in the Eaft and Weft Indies; which having gone through, he moved, that an humble Addreis be prefented to his Majefty, for his moft gracious speech which he had been pleased to deliver from the Throne. [Here followed the Addrefs, which, as usual, was an echo of the Speech.] The Hon. Mr Stewart, son of the Earl of Londonderry, rose to second the Addreis. It was not neceffary to go back to the beginning of the war, in order to prove the defperate state of France; the prelent was fufficient to prove that the conteft must be brought to a conclufion favourable to this country. Affignats and the fyftem of terror, two great fup-porters of the French refources, were now almoft exhaufted. The Hon. Gentleman here entered into a calculation of the loffes on the affignats, and the enermous expences of the French government. The present system, he maintained, would also be abandoned by them, as well as the fyftem of terror. He coneluded by feconding the Addrefs. Mr Sheridan began with expreffing his fuprize that the word fatisfaction fhould appear in the first line of his Majetty's Speech. He conceived it a mark of true religion, to be fatisfied in the midft of diftrefs and difappointment. The abftinence, the religion, the meeknefs, and piety of his Majefty's Minifters were generally acknowledged, but it was neceflary to know on what their fatisfaction retted. When the Houfe is now affured from the Throne, that they are menaced with famine, how could the Minifter have the affurance to use the word fatisfaction. Mr Sheridan then expatiated on the wifdom of the Elector of Hanover in making peace, and obferyed, that however averfe the House might be to the . introduction of Hanoverian troops, he ventured to pronounce it would haye no objection to make an exchange and bring over his Majefty's Hanoverian counsellors. He then went into a long difplay of the catalogue of our misfortunes, to place the conduct of Miniftry in the moft contemptible light imagin able. Mr Sheridan then cocluded a very animated fpeech with a declaration, that he would not vote a fhilling for the fupplies, except fuch as related merely to the Navy. Mr Jenkinson replied to Mr Sheridan. He reverted to the origin of the war, which was firft begun by the French. * Their views of aggrandizement were founded on overturning the government of this nation, through the propagation of their opinions and political fyftem.He thought that these objects were to be oppofed by every effort of our arms. At the period when hoftilities commenced, the French fyftem was ruinous, but now their conftitutional ideas were fomewhat altered. Inftead of that unqualified democracy they at firft profeffed, they now required of their electors a qualification of landed property greater than in England. He obferved, that the proposed divifion of offices in the new French Legiflature afforded a prospect of greater fecurity, and removed in part our objections to peace, which would be still further leffened, when the new government now forming was fairly reduced to practice. Mr Jenkinfon next adverted to an effect of the prefent war, which he confidered of no fmall confequence. All ranks of his Majefty's fubjects, except the moft profligate among the rich, and the vileft among the vulgar, had ftepped forwards to exprefs their deteftation of French opinions; for there could be no compromife with thefe opinions and the fafety of the conftitution. He then took a view of the internal state and diftress of France, where there are affignats now in circulation to the amount of 780 mil lions fterling, which are growing daily into fuch difcredit, that one guinea in gold will purchase 50 guineas in affignats. Mr Fox declared, that after the very extraordinary Speech which he had heard from the Throne, he could not pass it over in filence. He wished to know how long his Majefty's Minifters were to build on fpeculations of terror and anarchy. Was it not fufficient to add 500,000l. fterling to the annual taxes to pay the interest of 100,000,000l. and to have brought on the fcarcity of laft year; but muft Minifters, befides, infult the people, by telling them that their condition is better than it was laft year? With refpect to the victory of the Auftrians, is was not victory of last year, but laft week. He then entered on thefe topics, the general defection of the Allies, and the expeditions to the Coafts of France, which he confidered as conceived in the true fpicit of madness and folly to reinftate the defpotism of the Bourbons. He maintained, that, not one family in ten, in this country, could earn bread for themfelves; and was this improving our fituation: He believed that France was in diftrefs, and that the dearnefs of provifions arofe from the war alone; but had not the leaft doubt but this country was in a worfe fituation. Right Hon. Gentleman had concluded a fpeech the moft extraordinary, perhaps, that had fallen from him amidft the many extraordinary fpeeches delivered upon the subject of the war. In this Amend ment a fuppofed degradation of the nation in its character as a political body, was ftated to be the reafon of a fubmiffive defire for peace, as well as of a total renunciation of all pretenfions to indemnity; and was referred to for the purpose of holding out the mockery of fecurity and protection for industry. Such a propofition, any Member of that Houfe was allowed by its forms to make, without perfonal refponfibility [a loud cry of Hear! Hear! from the Oppofition side of the House]; he could not, therefore, retort upon the Right Hon. Gentleman the threat of impeachment; but was he (Mr Fox) the Minifter of the country. and the author of a fimilar propola!, he would deferve impeachment as much as any Minifter who ever difgraced its hiftory.