Anstruther had opened. After Fox had summed up and
commented upon the evidence, on the 9th of June their lordships agreed
to postpone the trial till the first sitting in the next session of
parliament.

PARLIAMENT PROROGUED, AND DISSOLVED.

On the 10th of June his majesty closed the session by a speech from
the throne, in which he informed the two houses of his intention of
dissolving the present and calling a new parliament. In his speech the
king said that he had as yet received no satisfactory answer from
the court of Madrid, and that he was therefore under the necessity of
continuing his preparations for war. He acknowledged their affectionate
and unshaken loyalty to his person; their uniform and zealous regard for
the true principles of the constitution; and their unremitting attention
to the happiness and prosperity of his people. His majesty then dwelt
upon the rapid increase of manufactures, commerce, and navigation; the
security given to our most distant possessions; and the improvement
of the public revenue. He added, after thus enumerating the salutary
effects of their counsels:--"The loyalty and public spirit, the industry
and enterprise of my subjects have well seconded your exertions. On
their sense of the advantages which they at present experience, and
their uniform attachment to my person and government, I rely for a
continuance of that harmony and confidence, which must at all times
afford the surest means of meeting the exigencies of war, or of
cultivating with increasing benefit the blessing of peace." On the
next day parliament was dissolved by proclamation: it had existed seven
sessions.

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES WITH SPAIN.

The British government, desirous of avoiding hostilities, dispatched Mr.
Fitzherbert to Madrid, with full powers to settle all disputes between
the two nations. At first the Spanish court showed itself adverse to
negociation, and applied to that of France for aid. The court of France,
however, though willing to support the Bourbon compact, had lost the
power, for the people, by whom it was now kept in awe, were averse at
this time to a war with England. Unable to contend with the British
arms alone, Spain was therefore compelled to comply with the demand of
restitution and indemnification: on the 2nd of October a convention was
signed at the Escurial, by which every point in dispute was conceded.
The settlement at Nootka-Sound was restored; the free navigation a