to Wilberforce, but from the fact
that Adding-ton was raised to the peerage as Viscount Sidmouth of
Sidmouth. He was brought into the cabinet as president of the council,
in the room of the Duke of Portland, who resigned office on account
of age and infirmity. At the same time Lord Mulgrave was appointed
secretary of state for the foreign department, in the place of Lord
Harrowby, who was suffering from a severe illness; and the Earl of
Buckinghamshire took Lord Mulgrave's post, as chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

{A.D. 1805}

Parliament was opened by the king in person on the 15th of January. In
his speech the king announced that preparations for invasion were still
carried on by France with unceasing activity; and that Spain, under
French control, had declared war against this country. But his majesty
was still confident of ultimate success; for after referring to the
skill and intrepidity of the British navy, the formidable state of the
army, and the general ardour manifested by all classes of his subjects,
he characterized the intended invasion as "presumptuous and desperate."
The usual addresses were passed unanimously in both houses.

ARMY AND NAVY ESTIMATES, ETC.

On the 23rd of January the commons voted 120,000 men, including marines,
for the service of the navy during the present year. A few days after
the secretary at war moved the army estimates, which amounted to
L12,395,490 for 312,000 men under various heads of service; on which
occasion lie stated that in the United Kingdom there were 600,000 men
in arms, including volunteers, of whom 240,000 were fit for active and
immediate service. The budget was opened on the 13th of February,
when the supplies stated amounted to L44,500,000 for Great Britain and
Ireland. The ways and means comprised a loan of L20,000,000 for Great
Britain, and L2,500,000 for Ireland; and a considerable addition was
made to the war-taxes. Thus the income-tax was raised to six and a
quarter per cent., and the salt-duty was augmented by one-half. The new
taxes were estimated at L1,000,000; yet Pitt, while thus adding to
the public burden, and while war menaced England on every hand,
congratulated the house on the increasing prosperity of the country.
At this time, however, the prime minister had lost much of his usual
confidence, arising partly from his declining health. Although in the
prime of life, Pitt, from the task which he had under