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The shall TiNl whic Map diffa antir bagi righl requ metl 10X 14X 18X 22X 28X 30X >/ 12X ■ 16X »X 24X 28X 32X Atails m du nodifiar H una ilmaga as arrata J to a palura, ion k n 32X Tha copy fllmad hora haa baan raproducad thanka to tha ganaroaity of: Library of tha Public Archivas of Canada Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality posaibia conaidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in Icaaping with tha filming contract apaclficationa. Original coplaa In printad papar covara ara fllmad baglnning with tha front covar and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or illuatratad lmpras> aion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original coplaa ara fllmad baglnning on tha first paga with a printad or illuatratad imisias* sion, and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraaalon. Tha laat racordad frama on aach microficha shall contain tha aymbol — ^- (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha aymbol y (maaning "END"), whichavar appiiaa. 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Tous laa autras axamplairaa orlginaux aont filmia an commandant par ia pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'ImpL.Mion ou d'lllustration at an tarmlnant par ia darnlAra paga qui comporta una taiia amprainta. Un das symbolaa auKrantr apparaftra sur ia darnlAra imaga da chaqua microficha, salon la caa: la symbols -^ signifia "A 8UIVRE", la aymbola V algnlfia "FIN". Laa cartaa, planchaa, tablaaux, ate, pauvant Atra fllmAa A daa taux da rAduction diff Arants. Lorsqua la documant aat trop grand pour Atra raproduit mn un saul clichA, il aat fllmA A partir da I'angia supArlaur gaucha, da gaucha A drolta. at da haut an baa, an pranant la nombra d'Imagaa nAcaaaaira. Las diagrammaa suivanta illuatrant la mAthoda. 1 2 3 4 5 6 » i ;> k FVLI, tad FAITHFUL E F O R T #r TBW P E p A T B 8 8* r 4 »OTH HorSE9 PF PARUAifPNTt ■ »» • I Monday the t7th of Fvn^ii^g P 9. I Q A T tl|6 9|il of FfB&94&Y, 1781^ ARTiatfES of PEACE, ■■ . ^/ ' *f to N D ON? l^iifiM for S. B L A D O N^ Nuab, 13, f ATM-NOfTlH Row. •♦ .:'^■ ■» - ■ I- I T '»• T f. ■it *i ^i ^ rrt I O *■«^ r ►J.' VJL K I -^ rvf'^TT. i *' it .a vi. < I 'iT 1 1 'i ''I r f V ' .J I. •' f ir TO (I u;i:ii"i ^0 f'Jtf A ri Oi «,.' 1 a X A v::"At;..t-!Ii 1 *.o J, 3 i; 4 C[ O kI \.i »^ 1 r s fj i «r*"Aaitfr v '■tt:.'«9'^ .-^ o a o .1 tzi ^ » iUkl Mil 1. illil'i^Mii t* , ! "K>i;fn' 5BB» t , . -. i, ;,, :. • ., :. •• '- ■■•:.! • -..'r .'. -isnk . . ... -r:? -..'y 1< — O F COM M N S, .0 , 1 ■ t ■ ■1 •J , u- ■ 1 . .. >l ' 1 ■ .; *'^ ' > ■.iirv'^ - '^ MQN D A Y, T « B k ty A k T t% 1783; ,»1S' t . J. • ..» J •t, -J,,. '-;:■ ,. ^nP*i5fi Hotlfe was more crciiKlcd witBr mcnrifcefji ^JL tufd firangersl thari it has been known fb^ luanif y^ars. Thcr«f'wa^ upwards of four hundred 4nd fillf inemb^ri In the houfe at one time^ About fou? that they difcredited each Others wares to recomimend their own, aini to draw cuilpnsers to them. That thinl^ing men admired theii; ingenuity, but reduced their argu- ments* to their iuft value. . -^ That tlie queftton before the houfe was iimply this, whether fuik a peace was better than fiiib a war* — He then prpcccdcd to, (hew the neceflity of peace from the ftate of the country. He proved by pa- pers upon ,thc talkie, that the intereft of the public debt, was iocreafed from lefs than four millions and tj a half hawM-i < 3 ) a half at the beginning of Lord North's war, to near nine millions and a half at prefent. — That this fix years war had coft as therefore Qonfidcnibly more than all the fucceflcs of the. Puke of }/UtU borough and Lord ChathaiD« und all tb<: wan put together from the time of the revolution for near a century. -— That it had encaikd a permanent burxhcii upon the land of England in hec reduced date, df ten Shillings in .the pound additional land-tarj that our expence in peace would be from fourteen to fifteen millions per annum, with an income of eleven millions : that he remembered the clofe of the laft war, and how nece0ary peace was then thought by ibme of the wiieft authorities. What would they now fay were they to give their opinions upon the prefent queftion. The price now paid by us for our peace to France and Spain, was the facrifice of one fmall ifland in the Weft.Indies, two Floridas, the ifland of Minq^ca difmantled, therefore ufelefs to us, and fome immaterial, advantages in their filhery and in their fettlements in the Eaft Indies. •— Price paid by France at the laft peace, Dominica^ Grenada, the Grenadines^ Tobago, St. Vincents, ..'^ her pqifel^ fions in Canada and North America, humiliating reftraints upon her fi(her)*, — * in Europe, Minorca, -r^ in Africa, Senegal, •*- in India (he confented that her iettlements in Bengal 0iould be defencelefs, and con- tented berfclf with the trade after abandoning all her B ^ pra- -*»\ • ( 4 ) proje^ of dominion ; and Spain yic Ided up the two flor'fdiSt \' That as to America their independence was no con-* eelfion,lince you could not deprive them of it. That the extent of t^eir boundary was nr difadvantage to )rou« but w^s well ckpfe to prevent all future contefts bylaMs' 9nd rivers, common to both countries ^ that Canada left us more territory than he hoped iPM>Yikld ever be fettled from this country. That the intereft of (he fincere Loyalids were as deai^ txj himai to any man, but that he could never think it would have been promoted by carrying on that tinfortunate war which Parliament had in fa^ fuf- pended before the beginning of the treaty. That it was impoifiblc after the part Congrcfs was pledged to take in it, to conceive that their recommendation would not have its proper influence on the dlBTereni legiilatures — that Jiedid not Himf<^lf ^e what tnora could have been done on their behalf, except by re^ newing the war for their fakes, and increaiing oura and their ealamities. That thofe who had conftancly been holding out to us the profperitiesof this eountryi her jncxhauftible refourccs -^the fubjugationof Amei yica and all the golden dreams with which we were fd loiig deluded, would he doubted not, condemn this peace as ignonninious, or any other, by which > we did ^ive the law to the belligerant powers ; thattheyr (•rlked and $^ed ^s foollQi game(kr&, whofe paflions ( 5 ) b1n4 theitt more »trongly to pcrfev«rc the more thcfef Idfles ^Ucd them -^ that Wife men would think yoit could not too foon rife up from a loiing game, Knd that alt he (hould anfw«r to fuch argumeot& was, to ' rejoice that fuch a fpirit of infatuadon did no Joiiger guide our councils* That if others who felt as he did the necefliiy of peace, and had knocked at every door to fue for it, agreeing with him do the premiics^ rejeftcd the conclufion, it would remain .for theoi to l^rove 'that thcTC was feme difference fo edentlal in our f&vouF between the pre&nc terms and what the]|» ^btitd have- adopted, ais to compenfate the expence of another ye^f^nrap-^lnwliich cafehedid not doubcthe king of Fi^arkeWoutd yield inllancly to thofe condi« tibhs, upon paying the fixte^n or twenty iniilions» fufch ^ dday would incur to Great Britain. He then adverted to thfc neceffuy of changing our plan of . commercial regulaiicffts, and concluded with ex^reffing his hearty thanks to the miniftcrs for having broughc us out of our difficulties under every poffible.dif- couragemenr, which nothing but their courage and. firmnefs could' have got ^he better.of. That he might poffiWy differ with them in their future meafures, but he-ihould always feel pain in fo doing, from* the ;re* collection of the Very- important fcrvicc they now did jheircountry;^-'"^^ '?-'*■'' ■'? -' . ■■ r:^r > ■• He then moved V That aiw 'humble Addnefe be ^* prelented to his M«je%, to returu his Majefty ^ the Thanhs of thi^< Houfe for his gracious con* dcfcenfioa ( « ) ^ deibenfion in ordcriog to be laid before^ut tbe Pre* ^ liintiiiry and Provifional Articles of die dificrent *^ Treaties which his Nfajefty hath concluded, apd ^ to aCvre his Majcfty, that we have Gon0dered them ■* with that attendoM which fotmportaiu aXubje^ re» *^ qotrcs. To ezpr eft in the moft duuful manoer to ^ bis M ajefty our farisfa^lionf that his Majefty has, ^ in confequence of the powers eocrufted .to biix^» <^laid the foundation, by the Provifional Articles, ««> ^ith the States of North America, for a Treilty of ^ Peace, which we trull will enfure perfed rjcjcon- ^ ciliation and friendibip between , b<>th cpunifif^ ** That in this confidence we preiui)r|fejE9^.ex|^^;]i^ fais^ Majefty our jua cxpc4t4JtM ;l*^.t)HB%^ f« States of North Amcfica:^3nlJ,Cj^F]r.,jin^p; ^^ « tual and fatisfaaory exeQutj|>p^/|bpf<^;^9l^p(|^ ^ which the Congrefs is fo folei|)nly.»