247 State of Public Affairs-Great Britain. often difcuffed before, and that he was going to torun " Refpecting an affertion which had been made, that events had declared in favour of the two Bills, Mr. Fox obferved, that he regarded this as one of the many inftances of the total ignorance of human nature, and of the utter incapacity invariably evinced by the prefent administration. He faid, the trength of the Executive Government could not be increafed without weakening every other part, and making the government itself pay a fine for its injuftice, and a mulet for its weaknefs. That wife legiflators fhould not fo ftop up the current, as to make it, at fome future period, burft upon us like a torrent-they fhould open new channels they fhould be in a conftant habit of increafing the privileges of the people they fhould, at least, yield to neceffity, and endeavour, by an able direction of the fream, to prevent it from being clogged and checked in its carcer, and from breaking like a torrent, and overwhelming us. He concluded with inoving for leave to bring in a Bill for the repeal of the Acts in queftion. Mr. Serjeant ADAIR replied, at great length, to the eloquent and impreffive fpeech of 'Mr. Fox; he contended for the neceffity there was of palling the Treafon and Sedition Bills, and for the falutary confequences which they had produced. The learned Serjeant was followed on nearly the fame ground, by Major ELFORD, Colonel FULLARTON, Lord MORPETH, and. Mr. ELLISON. To the obfervations made by thefe gentlemen against the motion, Mr. Fox made an argumentative and energetic reply. When the Houfe divided, there appeared for the motion, 52; againft it, 260. This was the laft motion Mr. Fox made in the Houfe; but, in a few days afterwards, he fupported Mr. GREY. On the 26th of May, that great national question,a PARLIAMENTARY REFORM was again agitated in the Houfe of Commons Mr. GREY prefaced his motion for this purpofe, with a speech of great and impreilive eloquence, in the introduction to which, he obferved, that after recollecting the fate which every propofition from that fide of the houfe had met with, he had not very fanguine hopes of fuccefs, but a determination to do his duty prevailed over every other confideration. While he preffed upon the house the neceiity of reform, he did not go upon natural and imprefcriptible fights, but avowed himself an enemy to [June, univerfal fuffrage. Before he could give his confent to that principle, the advocates for it must prove, to his conviction, that they will ever be able to derive those advantages from it with which they flatter themselves. After examining the component parts of the English conftitution, he took his firft data upon this interefting fubject from the following propofition or queftion-" What is the end and object of the Houfe of Commons. The House of Commons was intended to be a real reprefentation of the great body of the people. As fuch, it was meant by thofe who framed it, to be an efpecial check upon the executive government, to have the strongest and moft efficient controul over the public purfe, and to be a true and watchful guardian over the rights and privileges of the people. But for fome years paft, the parliament has certainly not been what the conftitution appointed it to be. In the conduct of the American war, the Houfe of Commons, inftead of proving itfelf a check upon the executive government, and a watchful guardian of the purfe of the nation, had placed an implicit confidence in the affertions and promnifes of minifters, and had opened the purfe-ftrings of the nation, to a very lavish expenditure. The prefent minif. ter, on his firft appearance in that house, had attributed the difgrace and misfor tune of that war, the lofs of the American Provinces, the dreadful flaughter of a hundred thoufand brave, but unfortunate fubjects, and the fcandalous expenditure of more than a hundred millions of money, to the want of a due and fair reprefentation of the people in the Houfe of Commons; yet, ftrange to relate, the fame man, the prefent Chancellor of the Exchequer, had not only lived to fee this country brought to a much more melancholy ftate than it was at the end of the American war, but had had a large and principal fhare in bringing on that almoft intolerable load of difgrace and misfortune himfelf, and had perfifted and ftill perfifts in following thofe fteps which he had deprecated in those who had conducted that war; and refufed and ftill refuses to the people a free and fair reprefentation in parliament, to the want of which, he himself had attributed all the misfortunes brought upon this country, by the minifters of that period. Inftead of being a check upon the execu tive government, the laft and prefent parliaments had continually fanctioned all the meafures of minifters, by their approbation. 