treaty, denied that there is any unalterable enmity between

France and this country.-Not always enemies.—The re-

peated discomfiture of France, warring against the navy of

England, at length taught her the policy of peace.--The

treaty supported by a great majority.-- Convention with

Spain.-Consolidation of the customs.--Application of the

difsenters for the repeal of the test act.-Number and respec-

tability of the dissenters as a body. Distinguished talents of

Some of their leaders.—Dissenters favourable to Mr. Pitt,

and thence expect his support of their application.- Previous

Steps to prepossess the public in their favour.-Mr. Beaufoy

demonstrates their zeal for liberty and the present establish-

ment.--Lord North, a moderate tory, opposes their applica-

tion, as inimical to the church.--Mr. Pitt opposes it on the

grounds of political expediency.--The test no infringement of

toleration, merely a condition of admisibility to certain offices

of trust.-- Eminent difsenters had avowed themselves de

firous of subverting the church ;-therefore not expedient to

extend their power.-Application rejected.-Bill for the

relief of infolvent debtors.---Lord Rawdon's enlightened and

liberal policy.--Bill negatived.-Enquiry about Scotch peer-

ages.--Magnanimous sacrifice by the prince of Wales of

splendor to justice. - Situation of his highness. Satisfactory

adjustments. - Proceedings respecting Mr. Hastings.---

Writings in his defence.—The nation long averse to his im-

peachment.-Hastings's cause generally popular.-Eloquence

gives a turn to public opinion. Celebrated speech of Mr.

Sheridan on the Begum charge. Its effects on the house of

commons and the public. Singular instance of its impres-

fion on a literary defender of Mr. Hastings. A committee

appointed to prepare articles of impeachment. The commons

impeach Warren Hastings at the bar of the house of lords.

-Supplies.-Favourable state of the finances.--Mr. Dun.

das brings forward the financial state of British India.-

Promising aspect of affairs.

Page 130

CHAP. XXXVIII.

a

Affairs of Holland.Ruinous effects of the war with Britain.

-Complaints against the Stadtholder.-Charge concerning

the inaction of the fleets.--Objects of the aristocratic party

at the end of the war. -They put arms into the hands of

the multitude.--Effects of this measure.-- Beginning of

democratic party. Both the aristocratic, and democratic

parties agree in hoftility to the house of Orange.-Advan-

tages which they polesed over the Stadtholderian party.-

They are supported by the inonied men—and fictaries.-

Circumstances favourable to the prince. He is commander

of the army and fleet.Civil power and authority.----He is

governor-general of the East and West India companies. --

His hereditary pollesions. Several provinces favourable to

bis caufe.-Friendship and affinity with Pruffia.—Adverse

faction trufts to the protection of France. They deprive the

prince of the command of the Hague.--The Orange family

leave the Hague.—Temperate remonstrances of Prussia

disregarded by the faction,---who absolve the troops from

their oath of fidelity.--Meeting of the States of Holland and

Weft Friezeland, ---violence of.-Remonstrance of the

prince.- Frederic William fends his prime minister as am-

basador to the States of Holland.--Firm memorial of.-

Conduct of France. - Encourages the faction.--Rebellion

coinmences at Hattem.—The insurgents are defeated.

Conciliatory interposition of Pruffia—and of Britain-una-

vailing.—Joint mediation of Prusia and France.- Dif-

ferent views of these powers.--Alarming power of the de.

mocratic party-is exerted in levelling innovation--de-

feated in an attempt to fufpend the office of Stadthclder.

They try a new fabrication of votes.--The armed burghers

are employed as instruments of revolution.-Fury of a reve-

lutionary mob.—The States Gencral avow themselves fup-

porters of the constitution.— Disorders at Amsterdam.

The army continues attached to the prince. --The faction
becomes desperate. Arrest of the princess on her way to the

Hague.--She is compelled to return. On this insult the

king of Prussia changes his tone. He demands satisfaction

of the States of Holland

which is not granted. He de-

termines on force.--The revolutionists rely on France.

The duke of Brunswick enters the United Provinces at the

head of an army. The revolutionists apply to France for

aid.-Conduct of Britain.--The king of France intimates

an intention of allifting the States of Holland. -Our king

declares he will forcibly oppose such interference ---and pre-

pares an armament.- France relinquishes her design,--and ·

the duke of Brunswick is completely victorious. Restoration

of the Stadtholder.-Great and unanimous praises of the

British cabinet.

Page 189

CHAP. XXXIX.