^AHn4lj^jiC^ •* Treaty to recommend, mJ9,i^^Z,9f,MkSP/^^ ^ as have fufifered for the pan Wbipb%y Jb|ivj^JU|^ ^ in the war; and that;we. ih}^flPQ(\fl4cM^Hi^ > cumftance as the fureil: M\p9^^^qf*^^p^^^ »« friendibipw And to acknQwl.c4g§{,tp |ii% I^^ •* our due fenfe of. that wife 4nd pj|t$r^^l ,r^rd]fpij ^' the happioefs of his fubje«ft6,::which:induced^)iis ** Majefty to relieve them from a buft^enfome andje^*, *• penfive war, by the Preliminary Artiplf s^of. Pca/ce ^ concluded between his Majefty >j|nd i|^] l^oft *•' Chriftian and Cathoiick ICings. To aflure his ** M«jcfty, llm we Ihall encourage ^;) trery exertion bf his fubjeds of Gfcat tiricaio an^ ** Ireland, in the' culcirition and improvement o^ M.thoie rciburcci which muft tend to the certain a augmentation of our public ftrength, and diai^ V with thefe views, we (hall moil diligently turn ^0 our attention lo a reviiionof allour conaimerdal' << laws, and endeavour to frame them upopfu^^li- I ** liberal principles as may beft extend oiir trvte Kid^ '* ^Vnavigationi and propordj9iMl%HB«C^^ ^^'•^S^isTnavflll pfm^^9imif$ ^ < J r diftuiv4n^ge&cir lii^ tti> a$ f rdm' > oQV ^ vnetaACtol jr liM«ti0ti, we fifad r«a(bn to have" a|:^reben4ed.' He «hMf touehcdl • ujpoft ' the Prdvidbnil Trc«y with * AfttfcrtKrii arid dsvclt ^ith fonrte €m6tion on thac jrtfirt t)f it which telated to thfe t0yali(*«5 j it wa^ ^iteht ft\tf6rh\9 c&jnttYiil wan there tie fa\V hdf iJiktMliat^s it WAsifhere hfrfaw: her it^^he feet of America: But ftiJi ivfeir doisld wmifteri "Wfcr* they tdi rertcw thc^rfOrs<)f war, an^ pllmge th^r 'ccMrtrry otitt tlh6te into dc^tj^Ces wfe^tfc ihe ' li^vtr'^^iirld t^ ^blc' to be^r ?'' Hfe WLviKf dpfeion €h(7 ^gitt tiot^ l)ecaufe> thie i^nd, fti hii^^ffiibn^ ^f(^ it It' ffibuM' t)6'atta5nedy beire Wo pi^opo^Tiftn to tfii riidns-r ^rfd t1^ nlear(ft> WH iis^ little pifd^r^ tWhci^tb-'-ifee end J 'for a<^'»th v (Irtfftgth oP #i c6ijntfy/ili^c rhbmcntof its git ^eft txcrtlony^^ili jffetfuffi^icJht'iw ftdcice'rhe AiWen fths % forcif/ ^ tWy - cdtild 'not -ndw irtake bett terms "for hhi Loyalift* tKian they Had dbtie ; '( r dcfcraiincd Ai the A\iwricans wfere;' p^feviobs to 'i e treaty, to ti^^ift ih€ Loyal iftk as traitors iihd rebels Mo their couritry^ fo nothing but 'fuch a fof^6* as we had not'b<*eil Wcc poffefled of from the -beginning of the ^r< coiiltl be*t the' Ahieribans out of this deterniFna* tiofi. He concluded* by cxprcffing his heaf^ty ap# *'-^ probation hUtiit i^ i:'ti il . pirc^aiiq!! of, tb^ P^^^co^ -, vas poffible that th? prefent peace might be fhe be(t that could havt; been Qbtained ; but this> was \vhj|C C • th& in.!;' i;jj:;i 1 i i 1 J Mo > begun an enquiry int'ci thiic'pdinC ; iiayJ^He'buMi^s was to U^cdtiMettiii^z^'^ih of th<* gerieraf'^eSa. -li^ii, AC Whole wdrfe^Wk ^is vci^lifcJrtiipf^ty^'^iftl to give ^y oplnioti 'Kff ' the H^fcolC iii^lc com- plcatfed* arta t>efofe ili^eiifi. k J trf W^'reloiirces 6f tl?e couhtfy fortafryirig 6H a li^afj^e ^fciiilcl fay itpthiryg of thisth : he was hbt^'a^uairitcaf Whh ^them- bS ftili; lct^tfeitii)C wHat they tiiigHxi he' was rcad^ fe go'fbfaf ili the addrds as to plcd« the^oufe jto abide by the j^eace, fdchas itAvas; ^rid*conlt (a;in!?pcfl4ry,,t0 his Maj^Ily's fubjedls, and t.k^ Jl,g<^e5aJ J]f,^pm^ff.of;ma^^^^ ^((r« Sf^ John made a ihoGiufpeech in fuppprt of th$ amen^^nqnt. ^e f^id that the^^uin of the nation from the ex9(^Stpf dcbtSi^ ai?4ithci ii^crcafeof taxcij, wa^ the ground VPP^ which j;h.e objections to wars in general ,w(;re,^q^A by allioro^er adypcates foe peace; and as they jyerp nt^iftaken intli^ir pnognofti' peace i ii y that he was dtfappointed it the cohdb^t 6f l^tnifters thii day : he thotkghl that it' would have hejdn Ibffi- 6ttii fbr them that Acir'peaic'fliburd hot have been Op{Kifed ; "and therefere'hi mtiftTijf, that it was too much to call upon gehttetttti yd apjprove of it. He expedcd, Oii the ebiStrary, that they woutdbaW ifmitated the wife eximpTe fet ^hehi by the ilble, ho- he(^/and upnght^Vniftef, who haif concluded the treaty of Aixla-ChapelleTtheT^ar which was; tcr- fhlnated by that treaty, iiiig^t' have b©en called an onfortunate war i but ftill that honeft mihiilcr, wrap- ped up in' his own prdbity and integrity,' andlboking doWn equally upon incehie and upon cenfure, con- tented himfelf with laying the treaty before the HoU^e ; but without eVer thihitihg of moving either by 'himfelf or His friend, for a vote of approbation of that peate. " " I have laid the articles before yoiu/* faid he, '< Canvas them, twift them, weigh them ; do •* what you pleafe with themj if ^hey are attacked, •* it is my bufihefs to defend them ; but I have no- •* thing to move upon them myfclf." Such'did'hc expeft would have been the cpnduft of Mipiftcrs this day j and his difappointment gave him the more concern, as they had by their manner of proceeding, forced him cither to approve a peace, which he con- demned j or to put on the appearance of a man Who wilhed to diftrci's Miniftcrs, than which nothing was mere foreign from his intention or d«lire. — • Cora- ! h ^e* prinp^pic of Mfifpjj^detu^ ^cawfc wWU St. {.vj- cia remajn^d in Qy,i:,hs|r^ds, together with fuqii ^i)xtt ihand^as Wjp,'^r5,,^h" inom^ Qf, wc unr queflionaji^ly he)^ the balance of power in the Weft Indies ijind therefore it would ^V.^ been unfafc for. the French to make peace, without recovering that iOapd fr9ni us i tjie cpnfecjuenc^ was, that we mufl:> or rather ought, to ha;^e t>?en quoad hoc mailer^ o| ^e terries of tpc; peace: but indead of this, the jrencn ib far dictate to us, that we abfolutely lofe thb advantage that ought (o have i^rifeii from the pofleffion of tnat v^uablc ifland, The honourable member who had moved the addrefs had faid, that w^th r£;fpe6t fo the right of the French to fifh on the coaft of Newfoundland, they had always en-, joyed it, and that on the prefcnt occafion the loca!^ city only of the exercife of that right had been changed : but furely in this point, if the honourable member had told thfc truth, he had not furely told the whoU truth ; for the difference between the ex- tent of coaft on which the French had enjoyed the « right lK^a$ a check upon the Frencn^ wniqli rnight prevent thtih from going to war ^ith us. as the very Hrft cohfeqtittiC^ to France after a rupture would be the and St. '^etri^'. But nbwi tliitihefe two ptecs Ver^ t6 bfc rdtfefedt ani^ Fr^ricffifefed f^^ of rtd^ foWifying tlieni;! a very great ^li^erericci'jndced Wotiid'eiifuie to this country: fbf''fonnc'r^, ai Im » nfft daWn of a war, thefe tw6~J)tac5e» lay afouf iher- cy, and die French fiAcry h^vci" jfaifed to b^ dcftroy- '6d J but now, asthfcy were to be pcrtrlittea t<> 'fortify Miquelpn anc^ St. tie'rrt,' we Ihall n.6 longer have that check upon the Fren'cli'Ioi" the Drefe'rvation of tl;ie pcacjfc \yhiclx formerly we enjoyiBd i arid hence It was &ir for him to fay^ tliat w"e had 'mad'c cbnceflTons * which we as Atdi6Mte\A l|«c c^MMuelon and St Pierre kft nflicrnDco Wbuld find fin tfj^km.ai^a,p.(6|paion un« ^ fii. .•!;:..;.{.. ^ ;;.:oo Y?n; X'.J, .'^•■v n f/i t'Cv'o Known rtp them in former Wars. From . this pOint^ therefore, he would arguei that ^her^ was qqc a placf ^icored to us for ykhich we had npt given value :-« /orcifyirte thenii together witti ,an extent o/ coaO; for ^j^^ . ... as Goree and Senegal were for wh^t was left us on the coait tff /Lfnca : thus it was (hat the French got Talud fpr j^lue(or werjr ihing tl^^ fujfren^ered in the Weft Indies, ind w,^rq j^^J^ to kcep.qrpbago into thclfj e ain. JA^th refpcdt to Ind*a, h^ wH^ft jn con- fci^nce lay. ^hat we had made llili greyer conceliions in tnat quarter i for we had reuored to. (he, French the wholer trade they formerly enjoyed there,, as far as^ Cape Comonn, together wlch the right, of railing fortifkation.-;^!^^^ ro refufe his approbation to the peace, till he ihould know that we were a€tually at. peace with France in that part oiF tl^e world, or not. By the Xylth arti- cle of the treaty with France it was ftipulatcd, tha^ " In cafe Fnance hs^s aUies in In^ia, they (hall bb ** invited. ^( 17 ) ** invicecl, as well as thofe of Great Bricun> to accede " to the prelent pacification i and for that purpofe, <' a term of four months, to be computed from the ** day on which the propofal ihall be made to them, <* (hall be allowed them to make their decifioos ; ** and in cafe of refufal on their part^ their Britannic ** and Moft Chriftian Majefties agree not to give *' them any afliftance, diredtly or indirectly, againft *' the Briciih or French poflfefllGns, or againft the an- *' cient poiTeflions of their refpe^ive allies s and " their faid Majefties ihall offer them their good << , offices towards a mutual accommodation." — ^ Now in order that this article ihould be mutual and reciprocal, it ought to be lefs indefinite.; the par- ties to whom it alludes are not upon an equal, foot? ing : in the firft place> the Nabob of Arcot, our ally, being poiTefled of feveral territcries, of which he 1^ become mafter at different times> as the PoUgar^, for inftance, it was not ai? eafy matter to decerniine whe- ther thofe, or what part of hjs dominions, were his ancient poffeffions ? ^\i\i refpeft to the recommenda- tion to them, olr invitation to accede tq the. prefent pacification, he was at fome lofs on that head. With refpe6t to the Nabob of Arcot, our ally, he had not a doubt but he would moft readily accede to the pa- cification; but he would not fay as much for Hyder Ally, the ally of France \ for being already poilRpfled of Arcot, as long as he refrained from attacking, what may be.caUcd^he amiefit poffeffion^ .of the Na- D , bob. ( i8 > bob, the terni& of the treaty to which thit Prince ihould be invited to accede, would leave him at full liberty to flrip the Nabob of Arcot of the greateft part of his dominions: to this he mud add, that, contrary to the terms of the treaty of Paris of 1762, the fettlements > which were to be reftored to the French, were to be fortified if they pleafed. There- fore as their trade in that part of the world was to be reftored to its former ilate and fettlement ; and as the pofTeflions which were to be reftored to them, were to be fortified at their pleafure, fo he muft fay that in India, the advantages of the peace were on the fide ot France. The next thing he would confider, was the treaty with America : unfuccefsful as we had been in the war with that country, he was certainly prepared for c^ceflfions and dcrifices ; but he was free to fay, that the