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The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. / From the Accession of George III. to the Twenty-Third Year of the Reign of Queen Victoria cover

The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. / From the Accession of George III. to the Twenty-Third Year of the Reign of Queen Victoria

Chapter 732: RETURN OF NAPOLEON FROM. ELBA.
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About This Book

The volume traces British political, parliamentary, and military developments from the accession of George III through the early nineteenth century, chronicling changes of ministry and cabinet, debates over colonial taxation and the American conflict, parliamentary controversies involving figures such as Wilkes and Warren Hastings, questions of Catholic relief and slave-trade abolition, and responses to the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars, including major naval and continental campaigns, the union with Ireland, and domestic legislation on finance, civil liberties, and parliamentary reform.

RETURN OF NAPOLEON FROM. ELBA.

While England was thus agitated an event took place which compromised the peace of Europe; this was the return of Napoleon from his insular kingdom to repossess himself of his old French empire. A message from the prince regent was delivered to each house on the 6th of April, communicating this information, and stating that his royal highness had been induced to give directions for the immediate augmentation of our land and sea forces, and to lose no time in communicating with our allies, for the purpose of forming such a concert as might effectually provide for the general and permanent security of Europe. The address in the house of lords passed without a division, but in the commons Mr. Whitbread moved an amendment expressly recommending the preservation of peace. He was under the impression that the address covertly pledged the house to war, but others of his party thought not, and his amendment was lost by a majority of two hundred and twenty against thirty-seven.