me he had, doubtless, become convinced
that there was no safety for him in France, whence he wisely forbore
entering that wide arena of strife and bloodshed. So ended the
Birmingham riot: it reflects no honour on our annals, but it shows that
the mass of the population were satisfied with the English constitution,
and it may serve as a warning to deter men from the exhibition of that
malignant party-spirit which reflects disgrace on the best cause. "Let
your moderation be known unto all men."

CHAPTER XIX.

{GEORGE III. 1792-1793}

Meeting of Parliament..... Debates on the Russian
Armament..... Debate on the Affairs of India..... Pitt's
Financial Statement..... The Slave-Trade Question.....
London Police Act..... Act to relieve the Scotch
Episcopalians, &c...... Sheridan's motion respecting the
Royal Burghs of Scotland..... Debates on Parliamentary
Reform, &c..... Trial of Hastings, &e...... Bill
respecting the New Forest and Timber for the Navy.....
Prorogation of Parliament..... Changes in the
Ministry..... East India Affairs..... Progress of the French
Revolution..... Affairs of Poland..... State of the Public
Mind in England..... Meeting of Parliament..... The Alien
Bill, &c...... Execution of the French King.

{A.D. 1792}

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

The British parliament did not assemble until the 31st of January.
The first topic mentioned in the king's speech was the marriage of his
second son, the Duke of York, with the Princess Frederica, daughter of
the King of Prussia. His majesty then informed the two houses that a
treaty had been concluded, under his mediation and that of his allies,
between the Emperor of Austria and the Porte, and that preliminaries had
been agreed upon between the latter of those powers and Russia. The
king next expressed his regret that he was not yet enabled to inform
parliament of the termination of the war in India with Tippoo Sultaun,
but the success which had already attended the British arms afforded,
reasonable ground to hope that the war would speedily be concluded.
Although events in Europe at this time cast their dark shadows before
them, yet his majesty affirmed that the general state of affairs
appeared to promise to Great Britain the continuance of her present
tranquillity; and he even suggested that some immediate reduction might
safely be made in our naval and military establishments