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the journals. By this it appears, that on the undoubted right of every lord of this Friday the fifth of February, when the lords, house to submit to parliament his opinion according to order, proceeded to take the against a longer continuance of such measpeech into consideration, a motion was made sures, as have already proved so detrimental for declaring it to be the opinion of the house, to the public, by involving this nation in an "that the war then carried on in Germany additional debt of near six millions yearly, was necessarily attended with a great and without serving any one British purpose, or enormous expense, and that, notwithstanding even supporting with efficacy those counall the efforts that could possibly be made, tries for whose preservation it has been prethere seemed no probability the army there, tended these immense supplies have been in the pay of Great Britain, so much inferior granted.

to that of France, could be put into such a "4thly. A continental war carried on in situation as to effectuate any good purpose Germany without allies, and at the sole exwhatsoever; and that the bringing the Brit-pense of Great Britain, whilst this nation is ish troops home from Germany would ena- involved in a war with the two most con ble his majesty more effectually to carry on siderable maritime powers of Europe, can with vigor the war against the united forces not be esteemed a system of true policy; as of France and Spain, give strength and secu- France, let the success against her arms be rity to Great Britain and Ireland, support the ever so great, is not vulnerable from that public credit, and, by easing the nation of a quarter; and Spain, on account of her disload of expense, be the likeliest means, un-tance, would, doubtless, not be intimidated der the blessing of God, to procure a safe and by the success of the British arms in Gerhonorable peace;" which motion was strong- many.

66

ly objected to, and the previous question car- 5thly. The expedience of the present ried by a majority of one hundred and five continental war cannot be justified, either against sixteen. Seven, however, of the on the principles of its being a war for the latter, including the duke of Bedford, one diversion of the forces of France from the of the principal members of administration, invading his majesty's dominions, or the sucsigned a protest, expressive of their dissent coring their own colonies, both of which from such proceedings for the following rea- they are incapacitated from doing, by the ruin of their naval force; neither can it be

sons:

"1st. Because the main question being so alleged as a measure calculated to support true in every particular, which was assented the king of Prussia, who is not at war with to by most of the lords who spoke in this de- France, nor in danger, though the British bate, and no argument being alleged that it troops should be withdrawn, of being crushwas unconstitutional, the previous question ed by that power, whose interest will unshould not, in the present case, have been doubtedly restrain her from taking a step, insisted on, as thereby the lords were de- which could only tend to the aggrandizebarred from laying before the throne their sense on a matter of this importance.

ment of the house of Austria, the ancient and natural rival of the house of Bourbon. "2dly. Because in the debate there was "6thly. The present great scarcity of speno shadow of argument used, to show the cie, and the low state of the public funds, impropriety of this question being brought render it the indispensable duty of this before the house at this time, or that it was house to suggest to the throne every means prematurely undertaken by the lord who of preventing an unnecessary profusion of moved it: on the contrary, it was proved by the public treasure, more especially when irrefragable arguments, that if the matter the payments that must be daily made, and was right to be done, no time should be lost which must be done by the exportation of in bringing the British forces home during bullion, must unavoidably cause such a stagtheir winter-quarters, which was the only nation of trade and industry as may be of season when it could be done with safety, the most fatal consequence to this country, and without any possible impediment from which can in no degree be compensated for the enemy. on the ill-grounded notion that the expenses

"3dly. The present situation of the war, of the enemy are equally great and burdenby the additional weight of the crown of some to them, which is not only denied, as Spain being thrown into the scales against it can never be proved, but is moreover exus, doth undoubtedly require, at this very ploded by this undeniable truth, that France, critical time, the utmost frugality towards by withdrawing her troops, can put an end easing the nation from any unnecessary ex- to it whenever she pleases, and without any pense, and, as the present war in Germany danger to herself of being attacked by an is indisputably carried on at a great and inferior number on her own frontiers on that enormous expense, and, in the general con- side, and which, as she has not yet done, is ception of mankind, without any possibility a sufficient proof of the truth of this propo of any good being reaped from it, it seems sition.

