.

a

Answered by Mr. Pitt, who defends the law, and exposes

the frauds of manufacturers-Motion rejected on

division-Mr. Pitt opens the Budget---Prosperous state of

the Revenue-Reverse of the picture, by Mr. Sheridan-

dispute with Spain-Nootka Sound-King's message to

Parliament Address of both Houses-King's speech-

Dissolution of Parliament-Mr. Fitzherbert sent to Madrid

-Discussions between the British Ambassador and the

Spanish Minister-Spain applies to France for the fulfil-

ment of the Family compact-France not disposed to go

to war with England-Spain, despairing of assistance,

complies with the demands of England-Final adjustment

of the dispute in contention.

CHAPTER XV.

Proceedings of the National Assembly of France---Declare the

old Laws to be in force until new Laws shall be

-enacted---Dissent of the People from such Declaration---

The will of the People, or rather the will of the Parisian

populace, becomes the law of the Nation---Riots ensue---

Hopes raised by Neckar's promises dissipated---Distresses

of the Country---Enormous deficit---Assignats issued on

the security of the Estates of the Church, which are

ordered to be sold---Offer of the Clergy to supply the sum

required rejected by the Assembly---The Public compelled

to receive Assignats at par---Titles and Armorial bearings

suppressed on the motions of Charles de Lameth, and

Matthew de Montmorenci---Conquerors of the Bastille

rewarded by the Assembly, but resign the honours pro-

posed to be conferred on them---A deputation to the As-

sembly from all the nations of the Earth---Anacharsist

Clootz a Prussian vagabond, orator of the deputation---

Favourably received by the Assembly---Curious Anecdote

of this Deputation--The King resolves to put himself at

the head of the Revolution---Communicates his resolu-

tion to the Assembly---Weakness and inefficacy of this

Attempt---Robespierre becomes conspicuous---Marat

excites the People to Rebellion---Seditious language of

Camille Desmoulins---Proposal of Mr. Malouet, for pro-

secuting these Libels, first adopted, and afterwards de-

feated---Amnesty passed for all Revolutionary Crimes---

Motions for a similar Amnesty, for all persons accused of

opposing the Revolution, rejected---Tumult in the Assem.

bly excited by a Speech of the President de Frondeville---

The President prints his Speech---Is imprisoned in his own.

House, by order of the Assembly---Reflections on this

Transaction---The Duke of Orleans, at the instigation of

his mistress, sends a challenge to M. de Frondeville, but

dares not meet him---Neckar, alarmed for his safety, flies

from the Capital, and leaves the Kingdom---Opening of

the new Parliament of England---The King's Speech-

Debates on the Convention with Spain, which is censured

by Mr. Fox---Supported by Mr. Pitt---Mr. Pitt proposes

means for defraying the Expenses of the late Armament—

Mr. Burke's Motion respecting the Impeachment of Mr.

