Annual Register

Motion

of the Habeas Corpus Law. Progress of the bill. Debates on the motion for four fillings in the pound, land tax. Motion by Mr. Fox for an enquiry into the fate of the nation. Subfequent motions. for certain papers, after long debates rejected upon a divifion. Circumfences attending the difclofure of the unhappy event at Saratoga. Debates upon the magnitude of the fum granted in the committee of Supply for the ordnance feruice. Motion by Colonel Barre for papers, rejected. Mr. Hartley's motions relative to the American war, rejected. Motion ty Mr. Wilkes for the repeal of the declaratery law, rejected upon a divifion. Great debates upon the motion of adjournment. Amendment moved by Mr. Burke. Original motion carried upon a divifion by a great majority. Tranfactions in the House of Lords, fimilar to thofe of the ComDuke of Richmond's motion for an enquiry into the state of the nation, agreed to. Lord Chatham's motion for the orders and inftructions to General Burgoyne, after confiderable debates, rejected upon a divifion. Debates upon a fecond motion by the fame noble Lord, relative to the employment of the favages in the American war. Motion rejected on a divifion. Debates upon the question of adjournment. Motion carried upon a divifion. [53

mons.

CHA P. V.

Subfcription for the American prisoners. State of public affairs. Scheme for raifing a body of troops to supply the lofs at Saratoga. Difficulties attending that meafure. Subfcriptions for raifing new levies. Manchefter and Liverpoole raife regiments. Failure of the attempt in the corporations of London and Bristol. Large private fubfcriptions in both cities. Several regiments raised in Scotland, and independent companies in Wales. Great debates in both Houfes on the measure of raising forces without the knowledge or confent of parliament; and on the question of legality with refpect to private contributions or benevolences. Motion in the committee of fupply for cloathing the new forces, after long debates, carried upon a divifion. Earl of Abingdon's motion for fummoning the judges on the queflion, overruled. His other motions for paffing a cenJure on the meafure, after long debates rejected upon a divifion.

CHA P.. VI.

[78

Various motions preparatory to the enquiry into the ftate of the nation. Duke of Grafton's motion for papers rejected. Mr. Fox and Colonel Barre's motions alfo rejected. Complaints on the refusal of papers, and of the defectiveness of thofe which were prefented. Avowed motives of the oppofition in the enquiry. Mr. Fox opens the enquiry in the grand committee of the Commons. Refolution moved and rejected. Mr. Burke's motions relative to the employment of the favages. Rejected after long debates. Mr. Fox's motions in the committee, relative to the state of the forces in America from the commencement of the war, and the laffes

fuftained

fuftained on that fervice, rejected, after much debate. Debate on the
appointment of a Chairman, on opening the committee of the Lords.
Lord Scarfdale voted to the chair on a divifion. Debates on the Duke
of Richmond's motion against fending any part of the old established home
military force on diftant fervice. Motion rejected. Merchants give
evidence at the bar, of the great laffes fustained by commerce in the
courfe of the war. Counter evidence, intended to fhew the national ad-
vantages derived from the war. Several refolutions moved by the
Duke of Richmond, founded on the facts stated in the evidence of the
Merchants. Refolutions fet afide, after much debate, by the previous
question.
[101

CHAP. VII.

Petition from the county of Norfolk. Lord North's conciliatory propofitions.
Two bills brought in thereon. Effect of the Minister's speech. Conduct of
the minority with refpect to his conciliatory feheme. Mr. Fox fates his
information of the conclufion of a treaty between France and the American
deputies; calls upon the Minifter for an explanation on that fubject. Pro-
grefs of the bills. Mr. Serjeant Adair's motion for the appointment of com-
miffioners, after much debate, rejected. Mr. Powys's motion to admit a
claufe for the repeal of the Massachusets Charter Act, rejected on a divifion.
Motion by Mr. Powys for the repeal of the American Tea Act, and by
Mr. Burke for extending the provisions of the Declaratory Bill to the Weft
Indies; both agreed to. Conciliatory bills pafs the Commons. New boufe-
tax. Mr. Gilbert moves for a tax of one-fourth upon falaries, annuities,
penfions, fees, and perquifites of offices under the crown. Motion carried
upon a divifion; but rejected the following day, on receiving the report
from the Committee, by a small majority. Mr. Fox's motion in the Com-
mittee of Enquiry, relative to the state of the royal navy, after much de-
bate, fet afide by the previous question. Mr. J. Luttrell's motion for an
inftruction enabling the American commifioners to promife the removal of
any minifter or minifters, who they should discover to be fo obnoxious to the
colonies, as thereby to prevent the restoration of tranquillity, rejected upon a
divifion. Letter from General Gates to the Earl of Thanet read by the
Marquis of Rockingham. Motion by the Duke of Richmond, that the let-
ter fhould lie on the table, after fome debate, rejected. Duke of Rich-
mond's motions relative to the ftate of the forces in America, after much de-
bate, fet afide by the previous queflion. State and amount of the expences
incurred by the war in America, fet forth by the Duke of Richmond; who
propofes a number of refolutions founded thereon, which are all fet afide as
before. Motion for the attendance of the Surveyor of the navy, made by
the Duke of Bolton, and rejected upon a divifion. Several fubfequent mo-
tions made by the fame nobleman, and tending to an enquiry into the state of
the navy, after confiderable debates rejected. American conciliatory bills
paffed by the Lords. Enquiry into the conduct of the transport fervice by
the Earl of Effingham, whofe refolutions thereon are rejected. [129

CHAP.

CHAP. VIII.

