Mr. Paull for indecorum and brutality; to which some, in allusion to his second fire in the field, did not scruple to add the spirit of malignity and revenge. In consequence of this general feeling, the estimation in which he had been previously held by many was completely destroyed. From being considered by them the man of liberal sentiments and ingenuous purposes, as a pillar of the state, and a regenerator of the constitution, he sunk into an object of general aversion, or, what was equally fatal to the grand aim of his ambition, into decided insignificance. And though, in opposition to the request of those few who still adhered to him, after his being abandoned by the public and his own committees, he persevered in not withdrawing his pretensions as a candidate for Westminster, the number of votes which he obtained formed a miserable contrast to that state of the poll which the last election had enabled him to exhibit.

While Mr. Paul was thus oppressed not merely by the anguish of his wound, but by the more torturing retrospect of impaired estimation and blasted hopes, M. Horne Tooke published two letters to the electors of Westminster, in which he advanced against Mr. Paull an imputation of the most sordid and atrocious crimes. He stated that the grand object of Mr. Paull in connecting sir Francis's name with his own, in the election for Westminster, had been to induce the baronet to make a common cause with him, and in the expectation of deriving a full supply of those pecuniary demands with which a contest for that city is necessarily attended; that, being baffled in this design, his venge

ance had prompted him to take away the life of his benefactor; that two attempts for this purpose had not abated the spirit of revenge, and that he still looked forward with malignant exultation to the period in which it would be completely gratified. These let ters appeared to many written with a coarseness of language, an asperity of manner, and a destitution of feeling, by no means creditable to their author. Sir Francis was extolled as a man superior to every other. Mr. Paull was described as one who had always appeared, to the writer, a man of dark designs, and an unsafe depository of friend ship; as a man whom he had rather tolerated than esteemed; as one who had partaken of the author's convivialities, rather in con sequence of impertinent intrusion than regular invitation; a statement extremely inconsistent with cer tain letters said to have been written by Mr. Tooke to Mr. Paull himself, which were published by the friends of the latter in his "vindication.

While Mr. Paull was thus exhibiting an instance of the fatal effects attendant on disingenuousness and precipitancy, of the want of that good sense in the conduct of life which is far preferable to the possession eyen of the most distinguished talents, the torrent of popularity flowed with a rapid and increasing course in behalf of sir Francis. The errors of his political life seemed absorbed by those recent circumstances in which he, appeared as the injured benefactor, as a man who had been embarrassed by his kindnesses and endangered by his friendships, and whose life had nearly been the forfeit of his virtues. In the course of a few days after the commencement of the poll, his name was attended

with such a number of votes as placed him beyond all the efforts of competition. Of the other candidates, Mr. Elliot persevered for a considerable time without being able once to obtain a hearing; and seeing, at length, nearly an impos. sibility of success, though he had polled a great number of votes, retired from the conflict. This now rested between Mr. Sheridan and lord Cochrane, the latter of whom had the start on the canvass, and was exerting himself with extreme activity before the prudence of Mr. Sheridan would permit him to decide upon being put in nomination. Thus, a vast number of votes which would have been given to Mr. Sheridan, had he decidedly stood forward at an early stage, were engaged by lord Cochrane. The vulgarity of language which marked his lordship's addresses from the hustings, was a striking feature in the proceedings of this period of agitation. It seems to have, been thought that no expressions could be too coarse for such an audience, that no metaphor could have been deemed unseemly, and no profaneness indecorous; and it was at once a novel and an edifying spectacle, to observe a Covent Garden populace lecturing a noble lord into purity and decency of language. In the course of his diurnal addresses, his lordship, also, repeatedly took the liberty of remarking with the severest reprehension upon the naval administration of lord St. Vincent, and of stating what he termed facts, reflecting in the highest degree on the character of the noble earl. This singular attempt to convert an election mob into a tribunal of impeachment, in which, however, no opportunity existed to the defendant of repelling the

charge, was regarded as highly unbecoming; and after some manly and liberal suggestions of Mr. Sheridan, this proceeding was at length abandoned. Notwithstanding these improprieties, however, his lordship's interest appeared firmly established from the beginning of the contest, and the valour and success of his exertions against the common enemy seemed to operate as more than a balance to his indiscretions. Mr. Sheridan began, as already intimated, under extreme discouragement, which, for many days, met with only slight alleviation. To those who, lamenting the irregularities of this gentleman's private conduct, have been accustomed to admire his elegant taste, his brilliant wit, and above all that inflexible patriotism from which no temptations of poverty have induced him to swerve, and which, in moments of national danger, has led him to break the ties of party, that he might exert himself with full scope and energy for the salvation of the state; it was not a little grating to persons of this description to see preferred to him, men either of ordinary talents, or untried prin ciples, or indiscreet ardour. In the progress of the election this sentiment of regret considerably extended; and, during the closing days of the contest, the advances made by him were such as to show that the public were still alive to his political merits, and to excite even some faint hope of his success. Though the votes of Mr. Elliot were by no means inconsiderable in number, Mr. Sheridan stood third upon the poll; a circumstance which, towards the conclusion of the conflict, became the sole object of the exertions of his friends, as he thus obtained a pro

spect,

spect, on any legal impediment being proved to the return of lord Cochrane, (which was thought by no means impracticable,) of attaining that distinction which was the fair object of his ambition.

