. Otto, dated July 28 A 660
Note from M. Otto to Lord Hawkesbury, dated August 17 A 66
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to Mr. Merry, dated August 28 664
Note from M. Otto to Lord Hawkesbury, dated August 21 669
Note from Lord Hawkesbury to M, Otto, dated Downing Street, August
23 OT 0
Extract of a 1 Dispatch “from Mr. Merr, ‘y to ’ Lord Hatwkesbury "Ys, “dated Oc-
tober 3 : ab.
Note referred to in Mr. Merry’s ¢ Dispatch dated October 3 A 672
Note from Lord Hawkesbury to M. Otto, dated Downing Bk ef Oc+
tober 10 ib.
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury "yy ‘to Mr, Moore, dated Oc tober 10 673
Dispatch from Mr. Moore to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Constance, Oc-
* tober 31 675

Dispatch from Lord Fawitesbirs 'y + Mr. Mo oore, dated ‘Nobeaiber 25 ib,
Extract of a Dispatch from Mr. Liston to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Hague,

October 13 ib.
Dispatch from Mr. Water to Word Eanaleetir “Ys ‘dated Hague, Ors '
tober 29 676
Extract of a Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to Tora Wihitisor th, dated
November 30 F 677

Extract of a Dispatch from oe St. Helens to Lord igpheshura "y, dated St.

Petersburgh, July 20 : : 678
The like, August 3. a
Extract of a “Dispatch J om Mr. "Paget to Tort Hawkesbar, "Yy dated Vienna,
July 18 A v ib.
TInclosure marked A. in No. 26 7 gh ; ar

Inclosure marked B. in No. 26 dB
Extract of a Dispatch Pi Mr. Paget to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Vi Zennir,

August 22 - : 3 679
Inclosure referr ed to in No a7 A
Extract of a Dispatch from Mr. We: to Lord Hawkesbury 'Y, dated Ber-

lin, August 21 : . 680
The like, August 31 2 3 C . te

The like, Octaber 2

Extract of a Dispatch from Mr. Tackson to’ Lord Hawkesbury Y; ilated Benin
Nov. 25

Extract of a Dispatch from Mr. Garlicke to Lord Hawkesbury y, dated s
Petershur gh, Sept. 17 ib.

Extract of a Dispatch from Sir John Bortase Warren to Lord Hawkesbury,

dated St. Petersbur. gh, Nov. 18 : ; Z 681
Thé like, Nov.25 : : “ z ib.
Inclosure referred to in No, 34 ; ; ib.

‘ | Dispateh

CONTENTS.

Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris, January
27 . 682
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury 'y to Lord Whitworth, dated Februar ‘y 9 684
Extract of a Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, dated
Paris, February 17 685
Pager! from lath Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris, February
687

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to Lord Whitwor th, dated Feb. 18 691
Reaneich from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris, March

693

ae from General Andreossy to Lord Hawkesbury “Y, dated Portland Place,
March 10 694
Dispatch from Lord Whitworth fo Aark Hawkesbury, dated March 12 696
Note Verbale referred to in No. 3 697
yesh sport Lord Whitworth A Lord Hawkesbury ¥, dated Paris, March
698

iipeace of a Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury -y to Lord W. hitworth, dated
March 15 699
Note from Lord Hawkesbury to General Andreossy, dated March 1s 1b.
Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury y dated Paris, March
17 : . . . 702
The lke, March 18 703
Dispatch from Lord Hewkesbury to Lord W hitworth, dated March 27 704
The like, Apri 3 : . . ab.
Inclosure in No. 49 A 4 . . tb.
The like : 708
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury ‘y ‘to Lord WV, hitworth,, dated April 4 ib.
First Inclosure referred to in No. 50 . : = 709
Second Inclosure referred to in No. 50 : ab.
Extract of a Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury ‘y, dated
Paris, April 7 710

' Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury Ys dated april Zz ib.
Inclosure referred to in No. 52 711
Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord Haw kesbury, dated Apr il 9 ab.
Inclosure referred to m No. 53 713
Extract of a Dispatch from Lord W sourtl to trod, ane ‘y, dated
Apri 14 ib.
Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbur y to Lord W ‘hitworth, dated ye 13 ab.
The like, Aprl13. 714
saiepete from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury Z dated Pari isy April
. . . 715

The “ike, ee, 1S.2t. , P i ‘ 716
Inclosure referred to in No, 58 717
5 a from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury i dated Pars is, April

