To divert the attention of the nation from the severe invectives on the failure and folly of this armed interfe rence, Mr Pitt, at the next opening of parliament, (Janu ary 1792,) exhibited the most flattering and prosperous display of the national finances. The amount of the revenue exceeded that of last year by 300,000/., and the whole surplus of the income over the expenditure was 900,000/., leaving room to propose the repeal of some of the more burthensome taxes, and apply 400,000/. to the reduction of the national debt. Our exports had risen to 20,1 20,000/. ; and our internal trade had increased in at least an equal proportion.
The same session was memorable for the success of a bill originating with Mr Fox, for giving juries a power of judging of the intention, as well as fact, in deciding upon libels. The bill had been introduced, and passed the commons the preceding year, but was rejected by the lords. In the same house, it still encountered se vere opposition ; the law lords, Thurlow, Kenyon, and Bathurst, pronouncing it a fundamental subversion of English jurisprudence. Lord Camden and the Marquis of Lansdowne, with greater strength and liberality, con tended, that the principle of the bill had been inherent in our laws and practice. Judge Jeffreys, himself, in all his devotion to an arbitrary court, had been of this opinion. To whom, said Lord Camden, should the judging of libels be confided, or to speak more properly, who were to guard the liberty of the press—the judges, or the people of England :—the juries were the people of England. In the fierce animosity of political opinions which had recently arisen, the one party made too forci ble an use of the increasing horrors of the French revo lution, to discountenance all reform in our constitution ; while there was evidently, on the other, a spirit of law less disaffection, cherished by a class of the British pub lic, who were infected by the republicanism of France. Professing to raise a barrier at once against the licen tiousness, and a popular bulwark in favour of reform, a society called the Friends of the People, was formed. In such a mixed society, it may be difficult to pronounce upon the general wish ; but of the leaders of this society, many were unexceptionable, and some were distinguish ed political characters. One of them, Mr Grey, gave notice of his intentions to move, as formerly, for an in quiry into the state of the representation : his views were vehemently opposed by the minister, as well as by a ma jority of the people. Reform, in every shape, was now deprecated by that party as the pretext of revolutionists, and the certain precursor of the subversion of the con stitution. In a royal proclamation against seditious writings and principles, which soon after appeared, the magistrates were exhorted to vigilance, and the people to obedience; and loyal addresses of answer to the pro clamation, by both houses of parliament, were transmit ted from every part of the kingdom. Amidst this fear
of the infection of French principles and cruelty, the horrors and disgraces of the slave trade were not suf fered to be erased from our own name as a nation. The motion, renewed by Mr Wilberforce, for abolishing that iniquitous traffic, was rejected in the Lords, even though softened down by the amendment of Mr Dundas for a gradual abolition.
Before we take a view of those affairs, in Europe, which eventually dispelled all the pleasing hopes of peace and prosperity, so lately held out in the language of the throne, it is necessary among the events of the present year, to notice the affairs of India. Tippoo Saib had concluded a peace with the East 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 potentate, but over which Tippoo claimed a feudal sovereignty, involved the company, as allies of the Rajah, once more in hostilities with Tippoo. The war, which was renewed in 1790, was this year termi nated with signal success. In February, Lord Corn wallis had invested Seringapatam, the capital of the Sultan's dominions, and the prince's affairs seemed so desperate, 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 allies; pay about 4,000,0001. 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 us, the affairs of Europe were become dark and porten tous. On the 20th of April, %war was declared by the French National Assembly, against the king of Hun gary, the title of Emperor being yct 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 manifes to, in which they threatened to punish the French na tion as rebels, and give up Paris to military execution, unless the king and royal family Were set at liberty. For two months, the advance 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 NValmy, and his army, thinned by disease and famine, began their retreat. Be fore the close of the year, not only had the French do minions been evacuated ; but the whole of the Austrian Netherlands, Luxembourg and Liege excepted, were overrun by the republican invaders.