7thly. The agreeing to the resolution ploy the idle and dissolute in the service of proposed, could be in no degree construed their country.

as a breach of faith to our allies, or a stain As a check upon the cruelties, which to the honor of the nation, as we are bound were strongly suspected to be exercised by by no treaties to keep an army in Germany, the nurses of parish children, a law was and the war on that continent seems to have enacted for keeping an annual register of been entered into voluntarily by us, without those infants in every parish, under the age being called upon by any other powers, and of four, that it might always be known in most precipitately taken up again, when it what parishes the greatest mortality prehad been so happily extinguished by the vailed among these children. convention of Closter-Seven." In this session, a bill readily passed This protest, which contained a summary through both houses, for enabling the duke of the most forcible arguments that had of Bridgewater to extend his canal, from been urged against the prosecution of the Longford Bridge to the river Mersey, so as German war, was highly and almost univer- to open a communication with Liverpool. sally applauded by the people; and though The branches of this inland navigation have it produced no immediate change in the since been extended to all the manufacturing measures of government, it strengthened towns of the adjoining counties; and the the impression made by the former debate duke lived to complete an undertaking of of the commons on the same subject; and it greater magnitude, and of more national showed very evidently, that, if the ensuing utility, than had ever before been attempted campaign should not put an end to the con- by any individual. tinental struggle, any farther supplies for its continuance would be obtained with extreme difficulty.

TUMULT OCCASIONED BY THE DUTY

ON BEER.

REWARDS FOR METHODS OF ASCER

TAINING THE LONGITUDE. REWARDS for the discovery of the longitude had long been the object of an express law; but it was now deemed necessary to THE other transactions in this sessions of render that act more effectual, by extending parliament make so little show, when com- the benefit of it to persons who should make pared with the occurrences of the same pe- any satisfactory progress towards so desirariod on the theatre of war, as to admit of ble an end, though their experiments might only a few concise remarks. The operation fall short of its full accomplishment. Harof the act for laying a further duty on beer rison, a clock-maker, of London, had conand ale, being now felt in its fullest extent, trived a curious time-piece, which, under the streets of London and Westminster were the direction of his son, was tried in a voyfilled with tumult, vowed revenge against age to the West Indies, and found to sucthe brewers for exacting a higher price than ceed infinitely beyond anything hitherto inusual from the publicans, and threatened to vented for the same purpose. He and his pull down the houses of any of the latter son were immediately rewarded with a grant who should continue to charge an additional of fifteen hundred pounds: and, the year halfpenny for every quart of porter. The after, he obtained from parliament five thouintimidated parties, under the terror of such sand pounds more, for discovering the prinmenaces, petitioned the house of commons; ciples on which his instrument was cona bill was passed in favor of their request, structed. Irwin, a native of Ireland, had which had the desired effect: it not only re- also contrived a marine-chair, by means of strained the mob from committing any acts which the immersions and emersions of Juof outrage, but tended greatly to abate their piter's satellites might be accurately observclamor. ed, in the roughest weather at sea, and the longitude, of course, ascertained. After some satisfactory trials of this machine, five A GREAT deal of confusion was also pre-hundred pounds were bestowed on the invented by some wise and wholesome amend-ventor, as the recompense of his ingenuity. ments of the militia laws. An exact line VOTE FOR THE RELIEF OF PORTUGAL. was drawn between those who were liable BESIDES the other supplies voted for the to serve, and such as were exempted from service of the year, the house of commons, any compulsion. The former were to be after a short debate, concurred in granting chosen by ballot, as before; or otherwise his majesty one million upon account, for the parish officers, with the consent of the the purposes specified in the following mesinhabitants, were authorized to provide vol- sage, which was laid before the house on unteers, by a rate on the parish, in propor- the eleventh of May, and taken into considtion to that for the relief of their poor. Thus eration on the thirteenth :

AMENDMENTS OF THE MILITIA AND

OTHER LAWS.