conceflions which were made, had furpafiied thofe which he had ever had in contemplation in the mod calamitous ftate of our affairs : he did imagine indeed, that among the conceflions which this coun- try would be obliged to make to America, would be that of the dependence of the latter upon the for- mer ; but he had never dreamed of thofe conceflions, which were now to be made ? — The honourable gentlemen had faid, that mutual recipmciiy was to be the bafis of the treaty; this might pofiibly be the cafe ; but if it was, tht reciprocity was certainly all oTi ene fide : if boundaries were to be fixed, which ihould - ( '9 ) ihould not be liable to mifinterpretation and difpute, there were1x}undaries eftabliflied both by nature and 9£t of Parliament ; why had not they been adopted in the preient treaty ? If a boundary was to be given to America, where had been the nepeffity that twenty' four naH§ns of Indians (hould be ceijedjotthe Ame- ricans ^ The Ohio was the natural boundary : but reciprocity was to be the foundation of the treaty, and hence probably it was, thzt forts alfo were to be ceded to the enemy ; and among the reft, a fort within twenty- five miles of Montreal : this^ no doubt, was founded in reciprocity ; other forts were alfo ceded to the new republic, one of which was lb ftrong, and built at an extraordinary expence, that it could with- fland the fiege of a regular army. The Britifli can- non was not to be removed from America, and the American cannon was to be left behind *,. this to be fure was not a fubjedl: worth quarrelling about ; but it fervcd to ihew the reciprocity of the treaty. The fecond article of the Provifional Treaty contained fome very remarkable things ; it dates that a line drawn ** through the Lake of the Woods, through the " faid Lake, to the moft N. W. point thereof; and " from thence on a due weft courfe to the River " Miffiffippi." Now this being duly confidered, would be found to be abfolutely impoffible ; for this line would run far beyond the fource of the Mifiiflip- pi : thus he would agree as to the reciprocity y the mouth of this river is in the hands of the Spaniards ; D 2 . its ( 20 ) its ibur^e in the pofleflion of the Aipericans ; one fide of it is within the boundaries ceded to the Colonies ; the other is ih the hand of the Spaniards i thus the river, the half of which is given to us by the treaty, belongs wholly to other powers, and not an inch of it, either at north or fouth, at weft or eaft, belongs to us. This, no doubt^ would cftabliih the recipro' city of .advantages beyond a cavil. He next obfcrved, that the honourable mover of the addrefs had faid that the boundaries of the coFo- nics had been extendtd folcly for the purpofe of ta- king away all handle for future quarrel or difcontent. Did the honourable member imagine, that putting all the carrying-places into the hands of the Americans, was the moft effciftual way to prevent quarrels ? In his opinion, no more efTedtual mode could be devifed for creating- diiTentions : — giving up old friends and allies,^ and bringing the Americans to within twenty- five miles of Montreal, did not appear to him the means moft conducive to peace and tranquillity. But above all, he objeAed to the article relative to the Loyaliils, thofe gallant, but unfortunate men, were not, and ought not to be confidered as traitors and rebels ; becaufe when they took up arms, it was at thecal! of their King, and in obedience to that al- legiance which they had fwom to him : their loyalty therefore fhould have met a better return, than that they fiiould be made the fubjedt of an odious excep- tion ; that thofe who had deferved of this country every (21) tvcry grace, every favour that it could b^ftow, flioald be abandoned to the impotent recommenda- tion of a Congrefs, whofe authority to levy money, was difputed and denied by every ftatc in the confe- deracy. What! coulu not the furrendcr of New- York, Long-Iiland, Staten-Ifland, Penobfcot, Charles- Town, the extenfion of boundaries, the acknow- ledgment of Independence, have enabled us to call fome terms for the brave Loyalifts ? For thofe men ivho had Hiked family, fortune, and life in vindica- tion of the caufe of Great-Britain. Here he felt the de- gradation of this country ; here he faw the triumph of American vanity ; or rather here he faw the glory of America reared upon the ruins of that of Great-Britain. What ! was America fo fixed and determined on this point, that fhc was refolved to purfue the war, when flic could not raife a farthing to carry it on, fooner than reftore to the Loyalifts their eftates ? Or would the French and Spaniards, once fatisfied on the great points which they had at heart, countenance the pro-* traftion of the war, for the vindidlive purpofe of pre- venting the Loyalids from regaining their eftates ? It was improbable, if not impofliWe ; and therefore he muft condemn, inftead of approving this article^ With refpedt to the right of fifhtng on the coaft of Newfoundland, which was to be fecured to the Ame- ricans, it had been faid, that they ufed always to en- joy it : it was truly faid ; but then it wis becaufe they then were Britifh fubjefts-, but in this the boafted reciprocity "«[ ( aa > reciprocity was to be difcovcred ; for while the Ame- ricans were to have this fiihery iecured to them, there was no provifion whatever for fccuring tor his Bri- tannic Majefty's fubjc<5ls of Newfoundland, Canada, the Bahama and Bermuda lOands, and Nova Scotia, , that right of fifliing, which they alfo ufed formerly to enjoy on the coaft of America. ^ He next confidered the treaty with Spain* The honourable gentleman who moved the addrefs, had faid, that Eaft Florida was no longer of any ufe, fince Weft Florida was in the hands of the Spaniards; but as for himfelf, he would certainly argue very difierently ; for he would lay that the one had be- come more valuable, Hnce the ocher had pafTed into the hands of the enemy. Exclufive of the natural value of fertility of £aft Florida, it would have been the means, in our hands, of providing for the Loyalifts, and all thole friends of ours in the colo- nies, who would wilh to quit the dominions of Con- grefs, and take (helter in ours. St. Auguftine was not a large paflage i but fince, by the fortifications at Cape Nicola Mole, our Jamaica trade was obliged to come through the Gulph, there would now be no port to (helter them ; on the contrary, as not a fpot on that whole coaft. could now be called our own, numberlefs privateers could lie in wait for our Ja- maica-men, and pick them up as they pafTed through the Gulph : formerly indeed, when this Florida did not belong to us, it might be afked, did we on that account ( *3 ) account feel all thefe depredations from privateers ; he would anfwer no : but then the reafon was obvt* ous i Georgia then belonged to us, which afforded our trade a fhelter and protedlion from the attack of enemies, and the inclemency .of the weather.—- Laft of all, he took notice of Dunkirk^ which the honourable member who moved the addrefs, had pafled over in total filencc : it had formerly been confidered of infinite moment to this country, that there ihould be no fortification there 5 and it muft not be immediately inferred that the French no lon- ger think it of confequence, bccaufe they did not fortify it this war : the fadl probably was, that they' might have other reafons different from thofe which might be fuppofed to arife from an idea that the place was of no confequence. In former wars, the French fortified it as much as they could during the war; but at the peace> they were obliged to deftroy all the fortifications : ^ while th* event of the prefent war remained uncer- tain, they probably did not wifh to lay oiit immenfe fums in raifing fortifications, which at the peace they might pofTibly be obliged to demolifh: but as diey were now free from any reflraint on that fubje6t, there was litUe doubt but they would avail them- felves of the peace to place thofe fortifications again on a refpeAable footing : at all events, we were fure to lofe much in point of national pnde, and France would gain in proportion to our lofs, as fhe would be 3 ""i^ ( a4 ) U ' rid of the prefcnce of a Brici(h commiflary, who would not fufFer a wall to be built, if the French had been inclined to ereft one. Upon the whole, if the peace really defervcd approbation, he certainly was one of thofe who would moft heartily approve of it, if, on due deliberation, he ihould find it dc- ferving of praifej but to proceed at this moment to approve, by a vote of Parliament, was a matter for which he was not at all prepared v nay, it would be nothing (liort of a condemnation of all his own prin« ciples, and of his own condudb, in having refufed to accede to this very peace; while he was in office, and which peace was moft undoubtedly within his reach. — But gentlemen would fee that it would be highly improper to proceed haftjly in (o great and momentous an affair; many things remained as yet to be explained ; and ur 'l^they (hould be explained, it would be abfurd indeed to approve of the preli- minaries. That part of them, which related to the cutting of logwood, was as yet a matter of pbfcurity to the Houfe and to the nation *, and he was afraid, that from the manner in which the fourth article of the treaty with Spain was worded, the logwood trade would be greatly cramped, if not nearly deftroyed. — " The article ftates, his Catholic Majefty fhall ** not for the future fufFer the fubje£is of his Britan- *' nic Majefty or their workmen to be difturbed pjr •' molefted, under any pretence