pe of the measures pursued by Holland, for supporting the city of Utrecht in its contumacious oppofition to the fates of the province. Unexpected revolution in the assembly of the fates of Holland, who, following the example of Amfterdam, adopt measures evidently favourable to the Stadtbolder's interefts. General confternation and critical fituation of the republican party. Defeated in all their late attempts; with now a great majority of the provinces, and a greater of the people decidedly against them. Bold and hazardous measures become acts of prudence. Obliged to throw themselves upon the democratical party for Jupport, and to call in the armed burghers to new model and settle the ftate and conftitution. These furround the fenate-boufes of Amfterdam and Rotterdam, purge them of those members who were adverfe to their defigns, place all power in the hands of their own party, and establish a determined majority in the ftates of Halland. Thefe prepare to affift Utrecht by force of arms against the Provincial States. States general, who had hitherto preferved a strict neutrality, now take a decided part in oppofing the defign of Holland to fupport Utrecht by force of arms. Council of fate iffue an order ftrictly forbidding the officers in the fervice of Holland from marching their troops inte the territories of any other province. Prohibition confirmed by the States General. Reply from the fates of Holland. First blood drawn in a fkirmish at Futphaas, a village near Utrecht. States of Holland order troops to the fuccour of Utrecht. Propofe a teft to their officers. A great majarity refuse the test; are fufpended and new ones appointed. Sufpended afficers taken into the protection of the States general, and their pay continued. Manifefto published by the Stadtholder, amounting nearly to a declaration of war against the ruling party in the province of Holland. Riots at Amfterdam. States general ifue an order to general Van Reyffel, to break up the cordon or line of troops formed on the frontiers of Holland. Counter orders from the ftates of Holland. Colonel Balnea-vis carries off the regiment which he lately commanded himself, with a battalion of an other, from the fortress of Oudewater to the Stadtholder. This example caufes a general revolt in the troops of Holland. CHA P. II. Arrest of the princess of Orange near Schoonhoven. Obfervations on the conduct and principles on which the ruling party in Holland acted in that meafure; with an account of the circumstances attending it. Confequences of that event, which change the whole face of public affairs in the republic, and intermingle foreign interefts and connections with their domeftic contefts. Princefs returns to Nimeguen. Strong memorial from the king of Pruffia, demanding immediate and ample fatisfaction, with due punishment to the authors of the outrage offered to the princess. Answer from the States of Holland deemed by the king unfatisfactory and evafive. Anfwer from the States General, in which they disapprove the conduct and obftinacy of the States of Holland, and leave them to abide the confequences, highly acceptable to the king. Court of Versailles condemn the conduct of Holland, and juftify the king in his demand of fatisfaction. Second memorial from the court of Ber lin, ftrongly expreffive of the king's furprize and indignation at the answer and conduct of the States of Holland. M. de Thulemeyer presents a paper containing the form and terms of the fatisfaction which the king infifts on. States of Holland, inftead of compliance, order every thing to be in readiness for inundating the country in cafe of invafion. Preparations for war on the fide of Prufia. Stadtholder takes the towns of Wick-Duerftede, and Harderwycke. Province of Zealand declares for him. Ineffective attempts on his camp by the Rhingrave of Salm. Scandalous invective against the prince of Orange, in the form of a petition to the States of Holland. Licentioufnefs of the rabble; deplorable fituation and depopulation of the country; States endeavour in vain to prevent emigration. Proclamation issued by the States General, prohibiting the influx of French officers and foldiers daily arriving. Remonftrate with the court of Versailles on that fubject. Duke of Brunswick, at the head of a Pruffian army, enters the territories of the republic. Takes Gorcum. Attempt made by the commiffion of defence to inundate the country fails of effect. Shameful flight of the garrison and armed burghers from Utrecht, without waiting the fight of an enemy. Univerfal panic. The Pruffian forces, in a few days, overrun and fubdue the greatest part of South Holland; most of the cities and fortreffes falling into their hands without refiftance. Duke of Brunswick and general Kalkreuth approach the frong pofts of Amstelveen and Ouderkerk, within a few miles of Amfterdam. Revolution at the Hague. States of Holland refcind all their former refolutions against the ftadtholder, and invite him to return and take poffeffion of the government. Prince of Orange, and afterwards the princess, arrive at the Hague. Short truce, to give time for a deputation from Amfterdam to propofe terms of accommodation. Terms deemed inadmisible. Strong defences, and