472 LXVIII. 1801. CHAP. readiness of useful plan, removal of obstacles, and expeditious despatch of important business, was Henry Dundas, supreme in devising and executing the most effectual schemes of national defence, and for the improvement of British India. For assiduity, research, information, firmness, and perseverance, lord Grenville was highly esteemed. Acuteness, ingenuity, and literary ability, with erudition and taste, constitute the principal features in the intellectual character of William Windham ; while his prominent moral virtues are honour, justice, sincerity, and benevolence, though not without a tinge of enthusiasm ; and probably this loyal and patriotic senator, like his prototype, Burke, was fitter for acquiring eminence by speculative genius, learning, and eloquence, than the arts of a practical statesman. A most respectable member of the late administration, was the earl Spencer, formerly known as a munificent patron and ardent votary of literature and the arts; but by his recent conduct destined to be transmitted to posterity, not only as proprietor of a most valuable collection of erudition, but as the minister who supplied the means for those heroic naval efforts, of which adequate recital will in future ages be the brightest ornament that can adorn a British library; and when some descendant of the present Spencer, in a hereditary reservoir of learning, shall dwell on the splendid exploits which Britain performed in the last years of the eighteenth century, with proud pleasure he may say, my ancestor presided in preparing the fleets with which a Jervis, a Duncan, and a Nelson, conquered.' Alarming illness of the king. MR. PITT was succeeded by Mr. Addington, who for many years had held the office of speaker of the house of commons, to the very great satisfaction of the house; lord Grenville by lord Hawkesbury, eldest son to the earl of Liverpool; and the other members by gentlemen or noblemen who had belonged to the party of the late administration, except the earl of St. Vincent, who was appointed first lord of the admiralty. In the end of February, the nation was extremely alarmed by a fit of illness which seized the king, and tend The fleet which obtained the splended victory of Howe, was prepared under the auspices of lord Chatham. LXVIII. concern of concer. ed if possible to manifest more strongly than ever the pa- CHAP, triotic and affectionate loyalty of all ranks of his faithful subjects; to demonstrate the tender and anxious love of 1801 his queen; the affectionate and dutiful attachment of the Anxious royal children; and to place in a most striking light, the the public. filial piety, judgment, prudence, and delicacy of his eldest son and heir apparent. Less decided in nature, and much shorter in duration, than his former malady, the illness of the king did not severely afflict his majesty more than a fortnight; though followed by a languor and lassitude which gradually giving way to returning vigour, in a few weeks more totally disappeared, and enabled the monarch to resume his executorial and legislative functions. Inqui- Inquiries ries were proposed into the expedition to Ferrol and the last Cadiz, and also concerning the convention of El-Arish, campaign. which if observed by England, it was said, might have prevented the necessity of sending troops to Egypt: but all these motions were negatived by the usual very great majorities. The supplies additional to those which were Supplies. voted before the meeting of the united parliament, inclu- Loan. ded a loan of twenty-five millions, four hundred thousand pounds; the taxes were numerous in detail, embracing various conveniences, and indeed by habit necessaries of life; especially tea and sugar; one of the most severely felt by numerous classes, was the tax upon paper of ten Additional per cent. additional duty. This article was before so ex- paper; impost on tremely dear, from the war enhancing the price of materials, that the impost operating as a prohibition, very much effects of. diminished the productiveness of the tax. Taxes. and wise soivent In the first session of the united parliament, a peer of Liberal both realms, the humane and generous Moira, at length bill for the succeeded in procuring an act for relieving all such insol- relief of invent debtors as without fraud had incurred debts not debtors. exceeding 15001. and demonstrated their willingness to do every justice in their power to their creditors, by a complete surrender of their effects. The general principle was to relieve the debtor from a confinement which could not Farther promote the payment of the creditor, and to surrender to regulations the creditor the debtor's funds; from which only, and not raging the from abridgment