terminated the hopes of the British government in America, and ended the war.

About the same time, St. Eustatius was recovered from the English; and the Spaniards made themselves masters of West Florida. The siege of Gibraltar was also carried on with vigour; but the place was very ably defended by the heroic governor, general Elliot.

In the East Indies, Hyder Ally, the confederate of France, took Arcot by assault, and cut to pieces, or made prisoners of a detachment under colonel Baillie. Sir Eyre Coote, however, defeated Hyder in two subsequent engagements, relieved Vellore, and retrieved the fortune of the war in the Carnatic.

After the surrender of earl Cornwallis to general Washington, the influence of the British ministry was at an end; and a change of measures appearing absolutely necessary, a complete revolution in the cabinet took place on A. D. the twenty-seventh of March, under the auspices 1782 of the marquis of Rockingham, who was appointed first lord of the treasury. The earl of Shelburne and Mr. Fox were appointed secretaries of state.

Peace was now ardently desired by all ranks of people in this country; and the new ministry consented that the independence of America should be allowed, and entered into measures for effectuating a general treaty of pacification. For this purpose, Mr. Grenville was sent to Paris, with full powers to treat with all the belligerent nations, and orders were despatched to the commanders in chief in America, to acquaint them with the pacific views of the British cabinet, and with the offer of independence to the United States.

After the capture of lord Cornwallis and his army, the English suffered a series of losses in America. The French took Nevis, St. Christophers, and Montserrat; the Bahama islands surrendered to the Spaniards; and Jamaica was threatened by the fleets of Spain and France, on board of which was an army of twenty thousand men. This formidable armament, however, was prevented from uniting by the promptitude and bravery of admiral Rodney, who engaged and totally defeated the French under count de Grasse, before it could form a junction with the Spanish fleet. The French admiral, in the Ville de Paris of 120 guns, was taken, with two seventy-four gun ships, and one

of sixty-four guns. Two other ships of the line were lost in the action; and a few days after, sir Samuel Hood captured two more French ships of the line and two frigates. This decisive and glorious victory, which was achieved on the 12th of April, put a stop to the intended project against Jamaica; and admiral Rodney, in reward for his services, was gratified with a peerage and a pension.

Sept.

The valour of the British arms was most remarkably displayed at Gibraltar, where the English, under that brave veteran genera! Elliot, acquired immortal honour, and converted one of the most formidable attacks that had ever been made in the history of sieges, to the destruction of the assailants, and the frustration of all the hopes of the enemy. The enthusiasm and gal 1782 lantry of Elliot and his garrison were emulated by lord Howe and the fleet. To the admiration of all Europe, that brave admiral, with thirty-four sail of the line, passed the straits in the face of a superior enemy, and threw succours into the fortress.

13,

This was the last transaction of importance during the continuance of the war in Europe; and thus the military career of Britain, after her repeated misfortunes, terminated with great splendour. All the belligerent power were now inclined to listen to overtures of pacification. The happy prospect, however, of peace and prosperity was obscured for a time by the death of the marquis of Rockingham, from whose administration the nation had formed great expectations. He was succeeded by the earl of Shelburne, and Mr. Fox resigned his office of secretary of the northern department.

The new ministers, however, continued the negotiation for peace; and as the independence of America was virtually recognised, the war with the colonies had in fact terminated. At length, on the 30th of November, 1782, provisional articles, between England and America, were signed at Paris. By this treaty, the sovereignty and inde pendence of the United States were fully acknowledged So great, indeed, were the concessions of ministers on this occasion, that they neglected the interests of the loyalists in America, whose estates had been confiscated, and who were thus thrown on the generosity of the British.

In our treaties with the French, the Dutch, and the Spaniards, the same improvident facility was apparent

A. D.

1783

and these treats, when submitted to parliament, extorted the severest animadversions. By this calamitous war, Great Britain lost the best part of her transatlantic colonies, and, besides many thousands of valuable lives, expended or squandered nearly 150 millions of money. The address of thanks for the peace was carried in the house of lords by a majority of 72 to 59, but lost in the house of commons by a majority of 224 to 208.

It was now discovered that Mr. Fox, in his animosity to the earl of Shelburne, had formed a coalition with his former political antagonist, lord North. This unnatural and anprincipled coalition, which excited general indignation, was defended by Mr. Fox on the strange plea, that the question of American independence being now at rest, he had no desire to perpetuate his enmity to a statesman whom he had found honourable as an adversary, and of whose openness and sincerity as a friend he had no doubt.

Their united opposition prevailed, and a change took place in the ministry. The duke of Portland was placed at the head of the treasury, lord John Cavendish was made chancellor of the exchequer, and lord North and Mr. Fox were appointed joint secretaries of state. The coalition administration became the theme of universal and passionate execration; and when public confidence is once lost, it can never be completely regained.

Mr. Pitt, the son of the immortal earl of Chatham, and who afterwards rivalled his father's glory, made a motion for a parliamentary reform, and proposed to add one hundred members to the counties, and abolish a proportionable number of the obnoxious boroughs. This plan, though certainly the most judicious that has yet been proposed for the independence of parliamentary representation, was negatived by a large majority.

Soon after the meeting of parliament in November, Mr. Fox introduced a bill for regulating the affairs of the EastIndia Company. This famous bill proposed to deprive the directors and proprietors of the entire administration, not only of their territorial, but also of their commercial affairs, and to vest the management and direction of them in seven commissioners named in the bill, and irremovable by the crown, except in consequence of an address of either house of parliament. It passed through the lower