ented that they had already
transacted all business of importance, and that nothing was likely to
occur during the recess which would demand instant attention, and their
motion was carried by one hundred and fifty-five to sixty-eight. The
next day a similar motion was made in the house of lords, on which
occasion the Earl of Chatham, in opposing it, again endeavoured to
fix blame and censure on ministers for their conduct relative to the
American war. But the motion was carried by forty-seven to seventeen.

CHAPTER IX.

{GEORGE III. 1778-1779}

Demonstration of Public Spirit in England..... Meeting of
Parliament..... Committee for taking the State of the Nation
into Consideration..... Burke's Motion relative to the
Employment of Indians..... Committee of Evidence in the
House of Lords..... Lord North's Conciliatory Bills.....
Intimation of the French Treaty with America.....
Investigation of the State of the Navy..... Motion for
excluding Contractors from Parliament..... Revision of the
Trade of Ireland..... Bill for the Relief of the Roman
Catholics..... Lord Chatham's last Appearance in the House
of Lords..... Death of Lord Chatham, and posthumous
Honours to his Memory..... The Duke of Richmond's Motion
resumed..... The Session closed..... Proceedings in
France..... Naval Operations in the British Channel.....
Disgraceful Infraction of the Convention of Saratoga.....
Lafayette's Expedition to Canada..... Unfortunate Action
under Lafayette..... Sir Henry Clinton takes the Command of
the British Troops..... Arrival of the Commissioners in
America with the Conciliatory Bills..... Evacuation of
Philadelphia by the British, &c...... Disgrace of General
Lee..... Unsuccessful Attack, by the Americans and French,
on Rhode Island..... Operations of the British Army.....
Attack of the Savages on the Settlement of Wyoming, &c......
Arrival of the French Envoy at Philadelphia.....
Movements of the British and French Fleets..... Capture of
Dominica by the French..... Capture of St. Lucie by the
British..... Re-capture of the Islands of St. Pierre and
Miquelon..... French Plans regarding Canada counteracted by
Washington..... Capture of Savannah by the British.....
Meeting of Parliament..... Affair respecting Admiral Keppel
and Sir Hugh Falliser.