EAST INDIES. It was a most fortunate circumstance for the English company and the British governments in this country, in the present state of their affairs, that the vast conquests which Hyder Ali's wise policy and enterprising genius had enabled him to make, and the restless, warlike spirit of his son,* had awakened a jealousy and excited a dread of him in all the powers of Indostan. An apprehension that the ascendency already acquired by the Mysorean monarch would eventually lead to an absolute subjection to his dominion appears to have operated more powerfully on the councils of the Marattas and the Nizam of the Decan, because, from the situation of their territories, they were more exposed than others to invasion from him. Accordingly we find these rival powers disposed to drop the enmity which had, for ages, subsisted between them, when called on to oppose his progress: common interest served as a cement between them.-This was, happily, exemplified in the approaching war. On this occasion, although the British governments first took the field as the avengers of an injured prince's cause, and the protectors of the independency of the states on the peninsula of India, yet these native powers discovered a disposition to co-operate with them, and immediately adopted measures for that purpose. 1788 AMERICAN * We are informed by a writer on India affairs, on the authority of a person very conversant in them, "that Tippoo Sultan's thoughts were constantly bent on war and military preparations: "that he had been frequently heard to say that, in this world, he would rather live two days "like a tiger, than two hundred years like a sheep."-Col. Beatson. from lord Wellesley, ap. Asiatic Annual Register. 1800. 1788 AMERICAN STATES. ELEVEN of the states having ratified the new constitution, the old congress now declared it to be in full force.t-The first wednesday in the ensuing month of january was then appointed for the choosing electors in the different states which had given it their sanction; who, when thus elected, were empowered to nominate a president.-The first wednesday in the ensuing february was, at the same time, appointed for the election of the president: and the first wednesday in march for the assembling of the new congress at New York, then the seat of government; when the several branches of the government were to commence their proceedings, or enter upon their administration, under the new constitution." GREAT + September 13. Liancourt's Travels. 4. 349. GREAT BRITAIN. 1789. THE public embarrassment occasioned by his majesty's illness was increased by the death of Mr. Cornwall, speaker of the house of commons. † -The vacant chair was filled by the election of Mr. William Grenville, without regard to the small informality arising from the want of the royal approbation; after which the business of parliament was resumed. The premier, at this time, addressed a letter to the prince of Wales, informing him of the plan intended to be pursued respecting the regency; among the regulations of which, it was determined that the care of his majesty's person and management of his household, with the appointments appendant on it, should be in the queen; and that, whilst the prince should be empowered to exercise the royal authority, in the name of his majesty during his illness, he was to be restricted from granting any real or personal estate belonging to the crown, any office in reversion, any pension, and even any rank or dignity of the peerage. The temper and dignity with which his royal highness received this information of the mutilated state in which he was to exercise the royal functions, did him honour, and afforded much satisfaction to the nation. After some comments on the premier's letter, after expressing his deep regret "that he perceived in the propo"sitions a project for producing weakness, disorder, and insecurity in every "branch of the administration of affairs," he proceeds to say "that a "conviction of the evils which may arise to the king's interests, to the peace and happiness of the royal family, and to the safety and welfare " of 66 1789 1789 "of the nation, from the government's remaining longer in its present "maimed and debilitated state, outweighs, in the prince's mind, every other "consideration, and will determine him to undertake the painful task imposed upon him by the present melancholy necessity, in full confi"dence that the affection and loyalty to the king, the experienced attach"ment to the house of Brunswick, and the generosity which has ever distinguished the British nation, will carry him through the many difficul"ties inseparable from this most critical situation with comfort to himself, "with honour to the king, and advantage to the public." a The bill of limitations was brought into the house of commons, by the premier, a few days after. But, happily, it was stopped in its progress by a declaration of the king's physicians, that his majesty was in a state of progressive amendment. All proceedings respecting the regency were then suspended. And on the tenth day of march, it having been declared that he was perfectly recovered from his indisposition, a commission was ordered to be issued for holding the parliament in the usual manner. This event was celebrated by a general thanksgiving, and with every demonstration of heartfelt joy, throughout the kingdom. And his majesty, that he might give the most public testimony of his gratitude to Providence for having thus restored him to his family, and to an affectionate and loyal people, repaired in solemn procession, to the cathedral of St. Paul, there to make his devout acknowledgments to his Almighty Protector. Among the most interesting matters which were brought before parliament this session was the repeal of the corporation and test acts, as far as related to protestant dissenters. The application was made by a motion of Mr. Beaufoy, which Mr. Fox supported with great force of eloquence and argument; resting chiefly on the reasonableness and natural justice of restoring to persons of this description the privileges enjoyed by the members of the English church, and a full power, according to their talents, of rendering themselves useful to the state. His reasonings were ably combated by the premier on the principles of expediency and civil utility: government, he asserted, "had a right to prevent any civil inconvenience "which such opinions might produce; without waiting till, by their being "carried into action, the inconvenience should actually arise. He con"sidered 66 "sidered the established church as a part of the constitution of the country, " and the acts in question as justifiable on the principle of self-defence.They had now existed for above a century, and had ever been looked upon as one of the bulwarks of the constitution."-He was supported by lord North; and the motion was rejected by a majority of 122 to 102.The same fate attended a bill introduced by earl Stanhope into the house of peers for relieving members of the church of England from sundry penalties and disabilities, for absenting themselves from service, and other things made punishable by law; and for extending freedom in matters of religion to all persons, papists only excepted. By this bill it was intended not only to repeal the penal statutes relative to such offences, but to give freedom of discussion by speaking, writing, and printing, on all religious subjects; a freedom which it was feared would be highly prejudicial to the peace and welfare of the community by loosening the bands of society, and opening a door to licentiousness and civil disorder as well as irreligion. Before the close of the session, two bills were passed which are deserving our notice as of material importance to the commercial world: one of of these was introduced by a motion which Mr. Fox now repeated for a repeal of the shop tax, which now proved successful; the minister making no opposition to it.--The other was a bill brought forward by the chancellor of the exchequer for repealing the existing duties on tobacco, and substituting duties of excise.-The odium which had ever attended excise taxes in England afforded the friends of the manufacturers who petitioned against the measure strong grounds for opposition, which they availed themselves of. But the great addition which it promised to the revenue without any additional burthen to the community was a circumstance that outweighed the objections made to it, and gave the plan the approbation of a great majority in both houses. Such were the principal transactions of this session, which was not closed till the beginning of the month of august.-In the mean-time, Mr. Grenville had been appointed secretary of state in the room of lord Sydney, and Mr. Henry Addington was raised to the vacant speaker's chair. He was elected, in opposition to sir Gilbert Elliot, by a majority of 1789 с Annual Register. 148. d Idem. 148. с Idem. 154. |