XVIII.

1778.

discussion presented itself, in contemplating the BOOK state political and commercial of the kingdom of Ireland; which, by the continuance of the present ruinous war, was now reduced to the most extreme and urgent distress. Lord Newhaven, in concert with various other respectable members particularly connected with that kingdom, attempted to revive the propositions of the last year, with some new modifications, but without effect. At length it was carried by a small majority to repeal that clause in the Act of Navigation in favor of Ireland, by which ships coming from the West Indies were compelled to bring their cargoes directly to England. But this indulgence being opposed by the commer cial cities of England, on a subsequent motion for the house to resolve itself into a committee, the minister declared himself averse to the mea sure, and it was finally lost by a majority of four voices.

A third motion by Mr. Fox, "for the removal of the earl of Sandwich from his majesty's person and councils for ever, was negatived by 221 voices to 118. The HOWES, impatient of the obloquy thrown upon them by the partisans of the court, had earnestly solicited a parliamentary enquiry into their conduct in America; to which the minister at length very reluctantly assented. A multitude of papers were in consequence laid

BOOK upon the table; and the house resolving itself XVIII. into a committee of enquiry, lord Cornwallis, 1778. sir Charles Grey, sir Guy Carleton, and various other officers of high reputation who had served in America, were examined at the bar of the house; and the result of a long and tedious investigation was in general, "That the force sent to America was at no time equal to the subjugation of that continent; that the people of America were almost unanimous in their enmity and resistance to Great Britain; that the nature of the country was beyond any other difficult and impracticable for military operations; and that there was no fairer prospect of success, in any subsequent attempt at conquest, than in those which had been already made." On the 29th of June, 1779, the committee was suddenly dissolved, without coming to a single resolution on any part of the business.

In the house of lords, the earl of Bristol * moved an address to the king, similar to that of Mr. Fox, for the removal of the earl of Sandwich. His lordship supported this motion in a speech, containing a very extensive display of political and professional knowledge. This nobleman affirmed, "that about seven millions

1

XVIIL.

1778.

more money had been allotted for the support BOOK
and increase of our navy during the last seven
years than in any former equal period; and
that, during this time, the decrease and decline
of the navy had been in an inverse ratio to the
excess of the expenditure. While such has been
the unbounded liberality of parliament, what, ex-
claimed the noble lord, is become of our navy?
or, if there is no navy, what is become of our
money?" The motion was rejected by 78 voices
to 39. Notwithstanding these repeated acquit-
tals, the reputation of lord Sandwich suffered
not a little, by this succession of attacks, in the
estimation of the public.

A short time before the prorogation, a royal
message was somewhat unexpectedly delivered
to both houses, on a subject of the highest im-
portance, informing them, that a manifesto had
been presented to his majesty by the count
d'Almodovar, ambassador of the king of Spain,
containing a declaration of hostility on the part
of the catholic king, who had in consequence
ordered his ambassador to depart without taking
leave. The disclosure of this alarming event,
so long predicted by the minority, called forth
all their powers of eloquence and invective.
The ministers were reminded of their blindness,
obstinacy, and incredulity on this subject-of
the contempt with which they had treated every

XVIIL

1778.

BOOK warning of danger-and of their repeated and triumphant declarations "that Spain could have no interest in joining our enemies-Spain had colonies of her own, and would not set so bad an example as to afford aid or succour to our rebellious colonies. The honor, sincerity, and fidelity of the court of Spain were held up as sacred; and thus were parliament and the nation kept in a constant state of delusion, until they were awakened from their dream by the imminence of the impending ruin." The address, however, containing the fullest assurances of support, was unanimously agreed to. But a subsequent motion of lord John Cavendish, for the withdrawment of the troops from America, was evaded by a question of adjournment.

In consequence of the acknowledged necessity of new and unprecedented exertions, a plan was formed by the minister for augmenting the militia to double the actual number: and a bill for that purpose passed the commons without difficulty, but met with an unexpected opposition with the lords, and on a division the compulsory clause was thrown out by a majority of 39 to 22 voices; the lord president lord Gower, and both the secretaries of state, giving their votes against it. A solitary provision for raising volunteer companies' only remained; and in this state it was returned to the commons, to the great chagrin

XVIII.

1778.

of the minister, who openly complained of the BOOK desertion of his colleagues in office; nor was his mortification lessened by the taunts of the opposition, who remarked, that the disunion and discord which the administration had been the means of spreading throughout the empire had now seized the cabinet, and was equally visible amongst themselves.

On the Sd of July the king closed the session with a speech, in which his majesty mentioned it as a happy omen of the success of his arms, that the increase of difficulties seemed only to augment the courage and constancy of the nation. The memorial of count d'Almodovar, and a long justificatory manifesto subsequently published by the court of Madrid, were filled with heavy complaints of the conduct of the English court for several years past, though certainly grounded on no solid reason; the king of England truly affirming in his message to parliament, "That with regard to Spain he had nothing to reproach himself with; and that his desire to cultivate peace and amity with that power had been uniform and sincere." The court of Madrid pretended, that the insults and incredible violences offered to the Spanish traders by England, from the year 1776 to the beginning of the present year 1779, were no less than 86 in number; since which other insults and injuries had