1782 to the English and their allies all places which he had taken from them during the war.-But the most material article was that by which the paishwa bound himself and the subordinate chiefs not to suffer any other Europeans to establish factories in their dominions; and not to hold any intercourse of friendship with any other European nation, except the Portuguese with respect to their ancient settlements in the Maratta countries. GREAT Chalmers, 2. 518. GREAT BRITAIN. 1783. THE acknowledgment of American independency having removed the grand obstacle to peace, negotiations for a treaty were opened by Mr. Fitz-Herbert, appointed plenipotentiary to treat with the ministers of France, Spain, and Holland, and by Mr. Oswald with those of the American states, who were all assembled at Paris. Such was the progress made in them, that his majesty was enabled, after the christmas recess,† to lay before parliament the preliminary articles signed by his ambassador, and by count de Vergennes on the part of the French king, and count d'Aranda for his catholic majesty.-The most important articles of these were as follow: that which ceded to France the isles of St. Pierre and Miquelon, and secured to her a greater extent of coast for her Newfoundland fishery. That which restored to France the island of St. Lucie, and ceded to her that of Tobago: and which, on the other hand, restored to Great Britain Grenada, the Grenadines, St. Vincents, Dominique, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat. In Africa, that which ceded to France the river of Senegal and its dependencies and the isle of Goree; and guaranteed to Great Britain the possession of Fort James and the river Gambia. In the east, that which restored to France all her establishments on the coasts of Orixa and Bengal, with liberty of surrounding Chandanagore with a ditch for draining the waters; and which restored and guaranteed Pondicherry and Karical to that crown; and by which his Britannic majesty engaged to procure certain districts to be added to its dependencies. And finally, that which consented to 1783 1783 to the abrogation of the articles of former treaties relative to the dismantling of Dunkirk. The most material articles of the treaty between his Britannic majesty and the king of Spain were that which ceded in full right the island of Minorca to the catholic king; and that which ceded to him the two Floridas. And that, on the other hand, which restored the Bahama islands to Great Britain, and that which secured to her subjects the right of cutting logwood in certain districts on the Spanish main." However grateful the sound of peace might be to the nation, the conduct of administration in settling the conditions of it did not pass without severe animadversions from the minority. The premier, who had joined the late earl of Chatham in declaring against the acknowledgment of American independency, was censured for inconsistency in acceding to that stipulation. And many of the preliminary articles with France and Spain were reprobated as dishonourable and injurious to the crown.-In reply to this, the premier asserted, in vindication of himself, that his change of sentiments respecting American independency arose from a total change of circumstances. That peace was expedient, and even necessary, in the present situation of the national finances; and that it was demanded by the voice of the people. That no cession was made of any material intrinsic value. That the terms were as advantageous as we could reasonably expect, as we were now circumstanced. And that, if any blame was incurred, it was not by him, but by those ministers who had brought the nation into its present embarrassed state. In the present state of affairs these reasons would probably have been received as valid had not the voice of party been raised against them; there being few who, when they reflected on the state of our resources, our army and navy, would have preferred a continuation of war to an acceptance of these terms of peace. The present administration was opposed not only by Mr. Fox, Mr. Burke, and others of the whig party, who had ranged themselves under the auspices of the marquis of Rockingham, but by lord North; that minister whom they had laboured with all their powers to drive from the helm. Those who considered the difference of their political principles and the bitter words in which the whig partisans had condemned the a State Papers. apud Annual Register. 322. 331. b Belsham. 3. 304. the conduct of the tory minister, could scarcely think it possible that a coalition could be formed between them. But the public had now occasion to remark, that the animosities of statesmen are not so deeply rooted as those in private life; and that the balsam of common interest is generally seen to be efficacious in healing the wounds which the violent effusions of partyspirit have made. "The American war," said Mr. Fox in a speech on the address of thanks," was the source of his disagreement with the noble lord; and that cause of enmity being now no more, it was wise and fit "to put an end to the ill-will, the animosity, the feuds, and the rancour "which it engendered. It was a satisfaction to him to apply the appella"tion of friend to the noble lord: he had found him honourable as an adversary; and he had no doubt of his openness and sincerity as a "friend.”—The address was approved by a majority of 72 to 59 in the house of peers. But the weight of the coalition overpowered the minister in the lower house. After an elaborate discussion of the merits of the treaty, an amendment, proposed by lord John Cavendish, was voted by a majority of 224 to 208. Moreover, four resolutions, implying a disapprobation of the preliminary articles, were voted by a majority of Although the earl of Shelburne was constrained to resign on seeing this majority against him, yet another administration was not immediately formed. It was with some hesitation that his majesty gave his sanction to the coalition: and it was supposed that an attempt was made to form a ministry in which the leading members of it should not be included. But the weight of parliamentary influence at last prevailed. In consequence of an address from the house of commons, intreating his majesty " that he "would be graciously pleased to take into consideration the distracted "state of the empire, and would condescend to a compliance with their "wishes by forming an administration entitled to the confidence of his people," a ministry was arranged, in which the duke of Portland was placed at the head of the treasury: lord North was appointed secretary for the home department, and Mr. Fox for the foreign: lord John Cavendish chancellor of the exchequer: lord Keppel first lord of the admiralty: lord 1783 February 21. с Belsham. 3. 310. d Ann. Reg. 149. 66. 67. 1783 lord Stormont president of the council: the earl of Carlisle privy seal: the great seal was put in commission: the earls of Hertford and Dartmouth were appointed chamberlain and steward of the household: lord Townshend master of the ordnance: Mr. Burke paymaster: Mr. Charles Townshend treasurer of the navy: Mr. Fitzpatrick secretary at war: and the earl of Northington lord lieutenant of Ireland." Whatever were the merits of the new ministry, its measures were calculated to promote the national welfare. But it ought to be observed that they were such as reflected credit on their predecessors in office; they being only a continuation of those which had been adopted by them.-The negotiations for peace were carried on with the several belligerent powers. And in order, mean-time, to remove the obstructions to a commercial intercourse with the American states, which, it was apprehended, might enable our rivals to supplant us in our trade with them, two bills were passed; one to repeal the prohibitory acts; the other to remove the necessity of requiring manifestoes or other documents for ships belonging to the United States of America, arriving thence in any port of this kingdom.' Before we close the proceedings of this session, it is proper to notice some matters relating to civil government, unconnected with the preceding transactions. The first of these was an act, passed under the late administration, for the further satisfaction of the Irish nation, for removing and preventing all doubts which have arisen, or might arise, concerning the exclusive rights of the parliament and courts of Ireland in matters of legislation and judicature. 66 The welfare of the British parliament also was attended to at this time.Soon after the change of ministry, Mr. Pitt made his promised motion for a reform of parliamentary representation, in the following propositions. ||— "That it was the opinion of the house that measures were highly necessary to be taken for the prevention of bribery and expence at elections." That, for the future, when the majority of votes for any borough shall be "convicted of gross and notorious corruption before a select committee "of the house appointed to try the merits of any election, such borough "shall be disfranchised, and the minority of votes, not so convicted, shall |