every man was obliged to pay his quota; "His majesty relying on the known zeal and all parishes had it in their power to and affection of his faithful commons, and keep their useful hands at home, and to em- considering that in this conjuncture, emer

gencies may arise, which may be of the ut- give a sudden turn to the fortune of na most importance, and be attended with the tions, after all the means of human foremost pernicious consequences, if proper sight and exertion have failed. His most means should not be immediately applied to dangerous and inveterate enemy, the emprevent or defeat them; and his majesty also press of Russia, died on the second of Jantaking into his most serious consideration uary, and was succeeded by her nephew, the imminent danger with which the king- the duke of Holstein, a prince of very difdom of Portugal, an ancient and natural ally ferent sentiments. As none, however, but of his crown, is threatened by the powers those who were most intimately acquainted now in open war with his majesty, and of with his character and disposition, could what importance the preservation of that pretend to determine whether he would kingdom is to the commercial interests of abandon or pursue the system of his predethis country, is desirous that this house will cessor, the eyes of all Europe were anxiousenable him to defray any extraordinary ex-ly turned towards the court of Petersburgh, penses of the war incurred, or to be incurred in order to observe the direction of his early for the service of the year 1762; and to councils.

SESSION CLOSES.

take all such measures as may be necessary The new czar, who ascended the throne to disappoint, or defeat any enterprises, or by the name of Peter III. began his reign designs of his enemies against his majesty, with some very laudable and popular reguor his allies, and as the exigency of affairs lations. His foreign politics, in which Eumay require." rope was principally concerned, seemed to In the debate, to which this message gave be governed by the same mild spirit. He rise, Pitt supported, with becoming consist- ordered a memorial to be delivered, on the ency, the resolution of the committee of twenty-third of February, to the ministers supply. of his allies, in which he declared, That, in order to procure the re-establishment of BOTH houses sat a few days longer to com- peace, as he preferred to every other conplete the business then before them; and, sideration the first law which God prescribon the second of June, his majesty put an ed to sovereigns, the preservation of the end to the session with a speech, in which people intrusted to them, he was ready to he expressed the highest approbation of the sacrifice all the conquests made by the arms zeal, unanimity and dispatch, so signally of Russia during the war, in hopes that the manifested in the course of their proceed- allied courts would, on their part, equally ings. He said, that his own sentiments re- prefer the restoration of peace and tranquilspecting war and peace continued invariably lity to the advantages which they might exthe same, and that it gave him great satis- pect from the war, but which they could obfaction to find them confirmed by the voice tain only by a continuance of the effusion of his parliament. He took notice of a late of human blood. He ordered a cessation change in the government of Russia, and of of arms, the sixteenth of March, on receivits probable consequences: he mentioned ing an unsatisfactory answer to his memo the rupture with Spain, and the danger that rial, from the courts of Vienna and Verthreatened Portugal, as proofs of the wisdom sailles; and, in about six weeks after, he and necessity of the vigorous measures entered into an alliance with his favorite which had been resolved upon: he pointed monarch, without paying the least regard to out some of the happy effects already pro- the interests of his former confederates. He duced by these measures, in the conquest even joined part of his forces to those of his of Martinico, and the acquisition of many new ally, in order to drive the Austrians out other valuable settlements in the West In- of Silesia, while he commanded another dies.

DEATH OF THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA,

AND SUCCESSION OF PETER III.

a

army to march towards Holstein. Sweden soon followed the example, or rather acted under the direction of Russia, in concluding THE hopeless situation of the king of peace with the court of Berlin. Prussia at the close of the last campaign has SUCCESSES OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA. been already described. The loss of Col- THE king of Prussia lost no time to profit berg, on one side, and of Schweidnitz, on the by this great, and almost miraculous revolu other, left his dominions almost without a tion in his favor. The load which had so barrier; and his army was too much reduc- long oppressed him, and against which he ed to face any of the invaders in the open had borne up with astonishing fortitude, befield. No resource of policy, no effort of ing now much lightened, he was again enskill or heroism, could any longer be tried abled to exert the full powers of his genius with the least probability of success. At against his remaining enemies. His first this alarming crisis, the storm just ready to object was the recovery of Schweidnitz, the burst upon his head, was happily dissipated next the expulsion of the Austrians out of by one of those unexpected events which Silesia; and in the attainment of these im

