CHAP. LXIII. 1788. Dalecarlia, who instantly equipped an army of three thousand men, and, which was the most important and hazardous of his measures, repaired in person, unattended, to the besieged town. No notice having been Oct. 3. given, he had some difficulty in obtaining admission, and had then the mortification to find that, either through feebleness or treachery, the governor had convoked the inhabitants and resolved to capitulate. It is probable that neither the presence of the sovereign nor the expected advance of the Dalecarlians would long have prevented the fall of the place, but for the Interference interference of Mr. Elliot*, the British minister at of the British Copenhagen. Viewing the existing crisis with the eye of a statesman, he crossed over to Sweden, and, after some correspondence, conducted, on his part, with equal ability, temper, and firmness, aided too by an envoy from Prussia, he obtained successive truces, preparatory to a peace, and, notwithstanding some inconsiderate displays of resentment on the part of Gustavus, Prince Charles retired into Norway, and November. every thing portended peace in this quarter. 9th. Oczakoff. Several actions, fought at this period, gave The Turks triumphs to the arms of Russia over the Turks. The defeated near Pacha of Oczakoff embarked in boats a body of six thousand troops to surprise the fortress of Kilburn, where, unfortunately for them, Suwarrow commanded. He permitted them to land, and shewed signs of terror; but when, deceived by this feint, the boats had been ordered to return for a reinforcement, he made a sally, destroyed all the Turks by the sword or in the sea, and himself received a dangerous wound in the action. Oczak off taken by storm. Some unimportant naval actions were fought, to Dec. 12. * Afterward Sir Gilbert, and subsequently Lord Minto. CHAP. LXIII. If the King of Sweden derived no immediate personal advantage from the hostilities in which he engaged, they contributed, with other causes, to the Proceedings of general ill-success of his opponents in their campaign 1788. Joseph II. April 2nd. 25th. Siege of Marshal commands. in another quarter. Joseph, naturally inert and indecisive, wasted the early months in expecting the junction and co-operation of the Prussians. His army, unprecedented in number and strength, was limited to small operations, to desultory attacks on petty posts near the frontier, and trifling expeditions to secure the banks of the Danube and the Save. He joined the army at a late period, accompanied by his favourite military counsellor, Marshal Lacey; and, having stormed Szabatch, formed the seige of Belgrade. His difficulties increased. England and Holland forbad their sailors entering into the Russian service; his great ally, as already has been stated, was fully occupied by her war with Sweden; Venice determined to be strictly neutral; and the Pacha of Scutari, alarmed at the perils he foresaw, massacred the Austrian officers whom he had received, and made full submission to his lawful sovereign. The Emperor wasted his time until the cries of his own army, and a consciousness that he was disgracing himself in the eyes of Europe, roused him to some effort, and he began to press the siege. But, by this time, the Vizier Yussuff, who commanded the Turkish force judiciously posted in Bulgaria, had ceased to fear, and learned to defeat him. As the Vizier advanced toward Belgrade, the Emperor precipitately retreated behind the Save, while Yussuff threw bridges over the Danube at Cladova, broke the Austrian cordon, by defeating a corps under Wartensleben, posted on the heights of Meadia, spread alarm and devastation through the neighbouring districts of the Bannat, and threatened to pour his victorious troops into Hungary. In this state of affairs, the Emperor hastened with forty thousand men to support General Wartensleben and cover Hungary, leaving the command in Croatia to Marshal Loudon, whom hitherto he had neither CHAP. LXIII. 1788. popularity. countenanced nor consulted. The appointment of this brave and active officer was extremely gratifying both to the army and the people; in fact, their exultation was the bitterest satire on the Emperor himself. The His progress of Loudon to the army resembled a triumph, and he justified the predilection that was expressed, by immediate operations of vigour. On the day after his August 26th. arrival, he defeated the Turks under the walls of Vigorous Dubitza, and soon reduced the fortress; he then passed the Save, and, having fought some successful Sep. 11th. actions, invested Novi. Seven thousand Turks, who Captures attempted to raise the siege, were defeated, and, after Novi. two assaults, the garrison capitulated. His further Oct. 3rd. progress was impeded by the approach of winter. operations. Cobourg July 20th. During these transactions, the Prince of Cobourg, Prince in conjunction with Soltikof, laid siege to Chotzim, captures anticipating an easy conquest; but, although the Chotzim. place was little capable of defence, the garrison displayed heroic firmness; they continued their resistance, even after the town was laid in ashes, the principal magazine destroyed, and famine and disease in all their horrors contributed to oppress them; and when, at last, the place surrendered, the season was spent, and the besiegers could undertake no further enter- Sep. 20th. prize. Whatever honour might be derived to the imperial arms from the conduct of Loudon and the Prince of Cobourg, the Emperor himself sullied them by continued misconduct. After his junction with Wartensleben, a council of war was called, at which all the officers, except Lacy, advised vigorous offensive proceedings; the Emperor adopted, as probably he had dictated, the cautious advice of Lacy. Encouraged by this timidity, the Turks, during two whole days and nights, attacked the Austrian camp. They were repulsed, but Joseph thought fit to make a retreat, so precipitate that the mistakes occasioned by a dark night converted it into a flight; the Emperor had nearly lost his life, and his honour was insulted by an ironical compliment from one of his own aides-de Unmilitary conduct of the Emperor. Sep. 20th. CHAP. 1788. camp on the fleetness of his horse. The Vizier and the Austrians marched back to their former positions. No further action of importance took place, except the capture of Viplanka by a detachment under General Harrach; and this campaign, so great in expectation, so small in real achievement, was terminated by a truce for three months*. Coxe's House of Austria, chap. xlix. CHAPTER THE SIXTY-FOURTH. 1788-1789. Affairs of England.--The Duke of York-the Earl of Mansfield retires, succeeded by Lord Kenyon-contest for Westminster. Illness of the King-his intellects affected. —Meeting of Parliament-the two Houses adjourn.-Privy Council-opinion of the physicians they are examined by Committees.-Dr. Willis-their Report.-Mr. Pitt moves for a Committee in the House of Commons-observations of Mr. Fox-their effect-answer of Mr. Pitt-Mr. FoxMr. Pitt-Mr. Burke-Mr. Pitt in reply to Mr. Burke.— Committees appointed.—Similar motions in the House of Lords by Earl Camden-Lord Loughborough-the Lord Chancellor.-Committees appointed.-Report from the Committee of the House of Commons.-Discussions renewed. Mr. Fox-Mr. Pitt-Mr. Sheridan-Mr. Pitt.Discussions in the upper House introduced by Earl Fitzwilliam-Lord Chancellor.- Sentiments of the Prince of Wales, expressed by the Duke of York-Duke of Gloucester. Report of the Lords' Committee.-The House of Commons in a committee on the state of the nation.--Mr. Pitt moves resolutions. -Debate on the Prince's right.— Debate on bringing up the Report.-Amendment moved by Mr. Dempster-Mr. Burke-Lord North.-Amendment lost.--Conference.-Debate in the Lords.-Earl of Abercorn-Lord Rawdon.-Amendment moved.-Debate-Lost -Protest.-Death of Mr. Cornwall, the Speaker.—Observations.-State of the King.-Mr. Pitt's letter to the Prince of Wales.--The Prince's answer.-Mr. Grenville chosen Speaker.-New inquiry into the state of the King's health. Examination of Physicians.-Report of the Committee. |