of his liberty, the creditor could receive tion of any portion of his demand. Such being the scope of the wheat. VOL. IV. for encou importa 1801. CHAP. bill, the clauses and provisions were framed with equal LXVIII. benevolence and discrimination, to relieve misery, without granting impunity to guilt. In the course of the session, various new regulations were made for farther encoura ging the importation of wheat, American flour, and rice, The session to lessen the growing pressure of scarcity. On the 1st of July, the session of parliament terminated. rises. CHAP. LXIX. The king of Prussia promotes the northern confederacy short sighted policy of an attempt to intimidate Britain.Project of Britain respecting the northern powers-expedition to the Baltic under sir Hyde Parker and lord Nelson-dispositions and force of the northern confede rates our armament arrives in the Cattegate-passes the Sound-Parker resolves to attack the Danes-Nelson offers his services to conduct the attack-battle of Copenhagen and victory of Nelson-the victorious admiral proposes an armistice-the prince of Denmark agreesamicable negotiation.- Sweden.--Russia-—death of Paul-conduct of Alexander-his negotiation with Britain amicable adjustment between Britain and the northern powers. Proceedings of Bonaparte-Germany Italy-naval campaign-enterprise of sir James Saumarez-threats of an invasion-destruction of the gunboats.-Egypt the French still keep possession-Britain resolves to dispossess them-expedition under sir Ralph Abercrombie and lord Keith for that purpose-arrives at Rhodes-proceeds to Egypt-lands at Aboukir-battle and victory-storm the fortress-advance towards Alexandria-Menou projects a night attack-executes it, March 21st-surrounds the British forces-Bonaparte's Invincibles-British 42d regiment-character of that corps-surprised and encompassed-rally-cut their way through triple their number-exploits of other regiments-heroism of the whole army-death of sir Ralph Abercrombie-enemy repulsed with dreadful slaughternever afterwards venture to face the British troops in the field-general Hutchinson succeeds to the command operations of Cairo surrenders to the British armscapitulation of Alexandria, and the evacuation of Egypt, finally accomplish the purposes of the expedition.Measures of the new ministry-they are disposed to peacenegotiations-progress of-believed about to terminate 476 CHAP. LXIX. 1801. of Prussia promotes the nor thern con Short sighted policy of an attempt unfavourably—the nation apprehensive of the continuance of war-preliminaries of peace signed-national joy, though general, not universal.-Conclusion of this work. THE king of Prussia earnestly promoted the northern confederacy, in hopes, as it afterwards appeared, of deterring the British government from proceeding with The king the expedition, and impelling them to liberate the Swedish and Danish ships; and with this view sent an army to Hanover; and the king of Denmark also sent a body of federacy. troops to Hamburg, where there was British mercantile property to a great amount. Short sighted was the policy which supposed that Britain was to be intimidated by any confederation, from vindicating her rights. Finding the hostile disposition of the northern powers, his majesty resolved on measures at once decisive and pacificatory, somewhat resembling the proposition of Mr. Secretary Pitt, forty years before, for enforcing diplomatic ultimaProject of tum from the mouths of cannon; our king determined in the present dispute to employ a policy consonant to the the nor- combined justice and power of the British nation. thern pow-scheme was to send negotiators for peace to Copenhagen, to intimidate Britain. Britain re specting ers. Baltic, un m This and to second their negotiations by a strong fleet, which should beset the sound. The armament destined for this service consisted of eighteen ships of the line, four frigates, and a great number of bomb and gunboats; it amounted in all to fifty-two sail, and had on board several Expedi- regiments of marines, and of riflemen. The command tion to the of this equipment was bestowed on sir Hyde Parker : der sir second was the hero of the Nile, who went to seek fresh Hyde Parker and glory in the Baltic. On the 12th of March, the fleet lord Nel- sailed from Yarmouth Roads, and proceeded towards the Disposi- Cattegate. The northern confederates made dispositions tions and force of the for their reception, with a vigour and precaution worthy of wiser policy than that which dictated their hostility against the mistress of the ocean. Aware that no naval force was fit to contend with the British, where they had plenty of sea room, they endeavoured to obstruct our progress, son. northern confederates. |