.... Resumption of the New England fishery bill.... Burke's

motion, on the 20th of March, in behalf of America....293

CHAP. XI.

...

Meeting of parliament.... Motion of Lord John Cavendish in

the commons. Parliamentary debates. Votes of land

and sea forces for 1776. ... Motion of Lord North to raise

the land-tax to 4s. in the pound.... Mr. Burke's conciliatory

motion.... Lord North's motion for suspending intercourse

with the thirteen united colonies.... Proceedings of parlia

ment after the recess. . . . Duke of Grafton's conciliatory

propositions respecting America.... Military movements on

the American continent. . . . General Howe reinforced....

The Americans evacuate Canada. ... The American congress

declares the states independent.... Washington obliged to re-

treat from Long Island, and afterwards to abandon New

York.... The British army over-runs the province of New

Jersey. Movements of Lord Cornwallis.

...

...

353

CHAP. XII.

King's speech at the opening of parliament in October.... Mo◄

tions in both houses respecting America.... Proceedings of

parliament after the recess.... Message from his majesty on

the state of the civil list. ...Debates on that subject....

Symptoms of hostility in France and Holland.... Operations

of the armies in America in the summer of 1777.... Battle

of Brandywine.... Lord Howe moves round from the Chesa-

peak to the Delaware.... Fixes his head-quarters six miles

from Philadelphia.... Clears up the passage of the Dela-

ware, and reduces the fortifications on Red bank and Fort

island, but too late in the season to avail himself properly of

those successes. ... State of our northern army in America.

.... Operations on lake Champlain.... Sir Guy Carleton su-

perseded by General Burgoyne.... General Burgoyne pro-

...

ceeds to Crown point. Meets the Indians.... Publishes

manifesto.... Obliges the enemy to abandon a strong position

at Ticonderoga.... Advances to Fort Edward.... Unfor-

tunate expeditions of the colonels Baum and Breyman....

Siege of Fort Stanwix abandoned by our troops under Colo-

nel St. Leger.... Burgoyne passes the Hudson's river, and

encamps at Saratoga.... Battle on the 19th of September....

Failure of General Clinton's intention to make a diversion in

his favour.... Burgoyne's disastrous situation.... All ave-

nues for retreat, and inlets for supply, stopped by the ene-

my.... Our army capitulates at Saratoga.... Terms of

the convention.

.381

CHAP. XIII.

Declaration of the French cabinet respecting the treaty of that

kingdom with America.... Meeting of parliament, Novem-

ber 1777.... Lord Chatham's emphatic speech on the ad-

dress.... Debates on American affairs.... Inquiry into the

state of the nation, instituted by the duke of Richmond in

the lords, and Mr. Fox in the commons.... Parliament ad-

journed in December.... New mode of levying troops resort-

ed to during the adjournment.... Meeting of parliament af-

ter the recess.... Debates on the legality of those levies....

Parliamentary proceedings.... Mr. Fox's important speech

on the 24 of February 1778, on the origin and nature of the

war.... Mr. Burke's speech on the employment of Indians.

.... Conciliatory bill introduced by Lord North, for coming

to terms with the Americans.... Motion by the duke of Rich-

mond, for conceding their independence.... Earl of Chat-

ham's speech on that occasion.... His illness in the house....

His death, and honours paid to his memory.... Bills for the

emancipation of Irish trade, and for abolishing the penal

laws against catholics.... Return of General Burgoyne to

Britain.... Supplies of the year. . . . Settlements on the

younger branches of the royal family.... Parliament pro-

ogued...

...

.413

CHAP. XIV.

Situation of the armies in America.... Proceedings and excur-
sions of the British, in the spring of 1778.... His majesty's
permission arrives for Sir William Howe to resign,... Sir
Henry Clinton succeeds to the chief command.... Arrival
and ineffectual attempt of the British commissioners for
peace.... The British evacuate Philadelphia.... Battle of
Freehold-court-house.... Arrival of a French fleet on the
American coast.... Attempt of the enemy on Rhode island.
.... Lord Howe sails for its relief.... French and British
fleets on the point of engaging, separated by a storm....
Gallant achievements of individual English ships.... Retreat
of the Americans from Rhode island.... Vindictive hostilities
in America, during the summer.... Desolation of the beauti-
tiful settlement of Wyoming.... Departure and valedictory
manifesto of the British commissioners.... Hostilities in the
West Indies.... Capture of Dominique by the French.... Pro-
ceedings in Europe.... Naval action off Ushant.... Trial
and honourable acquittal of Sir Hugh Palliser.... Meeting
of parliament.... Various motions and impeachments of the
lords of the admiralty.... Motions for the relief of Ireland.
Message from his majesty, announcing the hostile intimations
of Spain.... Debates on the militia bill.... Supplies....
Conclusion of the session.... Partial change of ministers dur-
ing the recess...

.475

ANNALS

OF

GREAT BRITAIN,

FROM THE ASCENSION OF GEORGE III

TO THE PEACE OF AMIENS

CHAP. I.

Ascension of George III.... His general character, and the hopes entertained of a prosperous reign.... Aspect of public affairs. .... The ministry which he found upon his coming to the throne.... Their characters.... The duke of Newcastle.... Lord Granville.... Mr. Legge.... Mr. Fox.... Mr. Pitt. .... History of the party of Leicester house, and retrospect of the king's education.... His majesty's speech at the opening of parliament in 1760.... Loyal addresses from both houses of parliament.... Business in parliament this session.... Bill for the relief of insolvent debtors.... Supplies woted for the ensuing year.... An act passed at the instigation of the royal speech, for the better securing permanence and independence to British judges.... Mr. Onslow retires from the situation of speaker of the house of commons. .... Vote of thanks and pension given him.... The dissolution of parliament.