the ftate of the nation in general was debated in both Houses, with equal ability and earneftnefs; and even the minuter topics, fuch as that of eligibility of clergymen to fit in the Houfe of Commons, were not deficient in intereft, or unproductive of information. In the arrangement, as much method has been obferved as was attainable in a periodical publication. The general effort has been, to clafs the fubjects of difcuffion according to fome rule of analogy or relation, but this end can only be partially attained. In the detailing of arguments, the preferable mode is confidered to be that of giving the fubstance of the observations on each side, bu, on fome occafions, the fentiments, and even expreffions, of particular fpeakers, abfolutely require diftinct and peculiar notice. In the preference to be given to either mode of narration, the editors have fairly exercifed their judgment, and they truft it will be found they cannot, on any occafion, be justly accused of negligence, or of partiality.

"The tranfactions in other parts of Europe, befides the kingdoms of the north, are well entitled to attention; the disgraceful and mortifying peace which Naples was forced to conclude, under the dictation of France; the attack on Portugal, in which Spain reluctantly affifted, and from which the precipitately retreated, and the internal state of France itself, devoted to military tyranny, and infulted and degraded by a pretended re-establishment of the national religion; all these are fubjects of contemplation at once curious and affecting. The naval engagements, in which portions of the British fleet were engaged, will not be found void of intereft, although inferior in importance to the fplendid achievement at Copenhagen; and the exertions made in all parts of the realm to repel the threatened invafion, although reftrained perhaps by the evident improbability of the event, are yet entitled to notice, as indications of a firm and loyal public fpirit, not to be fubdued by the untoward circunftances of the country, or by the labours and facrifices of a nine years war.

"To Egypt, where the British arms were crowned with neverfading glory, the attention is laft, and moft ftrenuously invited. The campaign in that country is not now, in any of its parts, a fubject of conjecture or uncertainty. The able publications from the pens of British officers, and that, not inferior in ability, though perhaps deficient in candour, written by a French general, have left to the editors of this work no labour beyond that of felection, no neceffity for further research, and nothing to reject but those exaggerations which are almoft infeparable from the writings of men who have been actors in the scenes they defcribe, but which thofe, who in fituations more calm, avail themfelves of their labours, may easily avoid." Pref.

After admitting this long preface, we have only to add, upon an examination of the volume, that it appears to give a

F

BRIT, CRIT, VOL. XXIX, JAN. 1807.

very

very fair sketch of its contents. The year 1801 was in all refpects a period of great importance to Europe in general, and to Great Britain in particular, in reference to her internal affairs. The armed confederacy of the northern powers -the ftrange conduct of Ruffia-the commotions excited at home from a fcarcity of provifions--the measures which prepared and accompanied the union of Great Britain and Ireland-the diffolution of Mr. Pitt's adminiftration-the gallant campaign of the English in Egypt-and the conclufion of peace with France-are but a few of the events of this year which are reported in a manner highly creditable to the talents and induftrious research of the editors, and highly interefting to readers of every defcription.

As we have extended the prefent article perhaps beyond our ufual limits, we fhall prefent our readers with only one fpecimen, but that an important one, of the ftyle and fentiments which prevail in this volume. Few events, it may be remembered, occafioned greater furprife in the public mind than the diffolution of Mr. Pitt's adminiftration, and in the opinion of fome, the real caufe has never been explicitly brought forward. The following theory appears to us to be as difpaffionate and judicious as any which has appeared :—

"An event fo unexpected as the diffolution of that adminiftra tion, which had fo long governed the affairs of the country, could not be viewed by the public without fenfations of extreme furprife, mixed, as party views happened to prevail, with regret or exultation, cenfure or applaufe.

"The motive, fo explicitly affigned for the measure in both. Houfes of Parliament, was not deemed adequate to the production of its effect, and, under all the circumstances of the times, many who were well difpofed to give credence to the affertions of the retiring minifters, could not fatisfy themfelves in believing, that men, who had with fo much courage and perfeverance struggled forward in times of unexampled difficulty and embarraifment, fhould, at last, refign the helm, rather than encounter a propofition which they alone could call into difcuffion, or which, whatever fentiments might be entertained of its general propriety, could, without danger or injury, be allowed to reft for the prefent, in the expectation of being favourably confidered at a more proper opportunity.