-Mr. Pitt then with a flow of eloquence and irrefiftible argument, greater than he ever before difplayed in the Houfe, combated the affertions of Mr Fox, calling upon the Houfe to judge, whether it became them, as Statesmen, to announce their own weakness and inability to continue the conteft, and declare their readiness to negociate, without fo much as knowing who are to receive the declaration. I have no hesitation, fays Mr Pitt, to declare, under what circumftances I fhould think it adviseable for this country to treat with France. Whether the new Conftitution may have been put into activity, or may have been poftponed, we are yet ignorant: "But when Mr Fox then concluded a long speech By moving, that after the words of the propofed addrefs - "that an humble Addrefs be presented to his Majesty," an amendment fhould be inferted, of which the following is the tenor: " To intreat his Majefty to review the events of the last 3 years, and the fituations of the feveral Powers who had been engaged in war. That in this period, two of our moft confiderable allies had concluded treaties of Peace with the enemy, and one had entered into alliance with them. That in the Weft Indies the enemy had re-captured two islands taken from them, and had placed feveral of his Majefty's Ilands in extreme danger. That expeditions had been undertaken to the Coaft of France, which proved fhameful and abortive, and difgraced the British name, by the abandonment of thofe whom his Majefty's Minifters had affured of fupport. That fuch being the result of three campaigns, the Houfe thought it their duty to intreat his Majesty no longer to liften to the opinion, that the governing Powers in France were incapable of maintaining the relations of peace and amity, but to look for indemnity only in the increafed induffry which peace would protect. And to declare to his Majefty, that if the exifting Powers in France fhould, after the offer of a negociation, attempt to carry on the war for their own aggrandizement, the House would once that Conftitution has been put in give his Majefty fuch aid as, being affift- * activity, with fuch acquiefcence of ed by the general energy of his people, the people as shall enable the Legiflawould enable him effectually to reprefs" ture to speak as the Reprefentatives of the enemy, notwithstanding the weak "the French Nation, we ought to be and exhaufted ftate to which the country "ready to negociate, without any obhas been reduced by his Majefty's Mini-jection to the form or nature of the fters." "Government." Then, and then only, will be the time to difcuts the terms on which Peace should be concluded; whether they are fuch as we can honourably 'accept, will afford a reasonable profpect of fecurity. But if by any premature declaration of weaknefs-if by want of fortitude to bear our own fufferings, overlooking the ten-fold preffure under which the enemy labours, we ftoop to the humiliation now propofed; we muft look to a much lefs fatisfactory iffue of the conteft than I firmly expect, or than we might have obtained at different periods, The Chancellor of the Exchequer declared, that, during a period of difcuffion as difficult and important as had ever come before Parliament, the Right Hon. Gentleman oppofite to him had never fubmitted to the Houfe a propofition fo pregnant with danger, and every fort of hoftility to the intereft of the country, as that which he had juft offered. Never, he hoped, was a greater diftinction to be obferved than between the Addrefs and the Amendment then under confideration; an amendment with which the or before other Powers were wanting to themselves in Arinking from the common caufe. If we are true to ourselves, much may yet be accomplished. It will at leaft be faid, that if any, Power flood in the breach, faved the reft of Europe, and gave time to thofe principles which threatened univerfal ruin, to 1pend their fury, it was a country that enjoyed a mild and free Government. After a few words from 'Messrs. Fox and Sheridan, in explanation, Mr. Wilberforce faid, that he perfectly approved of the Addrefs, which had been so a bly supported by his Right Hon. Friend, of the wifdom of whofe conduct he had been convinced by his eloquence that night. The Houfe divided about twelve, when there appeared For the Amendment, Against it, 59 240 -181 Majority, 30. The Houfe having refolved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the high price of Corn, Mr Dudley Rider in the Chair, Mr Pitt propofed a Refolution which paffed the Committee, pursuant to which, leave was given to bring in a Bill for the continuation of an act paffed laft feffions to prevent the exportation of corn. A Meffage came down from the Lords, purporting that they had fent to that Honourable Houfe a copy of the 'minutes of evidence of witne fles examined refpecting the perfonal iufult offered to the King, and alfo an Addrefs to his Majefty, expreffive of their indignation at the bafe attempt made on his perfon. The Addrefs was read a firft time by the Clerk at the table, and afterwards the minutes of evidence; the fubftance of which was, that Mr John Walford, linen-draper and haberdasher, and Mr Stockdale, bookfeller, Piccadilly, John Watford Seare and Christopher Kennedy, Bow-ftreet officers, had been witnesses of several disloyal expreffions being *used by divers perfons on the day of the King going to the House of Peers. James Parker, footman to the King, who who lives at Pimlico, faid, that the ball which broke the glafs of the State-Coach, came from a bow window near the Qrdnance Office, Old Palace Yard. The Addrefs was then read a fecond time, and agreed to nem. con. A Meffage was then fent down to the Lords to notify the concurrence of the Commons to the Addrefs. Adjourned. 