Hastings---Mr. Pitt's Speech---He defends the Rights and

Privileges of Parliament --Contends that an Impeachment

by the Commons is not abated by a dissolution-Examines

the Question on the grounds of Precedent-Of the pra-

tice of Parliament, and of judicial Decisions, and the

Opinions of eminent Lawers-Animadversions on the

mode of Prosecution by Impeachment, and on the Judi-

cial Power exercised by the House of Commons-The

House resolve, by a great majority, to proceed with the

Impeachment of Mr. Hastings - Mr. Burke proposes to

limit the Prosecution to one more Charge-Remarks on

his Speech-Motion for putting a stop to all further Pro-

ceedings rejected, and Mr. Burke's motion carried-War

in India-Reprobated by Mr Fox-Defended by Mr. Pitt—

Approved by the House---Mr. Wilberforce moves the

Abolition of the Slave Trade-Mr. Pitt's Speech in favour

of the motion---Arguments in defence of the Trade---

Motion rejected by a considerable majority-Philanthro-

pic spirit of the Age-Laudable in its Principle, though

mistaken in its application-Repeal of certain Penalties

and Disabilities, to which Papists were subjected by the

Act 10. of William III. for preventing the growth of

Popery---The Papists not satisfied by such partial Relief---

Declaration of one of their members on that Subject---

Petition of certain English Catholic Dissenters to the

House of Commons---They renounce many obnoxious
tenets of the Church of Rome---They are not Dissenters
merely in name, but in fact---The tenets which they re-
nounced proved to have been enforced by the decrees of
general councils, which all Papists are bound to obey-
Bill for the relief of these Catholic Dissenters introduced
by Mr. Mitford (now Lord Redesdale)-Supported by
Mr. Windham and Mr. Fox-Mr. Fox defends the Bill,
but insists that it does not sufficiently extend the principle
of Toleration-Quotes the example of Prussia, Holland,
America, and France-Those examples shewn to be ir-
relevant---Comments on Mr. Fox's notion of Toleration
-The Bill passes both Houses without opposition-The
proposed Oath of Allegiance to be taken by the Catholic
Dissenters, modified by the Bishop of St. David's-Obser-
vations on that Oath-Debates on the Bill for giving a
New Constitution to Canada-Mr. Pitt's Speech-Pro-
poses the division of Canada into two Provinces, and the
establishment of two distinct Governments-The Bill
passes through its first Stages without Opposition or De-
bate-Unexpectedly opposed by Mr. Fox on the Report-
He condemns the whole of its Regulations-He repro-
bates the establishment of Hereditary Honours---Reduces
the distinction of such honours, in established Govern-
ments, to a mere question of prudence-Mischievous
tendency of such Principles-He censures the Provision
of the Clergy as too liberal, and recommends the Govern-
ment of France and America, as affording better models
for a good Constitution-Is answered by Mr. Pitt, who
deprecates the introduction of Republican principles into the
British Constitution-The Bill is re-committed-Com-
mittee on the State of the Nation-Mr. Sheridan panegy-
rises the French Revolution-Mr. Fox pronounces it to be
a stupendous monument of human happiness-Acknow-
ledges a complete change in his system of external Politics
to have been produced by the change in the government
of France-Tendency of his speech to encourage and pro-
pagate Revolutionary Principles in Great Britain.

THE

POLITICAL

LIFE OF MR. PITT.

CHAPTER XI.

Affairs of France-Weak and Impolitic Conduct of the French Ministers-Powers of the Parliaments-defined by Louis the Sixteenth-Their opposition to the King-Their illegal pretensions-Beneficial plan of the Ministry-frustrated by the Parliament of Paris-Bed of justice at VersaillesThe Nobility and Clergy support the Parliament against their Sovereign-Domestic Concerns-The King's Illness -Parliament assemble-Adjourn for a fortnight-General summons of the members ordered-Examination of the King's Physicians by the Privy Council-their re-examination by a Committee of the House of Commons-Mr. Pitt proposes to appoint a Committee to search for precedents-Opposed by Mr. Fox, who asserts the Prince's Right to the Regency-The Claim of Right resisted by Mr. Pitt, who insists on the necessity of a formal decision on the subject by Parliament-Supported by Mr. FoxDebates on the same question in the House of Lords— Explanatory speech of Mr. Fox-answered by Mr. Pitt, who states the outline of his proposed plan for the Regency -Mr. Pitt's Conduct justified-Proceedings in the House of Lords-Speech of the Duke of York deprecating the discussion of the question of Right-Debate, in the Vol. II.

B

Commons, on the question of Right, and on the plan of the Regency Mr. Pitt's Speech on the subject-Asserts the Right of Parliament to appoint a Regent, and to define his powers-Controverts the principles advanced by Lord Loughborough Moves Three Resolutions-Lord North moves an Amendment-reprobates the alleged right of Parliament, as a violation of the Constitution, and refers to the Revolution for a precedent-Reflections on his speech, and the applicability of his precedent examinedSmollet's Comments on the proceedings in 1688.-His notions of the Constitution proved to be erroneous and absurd-Plan of proceeding proposed, different from the plans suggested by either party-Able Speech of Mr. Foxdefends himself against the charge of Inconsistency-Mr. Pitt's reply-Lord North's motion negatived by the House-and Mr. Pitt's Resolutions carried-Farther Debates-Mr. Fox examines the applicability of the precedent of the Revolution to the case of the Regency-Is answered by Mr. Pitt-The Solicitor-General asserts the Right claimed for the Prince to be illegal-Mr. Fox urges a strong objection to the proposed plan of Proceeding― Majority of seventy-three in favour of Mr. Pitt's propositions Discussions in the House of Lords-Resolutions carried by a large majority-Mr. Pitt communicates his plan of the Regency to the Prince of Wales, in a letter, in obedience to the Prince's commands The Prince's answer-Observations thereon.

[1788] During this year, the domestic concerns of the French nation began to attract the serious attention of all Europe, and to assume a gloomy and portentous aspect. It has been seen that the King, and his ministers, had