1797.] State of Public Affairs.-Great Britain. probation. Mr. Grey next gave the general outlines of the plan of reform which he had to propofe. The trifling alteration which he would wish to take place in the county reprefentation was, that inftead of ninety-two members, it fhould hereafter confift of one hundred and thirteen. This increafe to be made by an addition of members to fome of the most extenfive counties. As, for example, the county of York, which now only fends two members, he proposed fhould return fix, that is, two for each riding. He farther propofed, that to the freeholders already entitled to vote at county elections, fhould be added all copyholders and leafeholders, above a certain rent, and holding above a certain time. The next alteration he propofed, related to the remaining four hundred members,, and thofe he recommended to be elected by a certain defcription of perfons only. That defcription of perfons was, refident householders, paying taxes. In order ftill farther to promote the object of this plan of reform in parliament, he propofed, that the poll should be taken in the feve ral parishes of the town or city, for which the election fhall be held. at the fame hour on the fame day. He alfo hinted, that if thefe propofitions were agreed to, he meant to propole an alteration in the duration of parliaments. Mr. Grey, after afferting that the prefent parliament had not the confidence of the people, added, that his attempts at feveral times had been of no avail, and, he therefore took that opportunity of informing the houfe, that after that night he Jhould no more trouble them with his attendance and obfervations. He concluded with moving "for leave to bring in a bill, to improve and amend the reprefentation of the people in the Houfe of Commons." Mr. ERSKINE feconded the motion, in a fpeech replete with energy and legal argument; in which he endeavoured to convince the houfe of the neceflity of an immediate reform, in order to prevent a revolution, which would otherwife inevitably happen. Mr. PITT's fpeech, on this occafion, was intended to perfuade his hearers, that the modern reformers did not mean to conAne themfelves to any modification of the Houfe of Commons, and the reprefentation of the country; on the contrary, what they defcribed by the word reform, was nothing lefs than an alienation of the principles of the British conftitution; although they fometimes availed themfelves of the topics of parliamentary reform, 473 which they neither would apply to parliament for, nor confidered parliament as competent to give. They had borrowed the principles of reform, the novel doctrines of the Rights of Man, from French profelytes, from Paine, from the jacobin and affiliated focieties, and from that fhallow philofophy, which, under a fpe.. cious mask, had endeavoured to impofe on the world one of the wildeft fpecies of bigotry which had ever existed. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, and Mr. SHERIDAN, fpoke in favour of the motion. Mr. Fox alfo ftrongly defended the motion of his friend Mr. Grey, and, like him, concluded with taking at least a temporary leave of the houfe. " I have no intention (faid he) of wholly deferting my duty in this houfe; but fince minifters have been fo repeatedly convicted of failures, fince parliament ftill continues confiding in and fupporting them, notwithstanding the alarming condition of the country, I fhall certainly think myself juftified in giving more of my time to my own private concerns, than I hitherto have done, and less of it to fruitless exertions in this houfe." Mr. Fox alfo expreffed a wifh to fee the prefent minitiers banished from the king's prefence and councils for ever, as the moft certain ftep to preferve the conftitution; but " I have no wifh (faid he) to form a part of any new adminiftration that may fucceed them." When the houfe divided, the motion was negatived by 256 against 91. On the 30th of May, the DUKE of BEDFORD, in the House of Lords, moved a very strong addrefs to his majefty, fetting forth the calamitous ftate of the nation, and the incapacity of his miniters, and praying him to difmifs them from his councils