Motion by Mr. Grenville rejected. French Declaration. Royal Meffage.
Great Debates on the Addrefs. Amendment moved by Mr. Baker.
Amendment rejected; and the original Addrefs at length carried on a divi-
fion. Great debates on the Meffage and Addrefs in the House of Lords.
Amendment moved by the Duke of Manchefter. Rejected, and the ori-
ginal Addrefs carried, as before, on a divifion. Great debates on
Mr. Fox's motions relative to the failure of the Canada expedition.
Rejected on a divifion. Counter motion, carried in the Committee, but
not reported. Col. Barre's motion for a Committee to infpect the public
accounts, agreed to, under certain modifications. Petition from New-
caftle. Motion by Mr. Wilkes, relative to private aids, or loans to
the crown, rejected on a divifion. Oppofition to the House-tax bill.
Several amendments, moved and rejected, on feparate divifions. Com-
mittee appointed to confider of the trade of Ireland. Refolutions paffed,
and bills brought in, on that fubject. Sir William Meredith's motion

for a repeal of the declaratory act, laid by. Bill brought in and passed,

to enable his Majesty to make a fuitable provifion for the younger part

of the Royal family, as well as for the Duke of Gloucester's children.

Motion by Sir P. J. Clerke for bringing in the contractor's bill, carried

en a divifion. Great oppofition formed to the Irish bills. Contractor's

bill read the first time; and the motion for its being read the fe-

cond, carried upon a divifion. Second reading of the contractor's bill.

Loft upon the question of commitment, by a majority of two only. Great

debate on the message for a vote of credit. Debate on the fecond read-

ing of the Irish bills. Sir Cecil Wray's motion rejected. Bills com-

mitted. Proceedings in the House of Commons on the death of the Earl

of Chatham.

CHA P. IX.

[158

Sir George Saville's motion for a bill to repeal certain penalties and dif-

qualifications to which the English Roman Catholics were liable, univer-

fally agreed to. Event of the Irish business. Debates relative to the

Toulon papers; Sir William Meredith's first motion, at length re-

jected. Motion of adjournment, by the Minifter, carried. Circum-

ftances relative to the arrival of General Burgoyne. Motion by Mr.

Kyner, relative to the Canada expedition. Amendment moved by Mr.

Fox. Explanations of his fituation and conduct by General Burgoyne.

Debate. Mr. Fox's amendment rejected on a divifion. Original

motion fet afide by the previous question. Motion by Mr. Hartley

against the prorogation of Parliament, after confiderable debate, re-

jected on a divifion. Similar motion by Sir James Lowther, meets the

jame fate. Motion by the Duke of Richmond for withdrawing the

forces from North America. Previous question moved and carried on a

divifion. Great debates on the Earl of Effingham's motions tending to

an enquiry into the state of the navy. Effective motions rejected; two

others

others agreed to. Duke of Richmond clofes the enquiry in the general
Committee on the ftate of the nation.
Moves an addrefs of great length,
founded on various matters of fact, which had been established in the
courfe of the enquiry. Debate broke off on the fudden illness of the Earl
of Chatham, and adjourned to the following day. Address rejected.
Proteft. Refolutions, founded on the Toulon papers, moved by the
Duke of Richmond. Juftification of naval affairs and conduct, by the
noble Lord immediately concerned. Interesting particulars ftated by the
Earl of Bristol. Motions fet afide, on a divifion, by the previous
queftion. Proteft on the Chatham annuity bill. Earl of Derby's motion
relative to the Saratoga business, fet afide by the previous question.
Duke of Bolton's motion for deferring the prorogation of Parliament,
after long debates, rejected on a divifion. Speech from the Throne. [*189

CHA P. X.

State of the hoftile armies in Philadelphia and its neighbourhood during the
winter. Hard condition of the brave army under the convention of
Saratoga. Sufpenfion of the treaty by the Congress, until a ratifica-
tion is obtained from the court of Great Britain. Predatory expedi-
tions from Philadelphia and Rhode Island. Draught of the Conciliatory
Bills published in America. Effect produced by it on both fides. Con-
duct, and refolutions of the Congrefs. Simeon Dean arrives with the
French treaties. Sir Henry Clinton arrives to take the command of the
army at Philadelphia, in the room of General Sir William Howe, who
returns to England. Arrival of the Commiffioners for reftoring peace, &c.
Letter to the Congress. Secretary to the Commiffioners refufed a paff-
port. Anfwer returned by the Congrefs to the Commiffioners. Further
particulars relative to the propofed negociation. Evacuation of Phila-
delphia. Difficulties encountered by the British army in their march across
the Jerfies.
General Washington croffes the Delaware. Battle near
Monmouth. Gen. Lee, tried by a court martial, and fufpended. Bri-
tish army pass over to Sandy Hook Island, and are conveyed by the fleet
to New York. Toulon Squadron arrive on the coast of America. Appear
before Sandy Hook, where they caft anchor. Alarm, and preparations at
Sandy Hook and New York. Departure of the French fleet. Arrival of
reinforcements to Lord Howe. French fleet appear before Rhode Island.
Defenfive preparations by General Sir Robert Pigot. Invasion of that
ifland meditated by the Americans, to fecond the operations of the French.
Lord Howe fails to the relief of Rhode Island. D'Eftaing, quits the
harbour and puts to fea, to meet the British Squadron. Fleets feparated,
at the point of engaging, by a violent fterm. Captain Raynor, in the
Ifis, bravely engages a French man of war of 74 guns. D'Estaing re-
turns to Rhode Island, and proceeds from thence to Bofton. Is purjued by
Lord Howe. Gen. Sullivan lands in Rhode Island. Invefts the British
pofts. American army greatly difconcerted by D'Eftaing's departure.
Sullivan retreats, and at length totally quits the Ifland. Lord Howe,
finding D'Estaing's Squadron fo ftrcngly fecured in Nantafket Road, as
to render an attack impracticable, returns from Boston.