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frivolous causes in which they originated, and the repulse of the British arms, after two most desperate attempts on the strong, and it would appear almost impregnable fortress of Burtpore. The pitiful alterations that had been so childishly introduced into the mili. tary dress of the Sepoys, were given up immediately after the insurrec. tion and massacre at Vellore, in July 1806. But for several months after, a spirit of alarm, restlessness, and commotion, was discerned among different corps of native troops: nor did this immediately or fully subside, even after the judicious proclamation of the government of Madrass, December 3d, 1806, noticed in our last volume.* A chief, named Dundie Khan, had received a tract of land, in addition to that which he held of the company, for his neutrality during the war with Holkar, and Scindiah. This man being called on to pay his tribute, said he was not then able to do it; alledging in excuse, that his ryots (tenants) had not brought into his treasury money sufficient to pay the demand. He was treated geatly: but next year, 1807, a complaint was again made against Dun. die Khan to the judge and magistrate of the district, who sent him a sub. pœna, commanding his attendance in the court, by a hircarrah, who is a messenger of the lowest class. This indignity was so offensive to Dun. die's pride, that he ordered the man's head to be cut off. For this atrocious act of contumacy, he was again summoned before the civil tribunal, and again refused to make his appearance: whereupon a military force was called out, under the

command of major-general Dickens, and encamped before Comona, liis principal fort. But, instead of attacking it immediately, as the general advised, the government procrasti nated the siege, and allowed him one month to deliver himself up. During the interval, he employed himself in widening his ditch, strengthening his wall, and making every other preparation he could think of for a determined and resolute resistance. At the expiration of the month, he sent word that he would deliver up both himself and the fort to the ge neral, provided he was assured that his life was safe. But he would never consent to appear before a judge; as his government was not subject to our civil jurisprudence. In consequence of orders from the governor-general, the place was in vested. Trenches were dug, bat teries erected, and a breach that had been made, reported to be practicable. On the 18th of November, 1807, about three o'clock P. M. five companies of his majesty's 17th regiment of infantry, the same regiment that had been so severely handled in the mad attack on the fortress of Burtpore, with some companies of Sepoys, went down to the breach. At the same time, an attack was made on a fortified gar. den, to the right of the fort; which was repelled with great slaughter on the side of the storming party. When our men descended the head of the glacis, they saw a ditch 28 feet deep, and 44 broad; but found numberless obstacles in the way of their ascending to the breach, for at the bottom of the ditch, the ene. my had dug pits, which they had filled with powder: and on these,

• HISTORY OF EUROPE, p. 254.

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they threw lighted choppers; coverings for huts made of dry wood and straw, and cemented with pitch; by which numbers of our were blown up. Exposed to this furnace, while bastions still entire completely enfiladed the whole of the storming party, our troops remained for two hours, leaving no. thing untried that the most determined bravery could suggest for getting into the fort; without effect. They were at last called off from this murderous scene, not without difficulty. Next night the enemy evacuated the fortress of Comona, and proceeded to that of Ghurnow. rie. The loss of the British at Comona, was 35 officers, killed and wounded, and 700 men, of whom 147 were Europeans. On the 24th of November, regular ap

proaches began to be made to Ghur. nowrie; and when these were sufficiently advanced, shells were thrown, which annoyed the troops of Dundie Khan, who had no garden to retreat to, as at Comona, so much, that, about seven in the evening, of the 10th of December, 1807, they abandoned the fort and escapedacross the Jumna.* This attempt to take the fort of Comona, with out either filling up, or partly filling up the ditch, or destroying the bas. tions, seems to exceed in absurdity, and a wanton disregard to the lives of men, the attempt to reduce Buenos Ayres with iron crows and bayonets.-Whether the conduct of general Dickens was ever made a subject of inquiry, we have not learnt.

*Extract of a letter from an officer, dated at Ghurnowrie, in the Doab, 27th of December, 1807.

CHAP.

CHAP. XIII.

General Elections.-Important change in public opinion, respecting an usual Majority in the House of Commons.-Westminster Election. Meeting of Parliament—His Majesty's Speech.-Debates thereon, in both Houses.-Measure for obviating the incon_ veniencies respecting private Bills, arising from the late Dissolution of Parliament.-Debate thereon.-Appointment of a new Committee of Finance.-House of Commons, in a Committee of Supply.-Army and Navy Estimates.-New Military Plan for recruiting and reinforcing the Army.-Irish Arms, and Insurrec tion Bills.-Motion by Lord Cochrane, for discovering to the Public what Sinecure Places, Pensions, &c. were held by Members of Parliament.-Bill against the granting of Offices in reversion, thrown out of the House of Lords.-Address by the House of Commons to His Majesty, on the subject of granting Places in Reversion.-Notice by Mr. Bankes of a Motion against Places in Reversion, to be made by him early in next Session of Parliament.-Prorogation of Parliament.