for ever, as a neceffary preliminary to the Salvation of the country. After taking an extenfive review of the commencement and progrefs of the war, and afferting that minifters had uniformly difappointed the confidence repofed in them; he undertook to prove that even if peace were concluded during the prefent fummer, fifteen millions more would be wanting, and additional taxes, to the amount of three millions fo that the war would create an annual burden of at least ten millions, of which only three millions had as yet been felt by the public. ; The DUKE of ATHOL oppofed the motion, and maintained that minifters ftill deferved the confidence of the houfe. The 474 State of Public Affairs.Ireland.....Franc. The DUKE of GRAFTON, in a moft pathetic and eloquent fpeech, implored their lordships to confider the fituation of the country; enforced the Duke of Bedford's arguments, and concluded by fay ing, that after having claimed the privileges of ftating his reafons to his fove reign, he fhould withdraw from public affairs. The EARL of GUILDFORD fupported the motion, as did the MARQUIS of LANSDOWNE, in as able a fpeech as was ever made in that houfe. LORD AUCKLAND oppofed it; when the houfe divided, there appeared, contents (including proxies) for the addrefs 14, non-con tents 91. For fome time previous to thefe de bates, it has been faid that a change of adminißration was in agitation; Mr. Pitt, it is rumoured, chagrined, and humbled, by the total difappointment of all his moft fanguine expectations; and feeling his own incompetence to the fituation in which he finds the nation involved, has at length, feriously meditated on a retreat from office, provided he could effect it on his own terms. Application, therefore, we have understood, was made to a certain great and brilliant orator, by fome members of the houfe (whether with or without the concurrence of the minifter, we cannot pretend to determine) for the formation of a new miniftry, upon popular principles. The arrangement, however, was to have been to the exclufion of a great ftatefman, to whom the country has ever looked up, because it was infinuated, that prejudices exified against him in a certain quarter, which could not for the prcient be removed. Sir WILLIAM PULTENEY was mentioned as the probable Chancellor of the Exchequer, and two of the prefent minifters were to remain in, who were fuppofed to be the Lord Chancellor and Mr. DUNDAS. The Earl of MOIRA, Lord THURLOw, and three or four of the leading members of Mr. Fox's party, were, with them, to have conftituted the cabinet; and peace and a parliamentary reform were to have been the immediate measures ftipulated for. Whether the negociating parties, however, had any proper authority or not, we cannnot determine.-But we have understood, that though the great ftatefman to whom we have alluded, declared, with his ufual magnanimity, that no perfonal confideration thould ever lead him to withstand or oppofe any meafure that might be fuppoled for the good of his country, ftill [June, the fentiments of his friends were unanimously against the propofal; they remembered the fnare that had been laid for Lord CHATHAM; and they determined that to accede to fuch a propofal would be to abandon for the emoluments of office, the principles and the cause to which they had already facrificed fo much. That the country could not be faved without an entire change of fyftem and of men-that to unite with any of the prefent minifters would be dif graceful and pernicious; and that an administration, in which the country could place the fulleft confidence, was effential at this crifis. The negociation, therefore, it is fcarcely neceffary to add, proved abortive. IRELAND. The terror which the late conduct of adminiftration in Ireland has infufed into the people, may be mistaken for returning tranquillity. Terror may for a moment induce a people to fubmit, but a fenfe of injury will act as a continual ftimulus for them to feize the firft opportunity of fhowing their resentment against the measures that have been taken to over-awe their independence. The diurnal prints of the fifter kingdom, not dreading the law, but the "vigour beyond the law," appear to have found it neceffary, lately, to fupprefs their ufual freedom of communication, left they fhould be the victims of what, in modern language, have been termed, "ftrong measures." Though fuch measures of government may have rendered the difaffected in Ireland paffive for the prefent, affairs, both public