inacceffible fituation of Amfterdam, feemed to render it impregnable. Truce being expired, duke of Brunswick gives orders for a general attack on all the enemy's outpofts at five o'clock in the morning. Admirable difpofitions made by the duke. Important poft of Half Wegen taken, which opens the way to Amfterdam on the western fide. Amstelveen taken after a long and brave refiftance. The approaches to the city being now fecured, the Pruffian troops are called off from the other attacks. Admirable temper, and great moderation, difplayed by the duke of Brunswick, under various circumstances which occurred previous to the capitulation of Amfterdam, and the furrender of the Leyden gate to the Pruffians. CHA P. III. [29 1 ndisturbed tranquillity of Great Britain during the recefs of parliament. Treaty of commerce with France, figned 29th September 1786. State of political parties. Creation of Peers. King's Speech at the opening of the feffion. Addresses voted unanimously. Remarks by Mr. Fox upon the principles of the commercial treaty. Mr. Pitt's reply. Motion for taking the treaty into confideration; objected to as too hafty. Motion for delay debated, and rejected. Motion by Mr. Fox relative to the state of the negotiation gotiation with Portugal; rejected without a divifion. Petition from the chamber of commerce for further time to confider the tendency of the treaty, Houfe in a committee upon the treaty; Mr. Pitt's Speech on that occafion confiders the treaty in three points of view, commercial, financial, and po- litical. Comparative view of the produce, manufactures, and population of the two countries; conclufions in favour of Great Britain. Anfwers to the objections of the chamber of commerce. Remarks on the treaty of Utrecht. Tendency of the treaty with respect to revenue; the advantage in favour of Great Britain. Political tendency of the treaty. Abfurd prejudices answered. Caufes of the change that had taken place in the po- litical views of France.-Mr. Fox replies to Mr. Pitt; contends for the importance of the political tendency of the treaty beyond any other confidera- tion. Relative political fituation of the two countries. Grounds of the natural enmity fubfifting between them. Improbability of any change in the defigns of France; her hoftile views in the prefent treaty. Defends the refolutions of the chamber of commerce. Anfers Mr. Pitt's arguments relative to the revenue. Moves that the chairman report a progress; jup- ported by Mr. Francis. Different lines of conduct of Lord Chatham and Mr. Pitt. Effects of the treaty upon the navy. Opinion of Mr. Powys ; of Mr. Baring. Mr. Fox's motion rejected by a large majority. Refolu- tion moved by Mr. Pitt agreed to. Committee fits again. Refolution moved to lower the duties on French wines. Able speech against the treaty by Mr. Flood; answered by Mr. Wilberforce. Principles laid down by Mr. Wilberforce ftrongly condemned by Mr. Fox and Mr. Powys. Opinion of Mr. Alderman Watjon. Treaty defended by Mr. H. Dundas. Amend- ment moved by Mr. Fox, respecting the duties on Portugal wines, rejected. Laft effort of Mr. Fox in favour of the Methuen treaty; acquiefces in Mr. Pitt's declaration on that fubject. Duty on brandy, on beer, on cot- tons, on glass; and debates thereupon. Report of the committee. Con- verfation refpecting the omiffion of Ireland. Refolutions agreed to. Motion for an address to the king upon the treaty; ftrongly oppofed. Extraordinary difplay of eloquence by Mr. Grey. Captain Macbride's opinion. Mr. Burke, upon the political tendency of the treaty, and its remote effects. Treaty defended by Mr. Grenville, Lord Mornington, and Mr. Pulteney. New objection to the addrefs from Mr. W. Ellis; anfwered and overruled by a majority of 236 to 160. Addrefs agreed to, and communicated to the lords. Decifion of the house of lords upon a motion by lord Stormont, re- Specting fuch of the fixteen peers as fhould be created peers of Great Britain. Motion oppofed by the lord chancellor; defended by lord Loughborough, and carried by a majority of 52 to 38. Debates in the house of lords upon the commercial treaty. Altercation between the duke of Richmond and the and poundage; the nature and inconveniences of thofe duties-the methods hitherto adopted for remedying them-their infufficiency.-Explanation of the new plan of confolidating the duties of custom, and of excife.-Provi- fions to be made for the fecurity of the public creditors.-Upwards of three thousand refolutions to be moved.-General concurrence of the house in this meafure. Mr. Burke's Speech on the occafion.-Sir Grey Cooper mentions the progress made in it during the adminiftration of Lord North.-Bill brought in for the confolidation of duties.-Provifions relative to the French treaty included therein-objected to on that account.-Motion for feparating the latter from the former, rejected.-Motion to the fame effect, by Mr. Bastard, rejected.-Warm debate, and motions on the fame fubject rejected in the house of lords.-Bill receives the royal affent. Innovation in the mutiny bill again carried, after much debate. Penfion of Sir John Skyn- Mr. Burke's Jpeech on that bufinefs. Motion in the upper boufe, by lord Rawdon, relative to the Spanish convention, and the evacuation of the Mofquito fhore-Speeches of lord Carmarthen and the lord chancellor on the fame fubject.