and the resumption of constitutional rights, if France did CHAP not interfere with an armed force. Dignity, justice, and XXXVII. policy, called from his majesty explicit avowals*, that he 1787. would not remain a quiet spectator of such forcible inter ference. In these circumstances, the chief object of British The king of France tion of as states of declares he such inter and pre pares an thereupon duke of pletely policy, concerning Holland, was to watch the movements intimates of the court of Versailles. A message from his christian an intenmajesty announced to our king, that he had determined sisting the to afford to the states of Holland the assistance which Holland. they had requested. Such an intimation demanded only Our king one line of conduct; our king accordingly declared to will forci France, that if she interposed forcibly, Britain should take bly oppose an active part; and he gave immediate directions for aug- ference; menting his fleet and army. A powerful armament was equipped with uncommon expedition: a decisive and grand armament. tone, worthy of mighty power supporting conscious jus- France tice, produced the desired effect; and France made no relinquishhostile effort to support the revolutionary faction. The es her design; energetic vigour of the British cabinet being so success- and the fully exerted towards the formidable ally of the states of Brunswic Holland, the duke of Brunswic proceeded in a rapid career is comof victory. The hidden friends of the house of Orange victorious. now publicly declared themselves: the revolutionists, however, still entertaining hopes France would not yield, threw themselves into Amsterdam, and resolved to stand a siege; but finding their expectations entirely vanished, they at length entered into a capitulation; the constitu- Restorational party proved completely triumphant, and the stadt- tion of the holder was restored to all his rights and dignities. The der. discussion which arose between Britain and France terminated amicably, after his christian majesty had declared, that in intimating a design of active interposition in the affairs of Holland, he had never intended forcible efforts.' Such was the result of the disputes in the United Provin- Great and ces, and the measures which Britain adopted respecting unanimous the contests. This was the first occasion that displayed the British the genius and energy of Pitt in foreign policy, and procured him general admiration abroad and at home. Oppo k See his majesty's speech, November 27, 1787. State papers. 1 See correspondence between the respective ministers of Britain and France on this subject, in the state papers of October 1787. stadtirol praises of cabinet. XXXVIII. 1787. CHAP sition as warmly and loudly praised his conduct, as the rest of the nation: indeed it is difficult to conceive that two opinions could be formed on the subject by any Briton who at once valued and understood the interests of his country. The interference was requisite, to prevent such an aggrandizement of France, as must endanger this country. The means were vigour of tone, seconded by powerful preparation, the most successful instruments which a mighty nation can employ for averting aggression, either direct or circuitous. CHAP. XXXIX. Meeting of parliament.-Unanimous approbation of the conduct of ministry respecting Holland.-Bishop of Landaff's speech on British interference in continental affairs. -Subsidiary treaty with the landgrave of Hesse Cassel.-Plan for the defence of the West Indies.-Complaints of a partial promotion of flag officers.—Ministers contend that the complaint is unfounded. Declaratory law for explaining certain parts of Mr. Pitt's East India bill.-Origin of the doubts from which this measure proceeded.-Regiments ordered by government to India, to be paid and subsisted at the expense of the company. Question by Mr. Pitt's bill; had government that power? denied by the directors and by opposition in parliament.-Arguments for and against.—Passed into a law. Extension of the mutiny bill.-Bill against the smuggled exportation of wool-passed into a law. -Commencement of an inquiry concerning negro slavery.-State of facts.-General and special objections to negro slavery.-Impugned as contrary to christianity, as well as justice and humanity.-Pious and benevolent enthusiasm in favour of the negroes.-Mr. Wilberforce -character, talents, and laudable zeal-opposite arguments.-Slavery an evil great or small, according to the sentiments and circumstances of the sufferers.-The condition of the African negroes is meliorated by becoming slaves to British masters.-Slaves in our plantations generally happy.-If Britain abolish slavery, other European states will enjoy the benefits.-Great capitals are embarked on the public faith guaranteeing this trade. An ample source of private opulence, and public revenue.