Majority against the minifters in the house of lords. Motions in the boufe

of commons, relative to the reports of the king's difapprobation 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 diso-

lution of parliament-defer the third reading of the land tax bill. Conver-

fation relative to the resignation of Earl Temple. Refolution of the com-

mittee on the fate of the nation to address the king. Favourable anfwer

from the king. Refolutions of the committee respecting the acceptance of

India bonds—and the Duchy of Lancafler. 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 ap-

pointment of minifters that enjoyed the confidence of the house—of cenfure on

the appointment of the prefent 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.

CHA P. VI.

[72

Refolution moved against the miniftry by lord Charles Spencer. Union of par-
ties called for. Difficulties ftated by the leaders of each party. The mini-
fter called on to give information relative to the defign of diffolving parlia-
ment-be refufes. Motion intended to be made thereon, but deferred. Mi-
nifter again interrogated respecting the diffolution-his anfwer. Motion to
obftruct the diffolution. Minifter's reasons for continuing in office. Ridicu-
lous accufation of the late miniftry of bribery. Caufes of the indecifion of
both parties. Meeting of members at the St. Alban's tavern to effect an
unim—their addrefs to both parties, and the answers—their motions in the
Houfe of Commons for forming a new ministry, 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 Commons. Difin-
terested conduct of lord North. New expedient for effecting an union-
caufes of its failure-mischievous confequences of those measures. His ma-
jefty's refufal to difmifs his minifters-debate thereon. Proceedings in the
Houfe of Lords. Addrefs to the king from the Commons, on the refolutions
laid before bim, and his Majesty's answer. Address to the King for the re-
moval 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.

CHA P. VII.

Claims of the Emperor upon Holland. Unfortunate fituation of the affairs of
the Republic through the violence of parties and internal diffenfion. Conti-
nual attempts by the republican faction to abridge the Stadtholder's power,
and attacks upon the duke of Brunswick. That prince refigns his great of-
fices, and quits the country. Interference of the king of Pruffia in behalf of
the Prince Stadtbolder. France obtains an unbounded influence in the af-
fairs of the republic. Plenipotentiaries fent to Brussels to accommodate the
differences with the Emperor. Auftrian troops take possession of Old Lillo,
and commit other violations of the territorial rights of the republic. France
accepts the office of mediation between Holland and the Emperor. Difpute
occafioned by a Flemish boatman on the Schelde. Emperor's ultimatum pre-
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 1794. 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 reasons and arguments
offered on both fides; with a particular regard to the difpute relative to the
Schelde. State of the claim upon Maeftricht. Imperial veffel fired at and
Atopped upon the Schelde. Imperial ambassador 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 expoftulates
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 Prussia to protect Holland.
Prince Henry of Pruffia 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 refpect to the war. Difadvantages
to which the Emperor would be exposed in the profecution of a war in the
Low Countries. Doubtful and critical flate of public affairs in Europe at
the clofe of the year 1784.
[100

CHA P. VIII.

Unexpected fource of jealoufy and difcord opened in Germany. Scheme for
the exchange of Bavaria for the Austrian Netherlands. Seafon ill chofen
for fuch a measure. Empress of Ruffia writes to the Prince of Deux Ponts
upon the fubject; who peremptorily refufes a compliante, and acquaints

the

the court of Berlin with the propofal. King of Pruffia remonßrates with

the court of Petersburgh on the subject. Empress's anfwer. Conduci of the

courts of Vienna and Munich. States of Bavaria alarmed. Satisfaction

given by the elector not deemed fufficiently explicit. Great diffatisfaction

excited in Hungary by the late schemes of reform. Rebellion of the peasants

in the mountainous borders of Tranfylvania and Wallachia, Savage cruel-

ties committed on the nobility. Peasants defeated, reduced, and Horiab,

their mock king, publicly executed. Vigilance of the Prussian monarch, and

efficacious meajures purjued by him, for preventing any innovation in the

Germanic conflitution and fyftem of policy. Treaty of union and confedera-

tion, for maintaining the indivifibility of the empire, and the rights of the

Germanic body, in general and particular, figned at Berlin on the 23d of

July 1785; the principal parties being the king of Pruffia, the elector of

Brunfawick Lunenburgh, and the elector of Saxony. Mcafures purjued by

the court of Vienna to prevent or to counteract the new league prove ineffec-

tie. King of Pruffia's exposition 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 feem 10 be fu-

perfeded by a more moderate difpofition, and the queflions upon the exchange

of Bavaria are fuffered to die away without farther explanation or dif-

cufion. The form of war being diverted from the Low Countries, by the

great importance of the political questions which unexpectedly arofe and were

agitated in Germany, the republic of Holland thereby gained time to provide

the more effeaually 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 answer. Definitive treaty

of peace between the emperor and the republic of Holland concluded under

the mediation and guarantee of France. Principal flipulations 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-

tion in the bufinefs of that year.

CHA P. IX.

