was likewife fet on fire by the shells, and continned to burn for fome hours.-The damage, however, does not appear to have been very confiderable, and it was all that the town fuftained; for in leven fucceeding attacks, which took place between the 12th and the 21ft of July, the combined forces were never able to approach near enough for the fhells to take ef fect; and are faid to have been in every one repulled with lof, and furiously pursued by the Algerines, even under the cannon of the covering line of battle fhips.

Immenfe quantities of powder were confumed, and of hot and thells expended on both sider, in the courfe of this frequent action; while the emulation between the different nations engaged in the combined armament occafioned a continual display of the greatest valour. A knight of Malta, who commanded or fought in one of the gallies, declares in a letter," that nothing could exceed the gallantry of the combined fleets, except the warlike fpirit of the infidels." Though the enterprize neither was nor could be attended with the fuccefs that was wifhed or expected, yet, it was generally acknowledged, that the commander in chief, Don Antonio Barcelo, gained the higheit applause and honour by his conduct and gallantry through its whole course. He even propofed and ftrongly contended, notwithstanding the repeated failure which they had experienced, to make a final general attack, with a view of ftorming and forcing their way into the port; and to give the greater efficacy to the defign, intended to have gone himself on board one of the bomb veffels; but in this he was oppofed by the uniform opinion of all the commanders, both natives and allies, who remonstrated against it, upon the greatness of the danger, and the little profpect there was on its producing any adequate effect,

It must afford a general fatisfaction to every Englishman to find, that even in this distant enterprize, and in which we had no concern, the martial and naval renown of his country should have been nobly fupported by the gallantry of an individual. Mr. Henry Vernon, nephew to the brave and once celebrated admiral of that name, having ferved as a volunteer in this expedition, diftinguished himself with fuch marked enterprize, conduct, and gallantry, in all the most arduous occafions which were afforded by the various attacks and retreats which took place in the fevere conflicts with this fierce enemy, as to attract the notice and excite the admiration of all the commanders of the different nations prefent. In one of these he is faid to have faved the life of Don Barcelo, when the boat in which they both were was ftruck by a cangon-fhot from one of the forts. And though he was wounded in the 7th attack, yet, in fo confpicuous a light was his valour and merit confidered, that it was intended he should command one of the two lead. ing fhips, which were to attempt forcing their way into the port, in the final attack proposed by Don Barcelo,

It being agreed in a council of war, that nothing farther could be attempted with any probability of fuccess against the place, their ammunition likewife being nearly exhaufted, and the weather becoming foul, it was determined to

View of the character of the late parliament. Enormous Supplies voted in its first feffiom. Fruitless expenditure of this fubfidy occafions the refolutions which terminated the American war. Evidence of the parliament's independence. Enumeration of important matters in which it was engaged. Refeinds the famous re'olution respecting the Middlesex election. Disappoints many, by not prosecuting certain enquiries, &c. During the short space of 1avo years, far no less than five minifters in fucceffion. Different opinions on its interference in their appointment and removal. Well inclined to fupport the measures of the minifter in posuer at the time of its election. The campaign of 1781 causes universal alarm, and occafions the commons to interfere to procuro a change of councils. Minifter acquiefces. Delay in apprinting a new miniftry occafions a threat of with holding the supplies. Complexion of the new adminiftration. Honourably Jupported. Negociates the peace; which is cenfured in parliament. The celebrated coalition formed. The minifter, in consequence, retires. Power acquired by the house of commons, confequence of the coalition. Different opinions entertained of that circumftance. The leaders of the coalition fucceed to the miniftry; but are difmiffed, and a fifth miniftry appointed. Addreffes for its removal. Advantageous ground, poffeffed by the court, favourable to resist the Practice of difmiffing a minifter at the requifition of the commons. King's answer to those addrefes, calling for specific charges against the minifters, a measure w.& calculated to throw difficulties in the away of Such parliamentary proceedings. Inftances in illustration thereof. Firmness of the commons. Their difSolution. Alvantages poffeffed by the miniftry upon that event. Cau es of the fupport the mi niftry received from the people. More than 160 members left their feats. Meeting of the new parliament. Former Speaker re chofen. Subftance of his Majesty's Speech. Addrefes. Mr. Burke's fpeech on the measure of diffolving the late parliament. His proposed remoftrance to the throne. Commutation act-debate there

in

Bills for fettling the Eaft India dividend, for refpite of duties, and for the better govern ment of the affairs of that company; analyfis of the latter, and fetch of the debates thereen. The budget-its contents. Bill for the refloratin of eftates forfeited in the rebellion of 1745. The Lord Chancellor's aryɩment against it; st bowever paffes. Conclufion of the feffion. Subflance of the king's Speech.

per to take a short view of the character of the jate parliament, with the diffolution of which we clofed the 6th chapter.

