a treasonable nature; but nothing could be more wild and inadequate than the means by which they were to be put in execution. The colonel and several of his accomplices were tried for high treason in the following February, and found guilty; and he, with six other persons, underwent the sentence of the law. A.D. 1803. YEAR OF GEORGE III. 43 & 44. Pro Continuation of Bank-payment Restriction. Measure for relieving the pecuniary Embarrassments of the Prince of Wales. - King's Message to Parliament for Preparation against Hostilities. Militia called out. - Ambassadors of France and England recalled. -Complaints on both Sides. Reprisals granted against the French Shipping, and an Embargo laid on French and Dutch Ships. - Parliamentary Proceedings on the Subject of War. - English Minister recalled from the Hague. Bill for an Army of Reserve. perty Tax voted. Grant to the Prince of Orange. — Insurrection at Dublin, and Murder of Lord Kilwarden. - English in France made Prisoners of War.- Operations of the French in Italy and Hanover. Preparations for the Invasion of England. - Volunteer Associations renewed. British Successes in the West Indies. French expelled from St. Domingo. - War in India against the Mahratta Chiefs. Its Successes and favourable Termination. Louisiana sold by the French to the United States. Parliament re-assembled. Speech, and Acts passed. - ONE of the first measures of government on the meeting of parliament after the Christmas recess was to introduce a bill for prolonging the restriction of the bank from payments in specie. It experienced considerable opposition, especially in the House of Lords, but finally passed into a law. There will be no necessity for taking notice of the farther renewals of this restriction, since it may be mentioned at once that it continued during the whole period to which these annals extend. A message having been received from his Majesty recommending the embarrassed state of the Prince of Wales to the attention of parliament, it was brought before the consideration of the House of Commons by Mr. Addington, who moved a proposition for granting to his Royal Highness out of the consolidated fund the annual sum of 60,000l. for three years and a half, commencing from the beginning of the present year. In the discussion of this subject, that of the Prince's legal claims on the revenue of Cornwall was reverted to by several of his particular friends, and attempts were made to give this grant the colour of a compromise, which it was denied to be by the minister. During the progress of the business, the Prince having sent a message to the House of Commons in which, after expressing his gratitude for the intended liberality of liament, he said, there were claims upon him in honour and justice for the discharge of which he must still set apart a considerable sinking fund, Mr. Calcraft, without any communication with his Royal Highness, signified. his intention of making a motion to enable the Prince immediately to resume his state and dignity. This was accordingly introduced on March 4th, when after a warm debate, the motion was negatived by 184 to 139. The original proposition passed both Houses, without opposition. par On March 8th, a message was brought to parliament from the King which was regarded as the immediate prelude to a new war. It communicated the information, that considerable military preparations were carrying on in the ports of France and Holland; and although they were professedly directed to colonial service, yet, as discussions of great importance were now subsisting between his Majesty and the French government, the result of which was uncertain, it was thought expedient to adopt additional measures for the security of these kingdoms. A corresponding address. was unanimously voted, and a resolution afterwards passed for the addition of 10,000 seamen. Another message acquainted parliament with the King's intention to call out the militia. Some succeeding weeks passed in a state of awful suspense, during which parliament had adjourned for the Easter recess. After its re-assembling, a communication was made to each House on May 6th, that his Majesty had given orders to Lord Whitworth, his ambassador in France, that if he could not, against a certain period, bring the nego tiations now pending, to a close, he should immediately quit Paris; and that General Andreossi, the French ambassador, had applied for a passport to return in case of such an event. An adjournment having been voted in consequence, all remaining doubts were terminated, by a message from his Majesty on May 16th, announcing the recall of the English and the departure of the French ambassador. From the papers subsequently laid before parliament, it appears that a correspondence had been long maintained between the ministers of France and Great Britain, relative to various subjects of difference and complaint, which on the part of France were chiefly the delay in evacuating Malta and Alexandria by the English troops, the shelter and encouragement given in England to enemies of the French government, and the rancorous abuse of the first consul in the English newspapers. These were dwelt upon with great warmth in a remarkable conversation held between Buonaparte and Lord Whitworth in February, the relation of which forms one of the most curious of the communicated papers. On the part of Great Britain, the subjects of complaint were stated at length in a declaration issued by the King on May 18th. It begins with contrasting the liberal and friendly conduct displayed towards the subjects of France, immediately after the peace of Amiens, in respect to matters of law and commerce, with the severity and injustice practised towards the English; connected with which is mentioned the circumstance of persons being sent from France to reside in the British and Irish sea-ports in the character of consuls, when no commercial treaty existed, and whose conduct gave reason to suspect purposes of a dangerous kind. The manifestations of an encroaching and grasping spirit by the French government since the peace are next adverted to, of which, examples were given by keeping up a French army in Holland contrary to the remonstrances of the Batavian government, by the violation of the independence of Switzerland, and by the annexations to France of Piedmont, Parma, and Placentia, and the isle of Elba. Notice is then taken of the principle advanced by the French government, that Great Britain had no right to interfere with the proceedings of France in any point which did not form a part of the stipulations in the treaty of Amiens; and arguments are adduced to prove the incompatibility of such a principle with the spirit of treaties in general, and the national law of Europe. The particular circumstances under which the island and order of Malta had lain since the peace are next entered into at length; and it is contended, that the conduct of the governments of France and Spain in destroying the independence of the order, has been the cause of the nonexecution of that article in the treaty which stipulates the evacuation of Malta by the British; not to add, that the indications since given by the French government of a design to violate those articles which stipulate for the integrity and independence of the Turkish empire and of the lonian isles, would of them. selves justify the retention of Malta, without some other security against its projects. Some indignities offered to this country by the first consul and his ministers are then mentioned, one of which was the affirmation of the former in an address to the legislative body, "That Great Britain cannot singly contend with the power of France;" an assertion regarded as an insult and defiance, and contradicted by the event of many wars. The paper concludes with declaring, that notwithstanding all the changes which have taken place since the peace, and the extension of the power of France in repugnance to the spirit of the treaty, his Majesty is ready to concur, even now, in an arrangement by which satisfaction shall be given to him for the indignities offered to his crown and people, and security against further encroachments on the part of France. An order of council was published on the 17th, di |