" Cor- the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Univerfities reformed by the Emperor. CHAP. II. Trou- Retrospective view continued. State of the great powers on the borders of Europe Ruffians Ruffians. Former Khan abdicates his throne, and afsigns bis dominion and country to the empress of Ruffia; who iffues a manifefto affigning the causes for ber annexing the Crimea, Cuban, and isle of Taman 10 her empire.—- Manifefto from the Porte in anfwer. Notwithstanding the immenfe prepa- rations and immediate appearances of war, negociations for a peace are carried on at Conftantinople under the mediation of France. In the height of the troubles the navigation of the Danube is opened to the emperor, two of whofe ships are rece:ved at Belgrade, and profecute their voyage to the Black Sea. Ottoman difficulties and enemies multiplying on all fides. Ap- pearances on the fide of Venice. Troubles in Egypt. Perfians attack Baf- fora. Prince Heraclius invades Natolia. Treaty of commerce between Ruffia and the Porte is followed by a new treaty of accommodation between the two empires, which is concluded at Conftantinople in the beginning of the year 1784. Accommodation with the emperor. Spanish expedition against CHA P. III. Recapitulation of the proceedings in parliament relative to the affairs of the Eaft India company. Two Indian committees appointed by the Houfe of Commons in 1781. Objects of the select committee. Objects of the fecret committee. The King's approbation of their proceedings. Reports of the Secret committee brought to the house April 1782. Account of Mr. Dundas's Speech on that occafion. Lays three sets of refolutions on the table: Firft fet, relative to the general misconduct of the company's affairs-poftponed:-- Second fet, relative to the conduct of the prefidency of Madras-voted:- Third fet, containing criminal charges against Sir Thomas Rumbold—voted. Bill of pains and penalties. Proceeding therein. Bill loft. Confideration of the first fet of refolutions refumed. Refolution against Mr. Haftings voted. Conduct of the court of proprietors on that occafion. Proceedings of the select committee. Refolutions voted. Vote against Sir Elijah Impey.— King's Speeches at the clofing and opening of the fessions. Meeting of parliament towards the clofe of the year 1783. King's Speech.- Addreffes voted unanimously. Two India bills brought in by Mr. Fox.- Subftance of the bill for vesting the affairs of the company in commissioners. Subftance of the bill for the better government of the territorial posses- fions. Debates on the bills. Objections and replies-1ft. of charters- plea of neceffity - magnitude of abuses — state of finances government in India — independent powers-allies and dependents· ritorial poffeffions-abufes curable-court of proprietors-court of directors -minifters of the crown. 2d Objection. The dangerous powers and influence created by the bills. Answer to this objection. First India bill carried up to the House of Lords, Rumours of the king's diflike of the bill. 1 Majority against the minifters in the boufe of lords. Motions in the house of commons, relative to the reports of the king's disapprobation of the bills; and to the diffolution of parliament. Bill rejected by the lords. Minifters removed. [58 CHA P. V. Measures adopted by the majority in the boufe of commons to prevent the diffolution of parliament-defer the third reading of the land tax bill. ConverJation relative to the refignation of Earl Temple. Refolution of the committee on the fate of the nation to address the king. Favourable anfwer from the king. Refolutions of the committee refpecting the acceptance of India bonds and the Duchy of Lancaster. Short adjournment during the Christmas bolidays. State of parties at the meeting of the house. Debate on refuming the committee on the state of the nation. Refolutions of the committee, respecting the issuing of public money not appropriated by acts of parliament for deferring the fecond reading of the mutiny bill-for the appointment of minifters that enjoyed the confidence of the house-of censure on the appointment of the present minifters. Bill brought in by Mr. Pitt, for the better government of the India company. Debate on the comparative merits of Mr. Pitt's and Mr. Fox's India bills. Mr. Pitt's bill rejected. Notice by Mr. Fox of bringing in a new bill. CH A P. VI. [72 Refolution moved against the miniftry by lord Charles Spencer. Union of parties called for. Difficulties ftated by the leaders of each party. The minifter called on to give information relative to the defign of dissolving parliament-be refufes. Motion intended to be made thereon, but deferred. Minifter again interrogated refpecting the diffolution-bis anfwer. Motion to obftruct the diffolution. Minifter's reafons for continuing in office. Ridicu lous accufation of the late miniftry of bribery. Causes of the indecifion of both parties. Meeting of members at the St. Alban's tavern to effect