easily induced to give their assent to a fourth famine, which then laid waste many other remonstrance, recapitulating the old griev- parts of Europe; in short, the union of plenances; charging the house of commons ty, peace, security, and true liberty, could with some new acts of "enormous wicked- not but reconcile the people of England to a ness and injustice," particularly the impris- government under which they enjoyed so onment of the two city magistrates, the many blessings. The only allay of this naerasure of Whittam's recognisance, and the tional happiness was towards the end of the embankment at Durham Yard; and praying year, in consequence of very heavy rains for the speedy dissolution of parliament, and which fell in November, and which occafor the removal of his majesty's "wicked sioned, particularly in the northern counties, and despotic ministers." The framers of a more terrible inundation than had been this remonstrance wished to provoke, if pos- experienced there within the memory of sible, some singular asperity of reply from man. A detail of its ravages would serve the throne; and it was intended that all the only to excite the most painful emotions. It livery should go along with the lord-mayor is enough to say that Northumberland, Cumto deliver it. But neither of these schemes berland, and Westmoreland exhibited for a succeeded. On the ninth of July, the day few days nothing but scenes of distress and before his lordship was to proceed at the horror.-The usual characteristic humanity head of the livery to St. James's, he receiv- of the British nation was exerted in afforded notice from the lord-chamberlain, that it ing relief to the sufferers. being unprecedented as well as impractica- 1772.-As there was no urgent business ble to introduce so numerous a body, no per- which required an early attendance, the son beyond the number allowed by law prorogation of parliament was extended to could be admitted; and when his lordship, the twenty-first of January, when they were with the usual attendants, presented the re-informed, in a speech from the throne, that monstrance next day, they were totally dis- the king of Spain's performance of his enconcerted by the cool and dignified firmness gagement in restoring Port Egmont and of his majesty's answer. "I shall ever be Falkland island, and the assurances receivready," said he, "to exert my prerogative, ed of the pacific disposition of that court, as far as I can constitutionally, in redressing as well as of other powers, afforded such a any real grievances of my subjects; and the prospect of the continuance of a peace, that city of London will always find me disposed both houses would be "at liberty to give to listen to any of their well-founded com- their whole attention to the establishment plaints; it is therefore with concern that I of wise and useful regulations of law, and see a part of my subjects still so far misled to the extension of our commercial advanand deluded, as to renew, in such reprehen- tages." The propriety of maintaining a resible terms, a request, with which, I have spectable establishment of naval forces was repeatedly declared, I cannot comply." at the same time suggested; but great pleaAll those desperate efforts of designing sure was expressed at finding, that there men served only to increase the harmony would be no necessity to ask any extraordiand to cement the union of the members of nary aid for that purpose. Though the adadministration. No change took place in dresses in both houses were carried unaniany of the public departments except those mously; yet, when a motion was made in that proceeded from the death of the earl of the commons, that twenty-five thousand seaHalifax, and of lord Strange, both of which men should be voted for the service of the happened nearly at the same time, and not current year, it was opposed under the prelong after the rising of parliament. In con- tence of inconsistency on the part of the sequence of the former of these events, the ministers, who accompanied a speech, which earl of Suffolk was appointed secretary of breathed nothing but effusions of peace, with state for the northern department, in the all the actual preparations for a war. But room of the earl of Halifax; and the duke after a short debate, the house agreed to the of Grafton, returning into office, accepted motion without a division. of the privy-seal. Lord Hyde succeeded lord Parliament was not inattentive to the Strange as chancellor of the dutchy of Lan- other objects which the king had pointed caster. Everything seemed now to promise out in general terms. They also entered ministry both tranquillity and permanence. upon the consideration of the East India afThe storm of faction had in a great measure fairs; and as these were of the utmost inspent its rage; and though some petty at-tricacy and magnitude, it was deemed adtempts were made by Wilkes and his asso- visable to appoint a select committee of thirciates to blow up once more the spirit of ty-one members, chosen by ballot, to inquire discontent, it soon subsided in a profound into, and make a faithful report of the late calm. A favorable harvest; the flourishing alarming mismanagement and actual state state of arts and commerce; an exemption of the company's concerns, to present to from the calamities of war, pestilence and parliament a comprehensive view of the ex

