more exactly defined than at any former period, and which may be justly regarded as the charter of English liberty.

1688.

CHAP. XVIII.

The Reign of William and Mary.

A. D. THE revolution, as it is called, forms a new epoch in the constitution, and was probably attended with advantages to the people, beyond barely freeing them from an exceptionable administration; and it may justly be affirmed, without any danger of exaggeration, that the British have since enjoyed a system of government the most perfect and the most free that was ever established among men.

But while William and Mary were thus peace ably established in Great Britain, a very different scene presented itself in Ireland. The catholics in that country saw with reluctance the events which had taken place, and testified their adherence to James.

The earl of Tyrconnel, the lord deputy, while he amused William with a pretended treaty for the surrender of his government, was at the same moment employing secret agents to negotiate with James for a foreign force to be sent from France to secure his authority. The distracted state of that unhappy kingdom at this time can scarcely be described. The protestants, in the north-eastern division, had proclaimed William and Mary, which Tyrconnel considering as an act of rebellion, sent a considerable force against them,

--

them, and put them universally to the route.The popish party became daily more fero cious and insolent, and the protestants were alarmed with the apprehension of a revival of those scenes of murder and devastation which were still recent in their remembrance.

At the accession of William, the third of that name who had swayed the sceptre in Britain, the whole kingdom was divided into three factions; the jacobites, who adhered to the ex-family, the tories, and the whigs. To the latter, William was chiefly indebted for his crown; but notwithstanding their attachment to him, a jealous love of liberty, the paramount passion of their hearts, prompted them to settle a revenue on him for one year only, and it was evidently their design to continue this from year to year, without weighing the dangerous consequences to which this practice would have led.

William, knowing his importance, complained of these restraints, and threatened to withdraw into Holland if they were not removed. The tories, perceiving the king's temper, availed themselves of it, and began to form designs to disappoint the whigs of all the salutary fruits of the revolution.

The shutting the doors of both houses against those who had shewn themselves inimical to the constitution in the late reign, was a favourite scheme of the whigs; and it was with the utmost chagrin they found the king send a message to the commons, in which he recommended a bill of indemnity, as the most effectual means of putting an end to all controversies and distinctions. The whigs had the address to defeat this for a ime; but the parties were now so equally ba

lanced

duke of Gordon, surrendered, and then the whole island of Great-Britain owned the authori ty of William.

To balance these successes, the French fleet having gained a partial advantage over the English and Dutch off Beachy Head, the former rode for some weeks triumphant in the channel; nor was there any regular force in the kingdom to face any army which Louis might have landed in the name of his ally. But the conduct of James in Ireland shewed that he was not calculated to make any lasting impression any where; and though the success of the French fleet encouraged the Irish for a time to keep up their resistance, it only increased the misery of that unhappy country, without producing any important events.

William returning to England, put his army under the command of count de Solmes, and baron de Ginkle, two Dutchmen, and committed the civil administration to lord Sydney and Thomas Coningsby.

A. D. 1691.

Next year the Irish rebel were entirely reduced, and a kind of peace was secured between the parties by the treaty of Lime-" rick. By this capitulation, the catholics were restored to the same rights and privileges as they had enjoyed under Charles II.; and fourteen thousand of the determined adherents of James were allowed to transport themselves to France.

The conquest of Ireland being thus effected. all the hopes of James rested on the exertions of Louis, who, using him to promote his own interest, projected an invasion of England. A considerable body of French forces, and many fugitive Irish and Scots assembled, between Cherbourg

Cherbourg and La Hogue, commanded by James in person; while a French fleet of sixty-three ships of the line, under admiral Tourville, was appointed to favour the descent.

To oppose this formidable armament, a fleet of ninety-nine ships of the line, English and Dutch, besides frigates and fire-ships, was fitted out under the gallant admiral Russel. On the 19th of May, 1692, the hostile fleets met off La Hogue; and, after a bloody contest of ten hours, victory declared in favour of the English. The French lost fifteen ships of the line; the naval superiority of the British was re-established, and all the hopes of James vanished.

The war, however, was continued on

A. D.

the continent for some years with various 1697. success; but at last it was terminated by

the treaty of Rhyswick, with no advantage to England beyond honour and independence, which perhaps might have been secured at a cheaper rate.

The increase of taxes from war had rendered the people dissatisfied; and when William announced to his parliament the state of the finances, and demanded a fresh supply, for the payment of debts, and the support of the the commons, exerting their constitutional power, resolved, without a division, that all the land forces raised since the 29th of September, 1680, should be paid and disbanded.

army,

This was like a thunderbolt to the king and his ministry. The earl of Sunderland, his secretary, who had rendered himself obnoxious during two reigns, now gave up the seals, and retired into the country.

Meanwhile, the commons proceeded with

equat

equal firmness and moderation to provide for the real wants of the tion, and to guard against any danger from its enemies; and having taken care of those important objects, as they supposed, the parliament was dissolved.

William, having evaded the act relative to the reduction of the army, and hoping to find more submission from a new parliament, renewed his demand for an increase of men; but he soon discovered that his arguments had no effect, and a resolution passed, that the army in England and Wales should be disbanded by a fixed day, with the exception of seven thousand men, who were judged sufficient for guards and gar

risons.

The king, suspecting that this unpopularity arose from the fault of his servants, resolved to change them before the next meeting of parliament; but so jealous were the English become of William's partiality to the Dutch, that they now threatened to impeach the two court favorites, the earls of Portland and Albemarle, and resolved to address the king against admitting any person not a native into his councils, excepting only George prince of Denmark.

The king, finding it useless to oppose the commons, gave his assent to an act respecting the application of forfeitures in Ireland, which A. D. had occasioned much ill-humour, and 1700. soon after dissolved the parliament.

The opening of the new parliament promised more cordiality, and the commons assured the king they were ready to co-operate with him in whatever might best conduce to the interest and safety of England, the preservation of the protestant religion, and the general peace of Eu

rope.