this country, and make no diftinction between vice and virtue.* As to the men with whom he acted, though he had the highest veneration for their abilities, he yet could not be heve that their mere virtues and abili ties would be able to give itrength to the prefent fyftem, and refcue the country from the dangers in which fhe is involved. The weight of their names, the effect of their popularity, the greatnefs of their minds would not be enough to give energy and effect * The following letters explain the rife of the late quarrel between Mr. Fox and Mr. Adam; to which we have added the acCount of the deel as published by their feconds. St. ALBAN'S TAVERN, SATURDAY 4 o'clock, afternoon, NOVEMBER 27, 1779Mr. Adam prefents his compliments to Mr. Fox, and begs leave to reprefent to him, that toon confidering, again and again, what had paffed between them last night, it is impoffible for him to have his character cleared to the public, without inferting the following paragraph in the newspapers. We have authority to affure the public, that, in a converfation that paffed between Mr. Fox and Mr. Adam, in confequence of the debate in the House of Commons, on Thurfday init, Mr. Fox declared, that, however much bis speech may have been mifreprefent. | ed, he did not mean to throw any perfonal retion upon Mr. Adam." Major Humberton does me the honour of delivering this to you, and will bring your aufwer. SIR, 1 am very forry that it is utterly inconfiftent with my ideas of propriety, to authorife the putting any thing into the newspapers relapeto a speech, which, in my opinion, repaired no explanation. You who heard the Grech, muft know that it did convey no perfest reflection upon you, unless you felt your elf in the predicament upon which I animadted. The account of my fpeech in the tripapers is certainly incorrect and certainauthorised by me, and therefore, with "grét to thu, I have nothing to lay. Nether the converfation that paffed at i frookes's, for this letter, afe of a feéret da, and if you have any will to relate the ne, or to show the other, you are perfectly at any is to do. I am, &c. TRESTERFIELD STREET, half paft three,, Sunday, November 28, 1779. SIR, As you must be fenfible that the fpesch wed in the newspapers reflects upon me perally, and as it is from that only that the to the prefent fyftem-the fyftem avowed by minifters-the fyftem for which they were abandoned by a part of their number, and were diftrutted, contemned and fufpected by the people-that wretched fyftem of patch work defence that had reduced us to thefe calamities, and rendered us fo contemptible, that not a power in Europe would ally themfelves with Britaín.-No-it was not the addition of names that would produce the delive rance, but an entire change of mea fures public can have their information, it is evidem that unless that is contradicted by your authority, in as public a manner as it was given, my character must be injured. Your refulal to do this, entitles me to prefume that you approve of the manner in which that fpeech has been given to the public, and jultifies me in demanding the only fatisiaction that fuch an injury will admit of, Major Humberton is employed to settic all particulars and the fooner this ailair is brought to a conclufiod the more agreeable to me." I have the honour to be, &c. MONDAY, NOV. 29. In confequence of a previous mifunderstanding between the Hon. Mr. Charles Fox and Mr. Adam, they met, according to agreement, at eight o'clock this morning in Hyde Park. After the ground had been mentured out, at the distance of fourteen paces, Mr. Adam de fired Mr. Fox to fire; to which Mr. Fox re plied, Sir, I have no quarrel with you; do you fire. Mr. Adam than fired, and wounded Mr. For, which we believe was not at all perceived by Mr. Adam, as it was not distinctly feen by either of ourfelves. Mr Fox fired without effect; we then interfered, asking Mr. Adam, if he was fatisfed? Mr. Adam replied, Will Mr. Fox declare he meant no perfonal attack upon my character? Upon which Mr. Fox faid this was no place for apologies, and de fired him to go on. Mr. Adam bred his fe cond piftol without effect; Mr. Fox fired his remaining piftol in the air; and then faging, as the affair was ended, he had no difficulty in declaring, he meant no more perfónal ar front to Mr. Adam than he did to either of: the other gentlemen préfent; Mr. Adam replied, Sir, you have behaved like a man of honour. Mr. Fox then mentioned, that he believed himself wounded, and, apon opening his waistcoat it was found he was fo, but to Il appearance fightly. The parties then fr parated; and Mr. Fox's wound, was, on examination, found not likely to produce any dangerous confequences: RICHARD FITZPATRICK. fures and men. That palliation which the deceated Earl of Chatham foretold had already been in fome measure feen-that meature which he declared to be ruinous, the men with whom he acted would never agree to. Even Lord Chatham himself with all his popularity, were he now alive, could not, by the addition of his name, without the addition of his full power and direction, produce the great end of national falvation. The minifter had denied that his followers propagated that the King was his own miniWith what modefty could they do fo, when the very streets ecchoed with e tale-when part of the administration even retired in difpleasure and difguft! good God! if any of the race of Stuart yet remained in this country, or any of their adherents, what opportunity have minifters given them without the exaggerations of fancy, to deliver down to pofterity, the name of a fovereign amiable for his virtues, with all the ignomy that he could wish to throw upon the fubject,-He would fay that the houfe of Stuart were banished from the throne of thefe kingdoms for doing that which the prefent poffeffor practifed with impunity-and if he fhould be told by a real friend to the prefent houfe-that his were not the vices of his reign-they were the progeny of his minifters-would he not exclaim might not Stuart have his bad mi"nitters too?"