whatfoevcr, in their occupation of cutting, loading and carrying away log- n favour of the original motion : he faid, that though the nobl^ Lord who had moved the amendment, wanted tim^ to confider the peace, and examine the different articles, yet }>e ivas free to declare, for himfelf that; he was at that minute ready to pronounce his une- quivocal opinion of the treaty, which was, that ta- king the good and the bad together, he was perfe^- y fatisfifed with it, when he confidered, that if it wa^ to be given up, or departed .from, this country muft fee the revival of an accurfpd war, which had brought jt to the \\.ry brink of political perdition: — The hdfele Lord fald, that the Houfe had not ye? confidered the articles ; and that therefore the ad- dcefs was not founded in fac^^. But what would the nobL' Lord fay on that fubjed,' when thc^de-: bate of this day fhould 6c over ? The Houfe had :■ ; .. ru , , ,;. ' . ■ ■■■ ■ , ■ • • r . - • , ... bc( tt ^1 ( 27 ) been now for four hours debating on tlie queftioii i* and if it fhould continue fitting till morning, would' he fay then that the preliminaries had not been con- fidcred ? For his part he would not hefitate to fay, that by that time they would have undergone a' confideration as grave and as ferious as the nature' of the queftion required s and if gentlemen fhbuld' fuppofe themfelves incompetent to form an opinion' by the time the Houfe ihould divide upon the mo- tion, he believed that' they might confider till Dpomfday, without being able to come to a deter-* iT'nation. For his part he was a plain, fimple man^' and he ftood up in that Houfe, as he ever had done,' and as he trufted he (hould continue to do all his' life, an independent individual, who was fr^e to judge for himfelf ; and as fdch he was refolved to give his fufFrage in favour of the addrefs. It was with no little furprife that he fa^ fo ftrange a coali-^-^^ tion, as he dif Covered by the amendment pfopofcd* by one noble Lord, and feconded or fupportcd by another ; but flill (hange confederacies ought noc now a days to be fubjefts of furprife : great' and ar- bitrary monarchs of Europe had ftood forth the pro-' tc(5lors of an infant republic ; and from what he this day faw, it was quite confonant with the fpiric that had induced thcfe to takfe the part they had done, that the high and mighty fticklers for royal prerogative ftould make ah intimate aHiance with , the humble worihippcrs of the majefty of the peo- E 2 pic. I m !■ ( »8 ) j>lc. The miuillers in this Houfe, were like Bri- tain in this laft unfortunate war, without allies, without friencis, without any fupport, but fuch as they would derive from thegoodnefs of their caufe; there were indeed a few refugees with them ; and he hoped they would take care to reward them weU, and not to leave it in the power of the oppofue party to fay, that they had deferted thefe loyal refugees. As to the perfon who was fuppofed to be the head of the prefcnt adminidration, he would fay nothing of him but this, that he had iio very high opinion of his character ; but let his chara^er oe what it might, the peace he had made, fuch as it was, was a bleffing to this country, and it fbould have his fupport. , . Lord Mulgrave faid^ that lince the peace was made he would abide by it ; how great foever ihould be his difapprobation of the terms, becaufe it was neceffary for the well-being of the country, that as the conftitution had vefled in the crown the right to make war and peaces as his Majefty has fet his name to the treaiy ; and as the national faith ftpod pledged for the maintenance and fupport of it, the King's perfonal honour^ the honour of his crown, an4 the intered of his people required that the peace ihould be inviolably obferved i for if par- liament ihould break in upon the cohilitutionalpre* rogative of the crown, what nation woiHd treat with us ? What nation would trult to the iuyal fignature like BrU ■ c allies, 1 fuch as :i ir caufej | ; and he | em well, i r«e party 1 refugees. J the head 1 r nothing | opinion 1 what it i was, was ( »9 ) of our Sovereign, or the great feal of his kingdom ?-i* In reading over the different treaties, one would imagine that the preamble to each had been adapted to the articles which followed it ; but when he read the articles which adually iland under each pream* ble,- he was induced to think that they had been fubftituted in the room of thofe which had been originally penned ; and hence he was led to prefume that the terms bad been abfolutely dilated to us ; and he was the more hurt at this, as he was of opinion that our (Irength both by iea and land, was fuch as ought to have impofed filence on any court that (faould have prefumed to did:ate terms of peace to us. He' would have been happy, he faid, if he could have remarked in the condud: of the enemy, a defire to make fuch a peace,- as it would be both for their intereil and ours (hould it be lafting : but it grieved him to fee that France feemed to have nothing more in view, than to take fuch meafures as would enable her to be prepared for a war, which (he forefees can be at no very diftant period : if this was not the faft, why fnould Ihe infill on being freed froi# the* obliga- tion of keeping Dunkirk, Miquelon, and St. Pierre demolilhed ? It was not in time of peace that the fortifications of thofe places could be of any fervicc 5 it was only in time of war that they could be lb : the ^ want o£ fortifications at Miquelon and St/Pierrc al- ways left ihcfe iflands, and the French filhery at Newfoundland, at our m^rcyj and this wds' a tic upon upon them, which made them cifcumfpeCT, and cautious how, they attempted to break the peace: but this tie, this check would be removed, the mo- ment they found themfelres at liberty to fortify thofe places, where they could ftation a force fufficient to afford a proteftion to their fifhery; thus he faw, that even in the very moment of peace, all the meafures taken by France were calculated for u'ar, and were, in the Uridfenfe of the word, preparations for hoftili- ties ! to make peace on fuch grounds as thefe, was to the lad degree impolitic and abfurd ; for he believed in his conicience, that a more baneful principle of policy did not exift, than that of making peace for the folc purpofc of going to war again the moment a favorable opportunity fhould occur. During the ne-, gojtiatipn for the peace of 1 762, the French wifhcd to play the fame game, and after ceding, or offering to cede Canadai wi(hed to retain Louifbourg in the ifknd of Cape Breton, and maintain it as a fortrefs; but chey knew that fuch a prppofal never could have been adopted by a wife and clear lighted minifter, fuch as. the Ute Lord Chatham was, who in an inltanc would have feen through their plan, and diicovered tha^ tl)^ wanted a place of arms, from which they could- afterwards, when opportunity fcrved, attack thofevery pUces.which they were then about, to fur-^v render I, bu.e forefeeing that (the then) Mr. Pitt coukl not be impofed upon, they relinquUlied the idea, ^d,afl^d only for poiTeffion of j^ Royalty tf i!on.; place ( 3M place without wills, without works, with^ipt de^ fence. In the prefent adminiftration, his Lordihip faid, he could find the; name and the talents of tl^ac great (latefman ; he wilhed that he could alfo find in it, his experience and knowledge. France aiked for, and obtained all thofe places which could be of no advantage to her in time of peace. In agreeing to the fupprcffion and abrogatron of all the articles relative to Dunkirk, from the treaty of peace con- cluded at Utrecht 17 13, we have given France ai^ opportunity of fortifying that place fo as to annoy us greatly in time of war. It v/as a convenient harbour for (hipping, and but a very Ihort way from out coaft. If the intentions of France were pacific, an4 that they did not look to a fpeeidy rupture, why lhoul4 they wifh to put Dunkirk in a fituation capable of affording protedtion to their ihipping, and attacking us at the fame time, with all the advantage which fo near a neighbourhood affords them. The fam^ great and able ftatefman, faw the benefit that would arife to this country, from infilling on the terms of the treaty of Utreqht relative to EKinkirk, and there* fore would pot relinquifh the fiipulation concerning it. He argued thus, (and he argued juftly) if France was fincere in her dcfire for a permanent peace, fhc, would ruot make, ij: a point to ered fortifications in Dunkirk, as that would be certain proof of her jhoftile inteAtionSj) arid on that account ihe^ was njpt flowed to deviate from the terms of" the treaty alluded ^ to. ( 3* ) to.' From all thcfc circumftancfs he concluded there was no great probability of a lafling peace. Had France fought a recompence for the expence fhe had been at on account of the war, he would have better, hopes of the peace ; he would t^ien have thought flie had no notion of commencing hoftilities fliortly again^ but was refolyed to live in amity and friend- (hip with us. His Lordfhip rook a very extenfive view of the whole of the Peace, and feemcd to be of Opinion} it did not promife to be a permanent one. He laughed very heartily at this abfurd and ridicu- lous idea of obtaining leave for the Loyalifts to pur- chafe back their eftates, when Mini(irv mu(l kpow they had not wherewithal to do it, as they were redu- ced to the utmoft diftrefs and want. Mr. Secretary ^ovonjhend faid, it was very extrapr- dinary that gentlemen, after repeatedly calling on his Majefty*s fcrvantis to ftate fome time when the Preli- minary Articles wotild be Cv'}nridered, yet notwith- flanding, when