31. Lord Stopford, at the bar, acquainted the Houfe, that his Majefty would be pleafed to receive their Addreis at half paft two o'clock this day. At two o'clock the Houfe adjourned over to Monday, and immediately proceeded to St James's to prefent the Addrefs. Nov. 2. The Speaker acquainted the Houfe that his Majefty had been graciously pleased to receive both the Addres fes, at St James's, on Saturday laft, to which his Majefty returned an anfwer, of which the following is an outline :"Gentlemen, "I thank you for your loyal Addrefs, in which you express so much concern at the attack made on my perfon and Government. I fhall ufe every endeavour to detect thofe perfons who have been guilty of fo daring an outrage, by which both the fafety of my Perfon and the Conftitution of thefe Kingdoms were fo much endangered,” The order of the day for taking into confideration his Majefty's Speech, being moved, the Houfe refolved itself into a Committee of the whole Houfe, Mr Hobart in the Chair. A Motion was then made, That fupplies be granted to his Majefty; which was agreed to unanimously, and the Report of the Committee to be brought up to-morrow. Mr Secretary Dundas rofe and faid, that at no period of the hiftory of thefe kingdoms was the military ardour of any Officer fo confpicuously diftinguished as that of Admiral Lord Bridport for the eminent services he had rendered this country on all occafions, but more particularly in his engagement with a detachment of the French fleet on the 3d of June laft, and for the important victory gained over it on that day: he would therefore move, That the Thanks of this House be given to Admiral Lord Bridport; which was agreed to nem.com. He then moved, That the Thanks of this Houfe be alfo given to Vice-Admirals Harvey, Lord Hugh Seymour, and RearAdmiral Gardiner; which was also agreed to unanimously, and the fame to be fignified to them by Admiral Lond Bridport. He then moved, the Thanks of that Houfe to be given to all the Captains and other Officers of that part of fleet. And, laftly, That the Thanks of that Houfe be likewife given to the Seamen and Marines, aod that the fame be made known to them by their Captains. Adjourned. THE TAB MONTHLY REGISTER FOR JANUARY 1796. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. Proceedings of the National Convention of France. Council of Ancients.-Dec. 14. A MESSAGE was read from orth that cutive Directory. It fet forth that numerous circumftances had proved, that the Exchange, inftead of being the centre of Commerce, was only a place of rendezvous for plunderers, who fought to bring about royalty and mifery. Many of them offered for the Louis a higher price than they demanded. They had entered into an affociation, determined to facrifice many millions, for the purpofe of defeating those measures which mght infure the establishment of the Republican conftitution, and deftroy their infamous ftock-jobbing. Yefterday they oppofed the police, which is charged with enforcing the regulations of the Exchange, in the Execution of his duty; and the Louis amounted up to 3,900 livres. After these transactions, the Directory ordered the Exchange to be provifionally fhut up. The Council ordered the infertion of this meffage in the minutes. The difcuffion was then opened on the refolution authorifing the Directory to appoint Juftices of the Peace; which, after fome debate, was adjourned. The affembly then rofe. Council of Five Hundred. January 10. Some Citizens of Paris prefented a petition, at the Bar, in which they reprefented that they had been taxed for the Forced Loan, at a fum nearly equal to the whole amount of their fortune; they therefore demanded a reduction. The Council paffed to the order of the day!!! On the propofition of Ramel, made in the name of the Committee appointed to examine the meffage of the Directory, concerning the flowness with which the Forced Loan is paid into the Treafury, the Council adopted the following refolutions:-First, All those contributors who, on the 30th Nivofe, fhall not have difcharged the firft head of their quotas, whole qubliged to pay, modetely the whole quota. Secondly, Thole who, on the 15th Pluviofe, fhall not have paid the fecond third, thall be obliged to pay, whithout the leaft delay, both thirds. In both cafes, after the expiration of twenfour hours from their being ordered to pay the whole, or the remaining twothirds of thefr quotas, their chattels and ali other property shall be seized upon, and fold! Maret, Semonville, Bournonville, who had been exchanged for the Princess of France, and feveral Aides-de-Camp and Secretaries were introduced. The Prefident addreffed them in a short speech, and invited them to the honours of the fitting. The Council refolved, that the Executive Directory fhould cause the anniversary of the death of the laft Capet te be celebrated in all the Communes, as well as