-Might he not, in his picture of the charicature take the liberty to contraft him with Henry VI. Henry Vith entered to the poffeffion of three dominions, when they were in the most glorious ftate of conqueft and fame-So did George the III.-Henry VIth was fon to the most magnanimous and warlike prince that this country ever produced.-George, the third was grandfon to a moft powerful and heroic prince. The honourable gentleman conducted the contrast through a variety of parrallels, and wifhed to God the concluding fcene might not agree. In fuch a fyftem, when there was no refponfibility, though he hoped that the defperate remedy would not be tried yet the people would certainly be ex cufed by pofterity, if defpair fhoul urge them to action, and if being ond aroufed, vengeance and retributio fhould precede reformation. The h nourable gentleman adverted to th palliative arrangements that had lat ly taken place. Age, and infirinity (Lord Bathurst) had thrown off its of tacles, and came forward again join these men, for the good of h country, from whom he had bet driven by injuries. Another nob Lord (Lord Stormont) had joind them: although he had declared the had not attended to the informatio he had given them refpecting the i tentions of the enemy, and cont quently knew them to be unworthy Another noble Lord (Lord Hillb rough) whofe conduct had been t means of creating thefe difturbance which had produced our humiliatio and difgrace, was alfo called in at th clofe of the work he had begun. Followed Mr. Fo Lord Advocate he declared he cou of Scotlaud. not in confcience vo for the amendment. For the amendment Secretary at War, i Mr. Burke. Mr. Jenkinson, gainst it. Attorney General. Made a long reply to M Fox, and againit the amen ment. He imputed all th evils fuffered in the prefe war to the letter of Lord Hillb rough, when Secretary for the Col nies; mentioned a late letter of h refpecting the affociated corps in I land, and concluded with withing b lordship's Irish correfpondence mig not turn out as unfortunate as his merican correfpondence. Mr. T. Luttrell Finished the d bate. Ellous affertions made by a wretched writer in the pay of Administration, in one of the pamphlets (the Short History of the Oppofition) published under their authority, and which the author had had the confidence to -fend to his houfe. The report was agreed to without a divition. 29th and 30/b, no debate of any confequence. December ft, On the Navy eflimates, Mr. Buller tated the fhips in commiffion to be 360, of which 88 were line of battle hips. The whole required 89,246 men. In September at there were on the books in all, 93.389 femen and marines. He moved that 85,000, including 18,785 marines be granted for 1780. Lord Mulgrave mentioned, that in all the fhips of Sir Charles Hardy's fleet, there were but 18 men fhort of the fall compliment. Mr.James Luttrell faid, that our grand fleet being abfent from the channel, when the fleets of France and Spain appeared in Plymouth found, must be enquired into. Sir Charles Hardy immediately rofe and informed the Houfe, that when he took his station off Scilly, he neither knew where the combined fleets were, nor their intentions. He had fationed his cruizers on every point of the compass, but he did not hear of the enemies intention to vifit the channel, till they were in it. The first day he entered the channel, he faw them at a great diftance, but he by no means avoided an engagement. He kept in with the land, that in cafe of an engagement he might be between them and the narrow part of the channel. He faw the enemy in the fouth west quarter, after he had formed the line he food directly for them, but the weather fuddenly came on very thick, and in the morning they were not to be feen. The fecond day after, the enemy appeared nearer than before, and he again offered them battle. That whatever fome gentlemen may affect to think or believe, he would fay the British flag had not been difgraced, nor had they fhewed their ferns to the enemy., He thought it advisable to draw the enemy up the channel, as a defeat there must have proved more fatal to them. That he could afirma that battle was offered. them and that the enemy declined it. The refolution was agreed to without a divifion, and the report received the 2d of December. Dec. 3d. In the Committee of ways and means, Mr. David Hartley faid, that on good authority, (understood to be Dr. Franklin) the Americans were defirous of quitting their confederacy, and that their firit preliminary was a truce for ten years, upon the footing of the uti poffidetis. Lord North replied, that the gentleman's negociation was an unfortu nate one as it had anfwered no end; that he had rejected the propofed truce of ten years; that he would not treat with America as an independent power; it would in an instant be conceding all our rights; and relinquithing America under the cover of the fingle word, truce; that Spain had alfo propofed a ten years