reftraints on the prerogative of the crown. Animadverts on the attempts of the diffenters to influence members of parliament. Thinks it would be dan- gerous to trust them with power. And that tefts, the severity of which could be occafionally mitigated, were neceffary to enable government to ward off danger in cafes of neceffity. Mr. Burke concurs with Mr. Fox in his prin- ciples of toleration; but thinks the diffenters, at the present moment, not in- titled to indulgence. Charges them with factious and dangerous practices, and reads various papers in fupport of his charge. Suggests the propriety of a new teft, and of a committee to enquire into their recent conduct. Mr. Fox's motion rejected by a majority of 294 to 105. Motion by Mr. Flood for a reform in parliament. States the inadequacy of the prefent mode of reprefentation. Proposes one hundred additional members to be chofen by re- fident boufekeepers. His arguments to prove the neceffity of a reform. An- fwers objections. The motion oppofed by Mr. Wyndham. He afferts, that the houfe of commons, as at prefent conftituted, is adequate for all beneficial purposes. Anfwers the objections relative to the American war. Deprecates innovations founded upon theories. Objects to the time as dangerous. Mr. Pitt objects to the motion as ill-timed. Sir James Johnstone's objections. Mr. Fox fupports the motion, and anfwers the objection of its being ill- timed. Mr. Burke in reply. Other speakers on both fides the question. Motion by Mr. Montagu for increasing the salary of the Speaker of the house foreign trade, encouraged fmuggling, and laid the manufacturer under infuper- able hardships. Mr. Pitt in reply. Sir Grey Cooper, Mr. Wyndham, and Mr. Fox, for the motion. Rejected by a majority of 191 to 147. Bill paffed to explain and amend the tobacco act. Claufe to grant trial by juries rajected. Budget for the year 1790. Flourishing state of the finances and growing profperity of the country. Remarks on the budget by Mr. Sheridan. Melage from the king to both houses of parliament relative to the difputes with Spain. Addresses voted unanimously. Motions for papers and debates thereon. Vote of credit for a million. Committee on American claims. Cafe of Mr. Penn. Compenfation voted for the lofjes of his family. Penfion granted to Dr. Willis. Amendment of the tontine act. Account of pro- ceedings relative to the flave trade. Proceedings relative to the trial of Mr. Haftings. Speech from the throne. Parliament prorogued. Summary CHA P. VI. Proceedings of the national affembly after the new law had established fome Jurrender of their peculiar rights and privileges. France at length divided into eighty-three departments, and the term Province expunged from the language. Creation and organization of municipalities. Letters de cachet abolished. Gabelle, and others of the most obnoxious taxes, abolished. Affem- bly enter into the intricate business of finance; augment the pay of the army; and establish a new bank. Grand Scheme for feizing the eftates of the clergy, and offering them as a prefent to the nation, to ferve as a fund and fecu- rity for the difcharge of the public debts, and to answer other important purposes. Some difficulties and obftructions, which appear in the way of car- rying this fcheme into execution, are far out-balanced by the vast advantages which it is capable of producing. Decree paffed, which declares all the ecclefiaftical eftates to be at the difpofal of the nation. Stipends allotted for the maintenance of parish priests, &c. Difcontents rife to the highest pitch amongst the clergy, many of the bishops, and nearly all the chapters in the kingdom, proteft against the decree. Combination of the canons, and endea- vours ufed at Rome to draw the maledictions of the church upon the national affembly. Great prudence and address difplayed by the affembly in its tranf- actions with the court of Rome. Sovereign pontiff feems to be fatisfied with their proteftations. France fwarms with publications of every fort, in profe and in verfe, against the national assembly, its proceedings and defigns. Several of the parliaments attempt to be troublefome, and protest against the decrees of the afJembly; but having loft all influence with the people, are obliged to fubmit reluctantly to their fate. Parliament of Bourdeaux con- tinues longer in a state of turbulence than any of the others, and endeavours to excite an infurrection in the fouth. Stories of plots and confpiracies necef- fary to keep the minds of the people in conftant agitation. Various accuja- tions against the king's minifters, and a greater number against the aristocrates in general. Animofities fo violent between the remaining nobles in the af- Sembly, and the democratical leaders, that frequent duels are the confequence. Nation, in general, faid to be unanimous in fupporting the affembly, and offers to raise three millions of foldiers in defence of the new conftitution. Situation of the captive king and of the royal family in the palace, now ftate prifon, of the Thuilleries. Ill effect produced at home and abroad, and worfe confequences likely to enfue, from the king's captivity, when his free fanction is neceffary to give validity to their laws, caufes great uneafness in the national aflembly. Scheme formed to obviate thefe difficulties, by inducing the king to appear to come voluntarily to the national affembly, to declare himfelf fully fatisfied with all their proceedings, and that he confiders himself as being at the head of the revolution. Liberal conduct of the affembly with refpect to the civil lift. King notwithstanding firmly rejects all the perfuafions used to induce him to pay the defired vifit. Great diftreffes of the country. 