labouring effectually at the diet of Ratisbon, that a sufficient quantity of Roman months should be granted, and by causing his own quota to be immediately discharged." It was declared, in the meantime, that the number of Roman months should not exceed one hundred.

But His Britannic Majesty answered confidentially to his Imperial Majesty, "that he neither would nor could anticipate the resolutions of his co-estates; that he was himself, at the present moment, under circumstances which did not permit him to answer to what was required; that since the last Roman months had been granted, the system of the war had been absolutely changed; that several important states of the empire had made a separate peace, in order to avoid the total ruin with which their countries had been threatened; that others had embraced a neutrality to protect their subjects; and that the prosperity which the latter enjoyed was a proof that they had attained a salutary object.

"That affairs, on the whole, now wore another aspect; that the relations of His Britannic Majesty, in quality of Elector of Hanover, were fully known, and were in direct opposition to the imperial demands; that he could not, in consequence, agree to the lending of any new Roman months for the continuation of this unfortunate war; still less could he contribute directly, as negotiations had

been commenced at Paris, which promised a happy issue for the tranquillity of Europe; and which, being known to His Imperial Majesty, obliged His Britannic Majesty to withhold himself from every measure which might reflect an unfavourable colour on his personal character."

Notwithstanding the failure of the negotiations, the public were not dissatisfied. Lord Mayor's Day was like most others, only the show not quite so fine. The judges, and officers of state, with several members of administration, and of the opposition, dined at Guildhall. On their procession thither, Mr. Pitt was indeed insulted by the mob; Mr. Fox, Mr. Alderman Skinner, and Mr. Alderman Combe, on the contrary, were the favourites of the day.

The war soon began to extend itself over Europe; and on the twelfth of December, Lord Grenville presented a message from the King, in which His Majesty said, he had to lament that, notwithstanding all his endeavours, he had not been able to prevent hostilities on the part of Spain, upon terms that would be honourable to his crown, and to the interest of his dominions; the court of Spain having, with as much haste as injustice, declared war against this country but he trusted in the firmness of his parliament, and spirit of the people, to convince all Europe that our resources were equal to maintain the dignity of the country.

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Another circumstance of national interest during this year must also be here recorded. At Preston, pending an election, a number of Roman Catholics took the oath of supremacy, but qualifying their act by a public declaration, purporting that the words, no foreign prince, prelate, state, or potentate, hath or ought to have any jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence, or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this realm," relate merely and solely to the church of England, of which they profess that they all acknowledge the "reigning king to be the supreme head."

1797.

It is stated in Vancouver's voyage to the northwest coast of America, that the King of the Sandwich Islands, of his own free will, acknowledged fealty, accompanied by pompous ceremonies, to the King of Great Britain. As proofs of this acknowledged supremacy, he delivered several presents to Captain Vancouver for his sovereign, which were presented to the King at Buckingham House, in January, 1797, the principal of which, in allusion to the homage, consisted of two state garments and a helmet or crown. One of these was of otter skin; the other of the cloth of Owhyhee, covered with birds' feathers so ingeniously, that by a single move of the hand, like some

of our jugglers' books, it would alternately. display feathers of a red or yellow colour. The helmet also was of otter skin, covered with feathers in a very masterly manner, superior even to the specimens in the British Museum.

The King gave another proof of his attachment to the fine arts, about this period, in his patronage of Sir William Beechey, R. A. who had now come into notice by his portraits of several persons of high rank and fashion.

The King was so much pleased with the style in which some of these were painted, that he appointed him portrait painter to Her Majesty ; and commanded him to execute the portraits of the Queen and all the princesses, two of which appeared in the exhibition at Somerset-house, this year: and, so satisfied was His Majesty with the extent of Sir William's powers, that he entrusted to him a subject of considerable difficulty, that of the grand picture of the King himself and Princes at the review in Hyde Park.

His Majesty also made considerable additions to his collection of paintings in the course of the spring, by purchases at the famous Trumbull sale, consisting of Raphael's Virgin, Christ and St. John, the Dejanira and Centaur, and some capital cattle pieces by Berghem, all selected by the late venerable president of the Royal Academy.

Another contest respecting the receipt of petitions

from the city of London in its corporate capacity took place about this period, when, on the sixteenth of March, the lord mayor called the attention of the court of common-council to a requisition from fortythree liverymen, desiring him to call a commonhall," to consider of an humble address and petition to His Majesty, upon the present alarming state of public affairs, and praying him to dismiss his present ministers from his councils for ever, as the first step towards obtaining a speedy, honourable, and permanent peace."

To this very absurd proposal, the lord mayor had merely answered that he would consult the court of aldermen, and had from them received a protest against such a measure. He then submitted several papers to the common-council; but that body was unanimously of opinion that it would be highly improper for them to give any opinion respecting the propriety or expedience of convening the common-hall so desired.

A common-hall was, however, summoned for the twenty-third, when a petition to the purpose before expressed was almost unanimously voted, as the friends of the measure had taken early means to fill the hall with their own partisans and parasites; and the sheriffs, with the city representatives, were deputed to present it to His Majesty on the throne.

The next day the sheriffs attended at St. James's