PREFACE. THE HE year 1801 is fraught with a greater number of important events than any other that has elapfed fince the commencement of the Annual Regifter. From the Molucca Iflands to the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean there was no country or coaft that was not a fcene of either military preparation or action, or political negotiation.-Across the Atlantic, the agitations in St. Domingo and Gaudaloupe perplexed France, and alarmed Britain. The treaties of peace that enfued were many and various and thefe, with the new forms of, government imposed on ftates, formerly independent, were certainly not lefs important than the actions at fea and land, by which they had been preceded. To the natives and fubjects of Great Britain and Ireland the history of 1801 is peculiarly interefting. The meeting of the Imperial Parliament, and the first effects of the union with Ireland in that affembly; the war in the Baltic with a kindred and hitherto a friendly nation; [iv] nation; mutual preparation for invasion and for defence on the coafts of France and England; engagements on the French fhores, feen or heard from the Cliffs of Dover.-All these objects naturally aroufe the attention of the English reader, and may be fuppofed to occupy, in his imagination, more than their juft proportion in that of a citizen of the world. To the extraordinary labours of this year, we have added a deduction of the facts and queftions that had, for fome time, agitated and divided the India-House, and has feriously engaged the attention of the legislature. THE ANNUAL REGISTER, For the YEAR 1801. THE HISTORY OF EUROPE. CHAP. I. Meeting of the British Parliament.-His Majefty's Speech from the Throne refpecting the high Price of Provifions and recent Communications from the French Government.-Addresses of Thanks.-Amendments proposed.Debates.—Proceedings relative to the Dearth of Provifions.—Divers Bills. -Royal Proclamation.-Induftry and Zeal of the Legislature in devifing Means for alleviating the public Diflrefs. HE riots which had taken place Scotland, on account of the high price of provifions, and which have already been noticed in our last volume, were neither fo violent nor obftinate as they would have been in countries where there is lefs moderation of character in the people, and lefs confidence in means of conftitutional relief. The privations and fufferings of the lower orders, VOL. XLIII, that is, of the great mafs of the peo rather to be claffed in the middling rank, were fo great, that every candid mind was lefs offended at the commotions of the populace, than ftruck with their forbearance and patience. There were, indeed, not a few men in the enjoyment or expectation of places under government, who prefented to the fuffering multitude a frowning and hoftile [B] afpect, afpect, and who fhewed a difpofition rather to maintain the public tranquillity by that mighty armed force which was now on foot, and diftributed in all parts of the united kingdoms, than by the lenient methods of due fympathy, confideration, and affiftance. Among the zealots for ftrengthening the hands of government, at all adventures, by all forcible means, murmurs were heard, that it was now high time for all men of property to look well to their own interefts; nor did they hefitate to affirm, that the numerous bodies of volunteers in arms, were fully as neceflary for the prevention of internal infurrection, as the repulfion of foreign invafion. Sufpicions were entertained by those men, of the alacrity of common foldiers in this caufe of coercion. They placed their chief confidence in the volunteers: among whom, indeed, there were not wanting individuals who would have been as ready inftruments in the hands of the feverest government, for the purpose of reftraining and fubduing their own countrymen, as for that of repelling external aggreffion. In fhort, there were fome fymptoms of a tendency to a marked and fatal divifion between men of property or of hopes, and men of no property and no hopes. And if the vigilance, prudence, and moderation, which was exercifed, in the prevention or quelling of mobs by the acting magiftrates, had not formed a counterbalance to the fpirit of violence that was manifefted, not by government, but by fome of the retainers, and what may be termed the expectants of government, an afpect of affairs might have been fuddenly presented, more terrible than any that has menaced this country fince the full eftablishment of regular law and government. For commotions excited by extreme want, however inconfiftent with political order, and however fraught with future evils, have nothing in their nature that fhocks humanity. All queftions of right, and all prefages of future calamities, might have been loft in the general tide of fympathy and compaffion; which would have given to the popular fide the force of moral, perhaps even religious, sentiment. The folicitude that was fhewn by individuals of all ranks to alleviate the fufferings of the poor, and the care of government to provide as much, and as fpeedily as poffible for their wants, gave confolation and hope to the people. The hand of private charity was ftill, as it had been, opened liberally. Aflociations, in cities and parifhes, were every where formed, and refolutions taken for the relief of those who stood in most need of affiftance. In the month of October, 1800, petitions from the city of London and other places were presented to his majefty to convene the parliament, without delay, that measures night be taken for relieving the diftrefs of the people. The king graciously intimated that he had already given orders for an early meeting of the legiflature for the difpatch of bufinefs. The parliament accordingly affembled on the 11th of Novem ber. The king, in a speech from the throne, declared that it was a tender concern for the welfare of his fubjects, and a fenfe of the difficulties with which the poorer claffes particularly had to ftruggle, from the prefent high price of provifions, that had induced him to call them together at an earlier period than he had |
