treated with lenity; far from the infinuation held out in the amendment, of reducing them to a fervile or abject fubmiffion. Some of the young lords were fevere upon the factious spirit which prevailed here, as well as in America; attributing it to the former, that the latter had been brought into action. And it was infilted, that as the oppofition had hitherto avowedly formed their conduct, upon an opinion, that the Americans had never defigned, or even aimed at independency, and had reprobated every idea of that nature, with an abhorrence equal to that fhewn on their fide, they were now bound, in conformity with their own words and principles, to fupport, with the utmost vigour, thofe measures which were neceffary for their reduction. That this was the ground of unanimity held out in the fpeech, and which had been treated with fuch ridicule and afperity, though no conclufion could be fairer drawn, whit it was fuppofed they acted upon any line of confiftency. That their unanimity now in fupport of government, was the fmalleft reparation which they could make to the nation, for the countenance they had unhappily given, and the fhare they confequently held in fomenting the prefent disturbances. And that it was to be hoped, they would now, by candidly confeffing their error, convince the world they were only mistaken, and not intentionally wrong. The ideas of defpondency, which were held out on the other fide, were faid to be as chimerical, as the alarming reprefentation of public affairs, to which they belonged, was unfounded. The happy fuc cefs which had already attended our arms in America, afforded sufficient room for the ftrongest hopes, that the troubles there would be speedily terminated. That they would probably prove a fource of happiness on all fides, as they would afford an opportunity for fixing the government of the colonies on a permanent bafis, and finally fetthing all thofe queftions which had hitherto been the cause of debate. That nothing was wanting to bring affairs to this wifhed- for crifis, but unanimity here, and vigour in America. That the enfuing campaign, fuppofing every obstacle which could take place, would undoubtedly be conclufive in its effect. And that in this ftate of things it could not be conceived, how any friend to the interests of this country, could wish to weaken the hands of government, or hefitate a moment in agreeing to the addrefs, when the measures to which it was intended to give a fanction, were the only means to fave the British empire from certain ruin and deftruction. The appearances of danger from foreign powers, were in part denied; in part palliated. It was faid, that the ftrongest affurances of amity continued to be received from France; that the differences between Spain and Portugal were likely to be accommodated; and that our arming, induced other powers alfo to arm, from motives merely of prudence and caution. They alfo recurred to the old doctrine, that it being directly contrary to the intereft, it could not be fuppofed confonant to the defire of France or Spain, that any powerful independent ftate fhould be established in America. Such an event must interfere with their commercial interefts in both worlds; the idea of independence might become contagious, and fpread to their own colonies; and they might be immediately endangered by the power and ambition of a new and ring ftate. If any finifter defigns were, however, lurking, they had no efcaped, they faid, the penetrating eyes of our minifters, who, by their prefent fpirited preparation, had put it out of the power of any infidicus rival, or enemy, to take us by furprize, or to convert the fituation of our affairs to their advantage. A conduct replete with fuch wifdom, that it merited the warmest approbation, inftead of captious enquiries, and a difpofition to draw unfavourable conclufions. The minifter took fome pains in the Houfe of Commons, to reconcile the apparent contradiction which had been alledged, between the affurances of amity held out in the fpeech, and the prefent fudden armament. He avowed the paffage and the measure by acknowledging his advice to both; and afferted, that the one was ftrictly true, and both perfectly confiftent. It was not deemed prudent to rely fo far upon any affurances, as to be off our guard; and as other powers were arming, it was determined we should be prepared for all events. Such was the state of warfare between the two parties. The numbers in favour of miniftry continued nearly as ufual; but it was observed, that the spirit of the debate on their fide vifibly flackened. The addreffes were not defended with the accustomed animation in either house. The great and almost uniform fucceffes of the campaign, having produced no effect whatever towards a pacification, had fomewhat damped the expectations which had been generally formed from a fyftem of coercion. The armament in our ports announced more apprehenfions from foreign powers, than were removed by the declarations, or the arguments, of the minifters on the fubject. A great and growing expence was forefeen. It was admitted, that the reduction of America was no longer to be confidered as the work of a campaign. On the other hand, though the advantages obtained in America had not produced all the effect that was expected by fanguine expectants, yet it appeared abfurd to defert the purfuit of a great objec in the very midst of victory. Befides, the declaration of independency feemed a great bar to accommodation. Without doors, it produced the full effect propofed by the fpeech, by adding greatly to the alienation of the people at large from the Americans, their caufe, and their pretenfions. Miniftry certainly derived from thence no fmail degree of ftrength throughout the nation The queflion upon the amendment being put in the House of Commons, the motion was rejected by a majority of 242, to 87, being almoft three to one. The main queftion being then brought forward, the original addreis was carried in nearly the fame proportion, the numbers being 232, to 83. The majority in the Houfe of Lords was, as ufual, ftill greater, the Debates upon a proclamation ifued in America by the Commiffioners. Motion for a revijal of the American laws by Lord John Cavendish. Motion rejeted by a great majority. Secefion. Arguments urged for and against the propriety of a partial feceffion. 