THE ANNUAL REGISTER, OR A VIEW OF THE HISTORY, POLITICS, AND LITERATURE, For the YEAR 1773. THE FIFTH EDITION. LONDON: Printed for J. DODSLEY, in Pall-Mall, 1793. S PREFACE. T HE year of which we treat has been more favourable to the general tranquillity than many preceding circumstances feemed to indicate. It has not, however,. been deftitute of interefting events. The dismemberment of Poland, the neceffity of which produced a ratification of that act by the King and the Republic, and the precarious ftate of the remaining part of that unfortunate country, prefent a leffon to others, which might be ftudied with advantage. The favourable change which has taken place in the Ottoman affairs, and the infurrections which have happened in Ruffia, feem rather to increase the probability of a peace, than of a long continuance of the war. The final diffolution of the Jefuits would alone diftinguish the present year; and as that measure restores fecurity to the territorial poffeffions of the court court of Rome, it may be supposed to have a confiderable effect in preferving the peace of Italy. The entire ceffion of the Dutchy of Holstein to Denmark, whether confidered with respect to its political value, or commercial confequences, is alfo a matter of public importance. The great revolution which has taken place, in the ftate and conftitution of the Eaft-India Company, has rendered our domeftic affairs particularly interefting. Indeed, the natural importance of the fubject seems to be increased, by the ability with which it was difcuffed, and the difference of fentiments and opinions it produced, among the most eminent perfons in the nation. We have endeavoured to ftate these and other matters in as clear a manner as our means of information would admit, and ftill hope for that indulgence to our imperfections, which the kindness of the public has rendered habitual to us. THE THE ANNUAL REGISTER, For the YEAR ́1773. THE HISTORY O F EUROPE. CHA P. I.. General state of affairs. Poland. Ruffia. Retrospective view of the war, and its confequences confidered. Ceffion of Holstein. Revolt in the Crimea. Infurrection in the government of Oremberg. Ottoman empire. Preparations by the Grand Signior for carrying on the war. Great Germanic powers. Revival of obfolete claims. State of the empire. Abolition of the Jefuits. Commercial failures. Dearths. Earthquakes. T HOUGH the year 1773, has not been productive of many great or fplendid actions, it has poffeffed a kind of negative merit, in not being at tended with all the evil which it portended. The flames of war are ftill restrained to thofe ftates with whom they began; and if the probability of peace does not appear greater than at the beginning of the VOL. XVI. year, neither does the danger of extending thofe calamities feem to be increased. Thofe great armies in Germany and the North, which feemed to threaten deftruction to each other, or to the rest of mankind, have held their fwords quietly in their hands, and are now fo long accustomed to behold each other without emotion, that they almoft forget their natural animofities; [4] while |