LXIV. 1799. CHAP. employed on the expedition; and also to vote some pecuniary supplies on account of the unforeseen expenses. The projected bill respecting the militia, permitted three-fifths of that body to enlist into such corps of regulars as his majesty should appoint; each volunteer to receive ten guineas, to serve in Europe only, and to continue attached to the corps in which he first entered. If companies (not less than eight privates) should volunteer together, they might continue to form the same corps, and either to be joined into separate battalions; or if their number did not admit of such an arrangement, they were to be attached to regular regiments. Every officer belonging to such a company of militia should have temporary rank in the regulars equal to that which he had before held; if the corps was reduced, he should enjoy either half-pay, or permanent military rank, and full pay like any military officer. The bill, being accompanied with numerous regulations concerning the mode of its execution, underwent considerable opposition, as tending to diminish by donative the constitutional and patriotic force of the militia, and to increase the standing army dependent on the crown. The object of Mr. Pitt had uniformly been (his opponents said) to extend the influence and authority of the monarchical branch of the constitution beyond its due and salutary bounds. His system of policy, in order to effect this general end, had been to propose some special or temporary evil to be removed, or good to be attained, from the restriction of popular privileges, and the enlargement of kingly force. The pretext for suspending the habeas corpus was the existence of a conspiracy; as if a conspiracy, if it had really existed, might not have been discovered and crushed by the constitutional laws of the land. The pretext for extending the laws of treason, and controling popular assemblies, was the existence of seditious meetings and rebellious designs. The pretended causes had totally ceased, but the laws, so conducive to the real purpose of ministers still continued. The ostensible reason for alluring the militia to become soldiers was, to give effect to our military operations abroad; the real intention was, at once to increase the standing army and ministerial patronage. These objections, though strongly urged, LXIV. Parliament were, by a great majority of the house, deemed futile; CHAP. and the bill was passed into a law. The supplies granted at present amounted to between six and seven millions, 1799. including two million five hundred thousand to be raised Supplies. by exchequer bills. Bills were also passed for granting is prorelief to West India merchants, and for supporting com- rogued. mercial credit. These were the chief acts of this short session, which lasted only from the twenty-fourth of September till the twelfth of October. CHAP. LXV. Ultimate purpose of the French expedition to Egypt-their views concerning India.-Tippoo Sultan recovers a considerable part of his former strength-forms a new confederacy for driving the English from India--his schemes are discovered, and he is admonished by the British government to relinquish his projects-disregards the admonition-British armies from the two coasts take the field-Tippoo retires into Seringapatam-British storm that city-death of Tippoo, and reduction of Mysore-humane and wise policy of the British governor.-Proceedings in Egypt-situation of Bonaparte after the battle of Aboukir-difficulties with which he had to contend-exercise his extraordinary genius military progress-battle of the pyramids-he addresses the passions and prejudices of the Egyptians-he promises the French will protect them from the Mamalukes-he professes a respect for the Mahomedan faith plan of Bonaparte to amalgamate the prejudices of the Mahomedans with the pretensions of the French-his undertaking more difficult than the undertaking of Mahomet.-Civil and political administration—his innovations are disregarded by many of the Egyptians—discontents—are quelled--Bonaparte proposes to march into Syriaobject of this design-march and progress of the French army-Bonaparte defeats the Syrians—captures Joppa -advances towards Acre-state and importance of that fortress-situation—the French army invests that citysir Sidney Smith, with a British squadron, arrives at Acre-captures a French flotilla-he perceives the importance of here repressing the progress of the French-his masterly view of the situation of affairs-his first purpose to inspirit the Turks-he diffuses moral energy into their physical strength-the French effect breaches in the wall-assaults on the town-inspirited and headed by the English, the Turks repel the attack-grand assault by the French-Smith employs his sailors as soldiers-efficacious efforts and example of this heroic band the French are entirely vanquished-retreat from Acre-Bonaparte returns to Egypt-the Turks send an army to Aboukir, but are defeated-measures of Bonaparte for the improvement of Egypt. CHAP. LXV. 1799. Ultimate purpose of THE contest between the French republic and Britain and her allies was not confined to Europe and the conterminous ocean, but extended in a diagonal line to India and its environs. The grand object of the expedition from Toulon was to give a fatal blow to the com- the French mercial and maritime greatness of England. Among the expedition to Egypt; various measures pursued, or suggested for this end, none concerning India. seemed to the French more effectual for the execution of their designs, than the formation of alliances with the native powers of India. Greatly as Tippoo Sultan had been reduced in the war with lord Cornwallis, he had not been entirely subdued. His ambition, though so severely repressed, was not totally crushed; and he still cherished hopes of ultimately succeeding in its gratification. The humiliating conditions to which he had been obliged to submit, inflamed his pride to resentment and revenge, and cooperated with his love of power to stimulate hostility against England. He watchfully observed every circumstance in the politics of Asia, or of Europe, which might be improved into the means of humbling the British power in India. Like the Carthagenians, after the signal overthrow that closed their second war with the Romans, though compelled to deliver hostages, to pay a tribute, to confine themselves within much narrower limits than they possessed at the beginning of the war, instead of succumbing under misfortune, he employed peace in recovering his strength and improving his resources. It is customary for the princes of Hindostan, according to their faculties and views, to entertain different portions of European troops, for the purpose of training, animating, and conducting their own people in wars with their neighbours; in much the same manner that the different princes and states of Italy, enervated after a lapse of time since the irruption of their ancestors from the north, by a delicious LXV. 1799. Tippoo CHAP. climate and exuberant soil, were wont to retain leaders of bands," with their followers, from the hardy regions beyond the Alpine mountains. Tippoo, very soon after the pacification of 1792, began to increase his European military establishment. All European adventurers, especially considera- the French, found ready admittance into his service, and ble part of his former as much encouragement as can be given under a despotic strength. form of government. The common enmity of the sultan covers a Forms a new con and the French to the British nation, formed a kind of tacit alliance between those two powers, and a predisposition to define and ratify it by express stipulation, whenever an opportunity should be presented in the vicissitudes of Asia and of Europe. The preponderating power of Great Britain at sea, and her dominion in the east, by the cession of Mysorean territory at once more extended and compacted than ever, suppressed the hostile emotions and intentions that burned within the bosom of Tippoo Sultan, though naturally daring and impetuous, until the unparalleled successes of the tremendous Bonaparte in Italy, and on the southern frontiers of the Austrian dominions, encouraged him to take some steps towards a formal confederation with the French against the English. The expanded genius of Bonaparte, seeking federacy physical and moral instruments wherever they could be for driving found, immediately, in the power and hatred of Tippoo, the English from India. perceived an engine and springs which might be directed with effect against the commercial and maritime greatness of a nation, in enmity so formidable to the French republic; nor was he slow in setting it in motion. Having corresponded with the French general, Tippoo renewed his hopes and expectations of being able, at last, to effect the object which he and his father had so often attempted in vain. Aware of the disposition of his neighbours in the peninsula, and despairing of procuring the alliance of the Nizam and the Mahrattas, he had carried his plans of alliance to more distant powers, and projected an invasion from the northern kingdoms of Candahar and Cabul, extensive and populous countries situated between the river Indus and the southern extremities of the Caspian sea, q Condottieri. |