cule thrown over some of the opinions prevalent at that time, contributed in no slight degree to secure the popularity of the Review.

The next year a poem appeared, entitled "New Morality," which was soon recognised as having come from the pen of Mr Canning. This satire, which for wit and sarcastic pungency has few equals, could not, from its nature, outlive the period to which it was applicable. The foibles and peculiar opinions of the most celebrated characters of that time, are exhibited in a point of view so ridiculous, and yet so faithful, that the poem, on its first publication, must have been a work of no ordinary interest with the public.

In an early part of 1799, Mr Dundas appeared at the Bar of the House of Commons with a message from the King, recommending a Union of Great Britain with Ireland. This measure had been long thought advisable by many statesmen of both countries, and the present juncture appeared favourable for its accomplishment. The project, however, when discussed in the House of Commons, was warmly opposed by Mr Sheridan, on the ground that there was no desire for a Union manifested on the part of the people of Ireland. Mr Canning spoke at great length in favour of the Union, urging its expediency with masculine vigour and brilliant eloquence. It is almost unnessary to add, that, in a few days after, the resolu tions passed the House which constituted the basis of the Union.

The domestic happiness of Mr Canning was at this time completed by his marriage with Miss Joan Scott, the daughter of General Scott, and sister-in-law to the Duke of Portland. This union,

which brought the Under Secretary an accession to his fortune, allied him also to one of the most influential families in the country. It was now certain that his eminent talents, supported by such powerful influence, would give him great weight in the councils of the nation. The conjugal felicity of Mr Canning and his lady were much enhanced, in the early part of the following year, by the birth of their first child, George Charles Canning. This interesting young man was prematurely cut off at the age of nineteen, on the 3d March 1820.

In the year 1801, the States of Europe assumed a most alarming position in regard to Great Britain. The war with France was still maintained with unabated ardour. Buonaparte had reached the zenith of his glory, and, by his resistless power, as well as by his artful policy, succeeded in exciting a secret, and, in several instances, an avowed disposition in his favour among the European goyernments. France concluded with Austria the treaty of Luneville in February 1801, and the Convention of the Northern Powers had been signed on the 19th December 1800. Prussia readily acceded to the Convention, and the Russian Emperor applied to the Courts of Portugal and Naples, urging them to close their ports against British vessels. The Western world also connected itself at the same time with the French Republic by a commercial treaty. Thus, Britain stood alone, threatened with a determined opposition from those very powers which, in the commencement of the war, had courted, her alliance. . On the 1st of January 1801, the Union of

B

Great Britain and Ireland took effect, and the Imperial Parliament first assembled on the 22d. The Pitt administration, though very unpopular in the country, appeared to be firmly established in their places, both by the personal confidence and esteem of the King, and by the uniform support which they received in Parliament. It was the anxious wish of the Minister, that the war with France should be terminated, by the conclusion of a treaty, as soon as possible. He therefore used every exertion to place the public affairs in the best situation to treat for peace. In this, however, he was strenuously opposed by a considerable party in the country.

Mr Pitt now began to feel so much embarrassment on the subject of the Catholic claims, that he found it necessary to retire from office. To reconcile the Irish Catholics to a Union with Britain, he had pledged himself in some degree to bring forward this measure to the House of Commons as a measure of Government. Not perhaps sufficiently aware of his Majesty's deep-rooted aversion to the subject, he considered himself as now called upon to take some steps towards the fulfilment of his promise. A correspondence ensued between the King and his Minister, which, instead of producing conviction in either party, terminated in the dissolution of the Ministry. The contemplated changes in the Administration were first announced in the House of Lords by Lord Grenville, who, in his speech, distinctly attributed the resignations which had taken place to the Catholic question.

Mr Canning, who had always been favourable to the claims of the Catholics, retired from office

along with Mr Pitt. In the political papers which he inserted at that time in the Antijacobin Review, he exhibits nothing of that rancour which soon after characterized his opposition to the successors of the Pitt administration.

The new Ministry, which was headed by Mr Addington, late Speaker of the House of Commons, included several members of the former Cabinet. For some time Mr Pitt supported, and, it was even supposed secretly directed, the acts of the Addington administration, in hopes that its weakness would dissolve it in the course of a few months. The ardour, however, of Mr Pitt, and of the ex-ministers who adhered to him, soon cooled in proportion as the new Cabinet rose in popularity; and in a short time Pitt withdrew his support, while Mr Canning, Lord Grenville and others, became more violent in their abuse of Ministers, than those who occupied the benches of the Opposition. The late Under-secretary, in particular, seized every opportunity, both in and out of the House, to oppose and ridicule Addington. Though his summary of political affairs in the Antijacobin was still characterized by a spirit of uncommon mildness, he hesitated not in his speeches to declare the incapacity of Ministers. He endeavoured also to depreciate Addington, by extolling Pitt, and, on that occasion, he composed his much admired song, entitled, "The Pilot that weather'd the Storm.

In the spring of 1801, a minister plenipotentiary from Britain was sent into the Baltic, along with a fleet, to compel Denmark to recede from the Northern Alliance, and grant a free passage through the Sound to the English fleet. No sooner were

the terms rejected, than the fleet, under the command of Lord Nelson, made a successful attack on the Danish fleet and the city of Copenhagen. The brilliant victory gained by the British on this occasion, viewed in connection with the accession of the Emperor Alexander to the throne of Russia, put a speedy termination to the Northern Alli

ance.

Throughout the summer and autumn, the attention of Ministers was directed to the adjustment of preliminaries of peace with France. The first movement towards an arrangement was made on the part of Britain, by Lord Hawkesbury, now Lord Liverpool, in a letter to M. Otto, dated the 21st of March, declaring the readiness of his Majesty to enter into a treaty with the French Government. The French Consul authorized his minister to express, in reply to this communication, his satisfaction with the proposal, and to suggest, as a preliminary, the immediate suspension of hostilities both by sea and land. To this measure the British Government could not possibly accede; but after having spent several months in correspondence upon the subject, the ministers plenipotentiary met on the 7th of September, and the preliminary articles were finally arranged.

In the opening of the Session, which took place on the 20th October, his Majesty announced the signature of the preliminary treaty with France. This subject excited considerable discussion, at which, however, Mr Canning was not present. The conduct of Ministers in this case was warmly approved, both by Mr Pitt and Mr Fox, though on different grounds; but Lord Grenville and his