whom Rochambeau at length entered into a his march; to which he consented, on connegotiation, proposing to give up the place dition that the invaders should be put in poson being allowed to carry off the garrison. session of all the fortresses in the electorate, At this juncture the blockading squadron and that the Hanoverian army should enentered the roads, and a capitulation was gage not to serve against France or her alsigned, by which all the ships of war and lies during the war, or until regularly exmerchant vessels belonging to France were changed. On the fifth of June the French to be surrendered to the British, who were took possession of the city of Hanover, where to receive the garrison as prisoners of war. they found a prodigious quantity of artillery Thus the French lost all their possessions in and ammunition. Besides the absolute value the island, except the city of St. Domingo, of the electorate as a conquest, which enathe capital of that part which formerly be- bled the enemy to remount their cavalry longed to Spain; and the negro chieftains and recruit their finances, they were now issued a proclamation, declaring the island masters of the navigation of the Elbe and free and independent. the Weser, and, being in the immediate MOVEMENTS IN EUROPE.-INVASION OF neighborhood of the commercial Hanse towns of Hamburgh and Bremen, were en HANOVER. IN Europe the French armies were imme-abled to levy considerable sums of money on diately put in motion, and the consular gov- those opulent cities, under the shape of ernment, anxious to justify their conduct to loans. In consequence of these events, the the French nation and to Europe, published British government blockaded the mouths of a declaration, dated the twentieth of May, the Elbe and Weser, which was in some deon the causes which led to the renewal of gree a retaliation on Germany for permitting the war with Great Britain. Orders were the violation of its territory. This measure issued to increase the forces of the republic occasioned such distress to Hamburgh and to four hundred and eighty thousand men; Bremen, that they appealed to the king of the army of Italy was considerably aug- Prussia, as protector of the neutrality of the mented; and large detachments were push-northern part of the empire; but he declined ed forward upon Tarentum, and on all the to interfere, and the French were thus left strong posts in the kingdom of Naples which to pursue their exactions with impunity. lay on the Adriatic. During the protracted WAR WITH HOLLAND.-BUONAPARTE'S negotiations, reinforcements were ordered, into Holland, and a powerful army was collected on the frontiers of Hanover. On the EXACTIONS.-BRITISH TRAVELLERS IN twenty-fifth of May, general Mortier sum- ests, Holland was compelled to take part moned the electorate to surrender to the re- with France. On the seventeenth of June publican army, Buonaparte formally profess- it was announced to parliament that the ing that he should occupy that country king had communicated to the Batavian merely as a pledge for the restoration of government his disposition to respect their Malta, and that this violation of the consti- neutrality, provided the French government tution of the Germanic empire was only for would do the same; but as this had not been the purpose of compelling the king of Eng- complied with, and their forces still occuland to maintain the peace of Amiens. Al- pied the Dutch territory, he had judged it though it was impossible that the electorate expedient to recall his minister from the could oppose any effectual stand against the Hague, and to issue letters of marque and power of France, the duke of Cambridge reprisal against the Batavian republic. Buowas sent over from England as commander- naparte also compelled the Italian republic in-chief in that country, and proclamations to take part in the war; and he drew pecuwere issued, calling upon all the inhabitants niary assistance from Spain and Portugal in capable of bearing arms to rally round their so open a manner, that it rested entirely standard. At the latter end of May, how- with the generosity of Great Britain whether ever, a body of ten thousand French troops they should not be considered as involved in passed the river Ems at Mippen, and entered direct acts of hostility. The supplies to his the principality of Osnaburgh, which had treasury derived from these sources were been previously evacuated. General Wal- augmented by the sale of Louisiana to the moden, to whom the command of the Hano- United States for fifteen million dollars. verian troops was intrusted, having collected Early in the year he made a singular overan army of eighteen thousand men, deter- ture to Louis the XVIIIth at Warsaw, for mined to make a stand, first on the Hunte, the resignation of that monarch's claim to and afterwards on the Weser; but at the the throne of France; which was met by a moment when general Mortier had advanced most decided refusal. into the vicinity of Nieuborg, a deputation After the declaration of war by England, arrived from the civil and military authori- a step which had never before been resorted ties of Hanover, entreating him to suspend to among civilized nations, and which must always be regarded as an act of atrocious armies, were either shut up in prisons, or barbarity and injustice, savoring more of confined to particular limits as prisoners of malice than mere political hostility, was war upon their parole; which violation of taken by the French government. It appear- the law of nations, and of neutral hospitality, ed from an article published in the Moni- was further aggravated by a perfidious promteur, the official organ of the French gov- ise previously