Perhaps no parliament ever fate in Great Bri tain that was engaged in deliberations of greater magnitude and importance, that caused more fignal revolutions in the adminiftration of public affairs, or that faw the principles of the conftitution more violently agitated and shaken.

In the first feffion, the house of commons gave a confpicuous proof of its liberality and zeal for the fupport of government, by voting supplies for the fervice of the current year to the amount of upwards of twenty-one million fterling The fruitles expenditure of this enormous fubfidy produced, in the following feffion the two celebrated refolutions which put an end to the American war, and at the fame time afferted the right of the commons to controul, by their authoritative advice, the exercife of one of the most undoubted prerogatives of the crown. These votes were carried in direct oppofition to, and in the face of the most strenuous exertions of the court party they militated directly, and in their certain confequences, against the interests of feveral powerful ciaffes of members of parliament, and are therefore strongly infifted on as a proof of the integrity and independence of that house of commons collectively confidered.

It next appears in the character of a reformer. By the bill for regulating the civil lift establishmenes, thirty-fix offices, tenable by members of parliament, were abolished, and an order of payment was framed, which rendered the accumu. lation of any future debt impracticable. On the fame principles of reformation of their own houfe, connected with a principle of economy, the commons paffed an act for rendering contractors with government incapable of fitting in parJament.On the fame principles, a bill was paffed to disqualify all ethicers concerned in the collection of any branch of the revenue from vol. ing in elections for members of parliament. On the fame principles, feveral officers of the Exchequer were suppressed, and the reft, whose emoluments were exceffive and grew in exact proportion to the burthens of the public, were reduced to moderate and fixed falaries. On the fame principles, feveral important regulations, and the remedy of infinite corruptions, diforders and oppreffions, were provided for in the bill for the management of the Eaft India company's af. fairs, which was rejected in the houfe of lords, By the act for regulating the office of paymaster genera', the accumulation of the public money in the hands of the paymafter, which had fometimes amounted to upwards of a million, was prevented, and the interefts of fuch monies thereby faved to the public in future. The fame houfe, for the purpose of afferting the freedom of elections, and the rights of the electors, refcinded the famous refolution relative to the Middlefex election, and expunged it from their journals.

In its inquifitorial capacity, its conduct has not been univerially received with the fame approbation. Many looked for an enquiry into the caules and conduct of the American war; others regard as a notorious failure of duty, that the India delinquents were not profecuted to condign

punishment; and others expected a more vigorous inveftigation of the facts relative to the undue influence exercifed in the house of peers, and the impeachment of the inftruments employed therein.

But the most important point of view, in which the late parliament claims our attention, remains fill to be confidered. During the short period of two years, that parliament faw no lefs than five minilters, in fucceffion, at the head of public affairs. In the removal or appointment of thefe, the house of commons took no inconfiderable part; and its conduct therein has been variously reprelented; on the one fide, as actu ated by a fpirit of faction, which threatened the deftruction of the very forms of our government; on the other, as fupporting, with a becoming steadiness and perfeverance,, the true principles and fpirit of the conftitution.

The minifter, under whofe aufpices the boufe of commons was elected, at a conjun&ture highly favourable to the interefts of the court, found them, as was naturally to be expected, inclined to give government the most liberal and unreferved fupport, a proof of which we have already had occafion to mention. But the unfortunate campaign of 1781, having caused an univerfal alarm for the safety and very being of the empire, the house of commons found it neceffary to interfere by their authoritative advice, and to indicate their wishes for an entire change of councils. The min fter, fo foon as he perceived that he was no longer in poffeffion of the confidence of the house, declared himself ready to refign his office whenever his majesty should think fit to name his fucceffor. Some delay intervening in the appointment of the new adminiftration, fo jealous were the commons of their authority, that threats were thrown out of having recourse to the moft violent of all parliamen tary expedients, that of ftopping the Tupplies of government, if the defires of the house should not be fpedily complied with.

The next administration, although formed out of a party whofe strength in parliament had never appeared in point of numbers to be very confiderable, and though generally supposed not to enjoy the perfect gond-will of the court, met, notwithstanding these discouraging appearances, with an honourable and independent fupport dur ing its fhort duration.

The adminiftration of the noble earl, to whom his majelty next entrusted the direction of public affairs, passed almost entirely during the recefs of parliament. It fell unfortunately to his lot, and that of his colleagues, to negociate the terms of a general peace, which was figned at Verfailles, on the 20th of January 1783. Upon the afferbling of parliament, this measure was the first fubject of their deliberations, and was judged to delerve a ttrong and severe cenfure. About the fame time an event took place, which appearing evidently to have his dimiffion for one of its principal objects, cauled the minifter to retire without a struggle.