-Petitions for and against the aboli tion of the slave trade. The privy council institutes an inquiry into the details and alleged cruelties of the slave trade. Sir William Dolben's motion for regulating the transportation of negroes-passed into a law.—Mr. CHAP. XXXIX. 1787. ment. Pitt's bill for the relief and recompense of the American loyalists.—Commencement of Hastings's trial-Speech of Mr. Burke.-Motion for the impeachment of sir Elijah Impey-negatived —Mr. Grenville's bill for improving his father's law respecting contested elections.—Supplies. Flourishing state of commerce and finance. PARLIAMENT assembled on the 27th of November; and his majesty's speech exhibited to the houses an outline of the policy which he had adopted Meeting concerning Holland. He had endeavoured by his good of parliaoffices to restore tranquillity between the contending parties, but found his efforts unavailing: he also discovered a desire of forcible interference on the part of France; he expressed to his christian majesty his determination to counteract any such intention, and had armed for that purpose; but the success of the Prussian troops had reestablished the lawful government in Holland; an explanation had taken place between his majesty and the king of France, which had terminated amicably, and both parties had agreed to disarm. The necessary preparations had produced extraordinary expenses for which he doubted not his faithful commons would provide, and also adopt proper means for the defence of his distant dominions. He rejoiced at the flourishing state of commerce and the revenue, and the zeal and unanimity which his subjects demonstrated during the late expectation of From the dispositions which were then manifested, in any future emergency, he should depend on a promptness and vigour of exertion, proportionate to the exigence by which it might be required. Unanimous ap war. THE Conduct of Mr. Pitt respecting Holland was exprobation tremely popular among all parties throughout the kingof the con- dom; and in both houses it experienced the same unani. ministry mous commendation. Mr. Fox, Mr. Burke, and Mr. respecting Sheridan, perfectly coincided with Mr. Pitt and his friends Holland. duct of in the general principle of interference in continental affairs to preserve the balance of Europe. In the house of peers the bishop of Landaff, in justifying the principle, adduced reasoning at once appropriate to that specific case, and generalizing the constituents of wise and just XXXIX. Landaff's interposition in any future circumstances. future circumstances. "Upon what CHAP. "ground (he said) did he approve of our late interfe66 rence ? on the ground of SELF PRESERVATION. If 1787. "France had gained Holland, the security of Britain Bishop of “would have been endangered: when it is said that Hol- view of "land and the other states of Europe are independent British in(( states, the proposition is true only on a certain consider- in contiation, for they all depend one upon another, like the nental af"links of a chain; and it is the business of each to watch every other, lest any become so weighty and powerful as to endanger the security or political importance of "the rest." terference fairs. the land sel. Plan for the de fence of Indies. DURING the preparations, a subsidiary treaty had Subsidiary been concluded with the landgrave of Hesse Cassel; by treaty with which that prince was to receive 36,0931. to hold twelve grave of thousand troops ready to be employed by Britain when Hesse Castheir services should be required. This treaty was part of a general system, which it was then deemed premature to detail: the motion passed without a division. On the 10th of December an augmentation of the army was proposed, for the purpose recommended by his majesty's the West speech, of strengthening our distant possessions. On particular inquiry into the state of defence of our western settlements, ministers had found the force to be inadequate; this opinion had been confirmed by the reports of the officers commanding in the West Indies, who had been severally consulted upon the troops which each thought requisite for the security of the island he commanded. It was objected by some members of opposition, that the opinions of our commanders abroad did not afford satisfactory grounds for increasing our present establishments. It was obvious, that each of these officers would demand as large a force as he thought adequate to the defence of his own particular situation, and would govern himself in such requisition, merely by a regard to his own responsibility; whereas, in judging of an adequate peace establishment for all the possessions of Britain, the whole would depend on a general view of its parts, and their relative exigencies; by the present motion the house was called on to vote an increase of the army without sufficient grounds. It was replied, that the opinion of the officers had not been asked on the |