Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

396

MOREAU IN GERMANY-PEACE OF LUNEVILLE.

[1800.

fleet, surrendered to the British troops in September. Hostilities were revived in Germany on the 29th of November. The archduke John, who had taken the command of the Austrian army, crossed the Inn with a hundred thousand men, to attack Moreau, whose troops were concentrated near the village of Hohenlinden, about twenty miles from Munich. The forest of Hohenlinden lay between the imperial army and the position which Moreau had taken up. It could only be reached by two great roads through the forest of thick pine trees, and by cross roads rendered almost impassable by the snows and storms of a winter that had now set in. To describe this great battle on the difficult ground between the Iser and the Inn is a task for voluminous historians. The general reader will derive more vivid impressions from the spirited poem of Campbell than from all the exactness of strategic details. He will call to mind the picture of the evening, when "all bloodless lay th' untrodden snow,"-of the beat of drum" at dead of night,”—of the morning when the level sun scarce " can pierce the war-clouds rolling dun," -of the deepening contest between "furious Frank and fiery Hun; "—

"Few, few shall part where many meet;
The snow shall be their winding sheet."

On that 3rd of December, the victory of Moreau was decisive. The French lost four thousand men; the Imperialists lost a far greater number, besides fifteen thousand prisoners and all their artillery. Moreau pursued the archduke John, and was on the road to Vienna. The archduke proposed an armistice, which was concluded on the 26th of December, the emperor engaging to negotiate separately for peace. Great Britain had released him from his pledge. The peace of Luneville was completed on the 9th of February,

1801.*

* See the Chronological Table of Treaties at the end of the next Chapter.

[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small]

Commencement of the nineteenth century-Parliament opened-The king's opposition to concessions to the Catholics of Ireland-Mr. Pitt resigns in consequence-Mr. Addington prime minister-The king again becomes insane- The northern powers form a treaty of Armed Neutrality-Expedition against Denmark-The naval battle of CopenhagenNelson's victory-An armistice concluded-Assassination of the emperor Paul-Expedition to Egypt-Battle of Alexandria and death of Abercromby-The French evacuate Egypt-Preliminaries of peace with France-Negotiations of lord Cornwallis at AmiensDiplomatic disputes and difficulties-The peace of Amiens concluded.

Chronological Table of Treaties.

Population of Great Britain, 1801.

A NEW CENTURY! The commencements of another Year, of another Decade, of another Century, are rarely marked by any corresponding changes in the affairs of nations; but they are suggestive of comparisons with other similar eras. At the commencement of the eighteenth century it has been estimated, upon the imperfect data of the Registers of Births and Burials, that England and Wales contained a Population of about five millions and a half. At the commencement of the nineteenth century a Census of the people had been taken, and it was found that England and Wales contained about nine millions. At the commencement of the eighteenth century, William III., from his death-bed, recommended the completion of a firm and entire Union between England and Scotland; and within seven years the Act of Union was passed. At the commencement of the nineteenth century, the

398

THE KING'S OPPOSITION TO CONCESSIONS TO CATHOLICS.

[1801. Union between Great Britain and Ireland was perfected; and on the 22nd of January, 1801, the first Session of the first Parliament of the United Kingdom commenced by the election of the Speaker. At the commencement of the eighteenth century William III. accomplished the Grand Alliance of the powers of Europe against the ambitious designs of the despotic head of the French Monarchy. At the commencement of the nineteenth century George III. was the sole sovereign of Europe who had not succumbed to the military despotism of the French Republic. The two centuries seem separated by a vast chasm. History bridges over the gulf; and, rightly considered, shows how one series of events is essentially connected with a preceding serieshow great moral causes are ever steadily moulding the future of mankind, whilst the reign of violence and injustice endures but for a season.

