THE

CONTENT S.

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

CHA P. I.

Retrospective view of the general affairs of Europe from the year 1780. Emperor. Great schemes of reform and regulation. Some general obfervations on them. Decree for extending the liberty of the prefs. Decree in favour of the Jews. Ordinances ftriking at the authority of the court of Rome. Oftenfible causes, and political motives, for the Emperor's journey to the Low Countries in the year 1781. Ill confequences of the war in which Holland was engaged, and of the new political fyftem adopted by that Republic. 'Refumption of the Dutch Barrier among the principal objects of the Emperor's journey. Obfervations on that measure. Barrier refigned, and the fortreffes difmantled. Alarm occafioned thereby in Holland. Great benefits derived by the Auftrian Netherlands, from becoming the medium of British Commerce, in confequence of the war between the maritime powers. Sudden rife of Oftend to commercial importance through the fame caufe. Great favours conferred by the Emperor upon the city and people of Oftend. Declares the port free; orders a bafon to be conftructed; grants ground for building to foreign fettlers; and piaces of public worship to the Proteftants. Emperor examines the obftructions to the navigation of the Schelde, and vifits Holland. Returns to Vienna. Various wife and humane regulations adopted in the courfe of the years 1781 and 1782. Enlargement of religious liberty to the Proteftants-of civil liberty to the peasants of Bohemia, Moravia, Silefia, and Auftrian Poland, who are discharged from their ancient flavery to the lords. Free exercife of their religion, with other advantages, granted by the Elector of Saxony to the Roman Catholics in his dominigus. Inquifition abolished by,

the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Univerfities reformed by the Emperor.

-Allots fchools for the education of foldiers children. Measures for ren-

dering the city of Trieste a great commercial Emporium. Emperor lends

four millions of florins to the merchants of that city. Suppreffion of

religious houfes in the Auftrian Dominions. Ecclefiaftics in the Auftrian

Netherlands difcharged from all foreign jurifdiction. Imperial refcript,

difclaiming all fubordination, in fecular affairs, to the Holy See. Sup-

preffion of religious houfes in the Duchy of Milan. Alarm at Rome. Cor-

refpondence between the Pope and the Emperor. Journey of the Sovereign

Pontiff, Pius the Sixth, from Rome to Vienna. Received with great ho-

nours by the Emperor and Court; but fails in the objects of his journey.

Returns to Rome. Reform of the religious orders continued; and extended

to the Hierarchy, and fecular Clergy, as well as to the Regulars. Com-

miffion for adminiftring the fequeftered eftates; the produce defined to

public purposes. Obfervations and strictures of foreigners on fome of thefe

tranfactions.

С Н А Р. II.

Retrospective view continued. State of the great powers on the borders of Europe
and Afia. Ottoman Empire. Numerous fources of difcord with Ruffia. Suc-
cessful endeavours of the captain bashaw, notwithstanding the unfavourable
State of public affairs, to quell rebellion and reflore order. He refcues the
Morea from the Albanians; punishes the authors, and puts an end to the
diforders on the coafts of Afia; prevents the intended extermination of
the Greeks. Porte, after much conteft, fubmits to the receiving Ruffian
confuls in the provinces of Moldavia, Walachia, and Beffarabia. Trou-
bles in the Crimea. Tartar Khan accepts a commiffion in the Ruffian
Service. Dreadful conflagrations in Conftantinople. Forty thousand
*houfes deftroyed. Grand Vizir depofed, and fucceeded by Feian Mehemet,
a man of parts and ability. Ruffian Khan depofed by the difcontented
Tartars, and a new one elected, who is privately supported by the Porte.
Great differences between the two empires on that account: Long truce
between the Porte and the court of Vienna on the point of expiring, which
involves the former in new difficulties on that fide. Divan fit eight days
debating on the question of a war with Ruffia. Pacific refolutions adopted,
through the influence of the captain bashaw, grand vizir, and mufti.
Popularity of the grand fignior, and the firmness of his minifters, prevent
any dangerous effect from the violent ferment of the people, who are cla-
morous for var; and whose passions are not lefs agitated by the pacific
conduct of the court, than by the contemplation of their ruined city. Em-
peror openly avovs his determination of fupporting the claims of Ruffia, as
well as his own. Strong memorials prefented, and harsh demands made,
by the courts of Petersburgh and Vienna, toward the clofe of the year
1782. Hofpodar of Wallachia Strangled. Excellent conduct of the grand