-Motion by Mr. Beaufoy, for taking the corporation and test acts into confideration-endeavours to prove that the latter was never defigned to include proteftant diffenters; and that the reafons for the former had ceased--that no man ought to be punished for opinions that dijqualifications are punishments-that the difqualifications were not defenfible by any state neceffity.-Diffenters vindicated from the charge of republicanifm, and of aiming at the revenues of the church-tefts, that would remain after the repeal, fufficient.--Objection anfwered relative to the union.-Remark on the impiety of a facramental teft.-Mr. Beaufoy anfwered by Lord North, and by Mr. Pitt-jupported by Mr. Fox-his remarks on the late conduct of the diffenters. Mr. Beaufoy's motion re- jected by 178 to 100. Budget-flourishing state of the finance-contro- verted by Mr. Sheridan. Notice given by Mr. Alderman Newnham, of a motion relative to the embarraffed state of the affairs of the Prince of Wales. -Retrofpect of various matters relative to that affair-first establishment of the Prince's houshold-difference of opinions on the allowance to be made bim-debt contracted-meritorious conduct of the Prince of Wales.-Appli- cation to the king for affiftance rejected.-Reduction of all his establishments, and favings appropriated for payment of the debt.Mijunderstanding be- tween the King and the Prince.--Generous offer of the duke of Orleans.- Application to parliament.-Gonverfation on the fubject in the house of com- mons-numerous appearance of the Prince's friends.-Mr. Pitt's declara- tion, that he should have to difclofe circumftances of an unpleasant nature. Mr. Rolle's menace, to bring forward an enquiry concerning the connection between the Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert.-Prince of Wales demands to have the whole of his conduct enquired into-authorizes Mr. Fox to explain certain parts thereof.-Mr. Rolle's behaviour warmly cenfured, and de- fended by Mr. Pitt.-General difpofition in favour of the Prince.-The matter privately accommodated with the Prince the day before Mr. Nen- ham's motion was to be made.-Meffage from the King-ftate of the Prince's CHAP. CHA P. V. Motion by Mr. Fox, for repealing the shop tax; fupported by Mr. Lambton reply of Mr. Pitt; motion rejected. Bill brought in for farming the posthorfe duty; meets an early oppofition; Mr. Pitt's defence of the measure, not repugnant to the conftitution, nor dangerous as a precedent; oppofed on the fecond reading by Mr. Marfham, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Baftard, and Mr. Wyndham; bill paffed. Extraordinary petition from debtors in Newgate. Infolvent bill passes the house of commons; opposed and rejected in the house of lords; jentiments of the chancellor upon measures of that nature; of lord Rawdon. Motion by Mr. Grey, relative to abuses in the poft office; facts from the report of the committee; animadverfion by Mr. Fox and Mr. Sheridan upon Mr. Pitt's conduct; retort of the latter upon the coalition; Aricture on Mr. Pitt's temporizing with lord North, by Mr. Adam; violent altercation between Mr. Pitt and Mr. Grey; motion of cenfure respecting the poft office by Mr. Grey; oppofed by lord Maitland and Mr. Pitt; rejected without a divifion. Motion in the house of lords, relative to the votes of the dukes of Queensberry and Gordon, in the election of the fixteen peers; oppofed by the chancellor; fupported by lord Kinnaird; opinions of lord Douglas, earl of Moreton, and duke of Richmond; motion carried. Motion in the house of commons, relative to the right of the fons of Scotch peers to reprefent Scotch boroughs or counties; opinions of Sir John Sinclair, Mr. Dundas, Sir James Johnstone, and Sir Adam Ferguffon, in the negative; of lords Beauchamp, Maitland, and Elcho, in the affirmative; carried for the negative. [131 CHA P. VI. Accufation of Mr. Haftings. Celebrated fpeech of Mr. Sheridan on the thirā charge, respecting the Begums of Oude; its remarkable effects; house adjourns thereon; debate refumed; opinion of Mr. Pitt respecting the matter of the charge; voted by a large majority; Mr. Burke proposes to come directly to the question of impeachment; oppofed by Mr. Pitt. Converfation relative to the evidence and profecution of Sir Elijah Impey. Fourth charge, relative to the nabob of Farruckabad, opened by Mr. T. Pelham ; reasons of Mr. Dundas for voting for the charge; speech by lord Hood in favour of Mr. Haftings; anfwered by Mr. Pitt; difficulties under which "the accufers of Mr. Haftings laboured. Fifth charge, relative to contracts and falaries, opened by Sir James Erskine; Mr. Pitt objects to a great part of the charge; moves to have it confined to three points; Mr. Burke moves that two others should be added; Mr. Burke's amendment carried ; altercation between Mr. Francis and Mr. Pitt. Sixth charge, respecting Fyzoola Khân, opened by Mr. Wyndham; criminal parts of the charge ftated by Mr. Dundas; explanation by Mr. Burke; propofal of Mr. Pitt, for bringing forward the question of impeachment; acceded to by Mr. Burke |