made to the English visitors, ernment, that two English frigates had cap- that they should enjoy the protection of the tured two merchant vessels in the bay of government, after the departure of the BritAudierne, without any previous declaration ish ambassador, as extensively as during his of war, and in manifest violation of the law residence at Paris. of nations; in consequence of which, a de- The naval campaign of the present year, cree, signed by the First Consul, was issued, in Europe, was not particularly distinguishdirecting that all the English, from the age ed. On the fourteenth of September, howof eighteen to sixty, or persons holding any ever, the port and town of Granville were commissions from his Britannic majesty, successively attacked by Sir James Saumathen in France, should immediately be con- rez; on which occasion the pier was demolsidered prisoners of war, to answer for those ished, and a number of vessels, intended for citizens of the republic who had been ar- the invasion of England, destroyed. On the rested and made prisoners by the vessels or same day the town and fort of Dieppe were subjects of his Britannic majesty, previously bombarded by captain Owen, in the Immorto any declaration of war. In virtue of this talité frigate, with the Theseus and Sulphur decree, all the nobility, commercial travel-bombs. The Dutch ports, from the Zandlers, and others, subjects of the king of Eng- voort, in the vicinity of Haarlem, to Scheland, who had incautiously put themselves veningen, were also severely bombarded on within the reach of Buonaparte in France, the twenty-eighth of September, and many or were engaged in travelling through any vessels destroyed. of those countries occupied by the French CHAPTER XXXIV. Meeting of Parliament-Speech and Address-Martial Law in Ireland-Indisposition of the King-Extension of Irish Militia Service-Motions for Investigation into the Naval and Military Force-Formidable Opposition to Ministers-Finance-Change of Administration-Slave Trade-Additional Force Act-Corn_Bill-Civil-List Augmentation-India Budget-Parliament prorogued-War in India-Loss and Recapture of Goree-Capture of Surinam-Naval Operations-Attack on the Boulogne Flotilla-Failure of the Catamaran Project-Repulse of Admiral LinoisRupture with Spain, and forcible detention of Treasure Ships-Murder of the Duke D'Enghien-Complaints against British Envoys-Seizure of Sir George Rumbold -Buonaparte elected Emperor of the French-The Emperor of Germany declare Emperor of Austria-Dispute between France and Russia-Preparations for hostilities-Convention between France and Genoa. and sixty-seven thousand men; the embodied MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.-MARTIAL militia of Great Britain and Ireland to one LAW IN IRELAND. hundred and ten thousand; and the volunteer PARLIAMENT assembled on the twenty- corps to upwards of four hundred thousand second of November, 1803; when his ma- rank and file in the united kingdom. For jesty, after alluding to the measures adopted the volunteer force of the country, of which for the vigorous prosecution of the war, and about forty-five thousand served without pay, adverting to the successes in the West Indies, it was proposed to vote the sum of seven and the suppression of the Irish rebellion, hundred and thirty thousand pounds for one stated that a convention had been concluded year. On this occasion Windham inveighed with the king of Sweden, for the purpose of with great acrimony against the military adjusting the differences which had arisen system adopted by ministers; and pointed with that power. In reference to the threat out the inferiority of volunteer associations of invasion, the king declared that, as he and bodies of reserve to a regular army of and his people were embarked in one com- genuine soldiers, disciplined for offensive as mon cause, it was his fixed determination, if well as defensive warfare. Pitt, in a very occasion should arise, to share their exertions spirited and argumentative manner, defendand their dangers in defence of the consti- ed the system; but he was desirous that all tution, religion, laws, and independence of the volunteer companies should be brought the kingdom. The usual addresses were to act in battalions, and, whenever it could agreed to without opposition. In the com- be accomplished, in brigades: he proposed mons it was stated by the chancellor of the to give to every battalion the assistance of exchequer, in reply to some observations from a field-officer and an adjutant; such officers Fox, that the offices of mediation offered by still retaining their rank and pay in the army: the court of Russia had been accepted with and with respect to the number of days for readiness and gratitude on the part of his which the corps should be exercised, he was majesty's servants: but, although discussions of opinion that about fifty would be sufficient of the greatest moment were commenced in for the next year, and forty for each succeedconsequence, yet they had not assumed such ing one. The expense arising from the fielda shape as to lead to any probability of an officers and adjutants he estimated at about amicable arrangement with France. one hundred and sixty thousand pounds; and Secretary Yorke brought in a bill to con- that of the allowance to such volunteers as tinue two acts; the one for suspending the might, from their circumstances, be obliged habeas corpus act in Ireland, and the other to accept of pay, at between three and four for the re-enactment of martial law in that hundred thousand pounds more, making an country. This measure, though it excited aggregate of about five hundred thousand much discussion, was carried through both pounds; and if, for that sum, a force of nearly houses without producing a single division. four hundred thousand men could be mainThe debate which arose on the ninth of De- tained in gradual and efficient improvement, cember, on the motion of the secretary at he affirmed that this would be the cheapest war to refer the army estimates to a com- item in the whole of the public expenditure. mittee of supply, embraced an extensive As to the sea fencibles, he looked upon them view of the general defence of the country. as one of the most valuable parts of our force; The regular force proposed to be voted for and this description of service brought into the public service amounted to one hundred activity a body of men, who, being chiefly pilots and fishermen, could neither be em- INDISPOSITION OF THE KING.