fignior, with respect to the perfecution carried on by the Armenian patri-

arch. Vaft preparations for war on all fides in the year 1783. Treaty

between the Porte and Spain. New Khan of the Tartars expelled by the

Ruffians

Ruffians. Former Khan abdicates his throne, and affigns his dominion and
country to the empress of Ruffia; who iffues a manifefto affigning the caufes
for her annexing the Crimea, Cuban, and ifle of Taman to her empire.
Manifefto from the Porte in anfwer. Notwithstanding the immenje pre-
parations and immediate appearances of war, negociations for a peace are
carried on at Conftantinople under the mediation of France. In the height
of the troubles the navigation of the Danube is opened to the emperor, tra
of whofe fhips are received at Belgrade, and profecute their voyage to the
Black Sea. Ottoman difficulties and enemies multiplying on all fides.
Appearances on the fide of Venice. Troubles in Egypt. Perfians attack
Baffara. Prince Heraclius invades Natolia. Treaty of commerce between
Ruffia and the Porte, is followed by a new treaty of accommodation be-
tween the two empires, which is concluded at Conftantinople in the begin-

ning of the year 1784. Accommodation with the emperor. Spanish

expedition against Algiers. Earthquakes in Calabria and Sicily. [20

CHA P. III.

Recapitulation of the proceedings in parliament relative to the affairs of the
East India company. Two Indian committees appointed by the House of
Commons in 1781. Objects of the felect committee. Objects of the fecret
committee. The King's approbation of their proceedings. Reports of the

fecret committee brought to the house April 1782. Account of Mr. Dundas's

Speech on that occafion. Lays three jets of refolutions on the table: First

Jet, relative to the general mijconduct of the company's affairs poftponed:

Second fet, relative to the conduct of the prefidency of Madras voted:

Third fet, containing criminal charges against Sir Thomas Rumbold―voted

Bill of pains and penalties. Proceeding therein. Bill loft. Confideration

of the first fet of refolutions refumed. Refolution against Mr. Haftings-

voted. Conduct of the court of proprietors on that occafion. Proceedings

of the felect committee. Refolutions voted. Vote against Sir Elijah Impey.

King's Speeches at the clofing and opening of the feffions.
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1

Meeting of parliament towards the clofe of the year 1783. King's Speech.

Addreffes voted unanimously. Trvo India bills brought in by Mr. Fox.

Subftance of the bill for vesting the affairs of the company in commiffioners.

Subftance of the bill for the better government of the territorial posses-

fions. Debates on the bills. Objections and replies-1ft. of charters-

plea of neceffity-magnitude of abuses-state of finances-company's

government in India-independent powers-allies and dependents-ter-

ritorial poffeffions-abufes curable-court of proprietors-court of directors

-minifters of the crown. 2d Objection. The dangerous powers and

influence created by the bills. Anfwer to this objection. First India bill

carried up to the House of Lords. Rumours of the king's diflike of the bill.

Majority

Majority against the minifters in the House of Lords. Motions in the Houfe of Commons, relative to the reports of the king's disapprobation of the bills; and to the diffolution of parliament. Bill rejected by the Lords. Minifters removed.

CHA P. V.

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Re

Meafures adopted by the majority in the Houfe of Commons to prevent the diffolution of parliament-defer the third reading of the land tax bill. Converfation relative to the refignation of Earl Temple. Refolution of the committee on the state of the nation to address the king. Favourable anfver from the king. Refolutions of the committee respecting the acceptance of India bonds-and the Duchy of Lancafter. Short adjournment during the Christmas holidays. State of parties at the meeting of the Houfe. Debate on resuming the committee on the ftate of the nation. folutions of the committee, respecting the issuing of public money not appropriated by acts of parliament-for deferring the fecond reading of the mutiny bill-for the appointment of minifters that enjoyed the confidence of be Houfe of cenfure on the appointment of the prefent minifters. Bill brought in by Mr. Pitt, for the better government of the India company Debate on the comparative merits of Mr. Pitt's and Mr. Fox's "India bills. Mr. Pitt's bill rejected. Notice, by Mr. Fox, of bringing in a ew bill.

[72

efolution moved against the miniftry by lord Charles Spencer. Union of parties called for. Difficulties ftated by the leaders of each party. The minifter called on to give information relative to the defign of diffolving parliament-be refufes. Motion intended to be made thereon, but deferred. Minifter again interrogated respecting the diffolution—his anfver. Motion to obftruct the diffolution. Minifter's reafons for continuing in office. Ridiculous accufation of the late miniftry of bribery. Causes of the indecifion of both parties. Meeting of members at the St. Alban's tavern to effect an union-their address to both parties, and the answers-their motions in the House of Commons for forming a new miniftry, ordered to be laid before the king. Motion of the St. Alban's affociation against the exclufion of either party in forming a new miniftry carried in the House of Commons. Difinterested conduct of lord North. New expedient for effecting an union-caufes of its failure-mifchievous confequences of thefe measures. His Majefty's refusal to difmifs bis minifters debate thereon. Proceedings in the House of Lords. Addrefs to the King from the Commons, on the refolutions laid before him, and his Majesty's answer. Address to the King for the removal of his minifters, and his Majesty's answer thereto, Reprefentation to the King on the fate of public affairs. Prorogation and diffolution of parliament.

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CHAP.