SOME EVENTS IN 1799.

Otago Witness, Issue 2397, 8 February 1900, Page 60

SOME EVENTS IN 1799.

{Alfred Whitman, in the Strand Magazine.) The year 1799 was so crowded with incident that, if we desire in any way to traverse the ground, brevity must be the watchword for each item, and the music must be marked staccato. Though in the British Isles comparative calm succeeded the storm of the Irish Rebellion of '98, war clouds were bursting forth over the Continent of Europe, Asia Minor, and India. The task of George Ill's Ministers was extremely difficult, lor, while holding the reins of affairs at home, the Government had to control war operations thousands of miles away. To keep in touch with.^ the seats of war was almost impossible, and even the news of the two most important victories of the year — Acre and Seringapatam — took three and four months respectively to reach this country. Newspapers formed a far less potent factor in national affairs then than now. The circulation of The Times would seem to us ridiculously small ; the certificate of issue on January 1 modestly stated that " the number printed for the la&t two months ihas never been on any one day below 3000, and has fluctuated from that number to 3350." Now a newspaper is dressed like a shop window, that its most attractive features may quickly catch the eye ; but then there Avas very little display of news, and consequently events of importance might easily escape attention. The most sensational heading was in the same type as that of a theatrical performance or a meeting of the Common Council, and even for •such a momentous event as the fall of Seringapatam it was simply — CAPTURE of SERINGAPATAM, AND DEATH of TIPPOO. The Times ot 1799 was a four-page sheet, with four columns to a page. Two of the pages weie devoted to advertisements, and the other two chiefly contained foreign intelligence (especially French), parliamentary reports, and news of the progress of the war on sea ancl land. The price of the paper was sixpence. The first few days of January were bitterly cold. Then followed a buef spell of mild weather about the 12th, followed by a return to frost at the end of the month. At the Queen's Drawing Room on the 6lst, "owing to the severity of the weather very few of the nobility were present " ; and at the Masquerade at the Opera Hou,se there were scarcely 500 present, while "the house was most lh&ufferably cold." So general and heavy was the snow that mail coaches were two daya late in. reaching the Metro-

polis. . . . Though no soul-stirring victory Avas achieved on the high seas, there Avere many instances of single combats, resulting in the ships falling sometimes into the hands of the English, and at others into those of the French. In March avc read of ships captured by the French ; and " during the months of August, September, and October, 66 vessels, mostly British, were carried into Calais and Boulogne by privateers belonging to those toAvns."' 4gainyt these reverses Aye have the brilliant capture of the Dutch squadron, in August, by Admiral Mitchell, and the encounter on January 4 betAveen the Wolverene gun-ves-sel (Avhich had left the Downs on January 2 for a cruise off the French coast) and two French luggers. The combined strength of the French was 30 guns and 280 men, while on oar side Avere 12 guns and 70 men. A fierce struggle ensued for nearly tAvo hours, during Avhich the English captain (JMortlock) lashed his vessel to one of the French, and the Frenchmen boarded the English boat and Avere beaten off again ; and eventually the French boats sheered off and sought shelter in their oAvn ports. But not before Captain Mortlock had received Avounds from Avhich he died <it Portsmouth on the 11th, " a few minutes after receiving a letter of thanks, sent him by the Lords of the Admiralty, for his very gallant conduct." .... On January 22 George 111 sent a message to Parliament recommending the union, and, shortly after, favourable resolutions proposed by Pitt Avere carried by large majorities. Sheridan stoutly opposed the motions, and was replied to in an eloquent speech by Canning. In the Irish House of Commons a spirited debate occurred on January 22, Avhen there was a majority of tAvo in favour of the union ; but tAvo days later an adverse majority of five Avas obtained, and Dublin Avas illuminated to celebrate the result. The discussion then changed its venue from Parliament to the Irish public platform, and as time Avent on the opposition became less severe.