Ca

En

dey

10

N.

Retrospective views of American affairs in the year 1778. Expedition to

Bedford, Fair Haven; and to Martha's Vineyard. Admiral Montague

dispodeljes the French of the isiands of St. Pierre, and Miquelon. Lord

Cornwallis, and Gen. Knyphausen, advance into the enemy's country, on

both sides of the North River. Surprize of Baylor's light borfe. Success

of the expedition to Egg Harbour. Surprize of Pulaski's legion. Cruel

depredations by Butler, Brandt, and the favages, on the back frontiers.

Destruction of the new settlement at Wyoming, attended with circumstances

of singular cruelty and barbarity. Col. Clarke's expedition from Vir-

ginia, for the reduction of the Canadian towns and settlements in the

Illinois country. Consequences of Clarke's success. Expedition from Scho-

barie to the Upper Susquehanna. Deftruction of the Unadilla and Ana-

quago settlements.

Review of conciliatory measures pursued by the commisioners for restoring

peace in America. Attempt to open and smooth the way to a negociation by

private communications and correspondence, fails in the effect, and is highly

resented by the Congress. Resolutions by that body against holding any

communication or intercourse with one of the Commi Poners. Gentleman in

question, declines acting any longer in the commision, and publishes a

declaration in answer to the Congress. Declaration from the remaining

commifsioners in answer to that body. Final manifesto and proclamation

by

by the commisioners. Cautionary measures recommended by the Congreso to the people ; followed by a counter manifesto, threatening retaliation. Singular letter from the Marquis de la Fayette, to the Earl of Carlisle. American expedition for the reduction of the British settlements in the country of the Natches, on the borders of the Missisippi. Expedition from Nerja York, under the conduct of Commodore Parker and Colonel Campbell, for the reduction of the province of Georgia. Landing made good, and the rebels defeated. Town of Savannah taken, and the province in general reduced. Major-General Prevost' arrives from the southward; takes the tozun and fort of Sunbury, and afumes the principal command. [18

Island of Dominica taken by the Marquis de Bouille, governor of Martinico.

State of the French fleet at Boston. Riot between the French and inhabitants. Desperate riot between the French and American Sailors, in the city and port of Charlestown. M. D'Estaing sails from Boston for the Weft-Indies: having first issued a declaration addressed to the French Canadians. Admiral Byron's fleet driven off from the coast of NewEngland by a violent hurricane, which afforded an opportunity for the departure of the French Squadron. British fleet detained at Rhode Island, to repair the damages sustained in the tempeft. Reinforcement sent from New-York to the West-Indies, under the conduct of Commodore Hotham, and Major-General Grant : narrowly miss falling in with the French fleet : join Admiral Barrington at Barbadoes, and proceed together to the reduction of the island of St. Lucia : troops land, take the French pafts in the neighbourhood of the Grand Cul de Sac: proceed to Morne Fortune and the Viergie. M.D'Estaing appears in fight, with a vafi superiority both of land and marine force : attacks the British squadron in the Grand Cul de Sac; and is bravely repuljed by Admiral Barrington, twice in the same day. French land their troops in Choc Bay: attack General Meadows three times in the Viergie, are repulsed every time, and at length defeated with great loss. Great glory obtained by the British farces, both by fea and land, in these several encounters. M. D’Esiaing, after ten days longer ftay, abandons the island of St. Lucia, without any further attempt, for its recovery. The Chevalier de Micoud, with the principal inhabitants, capitulate before the French fleet is out of sight.

[36

State of public affairs during the recess of parliament. Address and perition

from the city of London. Militia embodied. Camps formed. Admiral Keppel appointed to the command of the grand fleet for the home service. Peculiar situation of that commander. Fleet fails from St. Hellens. Licorne, French frigate, stopt and detained. Blameable conduet of the Captain, in firing unexpectedly into the America man of war. Desperate

2

engagement between the Arethusa,,and the Belle Poule, frigates. French schooner, bravely taken by the Alért cutter. Anotber French frigate falls in with the fleet; and is, with the Licorne and schooner, brought to

England. Fleet returns to Portsmouth for a reinforcement. Rewards and bounty of the French King, to the officers and crew of the Belle Poule

. Admiral Keppel fails again from Portsmouth. Falls in with the French fleet under the Count d'Orvilliers; and after a chace of five days, brings them at length to action. Account of the engagement on the 27th of July

. View of the circumstances which were supposed to have prevented that action from being decisive. French fleet escape in the night, and return to Brest. Prudent and temperate conduct observed by the Admiral. Returns to Plymouth to refit. Proceeds again to sea, but cannot meet the French fleet.

[50

Speech from the throne. Amendment moved to the address in the House of

Commons. Great Debates. Amendment rejected upon a division. Op. position to the address in general, in the House of Lords, but no amendment proposed. Address carried upon a division. Motion to address the Crown, in the House of Commons, for a disavowal of certain palages in the late manifesto isued by the Commissioners at New York. The motion, after long debates, rejected upon a division. Similar motion by the Marquis of Rockingham, likewise causes much debate, and is rejected upon a division. Proteft. Circumstances, which tended to the rendering the late action off Breft, á subject of parliamentary difcuffion. Admiral Keppel, being called upon, gives fome account of that business in the House of Commons. Answered by Sir Hugh Palliser. Reply. Court martial ordered for the trial of Admiral Keppel. Conduct of the admiralty censured and supported : Question, relative to the discrecretionary powers of that board, much agitated. Bill brought in and passed, for the holding of the trial of Admiral Keppel on shore, (in confideration of his ill state of health) instead of its being held a board ship, as before prescribed by the law. Recess.

