In regard to choice of subject-matter, while trying to satisfy the natural demand for certain “stock” documents of vital importance, we hope to introduce much fresh and novel matter. It is our intention that the majority of the extracts should be lively in style—that is, personal, or descriptive, or rhetorical, or even strongly partisan—and should not so much profess to give the truth as supply data for inference. We aim at the greatest possible variety, and lay under contribution letters, biographies, ballads and poems, diaries, debates, and newspaper accounts. Economics, London, municipal, and social life generally, and local history, are represented in these pages.

The order of the extracts is strictly chronological, each being numbered, titled, and dated, and its authority given. The text is modernised, where necessary, to the extent of leaving no difficulties in reading.

We shall be most grateful to teachers and students who may send us suggestions for improvement.

S. E. WINBOLT.
KENNETH BELL.

NOTE TO THIS VOLUME
(1760-1801)

The difficulty which an editor of period 1760-1801 has to face is the wealth of contemporary sources available. I have drawn largely, as will be seen, on the series of Home Office Papers in the Calendar of State Papers, the series of the Acts of the Privy Council, the Gentleman’s Magazine, and Annual Register. I trust that the foreign relations of England are proportionately represented, though want of space has been against the inclusion of much that naturally suggests itself. In spite of defects, my hope is that teachers and pupils in public schools and universities will find these pages useful.

S. E. W.

Christ’s Hospital,
April, 1912.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
[Introduction]v
1761.[British Victories—Mr. Burke]Horace Walpole1
1761.[Honours for Mr. Pitt]Correspondence of Chatham2
1766.[The State of the Prisons]Goldsmith7
1767.[Townshend’s Contumacy]Correspondence of Chatham: Shelburne and Burke10
1768.[Wilkes Riots]Home Office Papers13
1768.[Riots in the North]Home Office Papers14
1769.[Petition to George III.]Letters of Junius15
1770.[City of London and Chatham: Parliamentary Reform]Letters of Junius20
1770.[Comments on Parliamentary Events]Letters of Junius22
1771.[Letters of Thomas Hutchinson, Governor of Massachusetts Bay]Home Office Papers23
1771.[Advice to Parliamentary Reformers]Letters of Junius30
1772.[Distress caused by High Prices]Home Office Papers37
1773.[Weavers’ Petition to George III.]Home Office Papers38
1773.[Destruction of Tea at Boston]Home Office Papers43
1774.[War Material for America]Home Office Papers46
1775.[American Expedition to Canada]Home Office Papers48
1775.[Conciliation with America]Burke51
1777.[The Armies under Howe and Clinton]“Gentleman’s Magazine”54
1778.[Chatham’s Last Letter and Speech]Correspondence of Chatham and “London Magazine”62
1779.[George III.’s Message to the Houses and the Spanish Manifesto]“Gentleman’s Magazine”65
1779.[Society at Brighthelmston]J. A. Erredge69
1780.[Gordon Riots]Horace Walpole71
1781.[Surrender of Cornwallis]“Gentleman’s Magazine”72
1783.[Preliminaries of European Peace]“Gentleman’s Magazine”73
1784.[A Violent Election Contest]Cowper’s “Letters”76
1785.[The Country Post]Cowper’s “Task”77
1787.[George III.’s Speech to the Houses of Parliament]“Annual Register”79
1788.[Characteristics of the East India Company]Burke80
1789.[Corn Imports and Exports]“Annual Register”84
1790.[Spoliation of the Clergy in France]Burke85
1792.[Sussex Election Petitions]Oldfield90
1792.[France and Self-Government]Cowper’s “Letters”93
1794.[Impeachment of Warren Hastings]Burke94
1795.[George III, Mobbed]Letters of Princess Elizabeth97
1797.[Mutiny at the Nore]“Annual Register”98
1797.[England and the Directory]Correspondence of Malmesbury103
1798.[Battle of the Nile]“Annual Register”106
1800.[Supplies for Navy and Army]“Annual Register”115
1801.[George III.’s Speech to the First Union Parliament]“Annual Register”119