and private, political and commercial, wear an unpleafant afpect; party is in the extreme-opinion has degenerated into animofity, and the yeomanry, who were confidered as the prefervers of order, are weakened by the violence of fome refolutions which the moderate difapprove. Four or five of the militia have been fhot, for certain breaches of the articles of war. Dublin is faid to be crowded with the poor and the diftreffed, and twenty thousand fellow creatures, chiefly unemployed manufacturers and their families, are literally starving. FRANCE. In the Council of Five Hundred, the Prefident LAMARQUE, on the 20th of May, obferved, that he regarded the period of the renewal of the Supreme Authorities as that of the completion of the French Conftitutional Act, of which it regulated the movements as the pe 1797-3 State of Public Affairs.-Italy. riod when all the feeds of difcord would On the fame day in the fame Council, after the requifite forms had been gone through, the names of the newly elected members were called over. On that of Bertrand BARRERE being read, burfts of laughter and loud murmurs took place; but when the name of PICHEGRU was pronounced, most of the members arofe, and respectfully contemplated that illuftrious General, thus diftinguifhed by his fellow-citizens. Then proceeding to the appointment of its different officers, the Council chofe Pichegru for Prefident, and Simeon, Vaublanc, Henry Lari viere, and Parifot, Secretaries. It was afterwards refolved to fend a meffage to the Council of Elders to inform them that the Council was conftituted. Barrere's election was, afterwards declared null and void. On the 4th of June, Efchofferiaux the Elder, on a question concerning the colonies, propofed to enforce the Conftitution in them, and to grant an amnefty for all revolutionary crimes. General Jourdan rofe, and, after fome preliminary obfervations, faid, that it was to be feared left Santhonax, declaring open re 475 bellion, fhould furrender St. Domingo to the English. He therefore thought that a general should carry out their recal to the Commiffioners, and force them to obedience. It was also his opinion, that the repeal of the law of the 5th Pluviofe would be dangerous; he therefore moved the order of the day upon that repeal; and propofed, "that a meffage be fent to the Directory, to inveftigate the papers against its agents, and that it be called on to adopt the measures neceffary for the pacification of the colonies.' This was the maiden fpeech of the conqueror of Fleurus, it was well conceived, framed with all the frank nefs and fimplicity of a foldier, delivered in a dignified tone, and liftened to with attention. The Council adopted the plan of the committee, namely, to refcind the decree of the 5th Pluviofe, às to St. Domingo. By that decree, the Directory was authorised to fend Commiffioners to the colonies. The Directory was alfo charged to take the neceffary measures to restore peace in St. Domingo. On the 6th of June, at one o'clock, the Members of the Directory, with their Secretaries, affembled en coftume, in order to receive BARTHELEMY, the new Member of the Directory, elected to fucceed Letourneur, who went out by lot; and the new Director was received with the prefcribed forms and folemnity. ITALY. The oppreffion exercifed by the State Inquifitors, the Nobles, and thofe immediately under their influence, in the Republic of Venice, upon fome unfortunate individuals of the celebrated army of Italy, have at leaft accelerated, if not caufed a total change in their form of government. Whilst the French army was engaged in the defiles of Styria, the government of Venice took the opportunity, in the paffion week, to arm 40,000 peasants, uniting them with ten regiments of Sclavonians, to intercept all kind of communication between the army and the places in the rear. All perfons in the Terra Firma, who had received the French favourably, were arrefted. In the fquares, coffee houfes, and other public places in Venice, all Frenchmen were infulted and reviled as regicides, and atheifts. The priests, in their pulpits, encouraged the affaffination of the French. At Caftiglione de Mori, their foldiers were difarmed and then killed; and on the great roads from Mantua to Legnano, from Caffano to Verona more than 476 Domestic Incidents....London Marriages and Deaths. than 200 Frenchmen were affaffinated. On the fecond feat in Eafter alfo, at the ringing of the beli, all the French were affatiinated in Verona. Neither the fick in