N

for the learned Gentleman, his claims and his fituation, he could not admit of any penfion for him, which did not give him independence.Mr. Hardy added some other observations, that fuch questions were not the most pleasant to be fpoken to; as to fuperficial obfervers, they always appeared harsh and invidious; but no confideration of that fort fhould ever deter Gentlemen from bringing them forward. He concluded with giving his vote for the motion.

This motion being negatived, Mr. Forbes next objected to a pension of 640l. per annum to Thomas Higinbotham, for the life of Robert Higinbotham; and faid, that as none of the fervants of the Crown could afford the Houfe any information whatsoever as to the merits and fer vices of Mr. Higinbotham, which entitled him to a penfion fo confiderable, he should move, that_the_pension should be difa lowed; adding, that he was aftonished that fo large a portion of the public money fhould be difpofed of without the knowledge or privity of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and that for fuch a transaction all the fervants of the Crown should deny any refponfibility; he moved accordingly.

This motion being also negatived, Mr. Forbes next obje&ed to a penfion of 1200l. per annum, to Robert Ahworth, for the life of his fon, and alfo two other penfions of 300l. each, and one of 200l. to the fame perfon for the lives of his other children. He stated that a penfion of 2000l. per ann. had been granted in the year 1755, for the life of Frederick Rubinfon-that the family of Robinson had lately fold that penfion to Mr. Afhworth, and had influence with government fufficient to prevail on the Minifter to change the life in the grant, and to infert the lives of the younger children of Mr. Ashworth in the place of M., Robinion; that this manage ment was now become a frequent practice, and if not restrained, muft tend to perpetuate the burdens on the establishment, and by this means a grant of a penfion for life, would operate as a leafe for lives, with a covenant for perpetual renewal. He therefore moved, that the above penfions were an improvident difpofition of the revenue. He then faid that he should not trouble the Committee any farther; but he could not refrain from expreffing his concern, that meafures in their nature to highly exceptionable, should receive the fanction of the new AdminiItration.

31.] Hon. Mr. Brown having alluded to a tranfaction that palled in the Committee of Accounts on Tuelday evening, faid that his uncle's penfion was granted in confequence of his relignation of office, when his health would no longer permit him to fulfil his duties.

M. Corry faid, that his Hon. Friend (Mr. Forbes) was abfent, he should declare, that he paid every compliment to the Hon. Gentleman mentioned, nor would he have spoke fo highly in his favour, if not in every respect defervingthe remotelt cenfure had not been pointed. It was only acting agreeable to the principle he had laid down haft feffion, of its being unconftitutional to grant a penfion during pleature to any member of that Houle, as it tended to increase the influence of the Crown.

Mr. Corry stated feveral articles in the public

Houfe for the detail of the accounts into which he had led them for fome feffions paft-he faid it was a talk not pleafing to himself, and muft, he knew, be tirefome to the Houfe-and the more accurately the mind executed fuch a talk, the more difagreeable he was forry to think it must be to the hearer. Detail however had its ufes-it would teach Minitters, that the Houfe was attentive to the expenditure of public money, and give him a means of refifting extravagant defires of thofe who addreffed him; it would thew the fcale of expence of the country, which to a man ufed to the immenfe expences and riches of England, was not unneceffary-nor was it without advantage, as productive of reformfince, he believed to these difcuffions for fome feflions paft, had been due the curtailing of fome articles, which though not great, were certainly reformed in a great proportion. He inftanced the expence of Purfuivants at Arms lowered onefourth part-and the printing of the Gazette, which last year, befide the falaries to the compiler of 300l. and to the corrector of the prefs of 2001. had coft the country 2200l. more-another newspaper had fallen from 650l. to 300l. this yearand another newspaper, which he had never feen for three past by any chance, had coft last year 1400l. and this year only 8001.till he thought a pretty extraordinary fum for fuch an article.→→ He hoped thofe Gentlemen would forgive the Houle for having reduced their annuities fo much that the faving of 2500l. at 4 per cent. was equal to the intereft of above 62,000l. of the debts-fo that from thefe article, more was faved than by the reduction of intereft effected last year, as a great operation of finance from 4 to 3 h. per cent, on the debt reduced.

After dwelling for forne time upon the different favings and giving credit to government, where they had deferved it, he faid he quit detail, and offer the Houfe 2 ftate of the finance of the nation from a period a little back-he would ftate from before the addition of the new taxes of 1785, and would go back to 1783, as it was the period in which thofe who heard him had been chofen the guardian of the public purfe, and the granters of the public money. Mr. Corry then stated the revenues and expences in each year, in every one of which the expences were beyond the revenues, and the debts encreafed-he itated alfo the funded debts in each year, and traced its rife-he stated them diftinctly feparately in round terms. In 1783, he faid the expences of the civil and military eftabiithraent, and extraordinarice amounted to

The revenue

947,000

700,000