Dispatch if om Lord Hawkesbur; “y ‘to Lord IV ’hitworth, dated April 23 718
a from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury y dated Paris, April
. ‘ : 719

" Dispatch

CONTENTS:
bi from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Paris, April

: 721
Borece of a Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord d Haskesbury, dated
Paris, April27_ ; 723
The like, April29. % : 4 i ib.
The like, May 2 : : ‘ : 724
Inclosure referred to in No. 65 : 725

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord oe dated

Paris, May 4 . ab.
First Inclosure referred to in No. 66 ; 3 726
Second Inclosure ‘refer red to in No. 66 . . 77

“Third Inclosure referred to in No. 66 ab.
Evtract of a Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, dated

Paris, May 4 3 Z : 2b.

Inclosure referred to in No. 67. ib.

Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to Lord Wi Intworth, dated May 7 728

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord Whitworth to Lord Hawkesbury, dated
Paris, May 9 = ° : . 730

The like, May12. ‘ " - ib.
First Inclosure referred to in No. 70 4 3 (32
Second Inclosure referred to in No.70 ° “ = 2b.
Third Inclosure referred to in No. 70 j : 733
Fourth Inclosure referred to in No. 70 i ‘ . 2b.
Fifth Inclosure referred to in No. 70 S 2 1b.
Extract of a Dispatch from Sir George Rumbold, Bart. to Lord Hawkes-

bury, dated Hamburgh, March 29 734
Extract of a Dispatch from Mr. Hill to Lord Hashesary dated Copen-

hagen, April 2 . 5 ab.
Declaration ib.

Report made to the F bokeh Consul by Colonel Sebastian extracted from the

Moniteur of January 30 : 742
Acts of the Government, dated ae is, 3d y See Feb. "99 5 (a2
View of the State of the Republic ib.
Copy of a Letter from Citizen Talleyrand to Citizen Fawoeret, dated Paris,

26th Brumaire, 10th Year, Nov. 17 E 761
Private Correspondence : f 1b.
From the Hamburgh Correspondenten of March 30.—«t : 762
Letter from Spiridion Forestt to Lord Hawkesbury, dated Corfu, December

10 : 764
Letter from Spiridion Foresti to Lord Hewkesbiri Ys dated Corfu, January

2 765

Letter from (Borate Givin Chief of Brizade of a Regiment of Dragoons,
and Envoy of the First Consul an the Levant to His Excellency y the "Dele-
gate of Zante 4 : ib.

Letter from the Adjutant Coniiindand Roya, Combintiais -y General of Com-
mercial Relations, and Chargé d’Affaires to the Republic of the Seven
Islands, to the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Churches at Corfu, dated
Corfu, 29th Frimaire, 11th Year of the French Republic : 766

CHARACTERS.

CONTENTS

CHARACTERS.

eal of Thomas Warton, late Poet Laureat. Extracted from an Ac-
count of his Life and Writings, by Richard Mant, M. A. : 767
Character of George, Earl of Or. ford, from ** The Sportsman’s Cabinet” 777
An. Account. of the Historian, Golam Hossein. Khan, from Tennant’s “ Indian
© Recreations.” 3 780
Customs and Manners of the Tartar Trigbbitteats of the Crimea, from second
Vol. of Professor Pallas’ Travels 785
Character, Habits, and Manners of the Méreane, from Dallas’ keel of .
that People Li he " 789
Description of the Manners al Habits of the Spanish Chasseurs, m the
_ Island of Cuba, with an Account of the Blood Hound: from Dallas's His-
tory of the Maroons : . 5 . 799

NATURAL HISTORY.

On, the Wax Tree of . Louisiana and Pens) ylvania, by Charles Louis Cadet, of

the Colle ze of Pharmacy, from the Annales de Chimie ‘ 804
Description of the Secretary Falcon, from Bingley's Anumal Biography 809 .
Anecdote of the Common Buzzard, fr om the same . 812
On the Culture of the Vine in Crim Tartar ‘Ys from the od Volume of the Tra-

vels of Pr ofessor Pallas 4 ' Sit
Vie Hindoo Method of culttwating the Suzar Cane, yee Tennant’s “* Indian

Recreations.” Hs 4 F ss 5 821

USEFUL PROJECTS.

