T HE year which is the fubject of this volume, is not without in interefting events, especially with regard to our internal politics. Among these, the decifions of the parliament, upon a subject of the highest importance to the peace, wealth, and profperity of the whole British empire, naturally claim the preference. We have therefore been particularly attentive to this part of the work, and have spared no pains to render it as clear and inftructive as poffible; at the fame time ftrictly obferving that impartiality which we have hitherto profeffed, and to which we shall always inviolably adhere. Whilst we bestowed on this part the extraordinary attention which it juftly merited, we have not however been negligent in our relation of the tranfactions of other parts of Europe; of these we have given a full, and we hope not an unfatisfactory ac count. In this volume we have closed our account of the war in the Eaft-Indies; but have purpofely omitted entering into any of the difputes which arofe at home, in confequence of the affairs of that company. Thefe difputes, it is true, arose in the year of which we treat; but they were confined to, and within the company itself during the course of that period. They have now a wider extent; are continued on a more confpicuous theatre; and are become a very great and interefting object. But these disputes, as well as their final determination, if they fhall happen to be foon determined, muft naturally fall into the accounts of the year now begun, and will be part of the fubject of our next volume. Upon the whole, we have spared neither diligence nor labour, and this is all we pretend to, to render this volume worthy of the fame favour with which the former were received. THE General afpect of affairs at the beginning of the year. Commotions and infurrections in various parts of the world. State of Europe. France. Clofe union of the boufe of Bourbon fill continues. Proteftant fyftem Strengthened, by the Prince of Orange's being of age, as well as by the late marriages. Denmark. Ruffia. Germany. Italy. Prefent appearance of things in general pacific. TH to be an era of great revolutions. A fpirit of liberty, which no time nor oppreflion can entirely efface in the human breaft, dawned forth in regions and amongst people, where, it might have been imagined the term was fcarce ever heard, much less underflood. The diffatisfa&tions which had unhappily fubfifted between Great [B] Britain It is fcarcely neceffary to be obferved, if fuch a revolution had really taken place, what a total change it must have introduced in the political fyftem of power and commerce, in the old, as well as the new world. Had the defection been fo univerfal as it was at first reprefented, there is great reafon to fuppofe, that in the prefent ftate of the Spanish monarchy, that crown would have found the greateft difficulty in reducing the rebels to obedience. The immenfe distance of the scene of action, the difficulty of transporting troops, together with the various changes of climate and food, which European foldiers must undergo, before they could at all act, would appear infurmountable obftacles to fuch an attempt. To which may be added, the vast extent of the countries in queftion; the numbers of their inhabitants, infpirited by the defire of liberty, as well as by a consciousness of their natural advantages; covered, as they are by immeafurable feas, or by deferts, almoft as boundlefs, and more impaffable. It is poffible too, that in fuch an event they might have fome foreign fupport. The commercial world would fcarcely, it is to be feared, have on this occafion fhewn an inftance of difinterestedness, which the hif tory of mankind has not yet afforded, in refufing fo many lucra tive branches of commerce, from which they have hitherto, with fo extreme a jealoufy, been fhut out. About the fame period of time, accounts were received every day, of infurrections among the French in St. Domingo; provoked, as it was faid, by the tyranny of the Count d'Estaing, their Governor. Those who look back upon the narratives of the late war in the Eaft Indies, will fee, with fome indignation, the court of France rewarding with one of its best governments, a perfon fo justly obnoxious for violating one of the most facred obligations, of the laws of war between civilized nations. The difturbances in their colonies might feem naturally and jufly enough the effects of fuch a proceeding. Infurrections were not confined to the western parts of the old and the new world. The fpirit of liberty feemed to have walked forth over the face of the earth, and to threaten revolutions in every part. In the eaft, which had ever |