truce; that he never would agree to American independence; fo neither would he agree to the truce propofed; that a truce coming through Spain, gave additional reafon for rejecting it; because Spain herfelf had furnished two examples that a truce made with fubjects in arms, or in rebellion, fubftantially implied independency. Her truces with Holland and Portugal ended in acknowledging their independency. Dec. 6th. Lord Oory moved to cenfure miniftry for their neglect of Ireland. On a divifion, for the motion 100, against it 192. Dec. 9th. Sir William Meredith moved that the Committee of Supply on the army estimates be adjourned to Teufday next. For the motion 113, against it, 159. RELIEF OF IRELAND." After dwelling for fome Lord North little time on the nature of his fubject, read the refolutions he meant to move, when the Houfe fhould, in a future day, be in a Committee on the affairs of IreE land. and. The first was fubftantially as follows: "That it be expedient to repeal fo much of an act of Parliament, as probibits the exportation of Irish wool and woollen manufacture from the kingdom of Ireland." Second Refolution, "That it be expedient to repeal fo much of an act made in the 19th of his late Majefty Geo. II. as probibits the exportation of glaf, glafs bottles, and other articles of glass manufacture, from the kingdom of Ireland, to any part of Europe, the British Colo nies in America, the West Indies, and British fettlements on the coaft of Africa." Third Refolution, "That Ireland be fuffered to carry on a trade of export and import, to and from the British Colonies in America and the Weft Iudies, and her fettlements on the coast of Africa, fubject to fuch Imitations, regula tions, reftrictions, and duties, as the Parliament of Ireland fhould impofe." His lordship added, that the three propofitions he had made, comprehended in general as much as Ireland defired; that there would neverthelefs remain fome particulars to be given, which would naturally fuggeft themfelves hereafter, and would be a matter of no fort of difficulty to fettle and accommodate. His lordship moved, that a Con mittee of the whole Houfe do fit o Monday next, to take into confider tion the papers on their table relativ to the revenue, trade, &c. of Ireland Before he fat down, his lordthi earneftly recommended it to gentleme to turn the matter most furioufly i their minds, and to come prepared t enter fully into the difcuffion of i and to treat it with that candour, m deration, and attention, which i great importance deferved. Dec. 13th, On the relief of Ireland Mr. Fox declared, he did not meas to enter into a difcuffion of the fubject or to give his reafons for declining it He only begged that the filence of th gentlemen with whom he acted, migh not hereafter be interpreted into a approbation either of the noble lord' (North) propofitions or arguments it was merely an acquiefcence. As foot as Mr. Fox had done fpeaking, a great number of the members in oppofition left the Houfe. The fame day the Memorials of France and Spain, and the Juftifying Memorial of the British Court, were ordered to be laid before the House. Dec. 23d. The Houfe adjourned to January the 24th. REFERENCES to the Plan of Gibraltar. The highest part of the mountain, above 1300 feet higher than the level of the neck of land. 2. The Queen's formerly Willis's battery, 400 feet above the faid level; under this cattery the enemy in the laft fiege dug their mine with a chimerical view of blowing up that prodigious mafs of rock, which had it had effect, would however but little facilitated their taking the place. 3. Princess Ann's. 4. Princefs Amelia's, and 5. Princess Carolines batteries, all cut out of the rock fince the last fiege. 6. The King's and 7 the prince's lines, cut out of the rock fince the firft fiege. 8. A line called the breach. 9. The old Moorish castle. 10. Powder magazine. 11, 12 and 13. Storehoufes. 14. Prince of Heffe's battery. 15. The land Port. 16. North baftion. 17. The water Port. 18. The hofpital. 19. The Governor's gardan. zo. Powder magazine. 21. South bastion. 22. Flat baftion. 23. Demi baftion. 24. An old Moorish line. 25. Charles the 5th's line. 26. Path to great Europa. 27. Eight gun battery. 28. New chapel. 29. Fort of the new mole. 30. Ruins of a noble ciftern, called the Moor's bagnio. 31. Noftra fenhora da Europa. 32. Gun battery. 33. Road cut through the back of the new batteries. 34Devil's Tower. 35. Morafs. 36. An inun dation made fince the laft fiege, which rea ders it utterly impoffible for an enemy to car ry on any approaches, as they did in the firft fiege to the glacis, fo great a quantity of water being now let in, that the whole front of the garrifon next the land is made inacceffible. 37. Sluice to the faid inundation, by which means the fea may be let in at pleasure,and all attempts of an enemy to drain it are imprac ticable. 38. Befiegers approaches and batte ries in the laft fiege. 39. The line or wall with its ditch or mot marked a, a, a, which the Spaniards have built acrofs the neck of land, about a mile from our works, and 2 or 30 miles from the anchoring places near the new mole, O account of this oblique fituation, when you approach the town from the undation, you can fee no further of the rock than the castle; and even in the town your fight is bounded by ay pital, and in it Bethlem barracks, merly a nunnery; the Admir houfe formerly a monaftery, and n ther on that of St. Francis where t Governor refides. The Spani E 2 church |