PRIME MINISTERS. LORD NORTH. 1775. 1776. 1777. 1778. 1779. 1780. Grafton resigns the Privy Seal; Lord George Germaine (formerly Sackville) became Colonial Secretary. Numerous petitions are sent by the towns supporting or condemning the king's policy. The English defeat an American invasion of Canada. Wilkes' motion for parliamentary reform lost in the Under General Howe the English drive the Americans The English take Rhode Island. The Whigs, disapproving of the government's American General Burgoyne marches down the Hudson from The Duke of Richmond's motion to recognise the in- Burke brings in his measure for the relief of Irish trade. Thurlow becomes Lord Chancellor. Sir George Savile passes his measure for the relief of Roman Catholics (b). The English evacuate Philadelphia. Naval fight off Ushant under Keppel, indecisive. Dissenting ministers and schoolmasters are at length Spain declares war against England. The French and Spanish besiege Gibraltar. By an Act of the_English_Parliament many of the restrictions on Irish trade are annulled. Great Yorkshire petition for economical reform presented (the beginning of the modern system of petitioning). Middlesex and Westminster hold meetings in favour of retrenchment. Two peers (Lords Carmarthen and Pembroke), supporting Lord Shelburne's motion for an inquiry into public expenditure, are dismissed from their lordlieutenancies. Rodney defeats the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent and supplies Gibraltar, which, however, is again besieged. Burke brings in his bill for economical reform. PRIME MINISTERS. LORD NORTH. 1780. 1781. 1782. LORD ROCKINGHAM. Dunning carries his motion, "that the power of the Crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished" by 233 to 215. June. Lord George Gordon (President of the Protestant Association, formed in consequence of the concessions of 1778) leads riots against concessions to the Catholics. The Duke of Richmond brings in a motion for reform, which is rejected (a). The English under Lord Cornwallis defeat the colonists at Camden, and win various successes in the Southern States. Major André, who had been captured while negotiating the defection of Benedict Arnold, is hanged as a spy. War is declared against Holland. Rodney captures St. Eustatia in the West Indies. Burke's bill for economical reform is lost on the second reading by 233 to 190. The Permanent Mutiny Bill (Ireland) is passed amidst protests by Fox and others. Fox's motion for terminating the war is lost by 172 to 99. The English under Lord Cornwallis win the battle of Guildford, but are forced to surrender at Yorktown. The French retake St. Eustatia. [Lord North issues this year a loan of £12,000,000 to defray the cost of the American war, by which supporters of the ministry make large sums of money (b).] Minorca is taken by the Spaniards. Feb. Conway's motion for peace is lost by one. Rodney wins his great victory over Count de The civil list is divided into eight classes and regulated. Government contractors are excluded from the House of Commons, and revenue officers (e) are debarred from voting at elections. All the former proceedings in connection with Wilkes' election for Middlesex, which had been often protested against by Chatham and others, are expunged from the journals of the House of Commons. Pitt's motion for reform is rejected by 161 to 141. (a) Lord Shelburne's Ministry.-Lord Shelburne (afterwards Marquis of Lansdowne), First Lord of the Treasury; William Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Lord Camden, President of the Council; Duke of Grafton, Privy Seal; Lord Grantham and Thomas Townshend, Secretaries of State; Keppel, Admiralty; Duke of Richmond, Ordnance; Lord Thurlow, Lord Chancellor; Henry Dundas and others. (b) Gilbert's Act.-This Act allowed parishes or unions where the Act was adopted, by a vote of two-thirds of the owners and occupiers over £5 ratable value, to nominate three persons, of whom one was to be chosen by the justices to act as a paid guardian of the poor instead of the old overseers. The guardian is obliged to find work for any poor person willing and able to work who may apply to him, and to supplement his wages if needful out of the rates. (c) A treaty acknowledging the independence of the United States was signed between them and Great Britain at Paris. The same day a treaty was signed at Versailles between Great Britain, France, and Spain, by which Pondicherry and Carical, with other possessions in Bengal, were given back to France and Trincomalee to the Dutch. (d) Duke of Portland's Ministry.-Portland, First Lord of the Treasury; Lord North and Fox, Home and Foreign Secretaries; Lord John Cavendish, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Keppel, Admiralty; Viscount Townshend, Ordnance; Charles Townshend, Burke, Sheridan, also in the ministry. Great Seal in commission. (e) Fox's India Bill.-Authority of the Company to be transferred to seven commissioners, nominated by Parliament for four years, after which time they were to be named by the Crown. The management of commerce to be in the hands of a committee of directors named by the proprietors. (f) Pitt's first Ministry.-William Pitt, First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer; Earl Gower, Lord President; Marquis of Carmarthen and Earl Temple (the latter after four days succeeded by Lord Sydney), Secretaries of State; Duke of Richmond, Ordnance; Lord Thurlow, Chancellor ; Henry Dundas, Treasurer of the Navy. (g) The course of the struggle between Pitt and the Opposition, in its detail, is as follows: 1783. Dec. 18. Dismissal of the Coalition Ministry. Pitt appointed Prime Minister. Dec. 22. Resignation of Earl Temple. Erskine's motion to address the king against a dissolution carried without a division. 1784. Jan. 12. Fox's motion to go into committee on the state of the nation carried by 232 to 193. Lord Surrey's motion condemnatory of the use of the king's name and of the change of ministers carried by 196 to 54. Jan. 16. Lord Charles Spencer's motion that the continuance of the ministry in office is contrary to constitutional principles, carried by 205 to 184. Jan. 23. Pitt's East India Bill thrown out on the second reading by 222 to 214. Jan. 26. Meeting at the St. Alban's Tavern under the presidency of Mr. Grosvenor, to promote a union of the parties. Feb. 2. Mr. Grosvenor's motion for "an efficient, Coke's rider that the continuance of the ministers COLONIAL. 1783. Russia takes the Crimea. Flood's bill for parliamentary reform in Ireland is rejected. PRIME MINISTERS. LORD ROCKINGHAM. 1782. LORD SHELBURNE. 1783. DUKE OF PORTLAND. WILLIAM PITT. 1784. Irish difficulties are remedied by the repeal of 6 George Death of the Marquis of Rockingham, July 1. The siege of Gibraltar, which had been defended by England acknowledges the independence of the Gilbert's Workhouses (b) Act is passed this year. A coalition is formed between Lord North and George III. authorizes Earl Temple to say that "who- The Coalition Ministry is dismissed, Dec. 18. Pitt's India Bill is rejected by a majority of eight. A representation to the Crown to the same effect is The Mutiny Bill is passed. March. Parliament is dissolved. May. Large majority for the ministers in the new Parliament. One hundred and sixty friends of the Coalition lose their seats. Pitt by the Commutation Act reduces the duty on tea and spirits to prevent smuggling. |