Miniftry, in conformity with their wifties, bring forward the difcuffion of thenn, they then as eagerly defire it fhould te podponed, as they were before anxious for haftening; there was an in- confi%ncy in fuch a conduct, that every man pofTefT- ed of common fenfe mufl fee through the motives from whiince it originated. The common decency and common refpe6^ for his Majefty, required we ihould no longer, after the Preliminary Articles had lain on our table for three weeks, defer the Addref^ 3 ^0 to his Majefty, aad he mud, cmkCs, for that reafon he w^ fomcwhat furprifed at the amcodmcm propo- fed.by, the noble Lqrd. He faid it wa* utterly im- poffible for Miniftry to obtain better terms from America. Our bands wfere tied up from carrying on the war with America, by the rcfolucion of the Houfe: laft year. H^ did; not mention it by way of cenfuring it ; on the contrary, he cftcenicd it as a wife and prudent mcafur^^ to put an end to a ruinous and deftrui^ive war. All he meant by it was to prpy^fthat his Miajefty'a Minifters- had no alterna- tive but to make peace on the beft terms they could. Jq granting the lr>dcpendcnce of America, Govern- ment had done nothing that the reibluiion alluded to above, did not dTftdgally eftablilh before : the Ame- ricans, therefore, being poce declared independent, it "was out of the pqwisr of this country to exclude them from a (hare of the fi(hery on Newfoundland. Their fituation, the ea«ly period of the fcafon they ii(h in, and a thour4nd other circumfiiances forbade * it. They generally fi(b in the beginning of the year, we do not fend out ouf yeflels till about June, fo that tq prevent them fro(n part^iking of the fiftiery, we {hoiild «d, and which it was very natural for them at the head of a ftrong and powerful confederacy to wiih to regain. Let us obferve the ftace of the nation, our finances undoubtedly much exhaufted, after fo long and fo burthenfome a war ; the people groaning under the weight of taxes, and all ranks^ rich and poor, univerfally crying out for peace. Will any man, af* tcr fuch a view, tell me, fays Mr* Townlhend, we, had been too compliant to the demands of our ene** mies ? Whatever po0e^ons we have ceded on the coafl of Africa, the country will find rather an ad- F a , vanwge ( 3« y Mm : N. in* vantage in getting quit of than retaining. Thiey cSft us a vaft deal botft it! itfcft and nioncy. Thd garri- fons, who were-ftnt-fhC^e-fhim this country, dwin- dled away fo fall, as to be a continual drain on Ihtei nation, To that he thbughtVcfy little ftrcfs could' be laid on our conceflionS in that quarter. On th(? whole, he was per fuid^d the peace would be found to be as good ftnd honourable, and as glorious to this country, as dould -be" reafotiably expelled at the tfnd of an unfortunate arid c&lailrikous vrar. * ^'>j*'^^-- Mr, Burke Md, he nevrt-lieard' in the courfe of his life any thing fo ridicul6us asthe defence fet up by the honourfft)tc Gentlemdh in fuppott of the I'eati^. In the firft place he fays, this country was in a very bad ftatc — its finances ixhaufted, and its people averfe to the continuance 6^ the war; and hfe give this as a reafon, why we (hdiiTd accede to thfe term'* of our enemies, and yet in the ftttie breath he cbn- tradiffcs hiriifelf, arid aiftrts, that M^hat we have ceded* is infi^hificant and trifling --things of no Wanner of value, but a parcel of rubbifli we were glkd to get' rid of. How does this aCd^d iiv\th the declaration of the fuperiority of our enemies ? it is inconfiftent,' it is childilh, and pitiful indeed. Miniftry ought t(y fpcak and to aft zi men fhoiild do, and not have re-' courfe to poor Hbbterfuges for their exculpation." They ffiould defend themfeWcs on the proprtety and goodnefs of their own' rheafures, and not h endea- vouring to hide their'Owu^fHirJnie by involving others x^_'- ■■'•f" m I* m ( 37 ). it. tttelVthcHoufc tSa^tiSiW't^^^^^^ ifed a peace od this '^nd that occ'arion, was a fort o^ anguag^ he did hot ^Xpe^ from gentlemen w^o ha.d b pfren reprobated it in pthclf^s,' Let the Peace be ried on fts bWn merits, that is the pnly method of udgrifg i^. It feemedj in the right honourable Gen- leman's idea, that a fpirit of gencrofity and dona- ion had ^ot poiteiBon of adminiftration in that libe- al f(!heiTte bf cbhcelTion, which was more remarkable than any other that the .liiftory of the world cQuld prodVice an inftance of*, never was there, at any former period, 'a fpirit of generofity or donation, if it could be called fo, to equal the inftances of Bri- tifli degradation before the Houfe iri the Treaty of Peace on the table ; a treaty which employed molt largely the right honourable Gentleman's (harpeft powers of reprobation. Mr. Burke went into jl mi- nute inveftigation of what had fallen, from tfc hon'ou-' rabl^ perfonagc on the fide of the Hbule inoppofi- tion b the amendment of his noble friend, and into the fpirit, propriety, ' ajtid poltcy of the Treaty itlelf." Hd denied that we were in a fituatlon to 'warrant MiniftefS to cede the d^#cft rigbts and inteiielts of a. counti^ which had, notwithftandipg th6 nielah9holy' and' eloquent pifturedr^yrp by the honourable mover of thfc Addrefs, been put lipdn the footing of relative confideVation with fie'r enemies, was hot at all ,fb' jtb-' tally dtvtfUed of rcfourcQS, or fo infinitely inferior to her cnomies ^*liS^obTigrherfeiecejpt ^'eoriditioht' that ^-■■■,,:;;'--' ■ ■■■" ( 38 ) .■■ ' ■ that could not be mentioned without the bitternels of the excremeft forrow and regret* Mr. Burke then proceeded to Inreliigate the arti- cles : he purfued the ditferent arguments introdu<:ed in fupport of them with the idrongeft powers of re- futation, and declared folemnly on the whole, they were fo degrading as to merit obliteration, if it were poilible to efFedb it, out of the hiftory of this coun- try. He in the firft inftance attacked the preamble of the articles : it began, he faid, in the (lile of the mod pompous and magnificent prpfeffions of reci- procity, and inftead of reciprocity, all was con^* cedlon. If granting every thing on one hand, y^ith- out the mofl: trifling degree of confideraCion 01} the other, was reciprocity^ then did we enjoy indeeid all the advantages of reciprocity: but until that. doc- trine was made reconcileable with the literal meaning of the word, by the tranfcendent powers of gentle- men in his eye, Mr. Burke muft be decided that the reciprocity there meant was the moll liberal concef- iionoa the part of this country, and the moft trifling, or no return on the part of France, and the other contrading powers. The iituation of our Wefl-India iflands, he peculiarly confidered, environed, fur- rounded, impounded as they were by the powers of our enemies^ it was impoiSible to think we were in the enjoyment of all the advantages to be otherwife derived from them ; it feemed as if there were abfo* lute lines ofcircumvallation drawn round them. He .,.A^ '-TBN T' . r' ■- i"! »»2.'J itJ ■ ''i. i ■ "-"fi'-T ■'■• '.r - ■'-•''''T ?'■**■'■* •"■;'■ ' ■ . " '•-r ( 39 ) Ifupported tfiis mode of argument, by f):acmg the fitu- ition of our iflands, which now remaihed to us, and thofe of our enemies ; and Mr. Bjrke made it clear ^o a demonftration, as wc poiTefled not the Gulph of ''lorida, and thofe iflands wf^h by the kind of uti )flj/tdetis ftsiicd by the honotiilibic mover of the ad- Irefs were put Into the hands of the French, left our )o(refiions in the Weft Indies in a vcrjr poor fitiiation Indeed. The right honourable gentleman then took review of thfe ftate of Canada, of the tea trade, of the ccffion of Eaft Florida, our trade in the river [ilTiffippi, drc. he adverted to the fituation of af- fairs in the Eaft Indies, And was very far from) ap- |)roving of the fituation of things there; nor would leaUow the title of a great ftarefman to a genttemkn [Mr. Haftings) who had been alluded to by Mr. T. itt, at the fame timt that he paid every refpefb to >ir Eyre Coote, but without being able to conclude rom his abilities, that we might not hear news from India that would be very difagreeable to us, which as more than probable to be the cafe. Mr. Burke lid not conceive that any article of the treaty went [o eftabliih pacification in fuch a manner in India as as to be wiflied. He then took into his confidera« jion the article relating to the demolition of Dun- :irk : that, he faid, ever fince the treaty of Utrecht, iad been uniformly an article in every treaty of ours I'ith France ; and as the wifdom of former ages had lught the Flinch that that port Wns an objcft of vaft ytili|r ^^^ m m iji!* if! hill I i ?' ».■<. < 40 ) Uti^y K> ttepti^j itwas juft to Aippofc that the French wogld jopk wjtji tl^e. fame prtdilcftioiij and fpc the (arp^ advantages JQ^ tl^^ftabli(hmcnt of th^t port as thcj^ apceClors 4id- ;^hc Loyalift8,^'ho were given up t9, the ffjlj icnj^oypfK^pt ,of a jftotHtr^ki'J^ conjiitution^ Mr...]B(Ui|J^e, wu^^.^jtjp^^^^ fl^e anifnjdycited very ftjeii^^ly uppn tiheir, 6 tp^tip^ i find jt^q)^, pccafion to if ern^r^f W^^nCwcr tp ^e. honourable gcntjeijian j[M r. efr'e^af ^omr^^ek the, ^^jrk?p^«^j?/fr/ ; / , ,; ,v,.,,. Xb? hord 44voc^tf m^t. f very long (peccli, in \yhM hc,fupp.Qrted.tbea(JdrcfS;Vcry,fti^nwoufly,. re- projpated -dje amend(^i^nt,| ^pd^as very warm in his panCjgytic .Pn, Minjftc^i and (Ircnupus in his appro- bation of the, p,eacc. . Mini(lers, in the learned Lord's opinion, wpfjp entitled lo.the higheft applaufe f<^ the fj^ivit, manJinpfs, and.magnaaifl(vity,.of theji;, coijdiift in oppolin^ th^mfQly^s to the florn^s that wer^ caifeci wif;,^pg|^ floors againf^; ^^ peacp, \yhicb was, tilery of, i^hc p^opl?,. and, \ybjcb the ,necelijty .of thci ftatc ^u^'^m^^J^^Jm^^^ flCj!5P?