- -OPPOployed in the navy, nor permanently taken from their families. SITION TO MINISTERS.-CHANGE OF Lord Castlereagh also made an animated 1804.-ON the 14th of February it was reply to the objections urged by Windham announced, by an official bulletin, that the against the army of reserve and the volun- king was much indisposed, and the public teer system. Out of the thirty-five thousand sympathy was excited by an apprehension already raised for the army of reserve, seven of the return of the malady by which he thousand five hundred, he said, had entered had been formerly afflicted. The attack, for general service. The military force of however, was so slight, that there was no the united kingdom was naturally divided necessary suspension of the royal functions; into troops on permanent pay, and those lia- and on the ninth of March all apprehension ble to service in the event of invasion. Of was dissipated by the assurance of the lord the first description, there were in Great chancellor, that he had conceived it proper Britain, and in the islands of Guernsey and and necessary to have a personal interview Jersey, one hundred and thirty thousand with the sovereign, at which due discussion men; and in Ireland fifty thousand. The had taken place with respect to the bills subeffective rank and file of the militia in Great mitted for the royal assent; and he had no Britain and Ireland amounted to eighty-four hesitation to aver that the result of all that thousand men; the regular force to ninety- took place on that occasion fully justified six thousand, of which twenty-seven thou- him in announcing his majesty's assent to sand were for limited service, and sixty-nine the bills specified in the royal commission. thousand disposable for general service. The A message from the king, on the twentynext grand feature of our military strength sixth of March, announced a voluntary ofler consisted in the volunteer force, of which of the Irish militia to extend their services three hundred and forty thousand men, ac- to Great Britain; and bills passed both cepted and arrayed, were at present in Great houses to enable his majesty to accept the Britain; and in Ireland it amounted to sev- offer, and to raise ten thousand additional enty thousand; to which were to be added militia in Ireland. twenty-five thousand sea fencibles. The A systematic attack on the ministry was total amount of the whole military force at at this time pursued by all the parties in opthis crisis stood, therefore, at six hundred position, through the medium of investigaand fifteen thousand rank and file; and if, tions on the military and naval affairs of the to this number, officers of every description empire. This opposition was particularly were added, the whole amount would not be displayed in the progress of the bill to conless than seven hundred thousand men. The solidate and explain the laws relative to volnumber of ships of war amounted to four unteers: the course of debate on this subhundred and sixty-nine; and, in aid of the ject, however, was interrupted by a motion, regular navy, and for the purpose of defend-of which Pitt had before given notice, on ing the coast, an armed flotilla, consisting of the naval defence of the country; a queseight hundred craft of all descriptions, was tion which was expected more than any nearly completed. Since the commence- other to try the strength of ministry, and ment of hostilities there had been issued even to shake their power to its foundation. three hundred and twelve thousand muskets, On the fifteenth of March, after expressing sixteen thousand pistols, and seventy-seven his expectation that part of the documents thousand pikes. The field-train also, in which it was his intention to call for would Great Britain alone, was increased from be granted by ministers without resistance, three hundred and fifty-six to four hundred Pitt moved for an address, requesting that and sixty pieces of ordnance, completely ap- his majesty would order to be laid before pointed; and the stores had been nearly parliament an account of the number of doubled.