ANNUAL REGISTER, OR GENERAL REPOSITORY OF HISTORY, POLITICS, AND LITERATURE, For the YEAR 1811. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED The HISTORY of KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING, TASTE, and LONDON: PRINTED FOR JOHN STOCKDALE, PICCADILLY. 1812. PREFACE. THE war in the Peninsula still forms the most prominent object in the History of Europe for the year 1811 and this war, so far as it has been conducted by British generals, has brought with it, as glorious consequences as any that grace and distinguish our annals; while, on the part of the Spaniards, it is marked by the same want of talent and success, where their regular armies are concerned, and the same intrepid perseverance wherever the people themselves appear. The general result is, that our successes scarcely outweigh, if they even equal, in their importance and effect on the state of the contest, the disasters of the Spanish armies, and the imbecility of the Spanish councils. Next to the War in the Peninsula, the conquests of the colonial possessions of the enemy, which we have this year achieved, deserve to be recorded: the manner in which they have been accomplished, in every instance, where resistance was offered, proves a 2 that that the British generals and the British troops in Spain may receive and welcome as brother soldiers those to whom the nation is indebted for those conquests. Our domestic history is interesting, since it records many events connected with the display of our character as a commercial people, and as a people finding themselves in the possession of a greater share of liberty than falls to the lot of any other nation. Under these points of view, the passing of Lord Stanhope's Bill, on the one hand; and the attempts to alter and amend the legal proceedings in cases of libel on the other hand, claim our particular attention. But in the domestic portion of our history, the state of Ireland is the most deeply and awfully interesting: we have given a full, and we trust a cool and impartial view of this subject, which every day grows more serious, and appears to approach more rapidly to its crisis. Every real friend to Britain and to Ireland must wish, that our government may act with such a spirit of firmness and justice, united with clear and comprehensive views, as will make Britons and Irishmen but one people. London, 4th June, 1812. CON CONTENTS. THE History of Knowledge, Literature, Taste, and Science, in Great Britain, during the Reign of George III. page 1 BRITISH AND FOREIGN HISTORY. CHAP. I. Introduction-Account of the Causes of the assembling of Parliament, by the Lord Chancellor-The same Business in the House of Commons--Motion in the House of Lords for a further Adjournment-Debate in the Commons on the same Subject-Lord Camden's Report of the Examination of the Physicians by His Majesty's Privy Council-Debate in the Lords on a Motion for a third Adjournment-A similar Motion discussed in the Commons-Select Committees in both Houses appointed to examine the Physicians - Debate in the House of Commons on the State of the Nation Debate on the Report-Conversation in the House of Lords-Earl of Carlisle's Speech on the Contradictions in the Evidence of the PhysiciansDebate on the Earl of Liverpool's Motion on the State of the Nation CHAP. II. 3 Debate in the House of Commons on the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Resolutions-the same Subject continued-Conversations respecting the Issue of Money-Debate in the House of Lords on Mr. Perceval's ResolutionsDebate in the House of Commons on the Issue of Money-The same Subject discussed in the House of Lords-Committees appointed to wait on the Prince a 3 |