the armies of the Republic; and that on the fame day all the Reprefentatives fhould pronounce an oath, vowing eternal hatred againft Royalty, and inviolable attachment to the Republic. ENGLAND. London Gazettes. From the London Gazette, Jan. 2. Admiralty-Office, Jan. 2. Extract of a Letter from Admiral Sir John Laforey, Bart. Commander in Chief of his Majefty's fhips and vessels at the Leeward Iflands, to Mr Nepean, dated Martinico, 22 Oct. 1795., On the 20th inftant the Bellona arrived, having joined Vice-Admiral Thompfon, on the 7th of September, in the lat. 43. deg. 20 min. N. and long. 38 deg. 9 min W. In my last I informed you, Sir, of the capture of the Superbe French frigate, of 22 guns, off Defeada, by the Vanguard; fince which I have received an account from Capt. Warre, of his Majefty's fhip Mermaid, dated the 12th inft. that, cruizing to windward of Grenada, he discovered on the 10th, off La Baye, a fhip and a brig at anchor, which, upon feeing him, got under weigh and made fail from him; but the brig foon bore up, and pushed into a small bay, called Requain, where the Mermaid followed her, and run aground close to her :-The French, how ever, got on fhore to the number of 70 troops, and 50 that were her crew, and upwards of 50 had been landed by the fhip while at anchor. Capt. Warre got poffef Lon of the brig, which is named the Brutus, of 10 guns: The next day he chaced the fhip the whole day, but the efcaped in the night. And in a fubfequent let ter, dated the 15th, he informed me that he difcovered her again on the 14th, to leeward of him, when he chaced and captured her, after an action of half an hour, with the lofs of one man killed and three wounded in the Mermaid, and twenty kilLed and feveral wounded of the enemy; That both thefe veffels were Conventional corvettes. The fhip named the Republican, mounting 18 guns, and had on board 250 er 260 men at the commencement of the action, with a French General and his Staff, deftined to command at Grenada. In a letter wrote the following day, he acquainted me, that, upon his return to Grenada, with his prize, he had the mortification to find that the important poft of Gouyave, or Charlotte Town, had been taken by the eRemy the night before. Admiralty-Office, 2 Jan. 1796. Extract of a letter from Rear-Admiral Parker, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and veffels at Jamaica, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board the Raifonable, 27 Oct. 1795. This morning his Majefty's fhip the Hannibal returned from a cruize to Port Royal, with two prizes, privateers, one the Convention of 12 guns, and feventy-four men ; the other a fchooner, 8 guns, and fixty-fix men. Horfe Guards, 2 Jan. 1796. A difpatch, of which the following is an extract has been received by the Right Hon. Henry Dundas, one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State: Extract of a letter from Major-General It is with real concern I inform you of the important poft of Gouyave, in the island of Grenada; for the particulars of which I beg leave to refer you to Brigadier-General Licholls's letter of the 18th instant, and to the feveral reports made to him upon that Extract of a letter from Brigadier-General It is with extreme concern I report to your Excellency the lofs of the poft of Gou yave. The enemy having attacked and carried by affault, the night of the 15th inftant, the strong hill which commands the harbour and town, Lieut. -Colonel Schaw did not think his force strong enough to recover it immediately, and the lower fituation not being tenable, he retired to this town, unmolested by the enemy, a march of twelve miles, and arrived here the nest. morning about nine o'clock. His retur, which is inclosed, will fhew the lofs of the 68th regiment. The 25th regiment had fifty-five fick there, with three fubalterns One fubaltern, Lieutenant Afhe, and fixteen of whom were able to march with Lieutenant-Colonel Schaw's detachment, are here; the reft have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Copy of a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel, Schaw, of the 68th regiment, to Briga dier-General Nicholls, dated St George's 17 Oct. 1795. SIR, In obedience to your defire, I should have earlier given you an account of the particu lars which obliged me to evacuate the poft of Gouyave, but waited to afcertain our lofs, which I find to be two ferjeants and thirty-four rank and file miffing with one Lieutenant (Carr) fuppofed to be mortally wounded. The infurgents attacked a ftrong piquet, confifting of a captain, two fubalterns, four the hill commanding the town of Gouyave; ferjeants, and fixty rank and file, posted on one fubaltern of which, with twenty men, were detached along the ridge running weft milton's poft, in order to prevent their ap about two hundred yards from Captain Ha proach from coming up a valley in their front, which had the defired effect, as Enfign Conner of the 68th regiment, a very fteady and brave officer, checked a column intended against hini, by the vigilance and fire of his advanced fentries. The column then, (as he fuppofes,) directed their route towards the Captain's poft, as a hot firing foon after commenced there, during a very heavy shower of rain. This circumstance induced Enfign Conner to march to the fupport of that poft; but on his arrival fell in with Captain Hamilton, who told him he had been furrounded with a very fupe rior body of the enemy, which had penetra. K ted |