(«)^. humourous. ■^\\iy,i .'.._..:._,:;•••.;;■•■ * '"• ; - -^ ^ ^. and ( 41 ) and v^8 very pointed dn'this hoble hbt^ in the blue ribbon^ ^d Mr, Fojc^ on their fuppofed confederacy and coalition, andttf the warmth of thfcir zeal in the hinty-fnoon of their love^. He replied very largely to Lord North and Mr. Burke ; faid it was impolfible to exift without a peace^ and it was equally impoili- ble we could get a bettc? j that we -wivt without al- lies, and that we were without refources -.'and not- withftanding what might be faid of our nkvy, it fiire- ly was the cafe, that fa^s ought to be the criterion to judge of affertionsi, and that without faolitic, and to the lad degree difhonourable ; and he did not fee i)\%t the aft of the lift ftfli(ih vefted the king witii a power of granting away America *, it was not in the literal meaning of it, whatever it might be by im- plication or conftruftion. But th'^t was a matter he did not fcem inclined to argue abour, the Com- modore declaringi that as the indejjendence of Ameri- ca was on all hands acknowledged to be actually gone away from us before the formally rcfigning it by'the articles of the treaty ; however^' the Commodore could not bring himfelf to allow^ th^t the rpflioh of Eaft Florida was in the right of the Crown. He^ acknowledged the right of the crown, by virtue of the prerogative tb make peace or war, but he con- tended that the ccfficrti of any part of the dominions of this country was cohftitutionaliy not in' the Crown, and that the Crown had equally a right to cede G 2 Jamaica, 4f ^ Jaii{i2t,ica> or arvy other part of the Britiih territory^ as that province. The Comoipdore faid^ it was aq obj|cft of very great importance to this country, no; only with refpeiSt to its fi.tuation, a$ a guard to our W^(l Indi?; iflan4?A but from, the circumftances of Its , c6mniercial produce, it returned ia export tp thi^ country to the, amoujit of two hundred and forty tjioufand pounds^ and received in return mor^ than oipie hviDcJred anjdiwenty thpufand poi^nd?. Britiih ma^ nufadfcure : befides, it was much more valuable to tbe^Spawari^is tham the Havannah; the harbour \«fas t)ie,b could they raake a worfe. tic .tppk a retrpfpefl; of the cp,r^;waiflJon he was joined in tp treat of r<;congiliation with America, and urged fomp ptl)k^r circumftances on the matter, and, in re- ply,, to fproc remarks of the Lord Advocate, de- clared, if that commiiHon had been lent three greeks Topper, before the French negotiadons had s^rri^yed, abiplpjCe reconciliation, wpuld have takea phce. He fppke much of the (itp^tipn of affairs inlj^diaj tool^ notice of the article ia the treaty relaung to. E^aH: India afifairs ; and in anfwer to Secr^- t^y TownU^n^'s ^ayipg obferyed, tJiat theS'^r^^ Con^mittee hadapproy;ed p£ the condu($o^ Adrnw niftratipn, the Commo^iprc ol^ferved, if it were the, cafe. ( 45 ) • cafe, very fecret. means wew ufed indeed. T}!kO( Commodore made fome other pointed remarks upon the bufinefs, and on the vague and lopie expreQioii of our ancient pofleffions, menuoned in the article^ which neither feveral of the £a(l India Cpmps^ay Directors, with whpm he had converfation on the fubjedt, nor himfdf, cotild underftand. He called upon any of the Direflors or Secret Committee as \rere in the Houfe, to date to the Houfe wl;iat they knew refpedting that matter, and to give the Houfe ali tho knowledge refpe^ing the bufinefs that they could poiHbly communicate.— The Commodore was deci<» dedly for the amendment. Sir Henry fletcber, Chsurman of the Eall-India Company, faid a few words. The po0ef&ons in In* dia were in fp very fludtuating a fituation^ that it was hard to tell wtiat were our ancient poiIefik>nsi He had %oken to feveral Dire^ors>on< the fobjecl of the fifteenth article, and no two of them agreed No one was able to tell what it meant> or how to afcertain what it gave or what it left. He fyid that Hyder Aly h^d fome of our p^effions, thofe pof« ieflions had been ?oi>quered Uota pthei s ;. and Hyder Aly, who. rofe from a common: foWier> won all lug territories (tarn, others. Mr. Sbm.^n ijaade * very accwate reply to the LordAdvoca^c, and wapmJy touched wppn the ftrokcs the Ie4rnc4 JwPPdUrew oqt on the c^ondua of his Iionourabie friend, (Mr. Fox), and the fliar« he hadi taken ptr'; » ( 46 ) taken during the (horr time he was in Adminidrarion, to efFcftuate the great end of Peace, Mr. Sheridan then purfued the bufinefs of the amendment, and in- veftigated the treaty on the table, which, be contend- ed, was of the moft difj^raceful nature, carried the inoft indelible degradation in every article on the face of it, and relinquifhed completely every thing that was glorious and great in this Country. If there was a (ingle article that had a view to the interefts of the empire^ if there was a fingle article that had not conccfHon for its obje^, he would not contend that the Peace was what every perfon who had heard of it pronounced it. The Sixteenth Article was one of the moft inconiiftent political productions that could poffibly be fupppfedj it was couched in fuch vague and loofe terlns, that it muft have relation to the impending treaty with Holland. It was wkh the view of finding out the extent of that article, and what reference it had to the treaty with Holland^ and the political difpofition it evidently had towards France, that the honourable gentleman made his mo- tion on a former day, and which railed forth the in- dignation of a Right Hon. perfon in his eye (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) as being inconfiilenc with the eftablifhed ufage of the houfe, unprecedent- ed and prepoilerous in the extreme. This convinced him however, that the right honourable gentleman was more a praSiical politician than an experienced one; his years and his very early political exaltation, had ( 47 ) had not permitted him to look whether there bad been precedents, or to acquire a knowledge of the Journals of the Houfe. Had his youth permitted him to acquire fuch knowledge, his difcretion would not have fuffered his abilities, which Mr. Sheridan greatly admired, to be carried away by his heat and precipitancy *, he would not with fo much indignation refent the alking queftions, which it was the duty of Minifters to fatisfy, nor would he have a6ted fo unprecedented if he had confuUed the Journals, or had paid any attention to fuch material evidejioes of parliamentary order. If he had, the honourable gen- tleman faid he would have found inconteftible evi- dence, to prove the groundlefs authority of his in- dignant aflertions ; he: would have found that it was not unprecedented to lay a depending treaty before the Houfe ; nay, that before a (ingle ftep had been taken to com pleat any of the points of it, it had been ufual for Parliament to be in pofleflion of the principles upon which it was propofed a treaty (hould turn. Parliament was called upon to aflift with its advice on the vad fubjedl of nauonai importance, which peace muft naturally, in all times be, as in- volving in it fo much the general profperity and hap- pinefs of Europe. Minillers in former days, had not the ingenious modijiy and handfome diffidence of thofe of the prefentj they, diftrufting their own abilities on a matter of fuch infinite importance,, where not afhamed to call in the a(n(Unce of Parlia- ment ( 48 ) itocnt. They were not fo eager to J^ort their refpon* libilicy ; nor did they fear that the Houfe would in* terfere to rob them of the glory of cheir negotiations % nor did they, with the anxious folicitude ofthofe, hide every iota of the progrefs of their negociation, cither with a view of aftoniihing the world with the fptendour of their pacific acquiiitions, or to (hew their contennpt of the wifdom of Parliament in the adminiftration of their own tranfcendent abilities. Mr. Sheridan, after having proceeded in this vein, introduced, in fupport of the condufb of Miniders, at the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, dated by the noble Lord in the blue ribbon, a farther precedent ex trac- ed from the Journals of the Houfe, in Queen Anne's reign, before the Treaty of Utrecht, and which Mr. Sheridan read as pare of his fpeech. It ftated that her Majefty, notwitnftanding it was the undoubted prerogative of her Crown to make peace and war, neverthelefs, anxious for the happinefs of her peof^e, and relying on the a&e^tion of her faithful Commons, had ordered to be laid before them, for their advice and approbation, : the principles upon which fhe. conceived a general piKrification could be moft effec* tually eftabliihed for the glory of her Crown, and tbd happinds of ber people^ at the fanre time informing thtmi that no ftep had been taken for the completion of the treaty, nor would there without their advice ;md approbation j thus Mr. Sheridan proved to a de- mbnftratien, that it w*6 not only precedent^ to lay .