istence and extent of the evils, and thereby for the hardships they suffered, in being to enable them in their deliberate wisdom obliged, under severe penalties, to subscribe to apply an effectual remedy. The sittings the articles of a church to which they did of the committee were continued during not belong, and from which they sought the summer. neither promotion nor emolument. So inPETITION AGAINST THE 39 ARTICLES. viting an opportunity was not neglected by SOME attempts were made in the course the friends of the dissenters. Leave having of the session to enlarge the sphere of reli- been obtained to bring in a bill for their regious liberty; but upon such vague and con- lief, it was carried through the house of tradictory principles as defeated the possi- commons without a division, the number of bility of their success. The first was a pe- those who spoke against it by no means tition from certain clergymen of the estab- corresponding with their zeal. But it was lished church, and certain members of the thrown out, on the second reading in the professions of civil law and physic, who house of lords, by a majority of almost four prayed to be relieved from subscription to to one, who considered the thirty-nine arthe thirty-nine articles. The former laid ticles as the grand palladium on which the bold claims to the inherent right, which, civil as well as ecclesiastical government they said, they held from God alone, to make of the kingdom depended. a full and free use of their private judgROYAL MARRIAGE ACT. ment in the interpretation of the scriptures; AMONG the acts passed this session there and they farther asserted, that the necessity was one which made a great deal of noise, imposed on them of acknowledging particu- from the circumstances that gave rise to it, lar confessions of faith and doctrine, drawn and from its being strenuously opposed in up by fallible men, was an infringement of every stage of its progress through both that right, and a deviation from the liberal houses. This was the act for regulating the and original principles of the church of future marriages of the royal family. It had England: the latter stated, with more mod- its origin in the marriage contracted but a esty, the hardship of being obliged, for the few months before by the duke of Cumberpurpose of obtaining degrees in their re- land with Mrs. Horton, relict of colonel spective faculties, to declare their solemn Horton and daughter of lord Irnham. A assent to theological tenets, which the course private, though long-suspected marriage of of their studies had not led them to exam- the duke of Gloucester to the countess ine, and upon which their private opinions dowager of Waldegrave, might also have could be of no consequence to society. The operated on the king's mind, to recommend, petition was rejected by a majority of 217 by a particular message, the consideration against 71; and for the plainest reasons. of this subject to parliament. The dishonor The clergy could not complain, as not being reflected on the crown by unsuitable alobliged to accept of benefices contrary to liances, and former experience of the great their conscience; and if scruples arose af- evils arising from them, rendered the proterwards, they had it always in their power priety of some restraints very evident; but to relinquish their preferments. Every man it was alleged that they were carried too far was at liberty to interpret the scripture for in the new act, by being extended to all the his own private use; but his being author- descendants of George II. who might in time ized to do so for others was a matter of a comprehend a very numerous description of very different nature. All governments had people. According to the provisions of this a right to establish such a system of public act, the marriages contracted by the royal instruction as should approve itself most family, from the time of its having passed, conducive to the general good; and it was are declared null and void, unless the prenecessary that those, who were to become vious approbation of his majesty be obtained; teachers of the people, should be subjected but in case the parties shall have attained to some test of their conformity and union. the age of twenty-five years, and give noThe danger of innovations was also suggest-tice to the privy-council of their intention ed, and that, as civil disputes had lately run of marriage, such marriage shall be held high, it would be very impolitic to give any good in law, unless the parliament shall opportunity of increasing them by lighting within the space of twelve months declare up the flames of religious controversy. It its disapprobation of the same. seemed, however, to be the general wish, DEATH OF THE KING'S MOTHER AND that the universities would grant relief to the professors of law and physic, in the mat- WHATEVER uneasiness the king felt at ters they complained of; though parliament the disrespectful behavior of both his brothers did not think proper to interfere. Several in marrying without his consent, some other favorable sentiments were also thrown out events of a family nature soon after took in the debate with regard to the dissenting place, which were to him a source of much ministers, and some concern was expressed keener concern and reflection. His amiable

SISTER.