20,000 people fed by charity at Lyons. 6,000 eftates advertized to be fold. Decretot's noble manufacturies at Louviers nearly ruined. Riots at Verfailles. Some obfervations on the extraordinary conduct of that people through the courfe of the king's troubles. Parifians become again tumultuous, and, without regard to the general famine, want to have the price of bread fixed at a lower rate than it could have been afforded in the most plentiful feafons. Their rage increased to the highest pitch upon the acquittal of Bezenval by the chatelet. Form a plot for forcing the prifon, and murdering him, on their own principles of fummary juftice. All their Jchemes overthrown, and Paris reduced to order, through the activity and vigour of La Fayette, well fupported by the Bourgeoife militia. Surrounds a body of 1,100 of the mutineers at night, and makes 200 of them prisoners. Chatelet proceed to the trials of Lambefc, Broglio, and others of the principal refugees, for the real or fuppofed plot of the preceding month of July. Are all acquitted, through the failure of any evidence to fupport the charge. Various confpiracies apprehended or jpoken of for the rescue of the king's perfon. The subject of the king's inftant death, as the affigned penalty for any attempt to his rescue, a matter of public converfation in all companies and among all ranks, without the smallest expreffion of horror, at the idea of fo deplorable a catastrophe. King's firmness at length gives way, and he Submits to pay the propofed vifit to the national affembly, and to make a Speech nearly fimilar to that prescribed. Affairs of the clergy finally fettled, their property feized, and affignats created? [107 CHA P. VII. Ineffectual attempts made by the French privileged orders, for procuring redrefs or fuccour from the neighbouring continental powers. State of political affairs in Europe, which, avith other caufes, tended to produce that indifference with respect to France which now appeared. Courts of Madrid and Turin. Rafh and impetuous proceedings, along with the contemptuous language used by the national affembly, ferves continually to create new enemies abroad as well as at home. Wrong offered to the German princes with respect to their possessions and rights in Alface, embitters the whole empire against against the new government, and implants deeply the feeds of future conten- [131 APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. Dr. Johnson's monument [247 Report of a committee af the house of commons, respecting the houses and other buildings joining to Westminster Hall, the two houses of parliament, and the offices thereto belonging, &c. [ibid. Particulars refpecting the last illness and death of the emperor [251 Account of the miraculous efcape of Captain Bligh, of the Bounty floop [252 Account of the difafter which befel his Majesty's fhip Guardian, Lieut. Riou commander [254 Account of the lofs of the Vanfittart Indiaman Trial of Renwick Williams, commonly called the monster [262 [264 A general bill of all the christenings and burials in the cities of London and Westminster, &c. for the year 1790 [268 An account of all corn and grain exported from, and imported into, England and Scotland, with the bounties and drawbacks paid, and the duties received thereon, for one year, ending the 5th of January 1791 [269 Prices of flocks for the year 1790 [271 State of the barometer and thermometer for the year 1790 [272 Public acts paffed in the feventh feffion of the feventeenth parliament of Great Abstract of an act for limiting the number of persons to be carried on the outfide of ftage coaches and other carriages, 28 Geo. III. c. 57, 1788 [274 Supplies granted by parliament, for the year 1790 [276 Account of the net produce of the duties of cuftoms, excife, ftamps, and incidents, between the 5th day of April 1788, to the 5th day of April 1789; and between the 5th day of April 1789, to the 5th day of April 1790 Addrefs of the houfe of commons, and his Majesty's answer thereto His Majefty's moft gracious fpeech to both houses of parliament, on opening the feventh feffion of the fixteenth parliament, Jan. 21, 1790 Address of the house of lords, Jan. 22, 1790; and his Majesty's anfwer thereto Speech of the speaker of the house of commons, on prefenting certain money bills to bis Majefty [284 Meffage |