Meeting of parliament.-Unanimous approbation of the cone

duet of ministry respecting Holland. Bishop of Landaff's

speech on British interference in continental affairs.-- Sub-

fidiary treaty with the landgrave of Helle Caffel. Plan

for the defence of the West Indies. Complaints of a partial

promotion of flag officers.--Ministers contend that the com-

plaint is unfounded.--Declaratory law for explaining cera

tain parts of Mr. Pitt's East India bill.--Origin of the

doubts from which this measure proceeded. ---Regiments ora

dered by government to India, to be paid and fubfifted at the

expence of the company.- Question by Mr. Pitt's bill; had

government that power? denied by the directors and by-op-

position in parliament.-- Arguments for and against.-

Pased into a law.-Extension of the mutiny bill.-Bill

against the smuggled exportation of wool-passed into a law.

---Comstencement of an inquiry concerning negro slavery.--

State of facts.-General and

special objections to negro savery.

- Impugned as contrary to christianity, as well as justice

and humanity.--Pious and benevolent entisusiasm in favour

of the negroes.--Mr. Wilberforcecharacter, talents, and

4.

baudable żeal-opposite arguments.—Slavery an evil great

or small, according to the sentiments and circumstances of the

sufferers.--The condition of the African negroes is melio.

'rated by becoming slaves to British masters.--Slaves in our

plantations generally happy.-- If Britain abolish slavery,

other European states will enjoy the benefits—Great capi-

tals are embarked on the public faith guaranteeing this

trade.-An ample source of private opulence, and public

revenue.- Petitions for and against the abolition of the fave-

trade. The privy council institutes an inquiry into the de-

tails and alleged cruelties of the save-trade.—Sir Wil-

lian Dolben's motion for regulating the transportation of

negroes-paffed into a law.-Mr. Pitt's bill for the relief

and recompence of the American loyalists.—Commencement

of Hastings's trial.-Speech of Mr. Burke.-Motion for

the impeachment of Sir Elijah Impey—negatived.-Mr.

Grenville's bill for improving his father's law respecting

contested elections.-- Supplies.--Flourishing state of commerce

and finance.

Page 218

Affairs of the continent.-- Objects of imperial combination.-

Catharine prepares to visit the Crimea.— Attempts to seduce

the christian subjects of Turkey. At Cherson she meets her

confederate Foseph.--State of the Turkish empire.--Com-

motions in Egypt.—Reasons which disposed Turkey to Arike

the first blow.--Treaty of the pacha with the Mamelukes.

-Catharine proposes extensive cessions by Turkey to Russia,

as the only means of securing peace.--Turkey indignantly

rejects these claims ;-declares war against Rusia.-Ma-

nifesto.-Counter-manifesto of Russia.- Joseph II. without

any provocation joins Russia against the Turks---Mighty

preparations.--Manifesto of the emperor.–Commencement

of the campaign.—The emperor takes the field.—Generous

indignation of the Ottomans against the imperial aggresor.

-Wife and skilful conduct of the vizier.-Military reforms

of

of the emperor.-Injudicious and precipitate, they disguft bis

- Soldiers.-- Operations ineffectual.--Obliged to act on the de-

fenhve.--The Turks overrun the Bannat.-Difnay seizes

the imperial armies.- Operations of Russia. - Effect of the

aggresive : confederacy on neighbouring states;--on Great

Britain.-Britain resumes her character of the protector of

Europe. --Thwarts the imperious designs of Catharine.-

Ruffans capture Oczakow.State of Sweden.--Interfe-

xence of Catharine in the internal affairs of Sweden.--At-

tempts to flir up revolt against Guftavus.—The king resents

this conduct.-War.-Military and naval operations.-

Refractory Spirit of Gustavus's officers-Defensive confede-

racy between Britain, Prufra, and the states-general.-

Principles of this treaty.—Different views of Meffrs. For

and Pitt on this scheme of alliance.--Internal occurrences.

Retirement of lord Mansfield from the King's-Bench.

Momentous improvements during his judicial supremacy,

especially in mercantile law.--Strict and liberal interpreters

of the law have their respective advantages and disadvan-

tages.-Lord Mansfield of the latter kind. Principle of

his decisions in undefined and unprecedented cases.The

Juftinian of English commercial law. General character.

Page 260

CHAP. XLI.

Disfemper of the king—assumes an alarming appearance. -Peers

and commons assemble on the day appointed for the meeting

of parliament.-Adjourn for a fortnight till the fact be af-

certained.-Physicians being examined, agree that a tempo-

rary incapacity exists.--Houses meet to prepare for a supply.

-Mr. Pitt moves an inquiry into precedents.-Mr. Fox

declares, that in such circumstances the heir apparent has a

right to exercise the executive power.-Mr. Pitt contends

that the right of supplying the deficiency is in the people,

through their representatives.—Lord Loughborough, with

fome diftinctions, agrees with Mr. Fox.--Mr. Fox explains

his doctrine, which Mr. Pitt fill controverts.- Question

brought