mother, the princess dowager of Wales, nephew, was appointed ambassador extraordied on the eighth of February; and his sis-dinary at the court of Versailles, in the room ter, the queen of Denmark, had a few days of the earl of Harcourt, who succeeded lord before fallen a victim to the intrigues and Townshend in the government of Ireland; boundless ambition of her husband's mother- and the services of the latter were rewarded in-law. This artful woman, eagerly bent on with the master generalship of the ordnance. securing, if possible, the succession for her The death of the earl of Albemarle afforded own son, the king's half-brother, left no an opportunity for promoting general Conmeans untried to alienate the affections of way to the government of the island of Jerthe royal pair from each other. But these sey; and Sir Jeffrey Amherst, who succeedattempts not answering her purpose, she en- ed him as lieutenant-general of the ordnance, tered into more desperate schemes, in con- was soon afterwards called to the privycert with some discarded placemen; and at council. A few promotions were also oclength, by the combined efforts of fraud and casioned by the death of the earl of Litchforce, she brought about a revolution at the field. Lord North was soon elected chancourt of Copenhagen on the sixteenth of cellor of the university of Oxford; Mr. January. Under the sanction of a warrant, Jenkinson succeeded to the joint vice-treacompulsorily obtained from the king, counts surership of Ireland, and thereby made a Struensee and Brandt, his chief ministers, vacancy at the treasury board in England for were thrown into a dungeon; and the young Fox. It is almost unnecessary to add, that queen was committed close prisoner to the no part of this arrangement indicated the castle of Cronenburgh. They were charged least prevalence of disunion or intrigue in with a conspiracy to force the king to sign the cabinet. an act of renunciation, and to establish a re- EAST INDIA COMPANY'S AFFAIRS. gency, by which the government was to be 1773.-BOTH houses of parliament, which lodged in the hands of the young queen and had been prorogued the tenth of June, met the two favorites. The latter suffered on a again on the twenty-sixth of November, to scaffold about three months after; but the resume, at the king's very earnest desire, queen was allowed, through the powerful the consideration of the East India company's interposition of England, to retire from the affairs, by the revival, or rather continuance Danish dominions. She and her attendants of the select committee; the appointment were conveyed to Germany by a small squad- of another committee of thirteen members, ron of frigates under the command of cap-under the name of the committee of secretain M'Bride; and she took up her residence cy, for the purpose of more accurately inat Zell in the electorate of Hanover, where vestigating the various sources of the comshe died of a malignant fever on the tenth pany's misfortunes, without any unnecessary of May 1775, not having then completed exposure of them to the world; and an act the twenty-fourth year of her age. Her to restrain the company for a limited time enemies, though so far successful, did not from sending out supervisors, a measure accomplish their ultimate object. They had which then appeared to be equally expenpropagated scandalous reports of her amours sive and useless. The objects of inquiry with Struensee; yet were afraid to question were so various and of so great an extent, the legitimacy of her issue. In the year that a complete body of information could 1784, they were all dismissed from office; not be laid before the house till the month and a new council was formed under the of April. But the exigencies of the comauspices of the prince royal, who was now pany requiring immediate relief, and a petigrown up to assert his own rights, and to tion for that purpose being presented to parVindicate his injured mother's honor. liament in the beginning of March, lord While the political system of Europe North brought forward several resolutions seemed to be convulsed by the dismember- in the course of the month, which were ment of Poland, no changes took place in successively agreed to. A loan of one milthe British administration which could either lion four hundred thousand pounds was voted affect its internal strength, or outward con- to the company, to save them from a situaduct. Lord Hillsborough, indeed, resigned tion little short of absolute bankruptcy; and, his office of secretary of state for the Ameri- in order to prevent the like disasters from can department in August, together with his befalling them in future, certain terms were seat at the head of the board of trade, both annexed to the loan, on this plain principle, of which were bestowed on the earl of Dart- that every creditor, who parts with his mouth. The resignation was not, however, money to any applicant, has an undoubted the effect of any difference with the court, right to insist upon particular conditions, the former nobleman having quitted his previous to his acquiescence in the request. places in great good-humor, and being im- According to these ideas, it was resolved, mediately after promoted to an English earl- that the company's dividend should be redom. Lord Stormont, the earl of Mansfield's stricted to six per cent. until the repayment