Sir Francis Burdett and lord Cochrane, having been returned by the high bailiff, the chairing of his lordship immediately took place. That of sir Francis was necessarily reserved for a future period, as he was at the time of the election closely confined to his apartment from the effects of the late duel. As his election also had taken place in very peculiar circumstances, (he never having exhibited himself as a candidate, and being in fact for several days after the commencement of the poll ignorant even of his nomination, in consequence of the advice of the faculty attending him,) it was thought proper to celebrate so singular an election with peculiar distinction; and some time subsequently, this celebration actually took place. See Public Oceurrences, p. 158.

Of the late ministry, Mr. T. Grenville was the only commoner in the cabinet who resumed his situation for the place which he had previously represented. Mr. Windham declined standing for Norfolk,

Lord Henry Petty was unsuccess ful at Cambridge, and lord Howick found it prudent to withdraw his pretensions from Northumberland. Indeed the object intended by the new ministers in the dissolution appeared to be effectually gained. They acquired that accumulation of power which prevented any inipediment of their measures, and gave them that command and confidence, without which it is impossible for any administration to se cure public estimation, or dispatch of business.

During the short session which followed, mutual recrimination took place between the parties without any particular circumstances to excite interest. No attempt was omitted by ministers to mitigate the inconvenience necessarily incurred by the late interruption of public business, and in a short period these were found by no means so embarrassing or extensive as was originally apprehended. After various vehement debates, and an assiduous attention to business, the particulars of which are related in another part of this volume, the session closed and ministers, relieved from that attendance on the house, were at liberty to apply more fully to the offices of their respective departments.

CHAP

circumstances, must, certainly, be supposed to have enjoyed the advantages, though they may easily be conceived to have overstated it. A suspension of warlike opera tion existed for some time after the battle, arising from the difficulty of procuring supplies, and the state of the country at this season of the year. Vigilance and preparation, however, were on both sides connected with this state of comparative quiescence; and no were omitted by them to qualify themselves for those grand shocks, to which Europe now looked with painful suspense for the decision of its fate.

bcen

means

The approach of the French to the dominions of Russia, which had long beheld the war desolating other countries while its own had deemed invulnerable, excited in the government that reasonable apprehension which suggested the discussion of the most efficacious means of protection. A general armament was ordered by the emperor of Russia to be raised in a certain proportion to theexisting population, according to which the force to be levied would amount to upwards of 600,000 men, who were on any requisite emergency to be ready to support the regular troops of the empire. This plan was however wisely suggested and admirably calculated for its double purpose, to supply the waste of battles beyond the frontiers of the country, and to render any attempt at making an impression on Russia itself a matter highly critical on the part of the enemy that should attempt it, and connected with the bare possibility of ultimate success.

The levies on paper were far from precluding the actual arrival of new additions of strength to the Russian general; nor was Bona

4

parte by any means less attentive to the arrangements required by his situation. Recruits were perpetually sent off from the interior of France to the seat of war, and an anticipated conscription for the ensuing year was put in requisition, immediatly to be trained and disciplined in readiness, though not immediately to be marched to the theatre of war.

In the mean while prince Jerome was successfully conducting the operations of the war in Silesia. The proclamation of the king of Prussia to the brave inhabitants of this province, though by no means attended with those results which had been fondly expected, was not wholly inefficient.

By the exertions of the prince of Pless, who had been appointed to the government of the province, a considerable corps was collected from the troops stationed in the various fortresses, which appear to have derived some increase of force from the zeal and attachment of the people at large. The troops the kings of Wurtemberg and Ba varia were employed, under prince Jerome, to reduce them, and about th, beginning of the year inflicted on them a severe defeat. After this event, the best mode of disposing of the greater part of his army appeared to the prince of Pless to be their rapid dispersion, by detachments, into different fortresses; a plan which was immediately adopted by him, abandoning to the enemy some of his artillery and a considerable quantity of his baggage. On the 8th of January the city of Breslaw, which had been for some time regularly besieged, surrendered to the enemy, who had begun to batter in breach. Its magazines were con siderable, and its garrison defiled

before