PRIME MINISTERS. WILLIAM PITT. 1789.

1790.

1791.

1792.

Beaufoy's motion (see 1787) is again brought in and lost by only twenty (122 to 102). [A similar motion by Fox is lost next year by 294 to 105, and the subject of Tests is not resumed again for nearly forty years.]

Wilberforce, Burke, and Fox support resolutions con-
demnatory of the slave trade.

At Stockdale's trial for a libel on the House of Com-
mons by publishing a defence of Warren Hastings,
Erskine eloquently defends him, and he is acquitted.
William Wyndham Grenville (a) becomes Secretary of
State instead of Lord Sydney (formerly Thomas
Townshend).

Fox's declaration of his sympathy with the French
Revolution produces a coolness between him and
Burke.

Flood's motion for parliamentary reform is withdrawn
without a division.

Quarrel with Spain about Nootka (now called St.
George's) Sound.

Burke publishes his Reflections on the French
Revolution.

The Canada Bill divides Canada into two provinces (b).
It is the occasion of the open declaration of the
quarrel between Burke and Fox.

Pitt fails in his attempt to prevent the Russians from encroaching on Turkish territory.

Fox brings in his Libel Bill (see 1792).

Mitford's bill, removing some of the disabilities of the
Roman Catholics, is passed.

Resignation of the Duke of Leeds (formerly Carmarthen).
Grenville becomes Foreign Secretary and Dundas
Home Secretary.

Wilberforce's motion for the abolition of the slave trade,
supported by Pitt and Fox, is rejected by 163 to
88.

The rioters of Birmingham, unchecked by the magistrates, destroy Dr. Priestley's house.

Pitt, in announcing the Budget, declares that he hopes
for a durable peace.

A bill for the abolition of the slave trade passes the
Commons, but is postponed by the Lords.

Fox's motion to repeal some of the disabilities of the
Dissenters is thrown out.

Fox passes his Libel Bill, which places the liberty of the
press under the protection of juries by allowing them
to decide what constitutes a libel as well as the fact.
The Society of the Friends of the People is formed to
promote parliamentary reform.

Thurlow has to resign (after having been Chancellor to

PRIME MINISTERS. WILLIAM PITT. 1792.

1793.

1794.

1795.

every ministry since Lord North's except the Coalition of 1783), and is succeeded after a few months as Lord Chancellor by Wedderburn, Lord Loughborough.

Preparations for war.

Trial of Thomas Paine.

He is defended by Erskine.

Lord Grenville passes his Alien Act for the supervision and, if necessary, the removal of aliens.

dagger scene.

Burke's

War is declared by England against France,
Feb. 11.

England, Spain, and Holland join Austria and
Prussia in the First Coalition.

Fox's resolution condemning the war lost by 270 to 44.
The Traitorous Correspondence Act is passed.

Troops are sent to Holland and to the south of
France.

A Catholic Relief Act for Scotland is passed removing
various disabilities.

Treaty of commerce with Russia.

[The Society of Friends of the People offer to prove that
about 200 members of Parliament are returned by
towns with less than 100 electors, and that 357 mem-
bers are returned by 154 patrons.]

Mr. Grey's motion for parliamentary reform is opposed
by Burke and Pitt, and thrown out by a large ma-
jority (232 to 41) this year, and again in 1797.
Trials for treason of Muir, Palmer, and others, who are
condemned to transportation.

Toulon is abandoned.

The suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act is carried by 201 to 39 (the first time for England since 1745).

June 1. Lord Howe gains a great victory over the French fleet.

The Duke of Portland and some of the old Whigs
join the ministry (b). A third Secretaryship of
State (for War) established. Henry Dundas "be-
comes Secretary for War. Windham is Secretary
at War.

The Duke of York is defeated at Bois-le-Duc.
Horne Tooke, Hardy, Thelwall, and others are tried for
treason, but acquitted.

A strong feeling in favour of peace is shown in the
country.

Marriage of the Prince of Wales to Caroline of Brunswick. [An additional annuity of £65,000 a year is given him, which gradually pays off his debts of more than half a million.]

The suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act is continued. [It is in operation for eight years altogether.]