CHAP. their fears, to animate their efforts, and to in VI. 1785. vigorate their hopes; this, and every other endeavor must fall into oblivion; and they would shortly repose in indolent acquiescence, under such a representation, as would gall themselves and their posterity with increasing taxation and oppression." The small attendance of delegates, the short sittings of congress, and its speedy dissolution, were caused by the late spirited exertions of government; and the desponding language in the final address of congress, is to be ascribed to the general reprobation, by all sober-minded persons, of the recent proceedings of the advocates for parliamentary reform, and to the difference of opinion which had arisen among themselves, and created considerable disunion, relative to the important point of admitting roman catholics to the right of suffrage. Lord Charlemont, who was at the head of the volunteers, and an avowed friend of reform, declared against the grant of that right, for which he received the thanks of the corporation of Dublin, in October 1784. It was determined, that Mr. Flood should not introduce his bill a second time, till the fate of Mr. Pitt's motion, upon the same subject in the British house of commons, should be known. We have seen that Mr. Pitt's VI. 1785. motion was negatived, on the 18th of April; and CHAP. on the 12th of May, Mr. Flood's bill, which had been introduced a few days before, was rejected, upon the second reading, by a majority of 112 to 60. Thus ended, for the present, the attempt in Ireland to obtain a parliamentary reform; but there still remained a discontented and turbulent spirit in the country, which in time, as we shall hereafter see, broke forth in disorders of the most serious nature. CHAP. 1786. CHAPTER THE SEVENTH : 1786. Continental Affairs-Meeting of Parliament-The Duke of Richmond's Plan of Fortifications-Mr. Pitt's Plan for the Redemption of the National Debt-His other Finance Measures-Amendment of Mr. Pitt's India Bill-Commencement of Proceedings against Mr. Hastings-Prorogation of Parliament. TH HE prospect, in the beginning of the year 1785, of the immediate commencement of hostilities between Austria and the United States of Holland, was mentioned in the preceding chapter. This expected rupture, however, did not take place. The emperor, perceiving from the decisive language held by the court of Versailles, and the actual assembling of troops near Luxembourg, that if he prosecuted his claims by force of arms, the French would support the Dutch with all their power, thought it more prudent to settle the points in dispute, by means of negotiation. He required, indeed, as a previous step, that a formal apology should be made for the insult offered to his flag, by the seizure of the brigs upon the Scheldt; and the states, not hesitating to gratify his pride VII. 1786. in this instance, sent two of their nobles to CHAP. Vienna for that purpose, in the month of July. This matter being adjusted, conferences were immediately opened between the Austrian and Dutch ambassadors, at Paris; and so really desirous were both parties of an amicable arrangement, that the preliminaries were signed on the 12th of September, and the definitive treaty on the 8th of November, through the mediation, and under the guarantee, of the king of France. By this treaty it was agreed, that the emperor should enjoy the sovereignty of the Scheldt from Antwerp to the county of Softingen, and that the sovereignty of the rest of the river from thence to the sea, together with the canals of the Sas, the Swin, and the mouths of the neighboring rivers, should continue to belong exclusively to the states general; that the states should demolish the forts of Kriuschans and Frederick Henry, and cede the térritories to the emperor, and that they should also cede to him the forts of Lillo and Lickinshock, with their fortifications, having the liberty of previously withdrawing their artillery and ammunition; and that the states general should pay to the emperor, 9 millions of florins, in consideration of his renouncing all pretensions to Maestricht, and its territory, VIL. 1786. CHAP. and half a million of florins, as an indemnification for the damages which his subjects had sustained by the inundations. There were also several articles relative to local rights and internal regulations, and one by which the contracting parties mutually renounced all farther claims upon each other. The emperor was unquestionably a gainer by this treaty; but throughout the transaction he gave proofs of that want of steadiness and decision, by which his character was strongly marked. Mr. Pitt watched with attention the whole of these proceedings, but they never assumed a shape to make it necessary for the court of London to interfere. After the arrangement was settled, he received private intelligence, that of the ten millions of florins, paid by the Dutch to the emperor, four millions and a half were advanced by France, which his informant mentioned as a proof of the desire of the court of Versailles to preserve the peace of Europe; but, perhaps, it ought rather to be considered as the price of that ascendancy, which France was from this time allowed to exercise over the counsels of the states general; and which we may conclude, she was most anxious to obtain, as her finances were at this time by no means in a florishing condition. Two days indeed after the conclusion of the treaty between |