[75

Debates arising on questions of supply, previous to the recess. Augmenta

tion of 14,000 men, to the land service. Trial at Portsmouth. Admiral Keppel honourably

. acquitted. Receives the thanks of both Houses. Vice-admiral of the blue resigns his employments, and vacates his seat in the House of Commons. Memorial, signed by twelve admirals, preJented. Great discontents in the navy. Resolution of cenfure moved by Mr. Fox, on the conduct of the admiraltý. Motion, after long debates, rejected upon a division. Second motion, of a similar nature, by Mr. Fox, reje&ted upon a division. Two great naval commanders, declare againf acting under the present fyftem. Resignation of naval

officers

officers. Sir P. J. Clerke, brings in a bill against the contractors ; first question carried upon a division; but the bill rejected upon another. Bill"in favour of Diljenters brought in and passed. Afairs of Ireland. Various attempts and proposals for affording commercial relief to that country, prove at length ineffectual.

(105

Debates on the army extraordinaries. Morion for printing the estimates rejected upon a division. Committee on East India affairs. Resolutions moved for and carriel, relative to the violence committed on the late Lord Pigot in his government. Motion for prosecuting certain members of the late council at Madrass, agreed to. Mr. Fox's motion, for the removal of the first lord of the admiralty from that department, is, after long debates, reje&ted upon a division. Committee of enguiry, into the conduct of the American war. Amendment moved to the motion for the examination of Earl Cornwallis, by the minister, and carried upon a division in the committee. Amended motion then put, and rejected upon a division. Third motion rejected. Transactions in the committee, discussed in the House, and rescinded. Committee revived. Earl Cornwallis, and other witnesses examined, in behalf of Lord and Sir William Howe. Counter evidence propojed, and agreed to. In the interim, General Burgoyne's evidence brought forward and examined. Counter evidence examined. Committee suddenly disolved.

(129

Two enquiries in the House of Lords, tending to the same. object, and carried

on through the greater part of the session. Enquiry into the state of the navy, and the conduet of the admiralty, instituted by the Earl of Bristol. Motions for naval papers, bring out much debate, and are rejected upon a division. Motion by the Earl of Bristol, for the removal of the first lord of the admiralty from his employment. Great debates. Motion rejetied upon a division. Protests. Enquiry into the government and management of Greenwich hospital, conducted by the Duke of Richmond. Movis for a compensation to Captain Baillie, late lieutenant-governor of Greenwich hospital. Motion rejected upon a division. Minority lords quit the House. Resolutions in vindication of the Earl of Sandwich. Hard caje of Captain Baillie. Marquis of Rockingham endeavours to bring forward an enquiry into the affairs of Ireland. After several ineffectual attempts, a kind of compromise takes place, referring the bufiness of that country to the ensuing Sellion Mr. Townshend's motion to defer the prorogation of parliament, rejetied upon a division. Spanish manifeslo. Address from the Commons. Second address moved by Lord John Cavendish. Motion of adjournment carried upon a division. slmendment to the aiuress of the Lords, moved by the Earl of

Abingdon,

'Abingdon, and rejected upon a division. Second amendment proposed in
the Duke of Richmond ; rejected upon a division, after considerable de-
hate. Bill brought in by the minister for doubling the militia, after
much debate and proposed amendment paljed by the Commons. Indemnity
bill likewise paled. Militia bill meets with great opposition in the
Honuje of Lords. Indemniiy bill much opposed; bit carried through.
Protejis. Militia bill deprived of its principal effective powers, and
returned to the Commons, Debate on a point of privilege. Bill passed.
Speech from the throne.

(153

B

Hoftilities in the East Indies. Sea-fight between Sir Edrvard Vernon and

M. de Tronjolly. French squadron abandon the coast of Coromandel.
Siege of Pondicherry. Gallant defence by M. de Bellecombe. Capitu-
lation. State of affairs in Georgia and the-Carolinas. Loyalists de-
feated in North Carolina. American General, Lincoln, arrives in South
Carolina to oppose Major General Prevoft. Rebels defeated et Briar
Creek. General Prevofi poles the Savannah, and penetrates into South
Carolina ; advances to Charles Town; retires. Action at Stone Ferry.
General Prevost takes polelien of the island of Port Royal. Expedition
from Nerv York to Chefapeak Bay, under the conduet of Sir George Col-
"lier and Major General Matthews. Great damage done to the Americans
in the neighbourhood' of Hampton and Norfolk. Expedition up the North
River; Štoney Point and Verplanks taken. Expedition to Connecticut,
under Sir George Collier and Governor Tryon. Surprize of Stoney
Point by General Wayne. Recovery of that poft Attack upon Paulus
Hock. Lieutenant Colonel Maclane besieged by an armed force from
Bojtcn. Relieved by Sir George Collier, who defiroys the whole rebel
marine in the Penobscot.

[174

P
D
F

Admiral Byron takes the command in the West-Indies. Endeavours to

draw M. D’Estaing to an engagement without effect. Mortality at
St. Lucia. Mr. Byron convoys the homeward bound trade. Loss of
the island of St. Vincent's, during the absence of the fleet. French fleet
reinforced by the arrival of M. de la Motte : proceeds to the reduktion
of ibe Granades. Lands a body of forces, which invest the Hospital
Hill in the island of Granada. Attack the works by night, and carry
them by form. Lord Macartney proposes to capitulate; but the terms
offered by D'Estaing being deemed inadmisible, surrenders the fort and
island at discretion. Admiral Byron returns to St. Lucia ; proceeds
with the fieet and army for the recovery of St. Vincent's. Receives
intelligence at jea of the attack upon Granada, and being ignorant of
the great fuperiority of the French fleet, changes his course in order to

fuccour