portant ends he was greatly assisted by the his consort, the present empress, a woman valor and military skill of his brother, who of a masculine understanding, by whose gained a signal victory, on the twelfth of counsels he might have profited; and lived May, over the Austrians and imperialists, in a very public manner with the countess near Freyberg in Saxony. By this blow of Woronzoff. The dissatisfied part of the prince Henry became so fully master of that nobility, clergy, and chief officers of the electorate, that the Austrians found it ne- army, encouraged by this domestic dissencessary to withdraw a considerable body of sion, assembled in the capital during the troops from the war in Silesia, to prevent, czar's absence at one of his country-seats, if possible, his making irruptions into the deposed him formally, and invested his wife heart of Bohemia. Marshal Daun, however, with the imperial ensigns. She put herself with a large army, still occupied some em- at the head of the malcontents, and marched inences in the neighborhood of Schweid- without delay in quest of her husband. He nitz, by which he was enabled to protect was indulging himself in indolent amusethat city. But the king of Prussia, being ments at a house of pleasure near the seajoined by the Russian troops, in the latter shore, when the terrible news reached him. end of June, undertook to dislodge the Aus- As soon as he recovered from the first shock, trian general from those advantageous posts, he attempted to escape to Holstein, but was and finally succeeded. As a direct attack seized and thrown into prison, after having was found to be impracticable, the king had been induced by the vain hope of life to sign recourse to a variety of masterly move- a paper, in which he declared his conviction ments, which made his adversary apprehen- of his inability to govern the empire, and sive for the safety of his principal maga- his sense of the distress it must be involved zine, and even that his communication with in were he to continue at the head of affairs. Bohemia might be cut off. The cautious This cowardly sacrifice of his character did Daun accordingly fell back to the frontiers not preserve his life: he expired a few days of Silesia, and left Schweidnitz exposed. after, on the sixth of July; and his sudden His Prussian majesty immediately prepared death excited neither surprise nor speculafor the siege; whilst different detachments tion, as dethroned princes have seldom been of his troops, some on the side of Saxony, allowed to languish long in the glooms of a others on that of Silesia, penetrated deep dungeon.

into Bohemia, laid many parts of the coun- Catherine II. who now assumed the reins try under contribution, and spread universal of empire, pursued a line of conduct almost alarm. A body of Russian irregulars also diametrically opposite to that of her infatumade an irruption into the same kingdom, ated husband. It was even supposed, that and there retaliated on the Austrians those she would disclaim and annul the treaty concruel ravages, which, at the instigation of cluded between the late czar and the king the court of Vienna, the same barbarous en- of Prussia, which was a very unpopular emy had formerly committed on the Prus- measure at Petersburgh. But fortunately sian dominions. for Frederic, the new empress did not think Whilst the indefatigable Frederic was her situation sufficiently secure to engage thus conducting, with equal spirit and abili- in foreign hostilities. It is also said, that ty, that bold plan of operations which unex- upon searching among her husband's papers pected circumstances had enabled him to for the Prussian monarch's correspondence, form, he was threatened with a sudden re- she found that his majesty had disapproved verse of fortune, in consequence of another of all Peter's violent measures, and had revolution in Russia. Peter III. in his rage counselled him to be tender of his consort, for reform, made more new regulations, in to desist from his pretensions to Sleswick, a few weeks, than a prudent prince would and not to attempt any changes in the rehave hazarded, in a long reign. His first ligion, or the fundamental laws of his counmeasures, as before observed, seemed well try. Letters of this kind must have tended calculated to procure him the affections of very much to confirm her in her pacific dishis people; but, being of a rash and irregu- position. She accordingly declared to the lar turn of mind, he in many instances Prussian minister at her court, "that she shocked their prejudices, even while he was resolved to observe inviolably, in all consulted their interests. DEPOSITION AND DEATH OF PETER III.

AND SUCCESSION OF CATHERINE II.

points, the perpetual peace concluded under the preceding reign; but that she had thought proper, nevertheless, to order back to RusWHILST he was taking these steps to sia, by the nearest roads, all her troops in alienate the minds of the people in general, Silesia, Prussia, and Pomerania." And aland especially of those bodies whose attach- though this change from a strict alliance to ment it was his great interest to secure, he a mere neutrality, made no small difference had not the good fortune to live in union in the state of the king of Prussia's affairs; with his own family. He had long slighted yet it must be regarded, all things consid

