1778. fhend feconded the motion, with a pathetic eulogy on CHA P the extraordinary merits of its object. Mr. Rigby XXXIII. thought a monument to his memory would be a more eligible, as well as a more lafting teftimony of the public gratitude, than defraying the expences of his funeral. Mr. Dunning combined both the propofitions, by adding Mr. Rigby's fuggeftion to colonel Barré's motion, as an amendment; and the refolution was carried, after a few approving words from lord North, who entered the house at a late period of the debate. annexed to THE king readily agreed to the addreffes; and 13th. many members pronounced emphatical encomiums Annuity on the deceased peer. Lord John Cavendish hoped his title. the first vote would not be the limit of public gratitude. As that invaluable man had, whilft in the nation's fervice, neglected his own interefts; and though he had the greatest opportunity of enriching himself, had not accumulated opulence for his family, he hoped ample provision would be made for the defcendants of fo honeft and able a minifter. This fuggeftion was cordially adopted, and a bill paffed, in 21ft May. confequence of a meffage from the king, for annexing four thousand pounds a-year to the title of earl of Chatham, while it continued in the heirs of the deceased statesman. The munificence of parliament was His debts completed, by a vote of twenty thousand pounds for paid by payment of his debts. parliament. LORD SHELBURNE moved, that the house of peers 13th. fhould attend the funeral; but the motion was over- of the houfe Proceedings ruled by the majority of a fingle vote. The annuity of lords. bill, which paffed fo harmoniously through the house of commons, occafioned a violent debate in the lords. The duke of Chandos opposed the grant as an un- 2d June. warrantable profufion of the public money, in times The annuity bill oppofed. of urgent diftrefs, and as a dangerous precedent; grants in perpetuity, were taxes in perpetuity; and • Contents 16, proxies 3. Non-contents 16, proxies 4. ought 1778. CHAP. ought to be cautiously ratified by parliament. The XXXIII. precedent might be extended to fanction applications of a fimilar nature, and proper objects would not be wanting; lord Hawke, lord Amherst, and prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, were cited as inftances where the national bounty would be unexceptionably bestowed. Proteft, Honours the common IN anfwer, the peculiar merits of lord Chatham were urged; and a farcastic application was made to the poffeffors of finecure places without merit, to deduct from their emoluments the provifion proposed for the family of fó illuftrious an ornament to the British name. IN confequence of fome obfervations by the lord chancellor, the whole political conduct of the deceafed earl came under review, and was by fome ftrenuously cenfured, as the fource of all the fubfequent difafters of the country; by fome partially defended, as founded on integrity, profecuted with vigour, but occafionally deficient in confiftency and wisdom; by others it was extolled in all its parts, as the prodigious effort of a fuperior genius, who had forced his way at a critical emergency, raised the fpirits of a defponding nation, given energy to vacillating counfels, and raifed the country to unrivalled glory. The fuppofed errors in his conduct were afcribed to the rancour of party, and to that unextinguishable fpirit of envy which ought to have died with its object. The bill paffed". A fhort proteft is on the journals, figned by four peers *. THE pofthumous compliments to lord Chatham paid him by were not confined to the houses of parliament, which he had adorned, instructed, and dignified by his eloquence: the common council of London petitioned Council of London The principal fpeakers in this debate were the lord chancellor, the dukes of Richmond and Chandos, earls of Abingdon, Radnor, Shelburne, and Camden, lords Lyttleton and Ravensworth. 42 to 11. * The lord chancellor (Bathurft) the duke of Chandos, the archbishop of York (Markham) and lord Paget, 1778. the house of commons, and the throne, for the honour CHA P. of receiving his remains, and interring them in the XXXIII. cathedral of St. Paul's, thus rendering the noblest edifice in the British dominions, the depository of one 20th and amongst the nobleft fubjects of the empire. These pe- 26th May. titions were unfuccefsful; orders having already been 25th May. given for the interment in Westminster Abbey. They 6th June. also petitioned for notice to attend his funeral in their gowns; but taking offence at fome point of conduct in the lord chamberlain, refcinded the refolution. They 7th and erected, however, a fuperb monument to his memory 8th June. in Guildhall. The body lay in ftate two days in the painted chamber, and was interred with great folemnity, though but