Chapter XII: REIGN OF GEORGE III. (continued)

Rodney takes St. Eustatia--Destruction of Dutch Commerce--Loss
of Minorca--Naval Actions--Meeting of Parliament--Vehemence
of the Opposition--Losses in the West Indies--Breaking up of
the Ministry--Their Defeat on Conway's Motion--Lord North's
Resignation--Shelburne refuses the Premiership--New Whig
Government--Agitation in Ireland--Grattan's Motion for Legislative
Independence--The Volunteer Meeting at Dungannon--Grattan's Motion
carried--Demands of the Irish Parliament conceded--Flood's
Agitation--Economic Reforms--Pitt's Motion for Parliamentary
Reform--Unsuccessful Negotiations for Peace--Rodney's Victory
over De Grasse--Lord Howe's Exploits--The Siege and Relief of
Gibraltar--Negotiations for Peace--Folly of Oswald and Duplicity
of Shelburne--The Negotiations continued--Franklin throws over
Vergennes--Conclusion of a Secret Treaty between England and
America--Fate of the American Royalists--Announcement of the
Peace in Parliament--Terms of Peace with France, Spain, and
Holland--Opposition to the Peace--Coalition of Fox and North--Fall
of Shelburne--Pitt's Attempt to form a Ministry--The Coalition
in Office--Reform and the Prince of Wales--Fox's India Bill--Its
Introduction--Progress of the Measure--The King's Letter to
Temple--Reception of the News in the Commons--Dismissal of the
Ministry--Pitt forms a Cabinet--Factious Opposition of Fox--Pitt's
India Bill--He refuses to divulge his Intentions--The Tide
begins to Turn--Attempt at a Coalition--Increasing Popularity of
Pitt--Fox's Resolution--The Dissolution--"Fox's Martyrs" 284