ence to the
army and navy estimates, which were carried by such large majorities as
served to remind Lord North of the earlier years of his administration,
and to efface the recollection of the narrow divisions and minorities
of the last session. In the course of the debates on the estimates, Fox
pledged himself to move, after the Christmas holidays, for the dismissal
of the Earl of Sandwich, and afterwards to bring him to condign
punishment. He should found these motions, he said, on two different
causes: first, for Sandwich's having advised his majesty to promote Sir
Hugh Palliser to the government of Greenwich Hospital; and, secondly,
for his having shamefully neglected the navy. This led to a display of
fierce party spirit, which was subsequently renewed from a remark made
by Mr. Thomas Townshend; namely, that he thought it was highly necessary
that the house should inquire why, in this season of public danger, the
nation was deprived of the services and abilities of such men as Admiral
Keppel, Lord Howe, Sir Robert Harland, Pigot, Campbell, and Barrington.
This remark was made on the 4th of December, and in the course of the
debate which ensued, Mr. Fox having again censured the promotion of Sir
Hugh Palliser, Lord North defended the unpopular admiral in one of his
most ready and effective speeches. Two days after this the two houses of
parliament adjourned to the 23rd of January.

CHAPTER XII.

{GEORGE III. 1781-1782}

Notice of the Rupture with Holland..... Burke
re-introduces the Subject of Economical Reform, &c......
Debates on the Supplies..... Motion on the Employment of the
Military in the late Riots..... Petition of the Delegates of
the County Associations..... The Marriage Act
corrected..... Motion of Fox respecting the American
War..... Parliament prorogued..... Attack on Jersey..... The
Garrison of Gibraltar relieved..... Revolt in Washington's
Camp..... Arnold's Expedition to Virginia, &c..... Lord
Cornwallis's Expedition to Virginia..... Siege of
Lord Cornwallis in York Town..... Loss of the British
Dominion in Florida..... Attack on Minorca..... French and
Spanish Fleets in the English Channel..... Naval
Action with the Dutch..... Capture of St. Eustatius.....
Commodore Johnstone attacked by de Suffrein, &c......
Further Operations in the West Indies..... Sentiments of
Foreign Power