"The prevalent opinion, that fome other caufe, befide the Catholic queftion, occafioned the change in the cabinet, received fome countenance from Mr. Pitt, who, in a fpeech on the 16th of February, while he avowed that to be the reafon of the late refignations, declared that he did not think himself bound to give all the reafons, nor did he know of any eftablished fyftem of duty

which obliged him to affign any. This expreffion, although general in itself, and used in a general fenfe in the course of debate, was understood by many to confirm the opinion fo generally entertained, of a latent undisclosed caufe of the event which occafioned fo much curiofity.

"None of the conjectures, however, to which the transaction gave birth, afforded any plaufible explanation of the conduct they were defigned to elucidate. Fear of the new members introduced into Parliament by the union could not be the caufe, fince the divi. fion on the addrefs fhewed the minifters more than ufually ftrong, and the oppofition, with all the advantages prefented to their caufe by the portentous afpect of the times, did not create any great fenfation either in the Houfe, or on the public. Nor did the experience afterward obtained fhew that the Irifh members would be hoftile to government, fince, in a great debate on the state of the nation, only fix of that body divided with the oppofition. The impoffibility that Mr. Pitt and his friends fhould fucceed in obtaining a fatisfactory peace, an acquifition moft earnestly defired by the nation, was much infifted on as a reafon of their retreat; but there was yet no evidence, nor even an appearance of the attempt to negotiate, and thofe who fpeculated wifely on fuch a fubject, must have known, that if the efforts made by France for the depreffion of Great Britain, were fuccefsful, peace on terms confiftent with honour, or even with fafety, was not to be expected; but if they failed in one attempt, that of the northern confederacy, many other events muft alfo concur to incline that government to an accommodation. Thofe events could not be decided but by a series of circumftances, in the courfe of which minifters might have found many motives and causes for retiring, without the figns of precipitancy which now marked their conduct. Nor could they reafonably be fuppofed to dread the approaching events, fince they avowed and defended the fhare they had taken in conducting them; and Mr. Pitt, in retiring, aided his fucceffor, by taking on himfelf the painful, and ever unpopular task, of raising supplies for the current year.

"By many, the change which was effected, was confidered only as an experiment to carry on the fame fyftem of government under a new set of names, while, in fact, the retiring minifters would retain a full, and even an undue, share of influence in guiding the operations of the cabinet, and in the diftribution of honours and emoluments. They confidered, and the opinion was frequently expreffed in Parliament, the new minifters, as mere agents, temporary fubftitutes, or fcreens to their predeceffors; men recommended, appointed, and almoft created by them; who, after acting for a while in their stead, would be displaced, that the others might resume the stations they had fo long enjoyed. This fpeculation, equally illiberal and unfounded, was beft refuted by a confideration of the characters and hopes of the perfons now promoted, and par