*ii*a the ( 49 ) the cafe of hcgotiatFon before the Hoofe in its de- pending ftate; but the principles upon \^hlch the treaty was to take cffeft before the negotiation for it had ever been commenced. How unlike that, was the condu6t of the prefent miniftcr, when the amend- ment of his noble friend, propofed for the time for coniideration of the articles which they were called upon in i'o very extraordinary a manner to give their approbation to : they were told jhey had the articles for three weeks before them, and that they had ample time of courfe for reflexion on them ; at the ikmc time that Minifters had the hardinefs to rhake ufe of fuch language, they feemcd to forget the al- moft inquifitive exadtnefs with which they fhut out the members of that houfe from obtaining any knowledge of thofe circumftances, that could alone qualify them to decide with judgment, upon a treaty that either (hewed Great Britain to be ruined btyond redemption, or that her intercfts and her glory had been facrificed to views that were not immediately diicernable. * - The anfwer to every requifition for the produc-. tion of any article that might lead to this necelTary purpofe, as was the cafe of his motion a few days before, Mr. Sheridan faid, was in the language of indignation^ it was indecent, it was unprecedented and prepofterous in extreme, for gentlemen to introduce any circumftance of enquiry before the day ap- pointed for the difcuffion of the Treaty ; and yet on H that ill IBI ■ 1 ■iji u ( so ) that da^r, right honourable perfons in his eye had with the peculiar modejiy which fo diftingnifhed them, calieci on the HouHi for their approbation of a treaty, which, it was argued w^ith much indignation, it would be monjiroujly inaecent in them to make any enquiries whatever into. But taking the pledge of their hajhfulne/s and modeji confidence in their own fuperior ebilities as the criterion of its perfection, Minifters required the H )ufe to be fo prepofterons as to give a vote of approbation to a treaty, that with the nioft anxious Iblicitutie they were even prevented from fo much as fpeaking on, until the time they had been fo confidently called upon to give it their approba- tion. And the objeft of his late motion, Mr. She- ridan contended, was juftly affirmed by an honoura- ble Commodore, to be of very great magnitude : if TrincoT ale was given up, our territories in India were in a mod: prcc^iioo^i (Iruation ; and Mr. Sheri- dan contended, after remarking on what had fallen from Commodore Johnftone and Sir Henry Fletcher, that the Houfe ought abfolutcly to know the extent of the Sixteenth Article, and the fituation of the ilegociaiion with Holland. After difplaying much knowUdge and application to the interefts of this country, fo inconfiftently difpofcd of by that article, Mr. Sheridan difletfted the article in the moft hu- mourous manner. To find the meaning of the dif- ferent article?, grammatical order was to be inverted -, tbr it was impoflible to come to the meaning of ihem 3 , by 1, Mr. She- ( 5' ) by adhering to the rules of grammar. He then went into the definition of a real Britijh fuhjeSt, men- tioned in the fifth article with America. The twenty- fccond article with France might have as well run to prevent all difputes that had hitherto arijen^ as all dif- putes that may hereafter ar'tjey and grounds enough were left for them. Deeds of difunion and future broils were fown in the inconfiftcncy of a treaty that the poored political dabler well might be alhamed of. The honourable gentleman drew a very affcding pic- ture of his Majefty's loyal fubjefts in Eaft Florida, configned to a government, and to a religion, they detefted. Independent of the impolicy of ceding that province, and he was not inclined to call the va- I'f'ity of the peace in queftion, for it was his deter- mination, and that of his friends, to fupport the na- tional fidelity. Mr. Sheridan execrated the treatment of thofe unfortunate men, who without theleaft notice taken of their civil or religious rights, were handed over as fubje^ts to a power that would not fail to take vengeance on them for their Zealand attachment to the religion and government of this country. This was an inftance of Britilh degrada- tion, not inferior to the unfuccefsful petitions of go- vernment to Congrefs for the wretched Loyal i(h. Great Britain at the feet of Congrefs fuing in vain^ was not a humiliation or a (ligma greater than the infamy of configning over the loyal inhabitants of Florida, as we bad done, without any conditions Ha whatfoevcr 4 , 1 I ( 5i ) whatfoever. And to the eternal honour of France, and Spain, in their moft diftrefsful circumftanccs ihould be told, that in all their cefllons, as in Cana- da, &c. they even provided by treaty for the civil and religious rights of their quondam fubjefts. Mr. Sheridan then read the addreflls of the inhabi- tiints of Florida to the Governor fome (hort time back, breathing in the moft animated ftyle, attach- ment and loyalty to the religion and government of this country, and their deteftation of the conduft of (as they ftyled them) his Majefty*s rebellious ftib- je£bs in the other colonies. Mr. Sheridan took a view of the fur trade, boundaries of Canada, &c. and was apprehenfive the great folicitude (hewn by Adminiftration to conciliate the affedlions of Arpe- rica, as it had been termed, would be a great means, in the marking of the boundaries, of creating fu- ture diflentions. He went very ably and with much political judgment it)tothe different interefts acquired by the Americans and French, and thofe left to us on the coaft of Newfoundland. The logwood trade, of fuch vaft confequence, left in a ftate amounting almoft to non-entity, employed much of his inimad- vcrfions. The article of Dunkirk was alfo to be con- fidcrcd, fuppofing it even not to be of that impor- tance it formerly was, and of which it might here- after become to pofterity, as ftrongly accumulating and filling the meafure of our difgra(«s i that what had ( 53 ) had been for more than a century, the pride of our anceftors to enforce, we ihould fo raQily concede, l^articularly when we were not in afituation confider- ing our navy ; notwithftanding the learned Lord affe(5ted reprefentation, and the relative refources of of our enemies, for it was obferved by an honoura- ble Commodore, that the criterion of a nation's re- fources was her credit, and the rule of that credit, the intereft (he paid, and according to the honourable Commodore, Spain paid moft enormous intereft, ancf France was much in the fame fituation ; confidering then thofe relative circumftances, and the naval fitu- ation of Holland, Mr. Sheridan contended, we were fo far from being reduced to bear fuch degrading, fuch indelible degradations and impofitions, we were intitled to an honourable feace. The victory of Lord Rodney, the defeat of the fiege of Gibraltar, our fucceffes in the Eaft Indies, were alfo enumerated to prove, that our fituation was refpedtable, that if we were reduced in refources, our enemies had not encreafed theirs, but had at lead equally exhaufted them. — Mr. Sheridan could not avoid remarking the artful attempt of the right honourable Secretary, to put the firft amendment, and the fecond of the noble Lord in the blue rib- bon, on the fame event ; he took notice of Mr. T. Pitt's difcrimination of the loyalifts, the r^j/ loyalifts,. and the viper loyalifts j and yet though the honoura- ble gentleman, in the peculiar ftilc of eloquence, , "which iil ( 54 ) which fo much diftinguiflied him, was very, warm in difcriminating thofe charadiers of the loyalifts, and pledged his feelings to gj«re every afTiftance to the real loyalifts, yet in his addrefs propofed to the' throne, the vipers were equally recommended to the royal proteftion, and the Houfe was equally to be bound for them as for the real loyalifts. The honourable gentlemen was moft elegantly pointed in reply to the Lord Advocate, on his hints thrown out on Mr. Fox's adminiftration, of Peace beittg in the pocket of certain members of a late Adminiftra- tion, &c. Ml*. Sheridan faid, that he had known ' his honourable friend's difpofition when he came into power, and had the honour of afting with him, and he pledged himfclf that, though ardently peace was to be defired, though at any time peace is to be prefcred, yet knowing, as he did, the lelative cir- cumftances of our powers, he never would have ac- ceded to fo dijhonourable a peace ; and for his own part, he did equally pledge himfclf, that if his ho- nourable friend was of fuch a difpofition, and during his Adminiftration had brought fuch a peace to con- clufion, notwithftanding bis fricndKhip and cftccm Tor him, he, as an individual^ would oppofe it. It S\*as impolllble for language to dcfcribe his reproba- of it, or what he felt for the national degradation. But, he faid, the trOe criterion for his honourable friend's intentions to be judged by, was his corref- ^'pondence while in office, and he dared Minifters to » wove I 6S "> move for its being laid before the Houfe.— Here a great cry of " move, jnove." — He then made fome remarks on the coalition of the parties the learned Lord had alluded to, and the honey-moon of their loves, which Mr. Sheridan faid, if it was the cafe, was rather to be called the wedding-day, Mr. Sheri- dan then attacked the learned Lord on his incon- fiftency, on his having declared he would fupport no man whofe meafures he did not approve. He afked the learned Lord, was it coniiftency then in him to fupport the patron of equal reprefentation, to which Mr. Sheridan profelT ' himfelf a warm friend, [The Lord Advocate (hook his head.] Was it con- fiftency to fupport the independence of America, of- which he had ever been fo determined an enemy ? Mr. Sheridan put to the Advocate fome other que- ries equally pointed, and equally unanfwerable ; and remarked that there was fuch a verfatility in the po-^ litic of fome men, that when intercft called, every other confideration gave way ; and if that was not the cafe, it was hard to fuppofe how the learned Lord*s adoration and high-founding panegyrics of the noble Lord in the blue ribbon, with which the walls of that Houfe were wont to refound, (hould now be transferred to thofe connexions which had been heretofore fo obnoxious to the learned Lord. Mr. Sheridan was here very fcvere on the Lord i\d- vocate, and his early defertion ; and his unfairnefs of ufing, in his peculiar fituation, recrimination, which .1'. v ( 56 ) which, at all events, could never be allowed .19 argii* ment.