List of Patents for new Inventions, &¢, pons in the Year 1803 827
Particulars relative to the Construction of, and Benefits recewed from, sundry
Life Boats, built by Mr. Henry Greathead, or under his Direction, in and
since the Year 1789 832
Observations on the Culture and Grodih of. Oak Tiber by the Rev. Richard
Yates, F..A.S. from the Transactions of the Society for the Encourage-
ment of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce 7 836
Account of Experiments, shewing that violent Cop fieratides may be extin-
guished by very small Quantities of Water, by Means of a Portable Hand

4 Engine, by M. Van Marum, from the Annales de Chimie : 840
On the Advantages resulting to Vessels constructed with Sliding Keels, from
“* Grant’s Voyage to the South Seas.” ‘ 844
Method of managing Fish Ponds, for wnproving the Siae aul Flavour ef Carp,
Te pel, and Perch.; ; by a Member of the Imperial Agricultural Society, St.
Petersburgh;

- .

CONTENTS

Petersburgh ; with additional Remarks and viagiterenchie, adapted to this
Country. a 846
Observations on the ‘Means of prablerte a " Cottager to keep a Cow by the
Produce of a small Portion of Arable Land, from ‘ Essays on Miscella-
© neous Subjects,” e Sir John Sinclair, Bart. i Bsihtss 3 uGySS0

ANTI QuITIEs,

Description of Ruan naewnies Castle, fae “ Polwhele’s History of Corn-
wall.” . 858
Copy of an Original 1 Manuser ‘eel! containing Orders made by Henry, prince
of Wales, respecting his Household, 1610; communicated by Francis
~ Douce, Esq. £. AWS. from “ The Archeologia.” Vol. 14. 868
Account of Ancient W “elsh Manuscripts, in a lather trom Wilkam Owen,
Esq. £. A. S. to the Rev. John Brand, Secretary: fromthe same 876

MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS.

The State of married Women among the Mahommedans. By Abu Taleb
Khan, a Native of Lucknow, from “ Tennant’s Indian Recreations.” 882
Authentic Narrative of the F idelity and Sagacity of a Dog, from *“ Glean-

ings in England,” by Pratt 889
On the Originality of Doctor Franklin's Wi ritings, from a Davis’ 8 Travels
in. North America,’ 897
Letter of the late Mr. Cowper, on ght Subject of eae Painting, ‘from Hay-
ley’s \** Life of Cowper. ui 901
Description of a Village in Benares Distr ict, from ‘* Tennant’s Indian Re-
creations.” A 2 - 4 : 903
POETRY.
Ode for the New Year, 1803, by H. J. Pyc, Esq. Poet Laureat . 909
Ode for his Majesty's Birth day, b y the same ‘i 910
National Address, written by Sir James Bland Bur. ess, and spoken by Mr.
Raymond at Drury Lane ‘Theatre : 911

Occasional Address to the Volunteers, written by William Boscawen, Esq.
and spoken by Mr. C. Kemble, at the Theatre Roy sal, Covent Garden 912

From the Crisis, a Poem. By the Rev. Mr. Maurice 914

Lines on James IV. of Scotland, who fell at the Battle of Flodde: nm, . By Te

Campbell, Esq. (U npublished. ) 917
Epitaph ona Lady in Ickworth Church, Sufolh By the Brother of the de-
ceased. (Unpublished. J : ( 918

Lines
2

‘ CONTENTS
‘Lines uddressed to Earl Nugent, by the i gi Cork. (epee J) 918

"Yardley Oak, a Fragment. By Couper * » ‘ib.
To Mary. By Cowper a : 922
Lhe Market Night, from ¢ Rural Tales,” by Bloomfield fh 924
Cadyow Castle. By Walter Scott. 926
Lines written a few Miles above Tintern Abbey, on revisiting - ‘the Banks

of the Wye. By Mr. Wordsworth ‘ 931
Eines written on a Visit to Stowe, the Seat of the Marquis of Buckingham,
in 1801. By E. N. Esq. (Never published.) . : 935

Account of Books for the Year 1803.

Rerum HiserRNIcARUM SCRIPTORES ANTIQUI, ex vetustis MSS.
. Codicibus descripti,. recogniti, nunc primum in lucem, editi. Adjectis
: Variis. lectionibus, Glossario, Dissertationibus. indian copioso. - A

. Carolo O‘Conor, D. D. 4 936

History of the British Expedition to Egypt, Sc. By Sir Robert Wil-
son 940
Journal of the late Ciehpaien i in Eg ‘ypt, Se: by Capt. “Thomas Walsh, Aide

de samp & to Major General Sir Eyre Coote : = » 943

THE END,

A ge ES 2 PR ET
————————————

The first 23 Shects printed by J. Seeley, of Buckingham.
The last 39 by J. Wright, of St. John’s Square, London.

SE Sn a