BRITAIN. 



65'.) 



i-quippcd advising and leaving Turkey to conclude 

 a peace with the empress on the terms which she had 

 proposed. 



To divert the attention of the nation from the ae- 





Before we take a view of those affairs, in Europe, Brium- 

 which eventually dispelled all the pleasing hopes of ' " 

 peace and prosperity, so lately held out in the Ian- Q 

 guage of the throne, it is necessary, among the events 

 of the present year, to notice the affairs of India. Affairs in 

 Tippoo Saib had concluded a peace with the East Illdlil - 

 India company, in 1784 ; but, within a few years, a 

 dispute with the Rajah of Travancore, respecting 

 two forts which the Dutch had sold to that poten- 

 tate, but over which Tippoo claimed a feudal sove- 

 reignty, involved the company, as allies of the Ra- 

 jah, once more in hostilities with Tippoo. The war, 

 which was renewed in 1790, was this year terminated 

 with signal success. In February, Lord Cornwall!*; 

 had invested Seringapatam, the capital of the Sultan's 

 dominions, and the prince's affairs seemed so despe- 

 rate, that he consented to peace, on terms dictated 

 by the conqueror. These were, that he should cede 

 one half of his dominions to the British and their al- 

 lies ; pay about L.'l,000,000 sterling, to indemnify 

 their expences in the war ; release all prisoners, and 

 deliver his two sons as hostages for the performance 

 of the treaty. 



Before the news of these distant triumphs reached Coalition 

 us, the affairs of Europe were become dark and por- of Austria 

 lentous. On the 2()th of April, war was declared by and . 1'f "i 

 the French National Assembly, against the king of ^'" ( 

 Hungary, the title of Emperor being yet vacant by 

 the death of Leopold II. In July, the combined 

 armies of Austria and Prussia entered France, under 

 the command of the Duke of Brunswick, preceded 

 by that dreadful manifesto, in which they threatened 

 to punish the French nation as rebels, and give up 

 Paris to military execution, unless the king and royal 

 family were set at liberty. For two months, the ad- 

 vance of the Duke of Brunswick, though conducted 

 under many unprosperous omens, was unchecked ; 

 but, on the 20th of September, Dumourier repulsed 

 him on the heights of Walmy, and his army, thinned 

 by disease and famine, began their retreat. Before 

 the close of the year, not only had the French do- 

 minions been evacuated ; but the whole of the Aus- 

 trian Netherlands, Luxembourg and Liege except- 

 ed, were overrun by the republican invaders. 



In the mean time, the Parisians, alike ferocious in Obnoxious 

 their fears and in their triumphs, had signalized the Decrees of 

 10th of August and the 1st day of September, by 

 massacres, at which the heart freezes in the recital, on 

 pretence of the danger which was threatened by the 

 approaching invaders. In November, the conven- 

 tion, intoxicated by the repulse of the hostile armies, 

 passed their famous decree for fraternizing with all 

 nations in pursuit of liberty for annexing the Duchy 

 of Savoy to the republic, and for opening the navi- 

 gation of the Scheldt. The event of the 10th of 

 August, by which royalty in 'France was abolished, 

 was deemed sufficient grounds by the British court 

 for recalling our ambassador. The French ambassa- 

 dor, though no longer acknowledged, remained in 

 England. The fraternizing decree of the conven- 

 tion, and the decree respecting the Scheldt, occasion- 

 ed an offer of our assistance to be made to the States 

 General ; an embargo to be laid on all vessels freight- 

 ed with corn to France, and preparations for war by 

 land and sea. 



The substance of his majesty's speech when par- 

 liament next assembled, December 13th, was to de- 

 clare the necessity of putting the nation in a posture 

 of defence against internal disaffection, and external 



