HISTORY OF EUROPE, SIS 



eHAP, XTIII. 



Damesfic Events. — Diffiailf Circumstances of Mr. PitVs Administration. 

 — Its Weakness. — Formidable Opposition thereto. — Of jo/iom composed. 

 — Necessity of strengtfifnin^ itself. — Mnms adopted for that Purpose. 

 — inefficacious, and uhi/, — Mr. Addinslon raised to ilie Peerage — And 

 appointed President of the Council in iheRoom of the Duke of Portland. 

 — Age and Infirmity of the latter, ohlige him to retire from Public 

 Business. — Inci-easins: Difficulties of the Minisii-i;. — Charges preferred 

 against Viscount Melville. — Votes of the House of Commons thereon. — 

 Final Decision for th^ Impeachmertf of Lord Melville.- -The Adherents cf 

 Lord SidniGuih, support these Proceedings. — Lord Sidmouth resigns. 

 ■ — ISfw Arrangements in Administration — Its increasing IVeakncss. — 

 Lord Melville resigns, and is succeeded by Sir Charles Middleton. — 

 Excellent Naval Administration of the former. — Tlie latter created Lord 

 Barham.—Bad Health of Mr. Pitt. — Precipitancy of his Measures, in 

 inducing Ar'stria to open ike Campaign on the Continent. — Its fatal Effect 

 on the Affairs of Europe — and on the Health of Mr. Pitt— whose Life 

 is in Danger. — Naval Events cf the Year. — Spanish JVar popular in the 

 Navy. — Vlhy.— Failure of the Catamaran System — Which sinks into 

 Contempt and Disuse. — Gallant Action in the East Indies. — Admiral 

 Lineis beaten by a far ijiferior Force. — Gallant Exploit of tivo small 

 Vessels in the Mediterranean. — Situation of the Nary much improved. — 

 Causes thereof. — Profect undertaken of making the Harbour of Fal- 

 mouth a Naval Arsenal. — Absurd, and abandoned. — Extraordinary 

 Efforts of the combined French and Spanish Fleets — Which escape th« 

 British blockading Squadrons — and sail for the West Indies on a pre- 

 datory Cruize.— Capture of the Ville de Milan French Frigate. — Gallant 

 Conduct of Sir Robert Laurie — And Generosity of Captain Talbot. — 

 Attack of the Island of Dominica by the French. — Steady Conduct of 

 the Governor and Troops — saves the Island. — Shameful Rapacity of the 

 French.— Their Cowardice and precipitate Flight over the Atlantic, 

 before an inferior Force under Lord Nelson. — Action with the British 

 Squadron under Sir Robert Calder. — French lose two Ships of the Line 

 • — And succeed in retreating to Cadiz. ^Observai ions on the Conduct of 

 the English Admiral. — His subsequent Trial and Sentence. — The 

 French Admiral Villeneuve with thirty three Ships of the Line put to 

 Sea from Cadiz. — Fought by the British Fleet, of a much inferior Force, 

 wider Lord Nelson.— Glorious Victory of Trafalgar achieved by the 

 latter.— Further Success of Sir Richard Strachan, who captures 

 four more Ships of the Line.— Death of 1 Mid Nelson. — His Eulogi/. — 

 Disastrous Fate of the captured French and Spanish Ships.— Difi- 

 tult Situation of Admiral Collingwood and his Fleet.— General Ob- 

 atrvaliom—and Conduvion. 1* 3 