The Session was opened on the 2nd of February by a Speech from the throne. The king expressed his satisfaction at availing himself of the advice and assistance of the Parliament of the United Kingdom at a crisis so important. "This memorable era, distinguished by the accomplishment of a measure calculated to augment and consolidate the strength and resources of the empire ;"-"this happy Union, which by the blessing of Providence has now been effected;"-such were the vague congratulations in which the intentions of the Government towards Ireland were studiously veiled. Mr. Grey said, "I should indeed have augured more favourably of that Union, had "I found that the Speech from the throne contained a recommendation (as it was reported it would do) to consider of taking off those disabilities to which the Catholics of Ireland are subject." What was then impossible to be explained is now matter of historical record. On the 1st of February Mr. Pitt wrote to the king a letter expressive of his regret, knowing his majesty's sentiments on that subject, to find himself under the absolute necessity of submitting to him that he felt a strong opinion, in concurrence with a majority of the Cabinet, that it would be expedient to repeal the laws which exclude Catholics from Parliament and from offices, as well as the laws which exclude Dissenters from offices. Mr. Pitt added, that he would endeavour, as far as could depend upon him, to keep the matter from being agitated, or to effect the postponement of the measure, provided his majesty would engage to avoid expressing his opinion so as to influence others in their conduct.* On the 2nd of February, the king replied to Mr. Pitt, stating his determined resolution not to acquiesce in an alteration of the laws respecting Catholics and Dissenters, conceiving himself bound by his coronation oath to support those laws. The king added that, as he had never been in the habit of concealing his sentiments on important occasions, he would enter into no engagement to act otherwise now; still trusting, however, that Mr. Pitt would not leave him while he lived.† The king, before he received the letter of Mr. Pitt, was perfectly aware that the matter had been discussed in the cabinet several months previous. It was an opportunity for intriguing statesmen to violate the confidence reposed in them as members of the government, and to enrol themselves amongst that dangerous body which stood between a Prime Minister and his constitutional responsibility, under the title of "the king's friends." Lord Loughborough, the Chancellor, was

* Rose-"Diaries and Correspondence," vol. i. p. 288.

+Ibid., p. 289.

1801.]

RESIGNATION OF MR. PITT.

[ocr errors]

399

of this number. On the 13th of December, he placed in the king's hands an elaborate argument in opposition to "the very able paper on the question of admitting Catholics to a full participation of all the privileges of subjects."* Lord Loughborough refers to "the very able paper" as "the paper of lord C." (Castlereagh.) There was a confederate with the wily Chancellor, according to the well-founded belief of that time. "We learn," says the biographer of lord Sidmouth," from published records, that he (Loughborough), in conjunction with lord Auckland, first made his majesty acquainted with the intentions of the Cabinet respecting the Roman Catholics, through the archbishop of Canterbury." The king afterwards made no secret of his opinions: "At the levee on Wednesday, the 28th of January, his majesty said to Dundas, 'What is this that this young lord has brought over, which they are going to throw at my head ?' I shall reckon any man my personal enemy who proposes any such measure. The most Jacobinical thing I ever heard of.' 'You'll find,' said Dundas, ' among those who are friendly to that measure, some you never supposed your enemies.'"+ It appears from the diary of lord Colchester (Abbot), that he was informed by the Speaker that "on Thursday last (January 29) the king had come to an explanation with his ministers, who had pledged themselves, without his participation, for granting to the Irish Catholics a free admission to all offices and seats in Parliament; and for repealing the Test Act, &c.; and some project upon Tithes that they had persisted in, and he had peremptorily refused to agree, saying that it was a question not of choice but of duty, and that he was bound by his coronation oath. That on Friday evening he had sent for the Speaker, and desired him to undertake the conduct of affairs." Dundas had gone to the king on the 1st of February, and had explained to him that on the view of the coronation oath taken by the majority of the Cabinet, they held that it referred to the executive action of the sovereign, and not to his legislative action. The king exclaimed, "None of your Scotch metaphysics, Mr. Dundas." On the 3rd of February, Mr. Pitt replied to the letter of the king, urging the impossibility of his continuing in his majesty's service, knowing that his majesty would influence the conduct of others on the Catholic question; and he requested the king to make an arrangement as soon as he conveniently could, assuring his majesty that he would give his best assistance to the new government. The king replied that he would endeavour to make a new arrangement as soon as possible.§ We have seen that his majesty had taken the Speaker into his confidence from the first. The king's request to him that he would " open Mr. Pitt's eyes on the

See "The Lord Chancellor's Reflections on the Proposal from Ireland,"-endorsed by the king as received on the 14th of December, in the Appendix to Life of Sidmouth, vol. i.