[124

View of the character of the late parliament. Enormous fupplies voted
in its first feshion. 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. Refeinds the famous refolution refpecting the Middlefex election.—
Disappointments many, by not profecuting certain enquiries, &c. During
the bart space of two years, faw no less than five minifters in fuccession.
Different opinions on its interference in their appointment and removal.-
Well inclined to fupport the measures of the minifter in power at the time
of its election. The campaign of 1781 caufes univerfal alarm, and oeca-
hons the commons to interfere to procure a change of councils. Minister

acquiefces.

Power

aquiefces. Delay in appointing a new ministry occafions a threat of with-
bolding the fupplies. Complexion of the new administration. Honourably

fupported. Negociates the peace; which is cenfured in parliament. The

celebrated coalition formed. The minister, in consequence, retires

acquired by the house af commons, in confequence of the coalition. Different

opinions entertained of that circumftance. The leaders of the coalition fuc-

ceed to the miniftry, but are dismissed, and a fifth miniftry appointed.-

Addresses for its removal. Advantageons ground, poffeffed by the court,

favourable to refift the practice of dismissing a minister at the requifition of

the commons. King's anfwer to thofe addresses, calling for specific charges

against the minifters, a measure well calculated to throw difficulties in the

way of fuch parliamentary proceedings. Inftances in illustration thereof.-

Firmness of the commons. Their diffolution. Advantages poffeffed by the

miniftry upon that event. Caufes of the fupport the ministry received from

the people. More than 160 members loft their feats. Meeting of the new

parliament. Former speaker re-chofen. Subfiance of his Majefty's Speech.

Addreffes. Mr. Burke's speech on the measure of diffolving the late par-

liament. His proposed remonstrance to the throne. Commutation act—de-

bate thereon. Bills for fettling the Eaft India dividend, for refpite of du-

ties, and for the better government of the affairs of that company; analyfis

of the latter, and sketch of the debates thereon. The budget-its contents.

Bill for the refloration of eftates forfeited in the rebellion of 1745. The

Lord Chancellor's argument against it; it however paffes. Conclufion of

the feffion. Subftance of the king's speech.

[142

CHA P. X.

The fecond feffion of the parliament opened. The king's speech recommends the
final adjustment of the commercial intercourfe with Ireland, the further
fuppreffion of Smuggling, the confideration of the reports of the commiffioners
of accounts, and the making regulations in different offices. Earl of Surrey's
exceptions to the speech. The minifter's anfwer Lord North's animad-
verfions on the mention which had been made of a parliamentary reform.-
Mr. Burke objects to the speech, on account of its taking no notice of India
affairs, and proposes an amendment in the addrefs. Minifter replies to
Lord North. Hiftory of the celebrated Westminster election, which con-
tinued for upwards of fix weeks, and was concluded only on the day pre-
vious to the return of the writ. High bailiff grants a feruiry, which`
is protefled against by Mr. Fox. Brought before parliament, and often
difcuffed. Arguments for and against the fcrutiny. Mr. Fox's animated
Mr. Pint's reply, charging
appeal, farcaflically attacking the minifter.
Mr. Fox with deteftable conduct in politics. Various questions and divi-
fions on the subject. The forutiny at last quashed, and lord Hood and
Mr. Fox in confequence returned. Provifions by Mr. Fox's India bill,
Court of
for adjusting the Nabob of Arcot's debts; alfo by Mr. Pin's.
directors purfue measures, in confequence of directions in the latter,
which are fuperfeded by the board of control. Earl of Carlife's motion

thereon-warmly debated, but negatived without a divifion. The fame
transaction agitated in the house of commons by Mr. Fox, and defended by
Mr. Dundas. Mr. Smith, chairman of the company's, fentiments. Sir
Thomas Rumbold's. Mr. Burke's full investigation of the subject. The
motion negatived, 164 10 69. Mr. Pitt's motion to amend the representation
in parliament; particulars of bis propofal. Not generally approved. Mr.
Fox's objections. Arguments for and against the measure. Negatived.-
General review of the national finances by the minifter. Objections by the
oppofition. Contents of the budget. Bill for appointing commissioners to en-
quire into abufes, and report observations for better conducting business in
the public offices, brought in by the minifler. Objections thereto. Arguments
in its favour. Paffes in the commons by a large majority. In the lords re-
ceives very material amendments: Mention of the Aeps taken to fettle the
commercial intercourse with Ireland. Clofe of the feffion.
[170

-

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE, 1784.

Extract of a difpatch from Major General Stuart, commander in chief of bis
Majefty's and the Eaft India company's forces on the coast of Coromandel,
dated June 2, 1781, received January 9, 1784
[255
Letter to the Select committee at Madras, containing the particulars of the re-
pulfe of the French, on 25th June, 1733

[958

Extract of a letter from Vice Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, commander in
chief of bis Majefly's ships and vessels in the Eaft Indies, dated July 25,
1783, received January 12, 1784

3..

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Account