A. D. 1769.

to dinner, on which occasion he expressed high satisfaction with the honour that had been shewn him. Having remained two months in the kingdom of his brother-in-law, he departed for his own dominions, having, by his affable deportment and pleasing manners, made himself extremely popular in England. It was also during this year that the celebrated captain Cook sailed on his first voyage of discovery to the Pacific Ocean, accompanied by sir Joseph Banks and Dr Solander; an expedition which was projected, and which eminently tended to promote discovery and science. When the parliamentary deliberations were resumed, the affairs of the American colonists became a leading object of discussion. A committee of the whole house was formed for the purpose of instituting an inquiry into the state of American affairs, in the necessity of which both ministers and the opposition concurred, though from very different motives. The former proposed to justify their own conduct, and to convince the public that all the disturbances which had taken place were owing to the refractory and rebellious spirit of the colonists; while their opponents endeavoured to demonstrate, that the commotions were occasioned by the imbecility and arbitrary proceedings of the British government. A mass of papers were laid before the house, which gave rise to frequent and warm debates, in all which the ministers were supported by large majorities. Resolutions were passed in the house of lords, and adopted by the commons,

declaring those acts to be illegal and unconstitutional that had been enacted by the assembly of Massachuset's Bay, calling in question the authority of the British parliament to make laws to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever, and severely censuring the circular letters sent by that assembly to the other colonies. The conduct of the people of Boston was also strongly reprehended for its contumacy and disaffection; and an address to his Majesty was voted, expressing the entire satisfaction of the house with the measures that had been taken to support the constitution, and of a determination to concur in such farther steps as might be found necessary to enforce a due execution of the laws.

Parliament next turned its attention to the affairs of the East India company, whose charter was now on the eve of expiring. A long negociation took place on the subject of a renewal, which terminated in a new bill, the enactments of which were, that the company should continue its annual payment to government of L.400,000 for five years to come, with liberty to increase its dividends to twelve and a half per cent during that period: should the company be obliged to reduce their dividends, a proportionate sum was to be deducted from their payment to government; and should they fall to six per cent, the payment was to be discontinued. Some other stipulations were also made for the public benefit.

A message was sent in the month of February of this year by the king to parliament, announc

ing that he had been obliged to incur a debt of L.513,000, and soliciting the aid of his faithful commons to enable him to discharge it. This was the first of a series of applications of the same kind which have distinguished the reign of George III. and it gave rise to some free discussions; but it was complied with without any particular investigation; and on the 9th May the session was terminated.

During the summer the spirit of discontent arose in England to a higher pitch than in any preceding period of this reign. Although the conduct of administration respecting the colonies had its due share in exciting disaffection, yet the chief cause was the proceedings against Mr Wilkes, particularly as they regarded the Middlesex election. That gentleman having got into his possession a copy of a letter written by lord Weymouth, recommending the prompt and effectual employment of the military in case of riots, had published it in the daily journals accompanied by some severe remarks, which being declared a scandalous and seditious libel, a motion was made by lord Barrington, then secretary at war, for his expulsion from parliament, which after a warm debate was carried. A writ was consequently issued for the election of a new member for Middlesex; and a meeting of the freeholders being called, it was resolved to re-elect Mr Wilkes without any expense to himself. He was accordingly chosen without opposition; but his election being declared void on account of his former

expulsion, a new writ was issued, when Mr Wilkes offering himself as a candidate he was again unanimously chosen, and again rejected on the former ground. In the meanwhile, as his fortune was known to be greatly impaired by the prosecutions he had undergone, a subscription was opened in London for his relief, and instructions were sent by the electors of Middlesex, London, Westminster, and Southwark, to their representatives, for their conduct in parliament, in which severe censures were passed upon several of the late measures. A third election taking place, colonel Luttrel appeared as a candidate ; but Mr Wilkes was again chosen by a majority of 1143 to 296 votes. A resolution, however, was passed in the house of commons, that Mr Luttrel was duly elected. This decision produced more discontent than any other measure since the commencement of the king's reign: the popular party regarded it as a flagrant violation of the right of election, to seat a candidate in that house who had only an inconsiderable minority in his favour. The ferment spread from the metropolis throughout the kingdom, and numerous petitions were carried at public meetings of counties and towns, requesting his Majesty to dissolve the parliament. Ministers, however, persevered, and managed to procure counter addresses, declaring an entire approbation of the measures of government; and this kind of warfare between petitioners and addressers was kept up during the whole summer. In November, the long pending cause between

lord Halifax and Mr Wilkes, respecting the seizure of his person and papers, was brought to a trial in the court of common pleas, before lord chief justice Wilmot, when, after a full hearing, the jury brought in a verdict for the plaintiff, with L. 4000 damages.

While England was thus unhappily convulsed with those odious proceedings, a war broke out in India against the company, excited by a soldier of fortune, which proved not a little embarrassing. Hyder Ally, from being a common soldier, had seized the government of the Mysore country, and added various conquests to that principality. Endowed with vigorous natural talents, he possessed great military experience, attained chiefly by a long service among the Europeans. He applied himself to form and discipline his own army on the model of their system, and was assisted by a number of French adventurers in training his soldiers, and teaching them the use of artillery. This bold and ambitious warrior formed the project of rendering himself master of Hindostan, and of driving the English from India. The viceroy of Decan was persuaded to become the ally of the usurper, and both began to prepare for war. As soon as the council of Madras were informed of the new confederacy, they dispatched colonel Smith with a body of troops against the allied army; and coming up with them, the British commander attacked them on the 26th September 1767 near Trincomallee. Hyder Ally evinced great skill and valour; but