of the sum advanced, and that the company | polygars, who constitute the great landed be allowed to divide no more than seven per interest of the country. The pretext for cent. until the reduction of their bond debt this was, that many of these leases had to a million and a half. A few days after, been collusively obtained; and it was said, it was moved and carried by the minister, that impartiality required they should be that it was the opinion of the house, it would now relet without distinction to the highbe more beneficial to the public and to the est bidder. By these means the natives East India company to let the territorial ac- were impoverished; immense fortunes were quisitions remain in the possession of the made by their oppressors; but the aggregate company for a limited time, not to exceed receipts of the company's treasury alarmthe term of six years, their charter expiring ingly decreased. As the opulence of Benabout that period;-that no participation of gal, however great, depended solely upon the profits should take place between the the labor and industry of the people, upon public and the company before the above commerce, manufactures, and agriculture, stipulated repayment of the loan, and reduc- it is evident that these could not long tion of the bond debt;—that after these flourish under the baneful influence of rapoints were settled, three-fourths of the net pacity. The governing rule of trade pursued surplus profits of the company above the by the company's servants was to reduce to sum of eight per cent. upon their capital the lowest extreme of depression the price stock, should be paid into the exchequer for in the purchase, and to enhance it in the the use of the public, the other fourth being same extravagant degree in the sale. This set apart either for farther reducing the com- discouraged the artisan and manufacturer pany's bond debt, or by way of provision for from going to work, and others from buying future contingencies;-and that, as the com- anything but what was of absolute necessity. pany had in their warehouse a stock of teas, The situation of the farmers and husbandamounting to about seventeen millions of men was still more hopeless: they planted pounds, which it would be greatly to their ad- in doubt, and reaped in uncertainty. A large vantage to convert into money, they should proportion of the land was of course left unbe allowed to export any quantities of it tilled; and this co-operating with a drought duty free. The company remonstrated in the year 1769, occasioned a general against the hardship of some of these stipu- scarcity of provisions, particularly of rice, lations, particularly the limitation of their the great staple of Indian sustenance. It dividend after the discharge of the loan, the was also said, that some of the monopolists future disposal of their net profits, and, had exerted their power and their foresight above all, the implied decision against their in collecting the scanty supplies into stores; right to terrritorial acquisitions. But their so that the poor Gentoos had no alternative remonstrances had no weight with parlia- left them but to part with the small remains ment: the loan bill passed without the of their property or to perish with hunger. smallest change in any one article; and It is certain that a dreadful famine, and the such was the indignation of the public at plague, its usual concomitant, carried off in the enormous oppressions committed under the year 1770 very nearly a fourth part of the name, if not by the express authority the entire population of Bengal, or about of the company, that little compassion or three millions of unfortunate victims. To sympathy was excited by the loudness of these calamities were added the distressing their exclamations and complaints in this effects of the war with Hyder Ally, wanday of their humiliation and distress. tonly entered into and shamefully conductAs it may appear inconceivable how the ed, to gratify the interested views of indicompany could be precipitated, in the short viduals. In such circumstances, it cannot period which elapsed since the year 1765, from be deemed wonderful, especially when the the height of prosperity to a state of em- great increase of the civil and military esbarrassment bordering upon ruin, a transient tablishments in India, and the annual conreview of the principal causes will be neces- tribution to the public expenditure at home, sary to explain the paradox. Soon after the are taken into the account, that the distreaty concluded by lord Clive at Eliabad, bursements of the company should far expernicious monopolies were established by ceed the amount of their revenues, and the company's servants in all the newly- bring them, in a few years, to the verge of acquired provinces; and as if the exclusive bankruptcy. purchase and sale of every article of general consumption in India was not sufficient In the reports of the select committee, to satisfy their avarice, the presidency of many other scenes of shocking cruelty were Calcutta devised another scheme of legal unfolded to public view. The detail would plunder, which was to declare void at once be endless; but a general idea of their naall the leases held under the government ture may be formed from the words of the on very low terms by the zemidars and chairman, who declared, "that, through the

REPORT OF A COMMITTEE.

