ANNUAL 
Peace with America was now, 
(1783,) concluded, and East-Indian 
affairs, which had ‘been long in dis. 
order, numerous wars with the 
native princes, and other circum. 
stances, natural to the government 
898 
of a distant province, demanded 
consideration. y 
To Mr. Fox was confided the 
formation of a bill which should 
settle that distracted country. This 
bill was introduced to the house of 
commons on the 18th of November, 
by a speech of Mr. Fox, equal to 
the production of any orator, of 
ancient or modern times. Burke 
supported the bill with all his fire, 
and in his arguments laid the ground- 
work of a charge against Mr Has- 
tings ; he concluded with pro- 
nouncing the eulogium of Mr. 
Fox. 
The bill passed with a consider. 
able majority in the house of com. 
mons, and was sent up to the house 
of peers. But, to the astonishment 
no less of the ministry than of a 
large portion of the public, it was 
rejected; and the king determined 
on an entire change of administra- 
tion! The intimation was conveyed 
to lord North and Mr. Fox, very 
late in the evening, and they Were 
desired to render up their seals of 
office, through the medium of their 
under secretaries, on the next day. 
Mr. Pitt again became minister, 
Mr. Dundas (afterwards lord Mel- 
ville,) his only colleague capable of 
offering him any material assistance, 
was appointed treasurer of the 
_ Mavy ; and Mr. (afterwards Jord) 
Grenville‘ succeeded Burke. ‘Thus 
was soon formed a ministry, but 
the majority remained with the new 
opposition; on the part of whom 
2 number af resolutions took place. 
REGISTER, 
An attempt was made, by the coun- 
try gentlemen in parliament, to 
bring together the leading mem- 
bers of ministry and.opposition but 
in vain. Mr. Fox and the duke of 
Portland would admit of no steps 
till Mr, Pitt, by resignation, should 
create an equal basis, which he 
refused. Mr, Pitt stood his ground, 
and parliament being dissolved, a 
majority favourable to the new 
ministry was returned in the ensuing 
parliament, 
The new election rendered it 
necessary for Mr, Fox to prepare 
for a meeting with his constituents, 
in the city of Westminster. 
To attempt here to describe the 
Westminster election of 1784, the 
concerns of which have already fill- 
ed a quarto volume, would be im- 
possible. Lord Hood and sir Cecil 
Wray were the other candidates, 
and they formed a coalition against 
Mr. Fox. 
At the close of the poll, on the 
17th of May, after it had lasted 
forty-seven days, Mr. Fox hada 
majority of 235 above sir Cecil 
Wray, 18,925 votes were polled, 
out of which lord Hood had 6694, 
and sir Cecil Wray 5998, leaving to 
Mr. Fox 6233, Notwithstanding 
this majority, the unsuccessful can. 
didate demanded a scrutiny, and 
the high bailiff, in consequence, re- 
fused to return Mr. Fox, for which 
he was prosecuted, and a verdict was 
obtained against him for 20001. In 
the mean time, he was seated in the 
house of commons, for the Scotish 
boroughs of Dornoch, Tain, Ding- 
wall, Wick, and Kirkwall, and after 
a long and tedious scrutiny, the ex- 
pences of which were defrayed by 
his principal friends, he obtained his 
seat for Westminster. 
In 
