THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER XXII. GEORGE III. (CONTINUED.)-1779. Meeting of parliament-King's speech-Amendment moved to the address Systematic attack on administration arranged-Efforts of Burke, Dunning, and Fox-Change of principles in lord Lyttleton and Mr. Adam-Duel between the latter and Mr. FoxAttack on the king's speech by lord George Gordon-Lord Shelburne attacks ministers in the case of Ireland-Communication of papers respecting that country by lord North-Introduces three propositions for the relief of Ireland, &c.-Fails in giving satisfaction-Cry for economy-Cause of economical reform-Duke of Richmond's motion on the subject in the house of lords rejected-Mr. Burke introduces it into the lower house -Meeting in Yorkshire and other counties, &c., to petition for reform-Mr. Burke's motion in the house-His scheme, comprised in five resolutions, is rejected-Lord Shelburne's motion for a commission of accounts rejected-Colonel Barré's motion for a committee of accounts passed with lord North's approbation -Bill for excluding contractors, &c. from parliament, rejected -Other motions regarding places and pensions, &c.-Duel between Mr. Fullarton and lord Shelburne-Altercation between lord North and the speaker-Reception of petitions by the house -Debates on them-Mr. Dunning's motions on the increase of crown influence, &c. carried-Illness of the speaker-The house adjourns-Reassembles with altered sentiments-Mr. Dunning's motion for an address to the king-Mr. Adam opposes itAnswered by Mr. Fox-Motion rejected-Subsequent debates, &c.-Change of sentiments in the house accounted for-Lord North's proposal respecting the East India company-Motion by general Conway, &c.-Protestant association-Lord George Gordon-Steps taken to procure a repeal of acts in favor of papists-Riots in London-Meeting of parliament-Conduct of the king-Discussions respecting the interference of the military CHAP. 1779. parliament. -Lord Mansfield's opinion-The petitions taken into consideration by the commons--Bill against catholic schoolmasters passed by the lower, but rejected by the upper house-Supplies, &c. for 1780-Rioters tried-Lord George Gordon tried, and acquitted -Dissolution of parliament-New elections-The armed neutrality-Coalition against us in India-State of domestic affairs -Sir George Rodney's success against the Spaniards-Defeats admiral Langara-His humane conduct regarding the prisoners -Relieves Minorca and Gibraltar, &c.-Sails for the West Indies-His actions with the French fleet, &c.—Proceeds to the coast of North America-State of American affairs-Expedition against South Carolina-Capture of Charleston, and reduction of the province, &c.-General Gates appointed to the American command Battle of Camden-Conduct of lord Cornwallis— Affairs at New York-Treason of general Arnold, and fate of major André, &c.-Rodney returns to the West Indies-Maritime losses sustained by the British-Domestic affairs. Meeting of THE king, when he met his parliament, alluded to the character of his people as well as that of the war; and, trusting in their spirited resistance to the designs of their common enemies, professed his resolution of persisting in the contest, and his expectation of defeating the projects of ambition and injustice: he recommended the state of Ireland to consideration, praised the exemplary conduct of the national militia, and returned cordial thanks to all his loyal subjects who had stood forward in these momentous times of trial. An extraordinary amendment was moved to the address; its purport being to contrast the glorious condition of the country at his majesty's accession, with its present gloomy prospects: imputing this alteration to a change in the plans of government, it proposed a return to the old system; while the present difficulties, dangers, and disgraces of the country were pointedly brought forward; and it was asserted that nothing but new counsels and new counsellors—a real change, not mere palliatives-could prevent the consummation of public ruin. Opposition members, not content with employing all the powers of vituperation against ministers, attacked the throne itself in terms which fell but little short of treasonable menaces; for they were irritated by late ministerial changes, in which his majesty's favor had been confined to those on whom XXII. 1779. he could rely for co-operation in the plans he had CHAP. adopted, and in which he was determined to persist. The speeches in support of the amendment contained outlines of proceedings for the session: a systematic plan of attack on the administration was arranged; and the principal leaders of it were the three distinguished orators, Burke, Dunning, and Fox: the first of these brought all the powers of his expanded and philosophic mind to bear on schemes of political economy; the vigorous and acute intellect of the second, enriched with legal knowlege, and sharpened by forensic contention, was engaged in correcting constitutional abuses, or in supporting constitutional law and practice; while the comprehensive genius, the penetrating sagacity, and the impetuous eloquence of Fox, were actively employed in canvassing the executive conduct of ministers: the debates on the address, in both houses, produced an extensive discussion of their whole political system, and were characterised by efforts of the highest oratorical powers; but