About this book
My library
Books on Google Play
CONTENTS
OF THE
FOURTH VOLUME.
CHAP. XXXII
General election.—Meeting of parliament--crid commence-
ment of Mr. Pitt's administration. The King's Speech.-
State of the empire when Mr. Pit's miniftry commenced.-
Objects which he proposes to purfue. First efforts directed to
finance.-Bill for the prevention of fuggling.—Commuta-
tion act.-Arguments against and for it.—Regulation on du-
ties for British spirits.-Preliminary motions for the relief
of the Eaft India company.-Bill for the regulation of In-
dia.-Arguments against it.-Arguments for it.-Compa-
rifon of the two bills as refulting from the characters of their
authors.-Debate on the Westminster election.—Mr. Dun-
das proposes the restoration of the forfeited eftates.-A law
passed for that purpose.-Labours of Mr. Pitt in investi-
gating the public accounts.-Supplies.-Loan and taxes.—
Seffion glofes. Page I
CHAP. XXXIII.
Britain refumes her attention to the affairs of the continent.-
State of foreign powers.-Situation and views of Catha-
rine.-Character and conduct of the emperor Jofeph.-Ca-
tharine courts his alliance.-Treaty between these princes.
Catharine's
A 3
-Catharine's invafion of the Crimea.-Seizure of that
country.-Measures of internal improvement.-It is the
intereft of Ruffia to cultivate amity with Britain.-Catha-
rine's conduct to Britain not confiftent with her ufual
wisdom.-Reforming projects of the emperor.—Suppression
of religious orders.-Schemes of naval and commercial ag-
grandifement.-Dismantles the fortreffes of the Nether-
lands.-Propofes to open the Scheldt.-The emperor prefers
his claims.-Arguments on both sides.-Jofeph's allegations
entirely contrary to juftice.-The Dutch prepare to defend
their rights.-Ruffia fupports the pretenfions of the emperor.
-Pruffia and France unfriendly to the emperor's demands.
-Britain difpofed to protect Holland.-Britain's fpeedy re-
covery from the evils of war.-Flourishing commerce.-
Miscellaneous occurrences.-Death of doctor Johnson, and
a fhort view of literature, and science at his decease. — Im-
provements of the prefentage in natural philofophy and
chemistry.-Invention of aik balloons.-Afcent of Lunardi
from the Artillery-ground.Ġeneral astonishment of the
metropolis at this phenomenon. Page 27
CHAP. XXXIV.
Meeting of parliament.—Confideration of the Westminster fcru-
tiny.-Debts of the Nabob of Arcot.—Mr. Burke's speech on
the fubject.-Mr. Pitt's plan of parliamentary reform-
introduced into parliament-negatived by a great majority.
-State of Ireland.-Propofitions of Mr. Pitt to fettle trade
on the basis of mutual reciprocity. - Refolutions for that pur-
pofe.-Additional propofitions.—Petitions against them.-
After confiderable modification they are paffed into a law.--
Sent over to the Irish parliament.-Meffrs. Flood and Grattan
oppofe the propofitions.-Their eloquence firs up their coun-
trymen to rage and indignation.-They are abandoned by the
British government.—Their real merit.—Mr. Pitt's flate-
ments of finance, and intimation of a plan for paying the
national debt.—The feffion rifes.-Affairs of Europe.-
Defigns
Defigns of the emperor upon Bavaria-supported by Russia
-opposed by Prussia and Hanover.—France, though in
alliance with Auftria, adverse to Jofeph's ambition.-The
emperor relinquishes his defigns upon Bavaria.-Abandons
the navigation of the Scheldt, and concludes peace with Hol-
land.-Treaty between France and Holland.-Internal
State of France.-Projects for diminishing her enormous
debts.-Theories of the philofophical economifts.-Influence
the practice of politicians and statesmen. - Multiplicity of
ingenious writers.-Votaries of innovation.-Doctrines of
Voltaire and Rousseau regarded with enthufiaftic admira-
tion.-Prevalence of infidelity.-Great and increasing pro-
fperity of Britain.—Confidence of the monied interefts in the
talents and integrity of Mr. Pitt.-Supporters of the Mi-
nifter.-Butts of oppofition, wit, and fatire.-The Rolliad
and birth-day odes.-Queftion of literary property.—
Return of Mr. Haftings.-A great fubject of temporary
Page 64
literature.
CHAP. XXXV.
Meeting of parliament.-King's speech.-Views of Mr. Fox
concerning continental alliances.-The duke of Richmond's
Scheme for fortifying the dock-yards-fubmitted to parlia-
ment-Arguments for and againft.-Speech of Mr. She-
ridan on the fortifications.—The bill is rejected by the cafting
vote of the fpeaker.-Alteration in the mutiny bill.—Mr.
Pitt's plan for appropriating an annual million to the pay-
ment of the national debt.—Mr. Sheridan takes the most
active part in controverting the minister's financial propo-
fitions.-Farther measures of the minifter for preventing
frauds against the revenue.-Proposes to subject foreign
wines to the excife.—A bill for the purpose is passed into a
law.-Bill appointing commissioners to examine the crown
lands.-The conduct of Mr. Haftings becomes a fubject of
enquiry.-Public opinion concerning Mr. Haftings.-Mr.
Burke opens the fubject.-His introductory speech.-Proposes
to proceed by impeachment.-Presents a fummary of the
alleged criminal acts.-A majority, including Mr. Pitt,
finds ground of impeachment in the proceedings against
Cheyt Sing.-Mr. Dundas's bill for improving the
government of British India.—Supplies.-Seffion termi-
Page 87.
nates.
CHAP. XXXVI.
Continental affairs.-Death and character of Frederic of
Pruffia.-His provifions for the fecurity of his fucceffor.-
Revolution in Denmark.-Queen dowager difgraced, and
the reins of government affumed by the prince royal.-Phy-
fical calamities in various parts of the continent.-Com-
mercial and political pursuits of France.-Amiable charac-
ter of Louis XVI.-Britain;-Alarming attempts against
our fovereign, providentially prevented.—Magnanimous
humanity of the king.—The person proves to be a lunatic
named Margaret Nicholson.-General confternation on
hearing of the attempt.-Anxious affection of all ranks for
their revered fovereign.-Congratulatory addresses.
CHAP. XXXVII.
114
Mr. Pitt's enlarged views on the relation between this country
and France.-Perceives that peace and amicable intercourfe
is the intereft of both countries.-Thinks paft enmity not an
unfurmountable bar to permanent reconciliation.-Projects a
commercial intercourse, to be mutually beneficial by a reci-
procal exchange of furplus for supply.- Seeks the best affift-
ance, and employs the most skilful agents.-Principle and
details of the treaty.—Meeting of parliament and the king's
Speech.-Treaty fubmitted to parliament.-Mr. Fox and
bis co-adjutors oppofe the treaty.-Arguments.-France the
unalterable enemy of Great Britain. Mutual intereft can
never eradicate that fentiment.-Every commercial connec-
tion with France has been injurious to Britain. For the
treaty,