Wilberforce's "Diary,"-Life, vol. iii. p. 7.

"Diary of lord Colchester," vol. i. p. 222. We quote this passage literally, even to the punctuation, from the recently published Diary of lord Colchester. The passage is quoted from the MS. Diary in Dr. Pellew's "Life of Lord Sidmouth," but with an important variation. There it is printed thus: "for granting to the Irish Catholics a free admission to all offices, and to seats in parliament, and for repealing the Test Act, and some project upon tithes; that they had persisted, and the king had peremptorily refused to agree." (Vol. i. p. 311). This is very different from some project upon tithes that they had persisted in." If Mr. Abbot's Diary is accurately edited by his son, lord Colchester, the ministers only "persisted in " some project for tithes, a project which Mr. Pitt had advocated in the parliamentary discussions upon the Union. (See "Parliamentary History," vol. xxxiv. col. 272.)

66

§ Rose-vol. i. p. 290.

400

MR. ADDINGTON MINISTER-THE KING AGAIN INSANE.

[1801.

danger arising from agitating this improper question," had been made in vain.* On the 5th of February, Mr. Addington had accepted the charge of forming at new administration. He did this "with the concurrence of Mr. Pitt, who wished all his private and personal friends to remain in office." "I am convinced," says Rose, "that there was from the beginning an eagerness in Mr. A. to catch at the situation." On the 8th of February, Mr. Canning told lord Malmesbury that Pitt had pressed him to remain in, but that his mind was made up to retire. "He confessed he had been one of those who had strongly advised Pitt not to yield, on this occasion, in the closet. That for several years (three years back) so many concessions (as he called them) had been made, and so many important measures overruled, from the king's opposition to them, that government had been weakened exceedingly; and if on this particular occasion a stand was not made, Pitt would retain only a nominal power, while the real one would pass into the hands of those who influenced the king's mind and opinion out of sight." The experience of forty years had not taught the king to avoid the first great error of his reign. There was one man, whose active participation in the accomplishment of the Union, and his sound knowledge of the condition of Ireland, enabled him clearly to see the danger that would arise from the king's narrow and egoistical view of one of the greatest questions of philosophical statesmanship. He writes, on the 17th of February, "after having, as I thought, nearly accomplished the settlement of this devoted country in peace and tranquillity, and rendered Ireland a powerful bulwark for the security of Britain, an unexpected blast from St. James's has overset me, and has added grievously to the perils which have of late surrounded us, and threatened to overwhelm us." §

It was as late as the 14th of March that the king received from Mr. Pitt the resignation of his office, and that Mr. Addington received the seals as First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer. There had been an interregnum. The king had again become insane. On the 17th of February, rumour said that the king had got a bad cold. On the 19th, he could not be disturbed. On the 22nd, he was getting worse-" Fatal consequence," says Malmesbury, " of Pitt's hasty resignation." On that day the prince of Wales said to Calonne, "Do you know that my father is as mad as ever?”|| The old intrigues in expectation of a Regency were renewed. The prince was again ready to grasp "the likeness of a kingly crown." But on the 7th of March the king was "recovered in mind as well as in body;" and the people made the most earnest demonstrations of their joy and their attachment to their old sovereign. The people were not very far advanced in political intelligence. They could scarcely look at a state question except through the medium of their passions and prejudices; and the king had therefore their hearty sympathies in refusing to concur in a measure of justice to those whose very names stirred up the bitter animosities of past generations, to be reproduced, not in cruel penal statutes, but in a denial of equal rights to their fellow subjects. The king directed Dr. Willis to announce his recovery to Pitt, Addington, Loughborough, and Eldon. To Pitt, he directed Willis to

#

"Life of Sidmouth," vol. i. p. 286.
Malmesbury-" Diaries," vol. iv. p. 4.

§ Cornwallis-"Correspondence," vol. iii. p. 358.
Malmesbury-vol. iv. p. 21.

Rose-vol. i. p. 292.

« AnteriorContinuar »