thinly attended 3. His funeral. Debate motion. THE debate, interrupted by the illness of lord Chat- 8th June. ham, was refumed the enfuing day. The conteft was refumed on maintained between two chiefs of the leading parties in the duke of oppofition; the earl of Shelburne, and the duke of Richmond's Richmond. The earl, cordially adopting the principles of lord Chatham, that the moment Great Britain acknowledged the fovereignty or independency of America, her fun was fet, and that a war with France was unavoidable, cenfured the arguments tending to infpire defpondency. He fpoke with confidence of the fufficiency of Great Britain, both in population and finance, to refift America, France, and Spain, united. The duke of Richmond fully acceded to our ability to cope with France and Spain, but America muft be our ally, or at least neuter; he was for an immediate conceffion of independency: both agreed in condemning the conduct of ministry, but they did not interfere in the debate, either to vindicate themfelves or deliver an opinion on the motion, which was negatived 2. Lord Chatham's funeral, Gibbon obferves, was meanly attended, and Government ingeniously contrived to fecure the double odium of fuffering the thing to be done, and of doing it with an ill grace. Mifcellaneous Works, vol. i. p. 533. The other particulars are taken from the Debates, and Appendix to the Chronicle in the Annual Register for 1778. 2 50 to 33. NOTWITH С НА Р. 1778. 2d July. Adjournparliament. ment of King's fpeech. NOTWITHSTANDING the length and extreme activity XXXIII. of the feffion, motions were made in both houses to prevent the adjournment. The king, in discharging the parliament from, what he justly termed, a long and laborious application to bufinefs, returned thanks for their zeal in fupporting the honour of his crown, and for their attention to the real interefts of his fubjects, in the wife, juft, and humane laws which had refulted from their deliberations, and which he hoped would be attended with the most falutary effects in every part of the British empire. His defire to preferve the tranquillity of Europe had been uniform and fincere; the faith of treaties, and the law of nations, his rule of conduct, and his constant care to give no juft caufe of offence to any foreign power; "let that power, by whom this tranquillity fhall be disturbed, he faid, anfwer to their fubjects, and to the world, for all the fatal confequences of war." He trufted the experienced valour and difcipline of his fleets and armies, and the loyal and united ardour of the nation, armed and animated in the defence of every thing dear to them, would defeat all enterprizes of the enemy, and convince them how dangerous it was to provoke the spirit and strength of Great Britain. He had no other wifh or object but to deferve the confidence of parliament, and the affections of his people. CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FOURTH: 1778. Expeditions from Philadelphia.-State of the British army.And of that under Washington.-Treachery of congrefs towards Burgoyne's army.—Drafts of the conciliatory bills fent to congrefs. Their refolutions.-Effects of the measure.Arrival of the French treaty.-Its effect.-La Fayette's expedition to Barren-bill.-Sir William Howe recalled.--Superb feftival called Mischianza.-Arrival of the commissioners. -Passport refused to their fecretary.-Terms proposed by them to congrefs.-Anfwer.-Explanatory letter of the commiffioners. Pretended offers of bribes.-Difcuffions refpecting governor Johnstone.-Manifefto of the commiffioners.-Refolutions. And counter-manifefto of congrefs.Evacuation of Philadelphia.-Severities exercifed against loyalists.- Fudicious retreat of Sir Henry Clinton.-Action at Monmouthcourt-houfe.-British army go to New-York-Difgrace of general Lee-Sailing of the Toulon fquadron under D'Eftaing -Purfued by Byron.-The French arrive at the Chesapeak. -Expedition against Rhode Island.-Actions at fea.-The Americans repulfed at Rhode Island.-Lord Howe refigns the fleet to admiral Gambier.-Expedition to Buzzard's Bay. -Surprife of colonel Baylor.-Attack on Egg Harbour.Pulafki's legion cut to pieces.-Reduction of Georgia.-DeAtruction of Wyoning.-And other fettlements.-Disappointments of Byron.-D'Eftaing fails to the West Indies.-Capture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.-The French take Dominica. The English Saint Lucie.-Indignation of the Americans against D'Estaing.-His proclamation to the Canadians. -Washington refuses to co-operate in attacking Canada.~. Hatred of the Americans towards the French. DURING XXXIV. URING the period of their continuance in CHAP winter quarters at Philadelphia, the British army confined their efforts to foraging parties; one under 1778. the gallant colonel Mawhood, made a fuccefsful ex from Phi Expéditions curfion ladelphia. |