THE

HE most striking feature or characteristic in the general elections that followed the dissolutions of the short parliament, in April 1807, was, that the progress of public opinion appeared to have in a great measure, superseded the influence of faction and party. The men in power, with their dependents, cried, Beware of popery, and of the encroachments of powerful families combined, on the prerogative of the crown: the late ministers, with theirs, Beware of the intrigues and artifices of subtle courtiers, and chicaning lawyers. The great opposite factions were loud in their accusations of each other. Each maintained, that the other grasped at offices, and the administration of government, not that they might have an opportu. nity of serving the country, but

merely for the purpose of getting possession of the public money. The people appeared very well disposed to believe both. Both par. ties, the Ours and the INs, as they were familiarly called, had so uni formly embarrassed government, when it was not in their own hands, and yet so uniformly taken the first opportunity of deserting the cause they had professed to maintain, that the people at large had absolutely lost all confidence in a majority of them; a change in public opinion.fraught with many remote, if not speedy consequences. Sir Francis Burdett, and lord Cochrane, became popular by disclaiming all attachment to all parties and factions, and declaring their wishes to overturn abuses, and nothing but abuses; to look only to the measures of men, and not to their persoas

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and connections. Their election Friday, June the 26th. This was a very interesting day. Public at. tention had been roused in no ordinary degree. Passion had been powerfully excited, and with this, a concomitant curiosity and expec tation. Both parties, that is, the ministerialists, and oppositionists, had assembled the whole of their respective forces. A circular let. ter was sent from the house of lord Howick, to all the members of the house of commons, that were supposed to be on the side of the old ministry, soliciting their presence on the occasion of the debate, and division expected on the address that should be moved, in answer to the speech from the throne. In order to ascertain, or form some notion, of the number of their adherents, a most magnificent dinner was gi ven, June 24th, at Willis's great rooms, St. James's; at which dinner, there were present 188 members of the house of lords and com. mons, in opposition to the new ministry.-The number of members assembled, on the 26th of June, in the house of commons, amounted to 505; the greatest, it was sup posed, that had ever been assembled on any occasion.

for Westminster was a complete triumph over aristocratical combination, and all parties and factions whatever. These two men were not unworthy of being so honourably and so singularly distinguished. The matured talents and virtues of sir F. Burdett, his acute understanding, prompt eloquence, and manly sense, uniformly employed for the good of his country, and mankind, soared above the clouds of calumny and detraction, and had procured him a reputation not to be tarnished by any, or all of the surmises, concerning the danger of innovation; that is, the danger of timeous reformation, or reparation. The \blooming virtues of lord Cochrane, uniting the genius and generous ardour of his family, with the most consummate skill in his profession, and an audacious and fortunate boldness, had classed him for years, though yet a very young man, among the most distinguished heroes of the age. Nor has his political courage, and the purity of his views, shone forth less conspicuously, whether in his harangues to the people, or his speeches and conduct in parliament, than his intrepidity did on the bosom of the ocean, or the shores of the enemy.

The new parliament was opened with the accustomed formalities, on Monday the 22d of June, when Mr. Abbot was re-elected speaker of the house of commons unanimously, and with universal applause and acclamation. The first four days were employed in administer. ing the oaths prescribed to the mem. bers. The day appointed for the delivery of his majesty's speech to both houses of parliament, was

On the forenoon of the same day, sir Francis Burdett proceeded, in compliance with the desire of the electors of Westminster, in a triumphal car, blazoned with a num. her of emblematical figures, with the utmost magnificence and pomp, from his house in Piccadilly, through streets crowded with innumerable multitudes of applauding spectators, to the Crown and Anchor ta vern, in the Strand; where he di ned with 1,500 of his friends. It was the first time that he had appeared

peared in public since his duel with his quondam fri nd Paul.* His visage was pale, his mien languid, and a pearance altogether ex, tremely interesting. His leg that had been wounded, lay stretched on a cushion. Ilis other foot was placed on a figure, on which were inscribed the words VENALITY and CORRUPTION.

speech from the thronet, was delivered in his majesty's name, by the chancellor, lord Eldon, one of the commissioners. The others were, the archbishop of Canterbury, and the earls of Aylesford and Dartmouth. The speech, as usual, turned on the principal topics to be brought under the consideration of parliament. It touched on the dissolution of last parliament, and the dutiful and affectionate addresses from different cities, counties, and corporations, which his majesty had received since the events that had led to the adoption of that measure; the political connections that had been formed with different powers on the continent; the failure of a media tion for the purpose of preserving peace between Russia and the Sublime Porte; and the necessity of economy, and continuing the inquiries that had been begun into the abuses of the finances.

An address in answer to his majesty's speech, in the usual strain of assent and approbation, was moved in the house of peers, by the earl of Mansfield, and seconded by lord Rolle.-Lord Fortescue, when he considered the manner in which the last parliament had been dissolved, and the speech which had been now put into the mouth of his majesty,

could not avoid expressing the great est surprise at the conduct of his majesty's ministers. The last parliament had teemed, beyond any other, with measures of the greatest importance to the country, many of which were interrupted by its sudden and abrupt dissolution: a dissolution which had a,so been productive of the greatest inconve. nience and distress to numerous individuals, from the interruption given to a great number of private bills. It had been urged by the supporters of the present ministers, that this inconvenience might be easily remedied, by taking up these bills at the stages where they were left. But this tended to establish a principle pregnant with the utmost danger to the country.--And, after the parliament was dissolved, the most jacobinical means were resorted to, for the purpose of inflaming and irritating the country. A cry of "no popery" was set up, commencing with an address to the electors of Northampton, bursting into open riot at Bristol and Liver. pool, and extending over the whole country the most irritating and inflammatory influence.-It had been said, that numerous addresses had manifested the sense of the people. But was it to be contended, that because addresses had been procured from chapters and corporations, they spoke the sense of the people? On these grounds, lord Fortescue felt it to be his duty to move the following amendment, (after expressing the most dutiful attachment to his majesty's person, an i government:) "That this measure of the disso. lution of the late parliament, advi

* For an account of which, see Chronicle, p. 425. + See State Papers, p. 709.

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