ered, as an escape scarcely less wonderful rested wholly on the support of Great Britthan the former, especially as all the impor- ain, was pushed with a degree of spirit and tant places, which the Russians had with so perseverance by no means inferior to those much bloodshed acquired, were faithfully re-signal exertions of the Prussian arms. The stored to that monarch. forces under prince Ferdinand being amply PRUSSIAN OPERATIONS. provided with all necessaries, and recruited His Prussian majesty, instead of being to the number of one hundred thousand efdiscouraged by the order sent for the return fective men, were the first to take the field; of the Russians, only acted with the more and soon found an opportunity of striking a vigor. He attacked marshal Daun the day blow, the consequences of which were not after its arrival, but before the news had recovered by the enemy, during the remainreached the Austrian camp, and drove him, der of the campaign. This did the allies by terror, no less than force of arms, from the greater honor, because the French arthe heights of Buckersdorf, with considera- mies had also been augmented, so as still to ble loss. He next invested Schweidnitz in preserve their former superiority of numperson; and obliged that much-contested bers; but their generals were changed. town, though defended by a garrison of nine Marshal Broglio was recalled, and the comthousand men, to surrender, after a siege of mand of the army on the Weser was given two months, in spite of the utmost efforts of to his rival, the prince of Soubise, assisted Laudohn and Daun to obstruct his opera- by marshal d'Etrées; while the army on tions. The moment he found himself mas- the Lower Rhine was committed to the diter of this city, and eventually of all Sile-rection of the prince of Condé. The heredsia, he began to turn his eye towards Saxony. itary prince was posted with a strong deHe reinforced his brother's army in that tachment in the bishopric of Munster, to electorate, and took some other steps which check the progress of the latter; and prince seemed to indicate a design upon Dresden. Ferdinand in person, with the main body of These preparations, and another victory ob- his forces, lay behind the Dymel, to make tained by prince Henry near Freyberg, far head against the former, and, if possible, to more decisive than the former, induced the strip them of their conquests in Hesse. court of Vienna to conclude a cessation of Their numbers and the strength of their pohostilities with his Prussian majesty for sition seemed equally discouraging to such Saxony and Silesia. In consequence of this an attempt. Their infantry consisted of one impolitic and partial truce, which provided hundred battalions: that of the allies was neither for the safety of the dominions of composed but of sixty. The ground, on the house of Austria, nor of those members which the French were encamped near the of the empire that were attached to its in- village of Graebenstein, in the frontiers of terests, one body of the Prussian army broke Hesse, had been very judiciously chosen, into Bohemia, advanced nearly to the gates both for command of the country, and the of Prague, and destroyed a valuable maga- difficulty of approaching them. Their centre zine; while another fell upon the same occupied an advantageous eminence: their country in a different quarter, and laid the left wing was almost inaccessible, owing to greater part of the town of Egra in ashes, several deep ravines; and their right was by a shower of bombs and red-hot bullets. covered by the adjoining village, by several Some parties penetrated into the heart of rivulets, and a large detachment under one Franconia, and even as far as Suabia, laying of their best officers, Monsieur Castries. In waste the country, exacting heavy contribu- such a situation, they imagined they had tions, and spreading ruin and dismay on nothing to fear, particularly as a consideraevery side. The money levied in these pre-ble corps of the allied army under general datory expeditions is supposed to have Luckner was employed at some distance in amounted to a million sterling, two hundred watching the motions of prince Xavier of thousand pounds of which were paid by the Saxony; so that they thought it impossible industrious and free city of Nuremberg. for troops thus separated to unite in any sudMany of the princes and states found them- den attack on their camp. Prince Ferdinand selves obliged to sign a neutrality, in order availed himself of their security. He sent to save their territories from farther rav- proper instructions to Luckner, who, leaving ages; and most others were so disabled by a party of Hessian hussars behind him to the late defeat in Saxony, or exhausted by amuse the prince of Saxony, and marching the subsequent incursions, that no prospect full speed in the night with the rest, crossed remained of their being able to furnish, for the Weser, turned the right of the French the next campaign, any army under the imperial name and authority. OPERATIONS OF THE ALLIES IN GER

MANY.

THE other part of the German war, which

army, and, without being discovered, placed himself upon their rear. General Sporken had orders to advance in another direction, and to charge the same wing in flank. Prince Ferdinand was to fall upon the cen

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