injuring France in one or other of her great and essential interests, they were induced to combine the two modes in the plan which they had concerted, and to promote their views of security by stationing a considerable military force for a certain term in the frontier provinces of the realm. The first article regulated and fixed the boundaries, by confirming that subtraction of the revolutionary usurpations and conquests which had been ordained by the former treaty, and, in some instances, by contracting the limits then prescribed. By the second, those fortresses, towns, and territories, which were no longer considered as appertaining to France, were placed at the disposal of the allies, on the renunciation of all the rights of sovereignty over them by the king, for himself and his successors. For the gratification of the Swiss cantons, the next article provided for the demolition of the works of Huningen. The pecuniary part of the required indemnity was fixed, by the fourth stipulation, at the sum of seven hundred millions of francs, or 29,166,666 pounds sterling, payable in the course of five years. The demand, more particularly offensive to the pride of the nation, was that which related to the military occupancy, for the same term, of eighteen stations within the kingdom. Among these were the principal fortresses from Valenciennes to Fort-Louis. The troops to be kept in these positions were not to exceed the amount of 150,000 men, who were to be furnished by the French with the means of subsistence. By these stipulations, France was properly restricted, effectually humbled, and justly punished. No compassion could be felt for the profligate disturbers of Europe, whose ambition and arrogance had insulted and oppressed other powers with the most daring pertinacity; and thus the deliverance of Europe, which all the VOL. IV. 2 E talents and exertions of Mr. Pitt could not, even with the powerful aid of other cabinets, and a formidable array of military force, put into a train of accomplishment, was achieved by statesmen whose abilities were supposed to be greatly inferior to those which he possessed. But they were favored by fortunate circumstances, being aided by that necessity of resistance which had not been so imperious or so forcible in the time of the preceding minister, and by the loss, on the part of the French, of that character of invincibility which had long operated as a powerful charm, attached to the oppressor of nations. CHAPTER XLVII. CONCLUSION OF THE REIGN OF GEORGE III. A. D. 1816-1820. AFTER a war of such extent and duration, the usual benefits of peace could not immediately be expected; and we, therefore, cannot be greatly surprised at finding that not only the British nation, but also the people of the continent, loudly complained of serious inconveniences, and deplored the existence of general distress. The state physicians, without prescribing particular applications, recommended patience and submission as the best remedies; and it was fondly hoped that time would bring all things into their proper train. Notwithstanding these flattering expectations, great discontent prevailed in this country, and various riots arose. Some of these disturbances were not quelled without the effusion of blood, and the lives of several refractory delinquents were subsequently sacrificed to the demands of justice. An alarm was excited in the capital by the clamors of Hunt and Watson, who, at a popular meeting in the Spa-fields, called for a redress of grievances: but, although outrages and depredations ensued, the tumult quickly subsided. While the judicial power was employed in avenging the violated laws, the executive power maintained the honor of the nation by an expedition against foreign barbarians. Aware of the maritime strength and wellearned fame of Great-Britain, the piratical states of Northern Africa had generally suffered the vessels of our countrymen to pass unmolested; but some of the bold corsairs at length deemed this prudent forbearance unnecessary, and ventured to attack both English and Dutch ships. As these insults could not patiently be endured by a high-spirited people, lord Exmouth, a gallant and experienced commander, was ordered to demand satisfaction for so outrageous a breach of the law of nations. When he appeared with a squadron before Algier, he obtained from the dey a favorable answer with regard to inferior points, but could not prevail upon that prince to abolish Christian slavery in his territories. Proceeding to Tunis, he found in the ruler of that state a more submissive disposition, and at Tripoli he met with similar success in his application; but, on a second visit to Algier, he again witnessed with disgust the incompliant spirit of the tyrannical dey. The prince regent, on this occasion, was animated with those feelings of indignation which likewise influenced the admiral; who, having recommended the exercise of violence, was invested with the command of a more considerable armament, which was joined by a small squadron from the Netherlands. The Algerines, having aggravated their criminality by the murder of many Christians at Bona, who were acting under the grant (purchased by the English) of a freedom of trade, were now menaced with signal punishment, which they scorned to avert by submission. The combined armament, approaching the well-manned works Aug. 27, which defended the harbour, commenced a 1816. fierce attack, while lord Exmouth, who had anchored so near the mole as to expose his ship to the greatest danger, exhibited to his admiring followers, and to the gazing enemy, an example of undaunted courage and ardent alacrity. The oldest seamen had never beheld a more violent conflict, or a more tremendous collision. No respite was allowed during six hours; and the effects of the assault were then visible, in the ruin of the batteries, the destruction of the dey's navy, and the conflagration of the arsenal and store-houses. He was so appalled by this defeat, that he surrendered to the bold assailants all the slaves who could be found, and bound himself, by a regular treaty, to prohibit the practice of consigning Christians to slavery, whereever his power extended. The public hailed with applause this demonstration of British spirit, and the pressure of distress seemed for a time to be less acutely felt: but the voice of complaint was again heard. The oppressive tax upon property had already been given up by the ministers, because the house of commons insisted upon its abandonment; but the estimates were still extravagantly high. Dreading the influence and effect of public meetings in this state of irritation, the parliament checked and restricted A. D. those assemblages by a new statute, and suspended 1817. the operation of the habeas-corpus act. Maný persons were consequently apprehended on mere suspicion, and detained in close confinement; and some, being accused of the enormity of treason, were subjected to the process of law. The trial of Watson was protracted to a great length, and a most elaborate inquiry marked the eagerness of the prosecutors for the capital conviction of so audacious a criminal; but the jury conscientiously refused to brand, as a traitor, one who ought only to have been charged with sedition. His three associates (Thistlewood, Hooper, and Preston) were then dismissed without trial, as it was not supposed that they would be found guilty. A more serious offence soon became a matter of judicial cognisance. Brandreth, Turner, Ludlam, and other unemployed manufacturers, resolved to make the experiment of an insurrection, without considering' either * 2 E 3 |