duct of lord King, and consequent resolution of parliament- Lord Sidmouth's motion respecting dissenting preachers-Af- fairs of the Irish catholics-Amendment of the criminal law -Restoration of the duke of York-Disturbances in Ireland; and of the manufacturing districts in England - Dreadful murders in London-General state of Europe and America- Affairs of Spain-Soult's invasion of Estremadura-Siege of Badajos-Movement in Andalusia, leading to the battle of Barosa, &c.-Fall of Badajos-Massena's retreat from Santa- rem commences-Lord Wellington's pursuit-Quarrel between Massena and Ney-Massena crosses the frontier — Almeida invested by the British Lord Wellington sets off to visit marshal Beresford in Estremadura-Operations of the British army about Badajos-Lord Wellington's return to his army in the north-Massena's advance. Battle of Fuentes Onoro Massena resigns the command to Marmont-Lord Wellington sets out for Badajos-Operations of marshal Beresford in that Soult's advance from Andalusia -- Battle of Albuera -Lord Wellington's arrival-Attack on Badajos, which fails- Positions of the British and French armies-Soult and Mar- mont retire-French operations in Catalonia and Valencia, &c. -Lord Wellington's position with regard to the Portuguese government His resolute but judicious conduct-Returns to his army on the Coa-Grievances which he endured-Advance of Marmont-Combat of El Bodon-Subsequent movements, and investment of Ciudad Rodrigo-Remarkable exploit of Sir Rowland Hill at Arroyo Molino-Suchet's operations, capture of Murviedro, and investment of Valencia-Naval victory of captain Hoste in the Adriatic-Action of captain Barrie in Sagone-bay-Of captains Ferris and Richardson at the mouth of the Garonne-Capture of French frigates off Madagascar-Con- quest of Java-Election of a chancellor at Cambridge page 412 THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER XLIV. GEORGE III. (CONTINUED.)-1801. Alteration in the style and titles appertaining to the imperial crown, &c.-Origin of the northern confederacy, or renewal of the armed neutrality-Negotiations on the subject-Meeting of parliament-King's speech-Debates on the address, involving an inquiry into the conduct of ministers, &c.-Address carried Mr. Pitt's determination to resign office; reasons, &c. considered-Change of ministry-Motion for an inquiry into the state of the nation-Debates thereon-Mr. Pitt's explanation of his conduct-Motion rejected-Bill to exclude the clergy from sitting in the house of commonsLord Moira's act to relieve insolvent debtors-Renewal of the suspension of the habeas corpus act-Additional supplies -Conjectures respecting the motives of the ex-minister, &c. -Preparations to resist the northern confederacy-Battle of Copenhagen-Dissolution of the northern confederacy-New treaty-Affairs of Portugal-Expedition to Egypt-Expulsion of the French from that country, &c.-Menaces of an invasion-Attack on the French flotilla-Conquests in the North Sea, and in the East and West Indies-Gallant action of Sir James Saumarez-Negotiations for peace-Preliminaries signed-Considerations and conditions-Definitive treaty-Reflections-Notice of alterations produced in various classes of society. On the first of January, 1801, a royal declara- Commence. tion was issued concerning the style and titles ap- ment of the pertaining to the imperial crown of Great Britain union with ENG. V. Α Ireland. 1801. CHAP. and Ireland, as well as to its ensigns, armorial flags, XLIV. and banners. In the new heraldic arrangement, the fleur-de-lis was omitted, as well as the title of 'King of France;' and the royal dignity was in future to be expressed as follows in the Latin tongue :-'Georgius Tertius, Dei Gratia, Britanniarum Rex, Fidei Defensor.' The great seal was delivered up and defaced, and a new seal for the united empire given to the lord chancellor: a new standard, also, combining the three crosses of St. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick, was hoisted, amidst the discharges of artillery, in each capital: the members of the privy council renewed their oaths; an extensive promotion took place in the army and navy; and a considerable number of the Irish nobility were advanced to the dignity of peers of the united kingdom. Northern confede racy. Beside the war in which Great Britain was actually engaged, she was now likely to be exposed to hostilities from a confederacy of the northern powers: the real motive of this union was a desire to humble the naval pride of England; the ostensible reasons which led to its formation arose from the following circumstance. A frigate, belonging to Denmark, had been taken by the British, as she was conveying contraband stores to the enemy: the Dane had before acknowleged the right of Britain, as a belligerent power, to search trading vessels not sailing under convoy; but asserted that the company of a ship of war protected them from examination. Our envoy at Copenhagen stated these circumstances to the Danish minister, who admitted his knowlege of the facts, and maintained that the principle, on which his government had acted, was agreeable to the law of nations the English minister, on the other hand, declared, first, that no such principle had ever been recognised; secondly, that its admission would amount to a virtual renunciation of the right of search; since the smallest ship of war could then secure the entrance of contraband stores into an enemy's port. The Dane, unable to rebut these arguments, still main XLIV. 1801. tained the principle; alleging that the belligerent CHAP. party possessed, in the honor of the neutral, sufficient security that ships of war should not be so employed. To rely on the honor of another state for the support of a maritime right, was too humiliating a proposal for the mistress of the ocean: our ambassador firmly repeated the determination of his government to search neutral ships steering toward an enemy's harbor, under any species of convoy. Similar discussions took place at London between lord Grenville and the Danish ambassador; the former of whom, anxious to avoid hostilities if possible, released the Danish frigate, but asserted the British right of search. Sweden took part with Denmark in her interpretation of this principle of maritime law but neither of those states would have dared to support a claim which Great Britain chose to dispute, had they not relied on the aid, as they had been instigated by the resentment, of the czar. Conscious that the brilliant events of the Italian campaign in 1799 were principally due to the Russian arms, and indignant at the recall of his troops from the scene of their glorious exploits to perish amidst Alpine snows, and deserted by their allies, Paul had conceived a violent resentment against the Austrian court; while the carnage of the Russian troops in Holland, arising chiefly from their own precipitate valor, but attributed to intentional exposure, induced him to include Great Britain also in his suspicion and displeasure: to this cause of anger was added the capture of Malta, which was retained by England, instead of being offered to him, as grand master of the order, with which dignity he had been invested. His violent and disordered mind, therefore, imagining in itself the feelings of knighthood, was roused into fury at what he considered a personal insult to his chivalry; and he became animated with a quixotic desire of giving law to the first naval power by sea, as in the preceding year he would have dictated to the first military power by land. |