Such was the addition given to Opposition, by an election under circumstances of general distress, that several measures were carried in this session against ministers ; in particular, a motion on 2d March, by Sir James Mackintosh, for a revision of the criminal code, where the numbers were 147 against 128 ; and a motion for a committee on the state of the Scottish Burghs, carried by 149 to 144. In the division on the grant of L.10,000 to the Duke of York, the Op position mustered 186 votes against 281. But the impression excited by these successes was greatly enfeebled by a motion, which arrayed on one side all the strength of Government, and that of the neu tral party. We allude to Mr Tierney's motion an " inquiry into the state of the nation," which was negatived by 357 to 178—a division, evincing that, though disposed to co-operate with Opposition oc casionally and for specific objects, the neutral party had no wish for a change of Ministry. Encouraged by this success, Mr Vansittart came forward with the bold proposition of new taxes, to the extent of L. 3,000,000, on the ground of a sum of that amount being absolutely necessary to give efficiency to the Sinking Fund. Of this sum the chief part was ex pected from an increase of the duties on malt, spi rits, and tobacco ; but part also was to be derived from a tax on foreign wool (6d. per lb.) ; a most sin gular impost in a country where the export of ma nufactured wool forms a main branch of the national industry. Ministers were conscious of its injurious tendency, but were obliged to bring it forward as an equivalent to the landed interest, for the fresh bur den exacted from them in the malt-duty.
The farther debates of the session related to the Catholic question, and the resumption of cash pay ments. In the contest pending at this time be tween Spain and her American colonies, Ministers took part with the mother country, so far at least as to discourage, by act of Parliament, the enlist ment of our officers and soldiers on the side of the insurgents. In the preceding session, L.1,000,000 had been voted for building additional churches and chapels for the established worship in Eng land; and this year, L. 100,000 was appropriated for a similar purpose to the established church of Scotland. The last act of the session was a grant made in July of the limited sum of L50,000, to be shared by government among persons settling, on particular conditions, at the Cape of Good Hope. This was the first pecuniary aid given by govern ment towards emigration, which is accounted by some the only remedy for our present overstock of labourers and manufacturers.
• The revival of commercial activity, in 1818, pro ved unfortunately of short duration. Distress re turned tojards the end of that year, and assumed an aggravated aspect in the course of 1819. This pro duced popular assemblages, and led, on 16th Au gust, to an unfortunate scene at Manchester, in which the interference of the Yeomanry Cavalry, to disperse a very numerous meeting of the people, was produc tive of loss of•life to several persons and of bodily injury to many. The irritation excited among the lower orders by this proceeding, and by the con tinued pressure of poverty, led to the dissemination of a spirit of discontent and insurrection, which ne cessitated the assembling of Parliament on 28d No vember. The speech of the Regent, as well as the discussions of both Houses, were directed to this pain ful subject ; and the alarm excited among the aristo cracy, joined to other considerations, having finally detached the Grenville party from the Opposition, the }atter now mustered in less formidable array. On
the division for an amendment upon the address to the Regent, the numbers were 150 against 380.
• Several bills were afterwards introduced by Mi nisters for the prevention of disturbances. These consisted in imposing a tax on the petty publications circulated among the lower orders ; impeding the circulation of libels; authorizing the seizure of arms; and forbidding military training, or seditious meet ings. These bills produced long and animated de bates; but the most considerable division on the side of Opposition (for limiting the act against seditious measures to three years, instead of five) consisted of only 160 votes against 328. A motion of a more Comprehensive nature, for a committee on the state of the country, was negatived in the Lords, by 178 to 47; in the Commons, by 395 to 150.
After transacting this and other business of an ur gent nature, Parliament adjourned ; but was soon af ter brought together by an event, which, however conformable to the course of nature, was not at that time expected—the death of George III. The day after the demise, agreeably to established usage, both Houses met, and took the oath of allegiance to the new Sovereign. On the 2d February, they adjciurn ed tilt the 17th, the day after the interment of his Majesty. On that day, both Houses voted an ad dress of condolence to the present King, after which they proceeded to transact such business as was pressing, and might, according to law, have conti nued to sit during six months; but Ministers judged fit to resort to a dissolution. Another election now took place under circumstances of general distress. The new Parliament met on the 21st April, and was opened on the 27th by George IV., in a speech, de claring his anxiety for strict economy ; but regret ting, that the state of the country was such as to ad mit of no reduction of the military force.
- The peace of Amiens at first gave hopes of the improvement of Ireland by the introduction of British industry and capital ; but these hopes were soon clouded by the renewed contest of 1803. In that contest, the public in England and Scot And joined with almost unexampled zeal; Ireland was less cordial ; but it would be altogether erro neous to connect with any political party, whe ther Catholic or Protestant, the miserable insur rection of 23d July 1803. A plot to seize Dublin, almost as extravagant as that of the late Cato Street conspiracy in London, was framed by a few infa tuated individuals ; and in the tumult, which burst forth with great violence, but feeble means, Lord Kilwarden, the Chief Justice, unhappily lost his life. A party of military soon dispersed the rabble, and of their leaders, most of whom were afterwards ap prehended and executed, the only one entitled to notice was Emmett, a young man, whose education and talents ought to have placed him above such desperate attempts. The alarm thus excited, en gaged, some time after, the attention of Parliament, and led to the enactment of two bills, one for a re newed suspension of the Habeas Corpus act in Ire land, the other for trying rebels by martial law.