the hofpital, nor those who, in a state of convalefcence, were walking in the streets, were fpared; they were thrown into the river, where they died, pierced with a thoufand wounds from ftilettoes and pikes. As foon, however, as General Buonaparte was apprifed of thefe enormities, he haftened to bring the guilty at his feet, and declared the government of Venice an enemy to the French Republic. He immediately ordered all who had been arrefted for their opinions, to be fet at liberty. He feized upon the Venetian territories on Terra Firma, and difperfed the deluded peafants. The advocates and defenders of liberty in Venice took this opportunity of calling meetings, and deliberating upon a change of government. DOMESTIC LONDON AND MIDDLESEX. ON Friday morning, June 2, the Hereditary Prince and Princets of Wirtemberg, with their fuite, in four carriages, fet.off from St. James's palace, for Harwich. on their way to Germany; and on the following day, embarked on board a frigate, lying at that port, for the continent. The county of Middlefex petition to the king, for the removal of his minifters, &c. concludes with thefe words: "We, therefore, most humbly folicit your majefty to difmits your prefent CRIMINAL and INCAPABLE minifters from your councils, by which alone it is poffible that public credit may be gradually reftored, and that peace may be obtained on fafe and reasonable terms." When the, petition was put to the vote, not a fingle hand was held in oppofition. The thanks of the meeting were afterwards voted to Mr. BYNG," for his upright and incependant conduct in parliment;" but on a similar vote being propofed in favour of Mr. MAINWARING, it was gengrally scouted. The Marybone petition to the King, figned by Soco inhabitants, concludes with this fpirited reprefentation: "Your people are patient, but there is a point, beyond which, no nation that values its liberties, will ever fubmit.They have learned, that refiftance to oppreffion is a duty commanded by God, an d expected by their country; nor is it in the power of minifters, with all their threats and cunning, to tear this leffon from their hearts." Marriages in and near London. H. Brown, q. of Portland-Place, to Mifs Sabine, of Hille: fdown Houfe, Devon. At St. George's church, Hanover-Square, S. Bowles, efq. to Mifs E. Rufhout. [June, In the month of May, a revolution was effected in the ancient city of Venice. A municipality of 50 members of the fe veral ftates was erected in that capital, under the prefidency of fix French Commiflaries, appointed by General Buona parte-the golden book, the robes of ceremony of the Nobles and Senators, and other Enfigns of ariftocracy, were burnt, and great confufion prevailed. Many of the rich nobles fled, to fecure themselves under the protection of the emperor. The tricoloured flag was flying at St. Mark's Place. Afraid of their Sclavonian foldiery, the Venetians fent veffels to facilitate the arrival of the French troops, who entered Venice on the 16th of May; and on the 20th of May the French General Baraguey d'Hilliers had his head quarters at Venice, with fix thousand men, and a fuperb fleet, at his difpofal. INCIDENTS. At St. George's Church, Hanover-Square, Lieutenant-Colonel Childers, of the 11th Light Dragoons, to the Hon. Mifs Eardley, daughter of Lord Eardley, of Belvidere, Kent. T. Vaidon, jun. efq. of Gracechurch-street, to Mifs Tarbutt, of Gould-Square. At St. George's church, Hanover-Square, T. Howard, efq. of Rickmanfworth, to Mifs Sedgwick. W. Agar, efq. of Lincoln's- Inn, to Mifs Talbot. At St. James's church, G. Smith, efq. af Saville-Row, to Mifs Sawyer, of HeywoodLodge, Berks. H. Bridges, efq. of 2ckingham-Place, Suffex, to Mifs Watfon, late of Great Portland. freet. At St. George's church, Bloomsbury, G. Allenby, efq. of Holbeach, Lincoln, to Mifs Harrington, of Hart-ftreet, Bloomsbury. B. Harrifon, jun. efq. treafurer of Guy's Hofpital, to Mifs Pelly, of Upton, Effex. At St. James's church, J. Moseley, efq. of Oufden-Hall, Suffolk, to Mifs P. Galway, of Tofts, Norfolk, At Chelfea, the Rev. W. Garnier, eldeft fon of G. G. efq. of Wickham, Hants, to Mils North, eldest daughter of the bishop of Winchefter. Deaths in and near London. At Fulham, Sir A. S. Hammond, captain in the navy, and one of the colonels of marines, -This officer received a contution in his head, on the it of June, 1794, from the effects of which, though flight in appearance, he never perfectly recovered, and which is thought to have haftened his death. On |