an union-their addrefs to both parties, and the answers—their motions in the House of Commons for forming a new miniftry, ordered to be laid before the king. Motion of the St. Alban's affociation against the exclufion of either party in forming a new miniftry carried in the House of Cominons. Difinterested conduct of lord North. New expedient for effecting an union— caufes of its failure-mifchievous confequences of thofe measures. His majefty's refufal to dismiss his ministers- -debate thereon. Proceedings in the Houfe of Lords. Address to the king from the Commons, on the refolutions laid before him, and his Majesty's answer. Addrefs to the King for the removal of his minifters, and his Majesty's answer thereto. Reprefentation to the King on the fate of public affairs. Prorogation and diffolution of parliament. [82 CHAP. J CHA P. VII. Claims of the Emperor upon Holland. Unfortunate fituation of the affairs of fented at Bruffels. Three new and extraordinary demands added to the former ultimatum. Appearances of an immediate rupture at the commence- ment of the autumn 174. Declaration by the Emperor's minifter, that the firft foot fired upon the Schelde should be confidered as a declaration of war. Some account of the nature of the claims, and of the reafons and arguments offered on both fides; with a particular regard to the dispute relative to the Scheluc. State of the claim upon Maestricht. Imperial vessel fired at and Stopped unor the Schelde Imperial ambaffador recalled from the Hague, and the conferences broken up at Brussels. Preparations for war on both fides. Exertions of public spirit by individuals in Holland. States apply to France for a general: Count de Maillebois deputed to that appointment. Endeavours to prevent or divert the form. French monarch expoflulates with the Emperor. Dyke broken by the Dutch near Lillo, and the country laid under water. Inflexibility of the Emperor with respect to the Schelde. Ruffia takes a decided part in favour of the Emperor's claims. Jealousy excited by the confederacy of these two great powers. Political caufes which rendered it particularly incumbent on France and Pruffia to protect Holland. Prince Henry of Prufia's vifit to the court of Versailles. Porte attentive to the fate of affairs in Europe, and in readiness to profit of any occafion of ad- vantage which might be offered. Movements and preparations in France. General difpofition of that nation with respect to the war. Disadvantages to which the Emperor would be exposed in the prosecution of a war in the Low Countries. Doubtful and critical ftate of public affairs in Europe at the court of Berlin with the proposal. King of Prussia remonßrates with July 1785; the principal parties being the king of Pruffia, the elector of Brunf-wick Lunenburgh, and the elector of Saxony. Measures pursued by the court of Vienna to prevent or to counteract the new league prove ineffec- tive. King of Prufia's expofition of the causes and motives which led to the new German confederation, generally approved by the neighbouring powers. The appearances of immediate war in Germany seem to be su- perfeded by a more moderate difpofition, and the questions upon the exchange of Bavaria are fuffered to die away without farther explanation or dis- cuffion. The form of war being diverted from the Low Countries, by the great importance of the political queftions which unexpectedly arose and roere agitated in Germany, the republic of Holland thereby gained time to provide the more effectually for the worst that might happen, as well as for endea vouring to ward off the evil entirely by an accommodation. Negociations refumed at Paris, under the auspices of M. de Vergennes. Dutch deputies received at Vienna by the emperor. Speech and anfwer.. Definitive treaty of peace between the emperor and the republic of Holland concluded under the mediation and guarantee of France. Principal ftipulations of the treaty. Treaty of alliance and friendship between France and Holland, finally ra- tified on the 25th of December 1785. Account of the Spanish expedition against Algiers in the year 1784; and the causes which prevented its infer- C HA P. IX. View of the character of the late parliament. Enormous fupplies voted in its first feffion. Fruitless expenditure of this fubfidy occafions the refo- lutions which terminated the American war. Evidence of the parliament's independence. Enumeration of important matters in which it was-en- gaged. Refcinds the famous refolution refpecting the Middlesex election.— Difappointments many, by not profecuting certain enquiries, &c. During the fhors Space of two years, faw no less than five minifters in fucceffion. Different opinions on its interference in their appointment and removal.— Well inclined to fupport the measures of the minister in power at the time of its election. The campaign of 1784 canfes univerfal alarm, and occa- hons the commons to interfere to procure a change of councils. Minister |