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BOOK rica, called upon ministers to inform him as to XVII. the authenticity of it. This being acknowledged, 1776. his lordship expressed in the strongest terms his astonishment at the contempt and indiguity of fered to the house, who, through the medium of a common newspaper only, were at length informed that they stand engaged to America to undertake a revision of all those laws by which the Americans had conceived themselves to be aggrieved. Notwithstanding the resentment he felt as a member of the house at this ministerial insolence of conduct, his lordship said that he felt a dawn of joy break in upon his mind at the bare mention of reconciliation, whatever color the measures might wear that led to so desirable an event. The great object of restoring peace and unity to this distracted empire out weighed so far with him all other present considerations, that he not only would overlock punctilios on this account, but even such matters of real import as would upon any other occasion call all his powers into action. On these grounds his lordship moved, "that the house should resolve itself into a committee to consider of the revisal of all acts of parliament by which his majesty's subjects in America think themselves aggrieved." The ministers, though thrown by the surprise of this motion into some perplexity, alledged in their vindication, "that the paper

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in question was not of sufficient moment to be laid BOOK before parliament, being no treaty nor part of a treaty, but barely a preliminary which might 1776. possibly lead to one. That a public proclamation, submitted to the general inspection upon the walls and houses of New York, could not however be intended to be kept from the knowledge of parliament; and they conceived the authority exercised by the commissioners to be already delegated by the act under which they derived their powers;-that, as to the motion. itself, they conceived it to be highly improper, as tending to disgrace the commissioners, and defeat their endeavours to obtain the most advantageous terms for this kingdom. They also insisted, that, until the spirit of independency was effectually subdued, it would be idle and futile to enter upon any revisions; but from our late successes there was little room to doubt but that the cruel thraldom in which the people of America were held by the congress would be quickly dissolved, and that America would return to her duty with more eagerness and alacrity than she had entered into this revolt; and that then would be the time to talk of legislative regulations for their future government."

This language kindled anew the indignation of the opposition. "That the most important paper published in the course of this controversy,

BOOK containing propositions of conciliation in which XVII. the house were parties so nearly concerned, should

not be thought of sufficient moment to be laid be fore them, was treated as an incredible extravagance; and to pretend that the commissioners were already authorized to engage for the revision of the laws in question, was a palpable falsehood. The act by which they were appointed empowered them only to grant pardons, and enquire into grievances; and the concurrence of the house was absolutely necessary to give effect to the proclamation. If the ministers opposed such concurrence, it was evident that the offer was a branch of that insidious and treacherous system by which they aimed to divide, while by their fleets and armies they were endeavouring to destroy and exterminate, the colonies. To say that this proclamation was not intended to be kept from the knowledge of parliament was a mockery of parliament; for how could the members of that house be supposed acquainted with the papers posted up in the streets of New York?" But the doctrine they most of all reprobated was, that an absolute and unconditional renunciation of American independence must precede the revision of the laws in question, or any redress of grievances whatever. "Upon what precedent," said they, "is this horrid maxim founded? or what code of history or

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policy have our ministers made the rule of their BOOK present conduct? Philip II. of Spain, who was in his day considered as the most gloomy and unrelenting tyrant in Christendom, adopted a wiser and more moderate policy. In his wars with the revolted provinces of Holland, he repeatedly promised, in terms the most explicit and positive, the complete redress of all their grievances, without requiring a previous renunciation of their independence. But the doctrine now broached was a doctrine which led to the last extremities of human misery. It was a condition which could not be enforced without the effusion of oceans of blood, and in fact it was holding out to America the option only of SLAVERY or DEATH." The motion, after a long and pas→ sionate debate, was negatived by a majority of 62 voices; and from this time many of the opposition, chiefly of the Rockingham party, absented themselves from the house, and a clear field was left during the greater part of the ses sion to the ministers-the vast supplies demanded by them being granted in almost empty houses, without examination or debate.

A gloomy silence prevailed, and ministers in the height of their parliamentary triumphs were ill able to counterfeit the external appearances of satisfaction. The members of the secession, in vindication of themselves, urged, "that there

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BOOK was no saving a people against their will; that they had for a succession of years apprised and warned the nation of the dangers attending those ruinous measures which it was pursuing, and of the fatal precipice that must terminate this mad ministerial career-it was too degrading to be the continual instruments of opposing the ineffective weapons of reason aud argument to a system of predetermined irritation and violence

that as good and bad success were equally urged, and alike admitted, as motives for a perseverance in this course, it was not the part of wisdom to strive with impossibilities, or to draw upon themselves the odium of their fellow-citizens by an ineffectual attempt to serve them-that they would therefore reserve their exertions for a season when the present national delirium had so far abated as to afford some hope of advantage.

Soon after the recess, the minister, depending perhaps on the present indisposition of the minority to contest any point whatever with the court, introduced a bill to enable his majesty to secure and detain persons charged with or SUSPECTED of the crime of high treason committed in America, or on the high seas. With such negligent latitude, or, to speak more justly, with such treacherous artifice of construction, was this bill framed, that, by the enacting clauses, the crown

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