IX. 1771. Utrecht, we were entitled to demand the punish- CHAP. ment of Buccarelli: we ought alfo to have exacted the complete fettlement of the Manilla ranfom in short, the agreement, neither complete nor decifive, contained the feeds of future hoftility. Minifters replied, that the claim to Falkland's islands had never been allowed by Spain. Our people had really given the first infult, by warning the Spaniards to depart from an island which they confidered as their own. Spain had given up the British fettlement and property which her officers had seized; and what more could be expected from the most fuccefsful war? Indemnification for expence, was a redress which, in modern treaties of peace, it was very unusual for a victor to demand. We had fupported and satisfied the honour of England; and our dignity being fecure, our interest required that we fhould live upon the most amicable terms with a country with which we had the closest commercial ties. War with Spain would foon have joined France in the fame caufe, more closely have cemented the alliance between these powers, and involved us in hoftilities with the whole house of Bourbon. They accufed oppofition, of a defire to embroil this country in a war with Spain, in hopes that fome difafter might enfue, which would expofe administration to the public refentment, and drive them from office *. A great majority of both houses, after very violent debates, *This charge, though advanced in parliament, was much more explicitly detailed in minifterial writings, and efpecially in Dr. Johnfon's celebrated pamphlet upon Falkland's iflands. CHAP. declared their approbation of the convention with IX. 1771. Supplies. Spain. The difcuffion of this fubject incidentally caused a disagreement between the two houses, which lasted through the whole feffion. Before the adjustment was completed, the duke of Manchester made a motion for an addrefs to expedite our preparations, recommending at the fame time certain difpofitions of our forces. Ministers thinking these discussions not prudent before ftrangers, of whom there was a great number in the house, proposed that the houfe fhould be cleared. There happened at this time to be several members from the other house attending with a bill, and these were included in the order for departure. The commons confidering this procedure as derogatory from their dignity, gave a fimilar order for exclufion, without the exception of peers. The misunderstanding, for the three last months of the feffion, prevented all intercourfe between the, houses, except in mere matters of bufinefs; and, to the great disappointment and displeasure of the public, excluded all others from both. The fupplies, which were granted this feffion under the apprehenfion of a war with Spain, were liberal. The ways and means were, a loan of 1,800,000l. on exchequer bills; an increase of landtax to four fhillings; a lottery; the furplufage of the finking fund; a small tonnage upon fhipping; with additional duties on tobacco, teas, fpirits, wines, and other foreign goods." Thefe taxes, chiefly affecting luxuries, met with little oppofition or animadverfion. Indeed, this budget manifefted merely common official experience, and neither ་ IX. 1771. neither proved the minister to poffefs, nor to want, CHAP. financial talents. Parliament being prorogued on the 8th of May, closed a feffion more remarkable for the contentious violence of its debates, and the paffionate heat of its propofitions, than for the wifdom of its deliberations, or the importance of its decrees. G3 CHAP. X. State of the colonies.-Effects of Lord North's conciliatory attempt.-Striking diverfity of fentiment and Spirit between New England and other colonies-is not fufficiently regarded by minifters.-Difcontents in England begin to fubfide.Meeting of parliament.-Petition for exemption from fubfcribing the thirty-nine articles.-Oppofed by one clafs on grounds of theological principle-by another on political expediency.Petition of the diffenters.-Haughton's bill for the relief of the diffenters is passed the house of commons, but thrown out by the lords.-Clerical nullum tempus bill is rejected.-Law for reftricting the marriage of the royal family.—Arguments against it-for it-passed.—East India affairs.—Supplies. -Seffion rifes.—Death of the princess dowager of Wales. -Operations between Ruffia and Turkey.—Scheme of Fre deric and Catharine for partitioning Poland-offer Auftria afbare-fhe objects to the inequality of the divifion-her fcruples are vanquished by a larger diftribution.-Difmem-. berment of Poland.-Revolution in Sweden.-State of Denmark.-Incapacity of the king.-Character and conduct of the queen.-Artifices of the queen Dowager.-Struenfee.-Ac-. cufation and arreft of Matilda.--Remonftrances of the court of London.-His Britannic majefty demands and refcues his fuffering fifter-and affords her an afylum in his German dominions. CHAP. THE X. 1771. State of the colonies. HE act of 1770 did not fully fatisfy the wishes of the American people; in most of the colonies, however, its influence was fo great, that during 1771 tranquillity prevailed. There were, indeed, in all the provinces, demagogues, who ftrenuously endeavoured to convince their countrymen that the repeal had been extorted by refiftance, and not con ceded X. 1771. Effects of North's ceded by justice; and that therefore they ought CHA P. to perfift in oppofing British government, until every difagreeable law fhould be refcinded. But the middle and fouthern colonies, now not actually feeling lord any grievance in the operation of the duty, were conciliatory not to be disturbed by abstract claims, and a ge- attempts. neral calm fucceeded to the late ferment. New England, however, and efpecially Maffachufets Bay, was far from being equally quiet. The eftablishment of a board of customs, neceffary for the effectual execution of the navigation act, and the activity of the navy officers in preventing contraband practices at the beginning of their oppofition, had not been an oftenfible subject of diffatisfaction; but they now expreffed their fentiments openly against customs. In an address to the governor on the 5th of July 1771, they declared customs to be a tribute extorted from those who had a right to the abfolute difpofal of their property; and the principle now affumed, was a difavowal of the fupremacy of Britain, which from the first establishment of the colonies had been acknowledged in America. The other provinces had objected to taxes, as an unconftitutional innovation; they afferted the claims of British fubjects, and as British subjects required redrefs. The colonists of the other Maffachusets spoke and acted as members of independent communities; and the general tenor of their conduct manifefted a difpofition to feparate from Great Britain as foon as a favourable opportunity fhould offer. The conceffions which tranquillifed their fouthern brethren, only ferved to render thofe turbulent republicans more infolent The divertiment between New England and fity of fen provinces, |