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thofe doctrines, who reduced them into practice, who broke off all continental connections, and who furrendered the fruits of a moft glorious and fuccessful war, to obtain a tranfient and inadequate peace, who are the framers of all the prefent measures?

That claufe in the 9th article of the Heffian treaty, which provides that the crown fhall employ thofe troops as it thinks proper by land in Europe, was much commented on by the noble mover, and other lords on the fame fide, and reprefented as bearing a moft dark and dangerous complexion. It was afked, what country in Europe, except these kingdoms, they could be employed in? what military operations were intended for them here? Were fuch measures propofed, as it was forefeen would render a foreign force neceffary in this country? And was a civil war here alfo intended, to round the present fyftem?

All the American queftions were of courfe brought up in the further fupport of the motion, and all the old ground of the injuftice, inexpediency, impracticability, the ruinous effects, and fatal tendency of the war, again gone over. It was alfo ftrongly urged, that as the Americans had hitherto abftained from applying for affiftance to foreign powers, and had ventured to commit themselves fingly in this arduous conteft, rather than have recourse to fo odious and dangerous a refuge, it was the height of political foily and madnefs in us, to induce them to depart from that temperate ground, by fetting them an example of fo fatal a tendency. For it cannot be doubted, if this dangerous mea

fure is carried into execution, that they will immediately retaliate, and think themfelves fully juftified by the example, in forming alliances with foreign powers, and hiring foreign forces, (if they do not procure them upon terms more advantagecus to themfelves and ruinous to us,) to oppofe thofe mercenaries whom we fend for their destruction. Nor is it any more to be doubted, that other powers in Europe, of a very different caft and order from thofe of Heffe, Brunswick, and Hanau, will confider themselves, to be fully as well entitled to interfere in our domeftic quarrels. And thus, whilst in the rage and madnefs of civil contention, the ftrength and flower of the nation is exhausted on the other fide of the Atlantic, we shall lie open and defencelcfs to the attacks of our molt formidable and vindictive enemies.

It was contended, that thefe, and numberlefs other evils which were itated, would be prevented or remedied, by a compliance with the motion; and that parliament would thereby have time and op portunity to propofe fuch conditions, as the ultimatum of its demands, as it would be fitting for Great-Britain to offer, and for America, as a great conftituent part of the empire, to accept.

The minifters defended the treaties upon the fame ground in general, on which they had been fupported in the house of commons. The principal ftrefs was laid upon the ftrong plea of neceflity, which covered the meafure at large. As to particular objections, they contended, that upon the whole, the

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the fuddennefs of the requifition, the known neceffity from which it proceeded, together with the novelty, diftance, length of fea voyage, and other difagreeable circumftances particularly attending this service, would have warranted much higher demands. That the treaties were framed in conformity to eftablished ufage and precedent. That the undertaking the defence of the German ftates from whom we hired troops, could not be fuppofed to operate towards bringing on a war in Germany; that the pompous high-founding phrafes of alliance, were mere founds, a form of words which conveyed no meaning, and which confequently could not be fuppofed, or intended, to be binding. That the fuppofed articles of expence were over-rated in the calculations held out by the noble duke; but fuppofing it otherwife, and that they had even been fill greater, the neceffity which induced the meafure, would of courfe have compelled our acquiefcence in the terms. That if the war was finished in one campaign, an event which there was every reafon to expect, or even in two, the terms would be found not only reafonable, but highly favourable on our fide. It was, indeed, acknowledged, that if the war was prolonged to a more diflant period, they mult from their nature become difadvantageous; but this was fo totally improbable as not to merit confideration.

On the whole what were they to do? Were they to fit ftill, and to fuffer an independent hoftile empire to arife out of an unprovoked rebel. lion? Were they tamely to fuffer the trade of the American colonies, the object of fo much care, atten

tion, and expence, of fo many laws and fo many wars, to be given away to foreigners, merely from a fcruple of employing foreign forces, to preferve to ourfelves the benefits fo truly our own and fo dearly purchafed? If we have nothing to complain of becaufe British blood is fhed in a British quarrel, what can the Americans reasonably ob jet to it? They in effect, by refufing to contribute to its fupport, deny themselves to be a part of the British empire, and therefore making themfelves foreigners, they cannot complain that foreigners are employed against them. They faid, that we had nothing to fear from their retaliating upon us. That the other powers who have colonies in America, know too well the danger and mifchief of a rebellion on the prefent principles, to give it any fort of countenance. princes indeed are governed more by policy than equity; but in this inftance their policy is our fecuri, ty. But if they fhould be, contrary to all appearance and proba bility, willing to countenance this rebellion from a defire of partaking in an open trade, and lowering the importance of this country, the terrible confequences which would arife from fuch an event, leave no room for deliberation; but require that we fhould crush this infant rebellion, with every force of every kind, before foreigners can take advantage of it.

