1781.Hyder Ally retreated precipitately after having had 4000

Dec.

.4.

killed, among whom were many of his principal officers. Sir Eyre loft but few officers, and about 400 privates killed and wounded.

The motion for an addrefs in the house of commons produced a warm and animated debate, which continued till two in the morning. Mr. Fox moved for an amendment, by omitting that part of it which promifed to fupport the American war; and proposed a new one, expreffing a wifh for a new fyftem of measures, which the house would affift to forward. But it was rejected by 218 against 129. During the debate, Mr. Burke obferved, that "The colonel Laurens, who drew up the articles of capitulation, when lord Cornwallis furrendered, is the fon of Mr. Laurens, who has been committed clofe prifoner to the Tower of London, of which lord Cornwallis is himself the governor; and thus his lordship became a prifoner to the fon of his own prifoner." In the house of lords an amendment to the addrefs was propofed by lord Shelburne in a very masterly speech, but was rejected by a majority of 75.

1

Mr. Burke had, in the former feffion, moved for an inquiry into the conduct obferved on the capture of Statia, which was rejected by a majority of near two to one. He brought on the business afresh; and in his speech on the occafion mentioned, that three months were spent by the British commanders in difpofing of and fecuring the plunder of the island; that Sir George Rodney's fleet amounted to 21 fail of the line; and that the whole French force, previous to the arrival of count de Graffe, confifted only of 8 fhips of the line, and one fifty. He faid, this favorable opportunity was entirely neglected,

neglected, the whole British fleet, and near 3,000 chosen 1781. troops, being kept upward of two months in a state of total inaction, for the important fervice of protecting the fales at Statia. He afcribed to the fame difgraceful cause, as a fecond misfortune, the weakness of the detachment fent under Sir Samuel Hood, to prevent the junction of the French fleet in the West Indies with that which de Graffe brought from Europe. Sir George declared in reply, that he made the feizure of the effects for the fole and exclufive benefit of the crown; and had no intelligence, till long after the confifcation, of his majefty's intentions to relinquifh his right in favor of the fleet and army; that his prefence at Statia was absolutely neceffary for fome time; that during that period, he had planned two expeditions, one against Curaçoa, the other againft Surinam, and was upon the point of putting them into execution, when he received intelligence of the approach of de Graffe, whofe fleet was reported to consist of no more than 12 fail of the line; and that confequently he thought Sir Samuel Hood a fufficient match with fifteen.

An humble address, remonftrance and petition of the 6. lord mayor, aldermen, and livery of the city of London was agreed to, and ordered to be presented to his majesty fitting on the throne. The king determining to receive it at the levee, the mode of thus prefenting it was declined. It was however published. The language and fentiments of it are peculiarly ftriking-" It is (they fay) with inexpreffible concern, that we have heard your majesty declare, in your fpeech to both houses of parliament, your intention of perfevering in a fyftem of measures which has proved fo difaftrous to this country. Your

majesty's

1

1781. majesty's minifters have, by false affertions and fallaciousfuggeftions, deluded your majesty and the nation, intothe prefent unnatural and unfortunate war. The confequences of this delufion have been, that the trade of this country has fuffered irreparable loffes: the landed property through the kingdom has been depreciated to the most alarming degree: the property of your majefty's fubjects, vefted in the public funds, has loft above one third of its value: private credit has been almost wholly annihilated, by the enormous intereft given in the public loans, fuperior to that which is allowed by law. in any private contract: your majesty's fleets have lost their wonted fuperiority: your armies have been captured: your dominions have been loft: and your majefty's faithful fubjects have been loaded with a burden of taxes, which, even if our victories had been as fplendid as our defeats have been difgraceful, if our acceffion of dominion had been as fortunate as the dif memberment of the empire has been cruel and difaftrous, could not in itself be confidered but as a great and grievous calamity. We befeech your majefty no longer to continue in a delufion, from which the nation has awakened; and that your majefty will be graciously pleased to relinquifh entirely, and for ever, the plan of reducing our brethren in America to obedience by force, We further humbly implore your majefty, that your majesty will be graciously pleased to difmifs from your prefence and councils, all the advisers, both public and fecret, of the mcafures we lament, as a pledge to the world of your majefty's fixed determination to abandon a fyftem incompatible with the interests of your crown, and the happiness of your people."

On

Dec.

On the day appointed for voting the army fupplies, 1781. the house of commons was early and uncommonly crowd- 12. ed. The oppofition foreseeing the difficulties miniftry would be under, was induced to bring forward certain motions, which might difcover the number of those in the house, who with refpect to their general political fentiments, agreed in opinion with them on the profecution of the war. A coalition from all parties was defigned, for the fole purpose of obliging the crown to put an end to the attempt of reducing the Americans to obedience by force. Sir James Lowther moved, "that all our efforts to fubjugate America have been fruitless, either for the purpose of supporting our friends, or conquering our enemies; and that it is the opinion of this house, that all future attempts to reduce the Americans to obedience by force, will be ineffectual and injurious to the true interests of this country, by weakening her powers to refift her ancient and confederated enemies." These motions were oppofed by the whole strength of government; which however produced but a finall majority, the numbers for them being 179, and against them 220. This fufficiently showed a prevailing change of fentiment in regard to the American war; and indeed all orders of men began to reprobate it with unreftrained freedom.

Before the adjournment of the houfe for the holidays, Mr. Burke brought up a reprefentation and prayer, ad-; dreffed to the house of commons by Mr. Laurens himfelf, which was laid on the table. It was written by the petitioner with a black-lead pencil; he having, as is thought, refused to accept of fome indulgences lately offered him, and among the rest that of pen and ink,

the

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1781. the use of which had been strictly forbidden him, during

the greatest part of his confinement. The house was alfo informed by Mr. Burke, that congrefs had offered to exchange gen. Burgoyne for Mr. Laurens; and many reasons were urged by him for its taking place. Mr. Laurens was at length brought before lord Mansfield on the last day of the year, in confequence of an order from the fecretary of state, and was discharged upon certain conditions. He then repaired to Bath for the recovery of his health, which had been much impaired by his confinement and the hardships with which it was accompanied.

Before the 12th of January, miniftry received an account of Statia's having been furprised and taken by the French. The marquis de Bouille being made acquainted with the fecurity and negligence of the governor and garrifon, attempted the reduction of the island. He embarked about 2000 men in a number of small veffels at Martinico; and knowing that the only practicable landing place was left unguarded, he took his measures fo as to arrive before it early in the night. An unexpected rise of the fea caused the lofs of feveral boats and many foldiers, while endeavouring to disembark, With his utmoft efforts he could only land about 400 by day-break there was no hope of reinforcing them with the remainder of the troops, the greater part of the boats having been broken. He faw the danger of his fituation, that a retreat was impoffible; that the garri¬ fon was nearly double his own number; and that nothing but the success of a bold adventure, could poffibly fave him and his troops from being either made prisoners or cut to pieces. He determined upon a vigorous attack,

The