45,000 jeamen votea. Debate on naval fairs. Supplies for the naval and the land jervice. Recefs. N a few days after the prefent- by Lord John Cavendish, he feem Iing for the addreffes, a declara ed to confider it as a news-paper tion from Lord Howe and his bro- forgery, and, in that light, a moft In this proclamation the Commioners acquaint the Americans, with his Majesty's being gracioully pleated to direct a revision of fuch of his royal inftructions, as may be conftrued to lay an improper reftraint upon the freedom of legiflation in any of his colonies, and to concur in the revital of all fuch act, by which his fubjects there may think themselves aggrieved. This piece being brought into the Heute The Minifters acknowledged that fuch a proclamation had been published, and that they did not doubt but the paper now read was a true copy of it. The noble propoler expreffed his aftonishment both at the contents of the declaration, and the accidental manner in which a matter of that moment and nature came to the knowledge of the Houfe. He obferved, that in the whole courie of the American bufinefs, the Minifters had treated parliament with a degree of indignity, and marks of contempt, which were not only before unknown, but which no credulity could have believed poffible, whilft the fhadow or name of the conftiturion remained, and the relative fituation of Miniders in this country was remembered. They were, he faid, in every inftance, treated merely merely as cyphers, excepting when they were used as the inftruments in fome odious work. When their name was wanted in such cases, they were called on, by way of requifition, to give a fanction to acts which rendered them abhorred by their fellow-fubjects in every part of the empire. When these meafures, through their own enormity, failed in the execution, the odium was left to rest upon the head of parliament, whilft the crown and its minifters, affuming a moderation and lenity, which they find neceffary, when experience has taught them the impracticability, and, perhaps, danger, of the defign, become all at once the oftenfible mediators between them and the people, undertaking to reftrain their violence, or to rectify their injuftice, and thus obtain the merit of whatever degree of grace it is then found proper to mete out, holding them ftill in the fingular fituation of being reprobated for all unpopular acts, and being neither thanked or confidered for thofe which are kind or favourable. fion of all thofe laws of their own making, by which they had aggrieved the Americans. Yet, however difagreeable this treatment was to himself, and must be to every person who regarded the dignity of that Houfe, or who reflected, that the conftitution could fubfift no longer, than while the different parts of the legislature were kept in due poife and proper balance, with refpect to each other, as well as to the people at large, his Lordship faid, that notwithftanding he felt a dawn of joy break in upon his mind at the bare mention of reconciliation, whatever colour the measures might wear that led to fo defirable an event. The great object of reftoring peace and unity to this diftracted empire, outweighed fo far with him all other prefent confiderations, that he not only would overlook punétilios upon that account, but even fuch matters of real import, as would upon any other occafion call all his powers into action. Without any further obfervation then on the engagements entered into by the Minifters for parliament, he thought it highly neceffary to embrace the opportunity of their being feized with fo happy a difpofition, and to give them all poffible weight and affiftance towards carrying it into effect, and bringing the prefent troubles to a fpeedy and happy termination. The fanction of parliament, he faid, to their propofitions, was abfolutely neceflary for this purpofe. For the Minifters themfelves were not lefs convinced than every other perfon, that they could not hold Thus, in the prefent inftance, Commiffioners are fent out with an intention of carrying a certain act of parliament into execution, armed at the fame time with certain parliamentary powers for reitoring peace; thefe powers, having been narrowed to the minifter's tafte, extend no farther than to the receiving of fubmiffion, and the granung pardons. Thefe, as might well be expected, are found utterly ineffective. When, lo! to their aftonishment, as well as that of all others, parliament difcover, by chance, through the medium of a common news-paper, out any proposals to the Amerithat they are to undertake a revi- cans, however equitable in appear ance, or even candid in fact, which the latter would not fufpect of covering fome treachery, and of being infidiously intended, by deceiving or dividing them, to deprive them by circumvention and fraud of thofe liberties, which they found force infufficient to deftroy. In fuch circumftances of diftruft, all attempts of negociation must be fruitless. The fanction of parliament will then come in happily to afford that confidence, without which no treaty can ever produce an amicable conclufion; fo that if the Ministers are really ferious and honeft in their propofals, and are not playing that part which the Americans always charge and fufpect them with, they will, inftead of oppofing, chearfully accept of that aid and fupport, which can alone give effect to this measure. On thefe grounds his Lordship moved, that the Houfe fhould refolve itself into a committee, to confider of the revifal of all acts of parliament, by which his Majesty's fubjects in America think themselves aggrieved. The Minifters denied, that there was any thing novel, any thing that bore the appearance of leading, or that carried any defign of dictating to parliament, in the promife held out by the Commiffioners. On the contrary, as it was founded on the great principle which had pervaded the conduct of administration from the beginning, fo it was the language of parliament at the very outlet. The great object of both, was the reftoration of peace in America. The addrefs of both Houfes in February 1775, the bills which followed that addrefs, the act of parliament under which the Commiffioners acted, 5 and their declaration, which is now held up as an object of offence, all tended to the fame point. The parliament had delegated the authority now exercifed, specifically in the act, and generally by the addrefs. The leading object of the addrefs, was a recommendation to his Majefty to hear and enquire into grievances, to tranfmit an account of them home, and to engage, on the part of the legiflature, that where grievances really exifted, they fhould be redreffed. The proclamation goes no farther. Even without these fanctions, the King, as the head and mouth, both of the nation and legiflature, would have been warranted in such an engagement, as a motive of encouragement, and ground of reconciliation. Should it be faid, that no redress of grievances would be afforded? or that the King could not venture to engage for the other parts of the legislature in an act of justice, left it should be conftrued into a violation of their rights? The charges against the Minifters of endeavouring to keep this tranfaction fecret, and of hiding their conduct from the knowledge and inspection of parliament, were faid to be equally groundless. Could any intended or possible privacy be fuppofed, with respect to a public proclamation, which was pofted for the infpection of all mankind upon the walls and houses of New York? The idea was abfurd. The Minitters did not indeed think it of fufficient moment to be laid before parliament. It was as yet no treaty nor part of a treaty, it was barely a preliminary which might poffibly lead to one. Had a negociation been even com menced, |