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It was obfervable in this, and fome late debates, that as melancholy pictures were drawn of the fituation to which this country would be reduced by the lofs of the colonies, in order there from to induce the moft vigorous coercion, as had heretofore, in the earler

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ftages of this business, been exhibited by the oppofition, for the very different purpose, of preventing those coercive measures, which they apprehended, or faid, would lead to the prefent unhappy crifis.

The debates were long and interefting, and contained a great deal of curious, though much of it was extraneous matter. Among other fubjects which lay out of the direct line of debate, the cruelty and impolicy with which the war was carried on in America, by raining the country, and burning commercial and defenceless towns, was much infifted on by the oppofition. The recent deftruction of Norfolk in Virginia, which, they faid, was principally inhabited by people violently attached to the king's government, with the new and particular circumftance of its being tranfacted under the governor's orders, was commented upon with the greatest severity, and reprobated in the ftrongest terms.

His royal highnels the duke of Cumberland took an active part upon this occafion in fupport of the motion; declaring his entire difapprobation of the conduct of the minifters, and of the prefent American fyftem. He alfo pathetically lamented, that "Brunswickers, who once, to their great honour, were employed in the defence of the liberties of the fubject, fhould now be sent to fubjugate his liberties, in another part of this valt empire." The motion was rejected by the ufual majority, the numbers upon a divifion being 100, including 21 proxies, to 32, including 3 proxies, who fupported the question. It was, however, at tended with an unusual proteft, which only reciting the terms of

the propofed addrefs, concluded with the fignatures of the refpective protesting peers to a filent diffent.

The fecretary at war gave notice about this time, that he would move, at a fhort specified day, for a fupply, to the amount of 845,1651. towards defraying the extraordinary expences of the land forces, and other fervices incurred. between the 9th of March 1775. and 31ft of January 1776. This vaft demand for extraordinaries, incur. red in fo fhort a time, and in fo confined and inefficacious a fervice, rouzed all the vigour, and awakened all the fire of oppofition; which feemed upon this occafion to blaze out in fuch a manner, as for a time to dazzle and confound adminiftration.

They examined the journals to fhew, that neither the glorious campaign of 1704, which faved the German empire, and broke and ruined that military force which had been for half a century the fcourge and terror of Europe, nor that of 1760, which gave us the vaft continent of North America, had in any degree equalled in expence, the fhameful campaign of Bofton in 1775. They endeavoured to prove by various calculations, that the maintenance of 8,500 wretched, difgraced, and halfftarved forces in Bolton, had not cott the nation much less, in a period fhort of a year, than an hundred pounds each man. They called upon the minifters to answer, and examined the state of national finance to enquire, in what manner we were capable of fupporting, in the prefent and future campaigns, 50,000 men in America at a proportional expence, exclufive of the

naval, ordnance, and other charges, of our standing expences, and of the hazard of a foreign war.

All the powers of eloquence were difplayed, in defcribing in the moft glowing colours, the fucceffes and glories of queen Anne's, and of the last war. The names of Godolphin and Pitt were reechoed; whilft all the force of wit and ridicule was exhaufted, in contracting the fituation and circumftances of thofe feafons, with the prefent. Blenheim and Schellenburgh, were oppofed to Lexington and Bunker's Hill; and to compleat the group, the river Myftic was for once placed in the fame view with the Danube.

