XLIII.

17776

much on the importance of America to this CHAP.
country, which, in peace and in war he ob-
served, he ever confidered as the great source
of all our wealth and power. And then
added [raising his voice]"Your trade lan-
guishes, your taxes increase, your revenues
diminish; France, at this moment, is fecuring
and drawing to herself that commerce,
which created your seamen, fed your iflands
&c." He reprobated the measures which
produced, and which have been pursued in
the conduct of the civil war, in the feverest
language; infatuated measures giving rise,
and ftill continuing a cruel, unnatural, self
defroying war. Succefs, it is faid, is hoped
for in this campaign. Why? Because our
army will be as ftrong this year as it was
laft, when it was not strong enough. The
notion of conquering America he treated
with the greatest contempt.'

Lord Gower, and other Lords in Adminiftration, condemned the motion in the feverest terms; and Lord Hillsborough affecting not to understand it, Lord Chatham rofe a fecond time, and said,

I will, with your Lordship's permission, state shortly what I meant. My Lords, my motion

Z 4

XLIII.

1777.

CHAP. motion was flated generally, that I might leave the question at large to be amended by your Lordships. I did not dare to point out the specific means. I drew the motion up to the best of my poor abilities; but I intended it only as the herald of conciliation, as the harbinger of peace to our afflicted Colonies. But as the noble Lord feems to wish for something more specific on the sub. ject, and through that medium feeks my particular fentiments, I will tell your Lordfhips very fairly what I wish for. I wish for a repeal of every oppreffive act which your Lordships have paffed fince 1763. I would put our brethren in America precisely on the fame footing they flood at that period. I would expect, that being left at liberty to tax themselves, and dispose of their own property, they would in return contribute to the common burthens, according to their means and abilities, I will move your Lord, fhips for a bill of repeal, as the only means left to arreft that approaching deftruction which threatens to overwhelm us.-My Lords, I fhall no doubt hear it objected, Why fhould we fubmit or concede? Has A merica done any thing on her part to induce us to agree to fo large a ground of con

ceffion?

ceffion? I will tell you, my Lords, why I CHAP think you fhould. You have been the ag- 1777greffors from the beginning. I fhall not trouble your Lordships with the particulars; they have been stated and enforced by the noble and learned Lord, who spoke last but one, (Lord Camden,) in a much more able and distinct manner than I could pretend to ftate them. If, then, we are the aggreffors, it is your Lordships business to make the first overture. I say again, this country has been the aggreffor. You have made descents upon their coafts you have burnt their towns, plundered their country, made war upon the inhabitants, confifcated their property, proscribed and imprisoned their persons. I do therefore affirm, my Lords, that instead of exacting unconditional fubmiffion from the Colonies, we should grant them unconditional redrefs. We have injured them; we have endeavoured to enflave and opprefs them. Upon this ground, my Lords, instead of chastisement, they are entitled to redress. A repeal of those laws, of which they complain, will be the first step to that redress. The people of America look upon Parliament as the author of their miferies; their affections are estranged from their Sovereign.

Let

XLIII.

1777.

CHAP Let, then, reparation come from the hands that inflicted the injuries; let conciliation fucceed chaftifement; and I do maintain, that Parliament will again recover its authority; that his Majefty will be once more enthroned in the hearts of his American fubjects; and that your Lordships, as contributing to so great, glorious, falutary, and benignant a work, will receive the prayers and benedictions of every part of the British empire,'

CHA P.
XLIV.

The motion was negatived,

The feffion ended on the fixth day of June 1777.

CHAP. XLIV.

Lord Chatham's Speech on the Addrefs, and his amendment—on the employment of the Indians in North America-on the Returns of the Armyon the Capture of General Burgoyne's ArmyHis motion on the employment of the Indians—His Speech against the motion to adjourn.

PARLIAMENT met on the 18th day of

November 1777. The war with America becoming every day more critical, Lord Chatham, though he had fcarcely strength

to

XLIV.

1777:

to move, foreseeing the fatal confequences CHAP of it, was exceedingly ardent in his wifh to arrest the evil, in every stage of its progress. He therefore attended on the first day of the Seffion. Lord Percy having moved the Addrefs, Lord Chatham rofe in a little time after.

upon

Chatham's

on the Ad drefs.

"I rife, my Lords,' he faid*, to declare Lord my fentiments on this most folemn and feri- Speech ous fubject. It has impofed a load my mind, which, I fear, nothing can remove; but which impels me to endeavour its alleviation, by a free and unreserved communication of my sentiments.

In the first part of the Address, I have the honour of heartily concurring with the noble Earl who moved it. No man feels fincerer joy than I do; none can offer more genuine congratulation on every acceffion of ftrength to the Proteftant fucceffion: I therefore join in every congratulation on the birth of another princess, and the happy recovery

This fpeech was taken by the fame gentleman who took that of the 20th of January 1775, and has been equally efteemed for its accuracy.

of