-Fox applauded the zeal and pa- ships in commission on the thirty-first of Detriotism of the volunteers; but he could never cember, 1793, on the thirtieth of Septembring himself to believe that they were sus-ber, 1801, and on the thirty-first of Decemceptible of anything like the efficiency of a ber, 1803, specifying the service in which regular force. The chancellor of the ex- they were respectively employed. He made chequer, on the other hand, stated that lord his motion from a conviction, that, if the paMoira, the commander-in-chief in Scotland, pers were granted, it would appear that our and lord Cathcart, the commander in Ireland, naval force was, at the present moment, were so highly satisfied with the steadiness much inferior, and less adequate to the exiand discipline of the volunteers of Edinburgh gency of the danger, than at any period in and of Dublin, that they had given them an former times. If these documents were unconditional assurance that they would granted, his next motion would be for a copy conduct them with confidence against an of the contracts made, and the orders given, invading host. by the lords of the admiralty, in 1793, 1797, VOL. IV. 42 and 1803, with respect to the number of jects to repair to his standard, when the gun-vessels to be built. The board of admi- country is about to be invaded, is vested in ralty had considered gun-boats peculiarly the king. Pitt asserted and maintained this serviceable for resisting invasion; yet, in principle against Fox, but on other points the course of a year, they had built only those rival statesmen agreed; and the retwenty-three; while the enemy, in the same sult of this concurrence of sentiment was a period, had constructed nearly one thousand. strong division, in which the ministers had From the period when hostilities were re- a majority of only fifty-two; two hundred newed, our navy ought to have been in- and four having voted for the motion of Fox, creasing instead of diminishing; notwith- and two hundred and fifty-six against it. standing which, government had only con- Two days after this discussion, another detracted for the building of two ships of the bate took place on the same subject, in conline in the merchant-yards, when it was well sequence of a motion by secretary Yorke, known that, during a war, the building of for the house to resolve itself into a comships was always nearly suspended in the mittee on a bill for the suspension of the king's yards, which were then wanted for army of reserve act. This motion was rerepairing the damages sustained in the ser-sisted by Pitt; and, on a division, there apvice. It was also worthy of remark, that peared, in support of the ministerial plan, in the first year of the late war, our naval two hundred and forty; against it, two hunestablishment was increased from sixteen dred and three; leaving to ministers a mathousand to seventy-six thousand seamen; jority of only thirty-seven. Addington then whereas, having begun the present war with determined on retiring from administration, an establishment of fifty thousand, we had after he had adjusted the financial concerns augmented them in the course of the first of the year. The supplies were estimated year to only eighty-six thousand men. at thirty-six million pounds for Great Britain Tierney, treasurer of the navy, objected alone; and the ways and means consisted strongly to the production of the papers re- of certain additions to the war taxes, a loan quired, and was at a loss to conceive how of ten million pounds, and a vote of credit the measure could, for a single instant, be of two million five hundred thousand pounds. entertained by the house, when no cause, On the twelfth of May it was announced no single fact, was brought forward to sup- that Addington had resigned the office of port it; when every possible energy per- chancellor of the exchequer, and that Pitt vaded that branch of the public service; was nominated his successor. when naval skill, vigilance, and activity, It was understood to be his wish to unite, were displayed in every quarter; and when in the public service, as large a portion as the best officers were employed in every di- possible of the weight, talent, and characrection with the highest honor to themselves, ter, to be found in public men. Whether and the most decided advantage to their he was sincere in his desire to secure the country. Sheridan delivered a warm eulogy aid of lord Grenville and Mr. Fox may be on the character and conduct of earl St. doubted, because it has been said that he Vincent, the first lord of the admiralty; could bear "no rival near his throne," and whilst Fox and others, taking a different that he preferred the aid of good secondside, supported the motion for inquiry, de- rate man of business talent; but he cerclaring that it would terminate to the honor tainly professed to wish for their co-operaof the admiral. The debate was continued tion, and the personal objection of the king for several hours, when, on a division, the to Fox appeared alone to prevent it: lord numbers were, for Pitt's motion, one hun- Grenville refused to come into office withdred and thirty; against it, two hundred and out him, but Pitt did not make it the ground of withholding his own services. Under On the twenty-third of April, Fox moved the new arrangement the following memfor a committee to revise the several bills bers of Addington's administration retained which had been proposed for the defence of their stations; the duke of Portland, presithe country, when Pitt again took a com-dent of the council; lord Eldon, chancellor ; prehensive view of its actual state. There the earl of Westmoreland, lord privy-seal; was but one point on which he and Fox dif- the earl of Chatham, master-general of the fered on this occasion; the power vested in ordnance; and lord Castlereagh, president the king by the constitution of calling out of the board of control. Lord Hawkesbury all the subjects of his realm to defend the passed from the office of foreign affairs to country in case of invasion. Fox was, per- the home-department. The new members haps, the first statesman who ever ventured were Pitt, first lord of the treasury, and to question the royal prerogative in this par- chancellor of the exchequer; lord Melville, ticular; for nothing is more clearly laid first lord of the admiralty; lord Harrowby, down by our law-writers than that the power secretary for foreign affairs; lord Camden, of calling on every description of his sub-secretary for the department of war and one. |