The French rulers were perhaps led to take this arrogant tone not only by the extraordinary career of success which their arms had met with on the continent of Europe, but by a presage of the difficulties in which the British government were about to be involved on account of the tumultuous state of Ireland. The dissentions in that kingdom, inflamed by a variety of aggravations, had proceeded so far, that the malcontents, who assumed the title of United Irishmen, regularly organized themselves throughout the country, and sent deputies to treat with the French for assistance in throwing off the yoke of England. On the other side, the party attached to government put in practice strong measures. The military were dispersed into all parts; searches were made for arms with circumstances of great severity; and many persons were apprehended on suspicion. The moderate party in the Irish parliament, who proposed conciliation by a reform in the representation, finding themselves in a small minority, made a secession. A large proportion of the people were now obviously preparing for insurrection, and nothing could be more gloomy than the prospects with which the year closed in Ireland. The British parliament re-assembled on November 2d, and was opened by a speech from the throne, of which the principal topics were the failure of the negotiations for peace, the flourishing state of the revenue, and the naval successes, with the necessity of continuing the most vigorous exertions till a more just and pacific spirit should prevail on the part of the enemy. The usual addresses were carried with little opposition; and the succeeding debates relative to the negotiations at Lisle afforded nothing memorable. The estimates of the expences for the ensuing year were then brought forward, from which it appeared that the supplies to be provided for amounted to twenty-five and a half millions. Among the ways and means proposed was the trebling of the assessed taxes, to stand in place of a part of the requisite loan. This subject was productive of long debates, which were not terminated before the recess. At the beginning of this year Mr. Adams was elected president of the United States of America, and Mr. Jefferson vice-president. On May 18th, Frederic William, Hereditary Prince of Wurtemberg Stutgardt was married to Charlotta Augusta Matilda, Princess-royal of Great Britain. Frederic William II., King of Prussia, died on November 10th, in the 54th year of his age, after a reign of 11 years. He was succeeded by his son, Frederic William III. A. D. 1798. PARLIAMENT - Rebellion in Ireland. - Earl Cornwallis appointed Viceroy.-Landing of French at Killala, and their Capture.- Naval Success of Sir J. Borlase Warren. - Final Extinction of the Rebellion. Parliamentary Affairs — Bill permitting purchase of the Land-tax, and other Financial Measures.-Plans for National Defence. - Tender of foreign Service by the Militia.- Bill passed for regulating Slave Ships. Preparations of the French for invading Great Britain, and Measures taken for Resistance. Expedition against Ostend, and its Result. Motions of the French Directory to bring Switzerland under its Authority. — Bern taken, and the Aristocratical Cantons reduced. - New Constitution. Resistance and Destruction of the Underwalders. Revolution at Rome. The Papal Government abrogated. The City in Possession of the French. - A French Garrison admitted into the Citadel of Turin.-Grand Expedition to Egypt under Buonaparte.-Malta reduced.- Cairo taken.French Fleet entirely destroyed in the Bay of Aboukir by Admiral Nelson.-Further Proceedings of the French in Egypt.- Attempt of the Court of Naples to expel the French from Rome; its final Defeat. Insurrection in the Low Countries.-The Ottoman Porte declares War against France. Treaty between Russia and Great Britain. - Preparations of the Americans to assert their Rights against the French. St. Domingo relinquished to the People of Colour. Minorca surrendered to the British. Winter Session of Parliament opened.-Income-tax proposed. - THE affairs of Ireland took the lead this year, in point of importance, among the concerns of the British empire. The numerous malcontents of that country, though much disconcerted by the failure of their expectations of aid from France, were so hard pressed by the vigorous and severe measures of government, which had obtained intelligence of their plans, that they resolved no longer to delay making trial of the fortune of arms. In the month of February they had formed a military committee which drew up instructions for their officers and commanders, but the great body of the lower class were wholly destitute of proper arms and accoutrements, for which they had relied on importations by the French. Such, however, was their ardour, that they crowded to the summons of their chiefs, and during that and the following month the disaffected had spread over many of the southern districts, whilst an extensive correspondence was carried on with those in the north. A general insurrection had been determined upon, in which the castle of Dublin, the camp near it, and the artillery, were to have been surprized in one night, and other places were to have been seized at the same time. The disclosure of the plot by one of the conspirators occasioned the seizure of fourteen of the delegates at a house in Dublin; and the information of a militia officer, who had entered among them as a spy, produced other discoveries which entirely defeated this design. Nothing therefore was left them but open force, and on May 24th they commenced their operations by an attack on the towns of Naas, Carlow, and other places, from which they were repulsed with loss. On the 25th they proceeded, about 15,000 strong, against Wexford, and entirely defeated part of the garrison which sallied out to meet them; and on the 30th the town surrendered, after part of the protestant inhabitants had escaped; those who remained were put under confinement. They also made themselves masters of Enniscorthy with the help of the catholic inhabitants; but in a furious attack on New Ross, which was defended by a strong division of the army, they were driven back with great slaughter. Enraged at this defeat, they massacred in cold blood more than a hundred of their protestant prisoners at Wexford; for the insurrection had now taken the precise character of a popish rebellion as in former times, and the foresight of this result prevented any co-operation from the protestant political malcontents in the north. Other actions with various fortune ensued, till General Lake, collecting a powerful force, on June 21st attacked the main body of the rebels posted on Vinegar Hill near Enniscorthy. After a vigorous resistance, they were broken and fled; and their loss in the battle and pursuit was so considerable, that the whole party was completely disheartened. Wexford and the other places held by them were given up; and in the south of Ireland none remained in arms except a few bodies of pillagers. In the north, the counties of Down and Antrim had joined in the insurrection, and a force was mustered which ventured to oppose the troops sent against them; but a defeat which they sustained on June 12th near Ballinahinch reduced them to submission. Soon after these events, Lord Camden was recalled, and Earl Cornwallis, whose political and military character stood in the highest estimation, was appointed his successor. He carried with him a general pardon for all who should submit, with a very few exceptions. Some of those who had been apprehended for the conspiracy above mentioned were executed, the punishment of others was commuted, and justice was duly tempered with mercy. The troubles in Ireland would probably soon have subsided, had not the French at length sent a tardy and inefficient aid. A body of about 900 regular troops commanded by General Humbert, was landed at Killala on August 22d, from three French frigates, and immediately marched to Castlebar, joined by a small number of the catholics of the country. They there encountered a superior force under General Lake which they compelled to retreat, leaving behind it six pieces of cannon. Castlebar they proceeded eastward into the heart of the country, with what plan it is difficult to conceive, since it was impossible that so inconsiderable a body could resist the troops that would be collected against them; but Humbert was probably led to expect the junction of all the malcontents on his route. The French and their associates crossed the Shannon, General Lake with his column following to watch their movements. Lord Cornwallis in the meantime had advanced with more troops to From |