the result was unfavorable to the ablest speakers, opposition being outvoted by a majority of 233 to 134 in the commons, and eighty to forty-one in the lords. This preliminary contention was distinguished by a remarkable desertion of party in each house. Lord Lyttleton, who for the last seven years had been one of the most strenuous partisans of administration, now appeared in the ranks of opposition, and vied with the most bitter railers against the friends whom he had forsaken in the lower house, Mr. Adam left the minority, to take his place under the ministerial standard. After stating various reasons for changing his political sentiments, he declared that 'he could not concur in the pretended necessity of new counsels or new counsellors; since, among those gentlemen who stood candidates for office, he was unable to single out one by whom the state was likely to be better served than by its present rulers.' Mr. Fox's reply, as reported in the newspapers, being thought to convey a personal reflection on Mr. Adam, that gentleman demanded a disavowal of it through the same channels XXII. CHAP of public intelligence; but such a concession not appearing consistent with Mr. Fox's notions of propriety, a duel was the consequence, in which the latter was slightly wounded. 1779. Gordon. Violence of The audacious virulence displayed by lord George lord George Gordon would scarcely deserve notice, had it not been prelude to those disgraceful scenes in which he soon afterwards bore so conspicuous a part. He insisted that the king's speech was full of impropriety, and deficient in common sense; that the ministry were no less odious in Ireland than in England; while the people of Scotland were almost equally prepared to rise in opposition. Adverting to a refusal by government to permit the arming of the inhabitants of Dumfries-shire, he read a letter on that subject addressed to the duke of Queensbury from the secretary at war: then, suddenly apostrophising that minister, -'and you, Charles Jenkinson,' he exclaimed, 'how durst you write such a letter? Robert Bruce would not have dared to write such a one; yet the secretary of an elector of Hanover has had the presumption to do so: the royal family of Stuart were banished for not attending to the voice of their people; yet the elector of Hanover is not afraid to disregard it. Sir Hugh Smithson, (earl Percy) armed cap-à-pé, marches at the head of all the cheesemongers and grocers from Temple-bar to Brentford, and the great Douglas of Scotland is not to be trusted with arms. The Scotch are irritated at this partiality; and in point of religion they are exasperated, as they are convinced the king is a papist.' This intemperate ribaldry was arrested by the speaker's interposition; but almost unlimited acrimony prevailed during the whole debate. Frequent allusions having been made to the state of Ireland, the members of administration in both houses gave positive assurances that satisfactory plans of relief were in contemplation; but before these could be brought forward, the earl of Shelburne, having procured a summons of the house, recapitulated the proceedings of last session, blamed the delay of ministers, and to that cause attributed the disaffection prevailing XXII. 1779. in the sister kingdom. The government there,' he CHAP said, 'having been abdicated, the people had resumed their powers; and were fully justified in the last session of parliament, moderate concessions and reasonable expectations of relief would have satisfied them; but now the incapacity and inattention of ministers had brought England to the melancholy dilemma of submitting to the dictation of Ireland, or of losing America. He attributed much of this evil to lord North, who was always asleep when he should be awake, but attentive when alacrity led to error; and he concluded an able speech with a motion of censure on ministers. They were defended by lord Hillsborough, who proved that no delay could be justly imputed to administration: measures for the relief of Ireland could not be at once adopted by government; they must flow from the legislature, and not be commenced without proper information: much extraneous matter was introduced into the debate, tending to throw blame on the cabinet; and a transaction regarding the purchase of a sinecure place from Mr. Fox, in order to bestow it on Mr. Jenkinson, by which the Irish establishment was loaded with a pension of £3000 per annum, was severely reprobated by the noble mover of the resolution: earl Gower also, who had lately retired from administration, reproached his former colleagues in bitter terms. He had presided,' he said, 'for some years at the council-table, and had seen such things pass of late, that no man of honor or conscience could sit there any longer.' The motion was negatived: but lord North on the same day communicated to the commons additional papers respecting the state of Ireland; promising the remainder with all convenient despatch, together with a plan for the redress of grievances: this intimation did not prevent the earl of Ossory from proposing a vote of censure, which, like that in the upper house, was rejected, after it had given birth to highly-applauded speeches from Fox and Burke; the latter of whom remarked, 'that what had been at first requested as a favor, was delayed till anger demanded it as a right; till threats เ |