F 2

ticularly

ticularly the fituation of the new Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had recently been re-elected, with the entire approbation of all parties, into a fituation which he filled with confpicuous ability, which was fuited to his habits and his wishes, and in which, it was manifeft, from many circumstances, that he expected long to remain. From this fituation he was called, at a moment when anxious and gloomy prefages occupied the public mind, to fill one to which he had not afpired, and in which he only proposed to follow the fyftem of his predeceffor, which he had always cordially fupported, with the exception of one fingle innovation, which perhaps it would be unpopular to refift. That his administration would be eafy, he had no reason to expect, for although the expreffions of Lord Grenville, and fome which fell from Mr. Pitt, and others ftill more forcible used by Mr. Dundas, might lead him to expect co-operation and fupport, ftill a very flight acquaintance with the human heart muft have taught him how little the permanency of fuch expectations could be relied on, and have convinced him that, whether his adminiftration was profperous or unfuccefsful, whether the difficulties of the nation were increased or obviated, a party would foon be formed hoftile to his newly obtained power, while the station he had left would be for ever barred againft him. How far his perfonal feelings would be confidered by any of his opponents, he had a fufficient fpecimen, in the fpeeches already quoted, where, while every pretenfion to talent was denied him, he was accufed of culpable temerity for undertaking the dangerous task of refufing a boon, while a ftrong and powerful administration had fhrunk with apprehenfion from the task. A fpeech was alfo made in the Houfe of Commons by Earl Temple in a fubfequent debate, where he termed the new administration, "a thing of fhreds and patches," made up of men unknowing and inexperienced, who, whatever might be their talents, pru-. dence, or capacity, could claim no confidence, because they had never manifefted the qualities on which alone it could be founded. Of a fimilar kind, though ftudded all over with those brilliancies which characterife his oratory, was a fpeech on the fame fubject, delivered by Mr. Sheridan, on the 16th of February. He spoke of the change of minifters as occafioning a great defalcation of vigour and talents in the cabinet; compared the tranfaction to the conduct of a naval cominander, who, in preparation for a feafight, fhould throw overboard the great guns, inftead of the lum ber; or who, in expectation of a ftorm, fhould cut away his rudder inftead of his incumbrances. When an election committee was formed, he faid, the watchword was, to fhorten the business by "knocking out the brains" of the committee. This was done by ftriking from the lift the names of the lawyers and other gentlemen who might happen to know a little too much of the fubject. In this fenfe Mr. Pitt had literally knocked out the brains of the adminiftration; and then clapping a mask on the skeleton, cried

"Here

"Here is as fine vigour and talent for you as any body may with to fee! This empty skull, this skeleton administration," faid Mr. Sheridan," is the phantom that is to overawe our enemies, and to command the confidence of the Houfe and people." Such obfervations must have led the new miniftry to anticipate a vehement and rancorous oppofition, and perhaps in affuaging for a short time this violent fpirit, lefs was effected by the promises of the retiring minifters, than by the candid and rational request of a near relative of Mr. Addington, that he told not be prejudged; but that, till proofs to the contrary were produced, an expectation might be entertained that he would act in fuch a manner as to enfure the continuance of that favour wh.ch he had already fo liberally experienced.

"Many were inclined to confider the confidence expressed by the retiring minifters in the conduct of their fucceffors, rather as an effort to yield with a good grace to the circumstances of the times, than as the genuine dictates of their minds. Thefe perfons confid red the conduct of Mr. Addington as arrogant, infidious, and even ungrateful. They believed that he had infufed into the mind of the Sovereign unfounded prejudices against the meafure which Mr. Pitt and his friends were defirous to support, and had then taken advantage of thofe fentiments to gratify his own views of ambition. Againft this fuppofition every expreffion uttered in Parliament by the retiring minifters afforded conclufive evidence; they denied hat their removal had proceeded from any other caufe than their own choice, founded on the impoffibility of carrying a certain queftion; acknowledged the high obligations conferred on them by his Majefty, and professed toward him the utmost gratitude, duty, and affection.

"Yet the opinion of thofe who confidered the minifters dif placed against their will, and irritated at the event, was not entirely without fupport. It received firong corroboration from two celebrated papers diftributed where they might most embarrafs government, and most tend to fecure a feparate and active party-among the Roman Catholics of Ireland. Thefe papers were not circulated immediately on a rumour of the change of administration, but the public mind was prepared for them by an avowal from the highest authority in that country, that the reports contained in the London newspapers were true, and that a difagreement in the council, as there ftated, refpecting the affairs of Ireland, had occafioned the feceffion of a part of the ministry,, which would be followed by the departure of the lord lieutenant. This information was fucceeded in a few weeks, by the delivery of the papers in queftion to a titular Irish bishop, and to a nobleman profefling the Romish religion, and an eminent fupporter of that caufe. It is faid that they were to be difcreetly communieated to the bishops and principal catholics, and not inferted in the newspapers, but this precaution was either negligently given,

or