whole investigation, he could not find a resolute measures:-that the term of six single sound spot whereon to lay his finger, months was too short for a qualification to it being all equally one mass of the most vote, as it did not preclude temporary purunheard-of villanies, and the most notorious chases of stock, merely for that purpose, corruption." Heavy charges were brought and that so small a share as five hundred against several of the company's servants, pounds was not a sufficient interest in the and particularly against lord Clive, who, it company, to entitle the holder to a privilege, was affirmed, had acquired a princely for- the abuse of which might be fatal to the tune by rapine, extortion, treachery, and whole body:-that the contraction of powers murder. But when a vote of censure on in the mayor's court at Calcutta was only his conduct was moved in the house of com- reducing its jurisdiction within the circle mons, it was negatived by a large majority, to which it had been originally confined; in opposition to the minister; and an end and that it was a court of merchants and was put to the inquiry. A deep impression traders, and therefore incompetent to the was nevertheless made upon the mind of trial of the many great, momentous, and the accused nobleman by the notoriety of complicated matters arising from the vast some of the facts, and by the odium which extent of territorial acquisitions; that for from that time attached itself to his char- these reasons, the erection of a new judiacter. After a few years passed in a state cature was absolutely necessary, and that of wretchedness and despondency, he put a the appointment of the judges by the crown, voluntary period to his life,-by this melan- emphatically called the fountain of justice, choly catastrophe demonstrating to mankind was not only proper, but indispensable, to the vanity of human pursuits and wishes, and the infinite superiority of conscious virtue to all the gifts of fame and fortune. BILL FOR BETTER MANAGEMENT OF INDIA AFFAIRS.

give a due weight and consequence to their decisions :-that the proposed superiority of one presidency over the rest was not to interfere with their peculiar or internal regulations, but related only to those great THE minister, though left in a minority objects of general concern, war, peace, and when he supported a motion which led to alliances, in deciding on which the exercise the impeachment of individuals, found both of equal and separate powers had frequently houses ready to concur in any general plan been productive of much disorder and conof reform which might happily prevent the fusion;-and that the most effectual check repetition of the like crimes, and the return on the abuse of the civil and military auof similar calamities. With this view a thority which was thus centered in the bill was brought in for the better manage- presidency of Bengal, would be to make the ment of the company's affairs as well in In- nomination as well as removal of the memdia as in Europe; of which the chief pro- bers dependent on the will of the legislature. visions were, "that the court of directors Petitions against this bill were presented should in future be chosen for the term of from the city of London, from the East Infour years, instead of being elected annually, dia company, and from the proprietors of six members vacating their seats each year; five hundred pounds stock; but without -that the qualification for voting should be effect. After long and frequently renewed raised from five hundred to one thousand debates, it was carried through the house pounds capital stock, and the time of previ- of commons by a majority of six to one; and ous possession be extended from six months in the house of lords, on the final division, to twelve;-that the jurisdiction of the the numbers were 74 to 17. mayor's court at Calcutta be confined to PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF COMmercantile causes, and a new supreme court of judicature be established in India, con- THE other proceedings of this session sisting of a chief-justice and three puisne make but little figure, when compared with judges appointed by the king;-and lastly, the magnitude and importance of the East that a superiority over the other presiden- India business. A few of them, however, cies be given to the presidency of Bengal, deserve some notice. The harvest of the the blanks for the names of the members, year 1772 not having been so productive as including the governor and council, being to lower the high price of corn in England, filled up at the time by parliament, and the and a dreadful scarcity still continuing in removal of those officers, as well as a nega- other parts of Europe, the attention of partive on the future nomination of the com- liament was directed to the distresses of the pany, being vested in the crown." It was poor by the speech from the throne; and the strongly urged by the minister, in support renewal of the provision bills was among of those material changes of the old system, the first measures that received the sanction that the annual election of directors made of the legislature. The fraudulent diminuthem too dependent on their constituents to tion of the gold coin, an enormity which form any connected plans, or to adopt any had been carried to the most dangerous ex

MONS.