The minifters feemed for a confiderable time nearly overwhelmed by the torrent. But finding its vehemence rather to increafe than leffen, they at length refted for fupport upon the tirong fanction of parliament. They faid, that they had acted in this bufinefs from the beginning, not only with the concurrence, but the approbation of parliament; that they had not fought it, nor taken it up wantonly; they had found it; it was a legacy left by their predeceffors, and of which they found parliament in poffeffion. That whenever that body should think it neceffary to alter its conduct or opinions; to abandon, or to mollify the prefent meafures, they would readily give up their own opinions, and acquiefce in either; but whilt they found themselves in poffefion of the full confidence and approbation of a great majority of that houfe, they never would defert the truit repofed in them, but would continue to fulfil their duty at all events. And that there were only two fim

ple queflions arifing on this mat ter, whether the money had been properly applied? and whether the measures that induced the expenditure were neceffary? that the first would in due time be authenticated by the proper vouchers, and parliament had already repeatedly given its fanction to the fecond, That as to the inglorious appearance of the campaign, they faid that it had, the fame origin with all the reft of our misfortunes, too good an opinion of the Americans, That it was never believed, that they could be wicked enough to unite with the Maffachuffets Bay in rebellion, nor confequently able to hut up his majefty's forces in Bolton, and prevent the fupply which the abundance of that coun try yielded. That now our eyes are opened; and the measures taken in confequence, muit open the way to abundance; and it was then to be hoped, that it would not be neceffary to fend all their provision from Europe. At prefent indeed it was unhappily neceffary; and whatever the expence might be, they could not justify themselves in ftarving either the army or the caufe. That the vigour and generofity of this feflion would give repofe and economy to the next.

11th.

On the fecond day's debate, when the motion was regularly made, after a very warm difcuffion, the question was carried on a divifion by a majority of 180, to 57. It was, however, fcarcely less debated on the following day, upon receiving the report from the committee.

That vaft and invincible majority, which had hitherto overruled every propofal of the fame nature, was not fufficient to deter the duke

of

of Grafton from ftill trying, whether an attempt towards a reconciliation with the colonies might not be received in fome new form, or in fome manner rendered palatable. He accordingly mov14th. ed for an addrefs, that in order to prevent the further effufion of blood, and to manifeft how defirous the king and parliament are to reftore peace to all the dominions of the crown, and how earneftly they wish to redrefs any real grievances of his majefty's fubjects, a proclamation might be iffued, declaring that if the colonies, within a reasonable time before, or after the arrival of the troops destined for America, fhall prefent a petition to the commander in chief, or to the commifiioners to be appointed under the late act; fetting forth in fuch petition, which is to be tranfmitted to his majefty, what they confider to be their juft rights and real grievances; that in fuch cafe, his majesty will confent to a fufperfion of arms; and that he has authority from his parliament to affure them, that their petition fhall be received, confidered, and answered.

The great object of this motion feems to have been to remedy the defects of the late prohibitory, or capture act; which, as the oppofition had all along contended, held out a delufive fhew of peace, with out furnishing any means, or containing any powers, by which that object could poffibly be attained. Befides the general arguments which the fubject afforded, the noble mover specified two particular circumflances, which rendered a compliance with the motion, or the adoption of fome equivalent fubftitute, at this time abfolutely neceffary. The first of thefe was

the new doctrine of unconditional fubmiffion on the fide of America, which had been held out in the other house by the noble lord at the head of the American department; The fecond was the intelligence, which the noble duke had himself received, that two French gentlemen had fome time before gone to North America, where they had held a conference with General Washington at his camp, and were by him referred to the Continental Congress, to which they immediately repaired. To prevent or remedy the ill effects which a knowledge of the former, and the confequent opinion that' it was the eftablished political doctrine of Great Britain, must neceffarily produce upon the Americans, and the extremities to which it would naturally drive them, he inferred the neceffity of fome specific declaration from parlia ment, the laying of fome ground open for accommodation, and throwing fo much light upon it, as would enable them in fome degree to judge, what conditions we were willing to grant, or what conceffion to accept; and would at leaft relieve them from the horrors, and difarm them of the rage. which the bare idea of unconditional fubmiflion muft neceffarily excite. The latter circumstance, not only fhewed the immediate danger of the interference of fo reigners in our civil contention; but what was ftill more alarming, gave too much reafon to apprehend, that the interference was already commenced, and that from a most dangerous, and naturally hostile quarter.

This day will perhaps hereafter be confidered as one of the most important in the English History.

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