THE 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 



For the YEAR 1810. 



THE 



HISTORY 



OF 



EUROPE. 



CHAP. I. 



Changes in the British Ministry. — Meeting of Parliament. — King's 

 Speech. — Addresses moved in replif in both Houses. — Amendments 

 proposed. — Debates thereon. — Involving particularly a Review of the 

 War in Spain. — And the calamitous Expedition to the Scheldt. 



THE British ministry, from 

 causes suflRciently explained 

 in our last volume, had fallen into 

 so much contempt, that changes 

 might have been expected, even if 

 there had not been any bickerings 

 and fighting between lord Castie- 

 reagh and IVIr. Canning. On the 

 resignation of tiiese two secreta- 

 ries, Mr. Perceval, who had be- 

 come first lord of the treasury and 

 prime minister, on the retirement 

 of the duke of Portland, set him- 

 self, to thin and weaken the ranks 

 Vol. LH. 



of opposition, and to consolidate 

 his own administration, by an 

 amalgamation with earl Grey 

 and lord Grenville, men cf grea';; 

 wealth, as well as eloquence, and 

 no common share of abilities, 

 both acquired and natural. They 

 were considered by their adiier- 

 ents, among whom were many 

 persons of large property, and not 

 a few also of great talents, since 

 the death of Mr. Fox, as the chief 

 leaders of what was still called the 

 whig party. The project of Mr. 

 B 