— The wor/hippers of the majefty of the people, not the fun of Brltijh glory ^ to be fet on the eman- cipation of America, which Mr. Sheridan relied would be quite otherwife, did not efca'pe his ob- iervation. Mr. Bankes fupporfed the, motion for the addrefs, and in mild terms argued, that in circumftanccs fo calamitous and gloomy as thofe of the Britifh Empire on the prefent occafion, the peace which his,Majefty*s Minifters had concluded, was in his opinion not only good, but highly favourable, and fuch as we had no reafon to expert. Sir William Dolben called the Houfe again to the confideration of the important queftion which he had before ftated. — Whether the King's Minifters were authorifed by the prerogative of the crown, to alienate from the date the American colonies. He averred that prerogative did not extend fo far -7 it gave no power to alienate territories not acquired by conquefl during the war •, at leaft this was his moft ferious opinion. Then if it did not reft in pre- rogative, he contended that the aft of laft fefRon gave Minifters no authority adequate to fo important a meafure : but he wi(hed to have the opinion of the gentlemen of the gown j and he called upon them to give the Houfe information on this moft important point. — He freely owned that he was advcrfe to the terms of the peace ^ he thought them highly in- . jurious • ■ ■■ '-^ ( 57 ) jutiou3'td ttie int;crei^.Qf the country, and infinitely wprfe than wc had any title tQ cJtpcd. Mr. MiifHfiiid faidi that the qucftion propoled by 1. the honourably Batonetj was indeed of thegreateft im* portance, and it would not be prudent in any man to hazard a light opinion. The prerogative of the crown was allowed tq go great, and indeed unde* fined len^ths^ a$ the circumftanceS of the ftate mighc require that meafures (hould be taken for which there neither was precedent or authority. In all fuch Wr ftanoes* however, the Houfe would recoiled that refpondbility was placed in Mmifters, and they were bound to ihew whenever they ventured on any extras ordinary extenfion of the preroga^tive, that there waa abfolu^ neceifity for iqch condiuSfc. This he un« deritoqd to be the doftrine of the conftitution. But with refped to the prefent queftion^ whether %h^ King's ^inifters were authorifed by the a£k of laft fefllon, to alienate for ever the independence of Ame« rica, he was free to acknowledge that he thought 4^t adb gave tiiem fufficient powers. It was clearly determinf:d thereby, that it was the fenfe of Parlia- menti and Miniller^ were bound to a£t up to what they understood to ^ the fenfe of the legiflature« Sir Francis Bapt fupported the amendment, and argued widi energy ag^nft the peace which had been formed. Mr^ James GrinvilU contended with equal warmth, jhat the peace .was fuch as we might reafonably ex* Jci^ hi tiKiumftarrces of unparailcllcd clejedidTi. IS* entered at length into the fituation of the country, in a comparifon w;th that of our advcrfaries, and infifted that wt had no right in fairncfs to compltirt of the cohclition$ which our Minifters had procured. I Mr. Fox then rofe and took up the confideratbn of the important fubjcd, at cdnfideTable length. — flis fituation, he faid, on that day, was peciiliariy delicate. — He was fuppofed to be a^uated by ino- tiTcsof perfonal- pique, and of fetting upan oppofi* tion to the articles of the peace on grounds of envy, of jealoufy^ and of ambition. Thole who- knew htnl "btdt would not impute to him fuch nnotives ; and for the opinion of thofe who believed every calunwiy that was propagated againft him, he had but little concern. This, however, was ,hot the only deli- cacy of his (ituaiion. Allufions were made tafof- mcr opinions wtrch he had given j and affertioDS he Tiad made in circumftances different from the pre- Yent ; and which ihdeed bore not the fmallefl refem- blance nor sffinity. It was proclaimed, as an uit- anfwerabfe argument agamlf every tiring he could fay, '•i^did yoii notfome months ago declare that almoft any peace would be good — would be defirable^- . and that we muft have peace on ttriy terms. If, fays *Mr. Fox, I could fufFer myfelf for a mofrient to be fo far led away by conceit, and to fancy myfelf «« man of fo much importance as feo excite the jea- loufy ot the Miniftcr — I might give ear to the re*- *^'"i ,., ■-/■-■;. ■:'.■,.?#,.■;'-;- /-.,^'.. , • 'ports ( 59 ports of the day — that every 'mcafure which the Mi- niftcr adopted — every plan which he formed — - ' every opinion which he took — arid indeed ev«ry ad^ of his adqiiniilration, was calculated and defigned • to embarrafs me. How wcH might I afcribc the prc- fcnt peace to this motive. ' You call for peace, fays the noble perfpn — you urge the ncceflity of peace )^ — you infiil on peace -^ then peacfe you (hall have — » but fucij a peace — that you ftiall fickcn at its very name. You call for peace •— and I will give you a peace that (hall make you repent the longcft day» * that yoir live, that ever you breathed a wifh for ' peace. I will give you a peace which ih'all make you and all men wifh that the war had been conti- nued, -—a peace more calamitous — more dreadful,- more ruinous than, war could poffibly be ; and the effieds of which neither the ftrength, the credit, nor th6 comnlerce of the nation Ihall be able to fupiporr. If this was the intention of the noble perfon, he had fui^ceeded to a miracle. His work had compleatly anfwered hispurppfe, for never did I more finccrely feel, nor more fincereiy lament any advice I ever gave in my life, than the advice of getting rid of the difaftrous war in which the nation was involved. That the Minifter might have other views it was • very probable. That he nriight think his fituatioa depended upon peic« ; that he might think there was no other way of maintaining a disjointed fyftem, and fixing himfelf in a feat, not gained by the pureft I », .mean| m !:'! li ' / \ i: f «o ) metns, nor (upported by the firitieft bottom, It was very pofllble i -— and it was alfb very probable that in his eager purfuit of this objed, he bad overfliot the mark, and negle6(ed to take the itepa which co\il-T^ : m L ■'I . ( 6» > to produce my p^ace ? — J dw4 tHfni; to dp. it, I challenge them to. ^. Iti Jhfif kn<¥v what u U, rf^, they have, it in the office :-r?lf. it is again^ me, let. them take the advantage of it« aiid hold. f|ie up as a man capable of adviiing my Sovereign to g^dce « worie.peafie) if pofilbles than theprffent. I now come* fay^ Mr. Fox, to take notice of the mod heinous charge of alJ. ji jam. arraigned with having formed a junftlon with a noble perfon, whofe principles, I have been in the h^bit of oppioiing for thelail £eTe^ years of my Mc^ I do qot thiqk it at all incumbeilt upon me to make any anfwer to this charge : Firft, rbeclaufe I do Qot think that the per- fons who have aiked the queftion have any right tQ make theinquiry ; and fecondly» becaufe if any fuch jun^ioa was formed,, I fee no ground for arraign- ment in the matter. That iny fuch allis^ce has ta^ ken place, I can by no meana aver* That I (hall have the honour of Concurring With the noble Lord in the blue ribband on the prefent queftipn was very certa'mj and if n^ien of honour could meet on points of general nation^. e^tncerHi. he faw no i^cafon for calling ^ch a meeting an unnatural juncar malice, or to live in jll will. My friendlhips are perpetual,"— my enmities are not (o. I dif. I difdain to keep alive iti my bofom the enmities which may bdir to men> when 'the caufe of thofe en^ mtcies is no more. When^a man ceaies to be what be was, — when the opinions "which made him obnoxi- ous art changed, — he then is no more my enemy, but my friend. The American war was the caufe of the ennriitv between the noble Lord and me. The American waf', and the Anierican queftion is at an end. The noble Lord has profited from fatal expe- rience. While that fyftem was maintained, nothing couM be hH)re afuhder rhao the noble Lord and L But it is now no more; and it is therefore wife and candid to put an end alfo to the iU will, the animofi- ty, the rancour, and the feuds which it occafioned. He was free to acknowledge that when he was the friend of the noble Lord in the blue ribband, he found him open and fincere; when he was the ene^ my, he found him honourable and manly. He never had reafon to fay of the noble Lord in the blue rib- band, that he pradlifed any of thofe little fubterfuges, tricks, and ftratagems which he had found in others : any of thofe behind-hand and paltry manceuvrei which deftroyed colifidence betvreen, and which de*^ graded the chara(5ler of a flatefman and a man. So much he faid for the charge which had been made by the learned Lord. He would have thought it more prudent in that learned perfon, before he had lavTlhed his charges fo /reely, to recolledt the place from whicli he fpoke ; and that he who way fo ^arm- 'm ■^1 ( 63 y ly the friend of the noble Lord in^tltf &lue rtblMsdj and, what was worfe, of the fydem which he had purfued, was now as warmly the ifriend of a fyftem very diSerenr, and not lefs obnoxious. But the learned Lord informed the Houfe, that he would al- ways fupport Government, provided that he ap- proved of their principles. That he believed to be literally the cafe ; and that he might always fupport Government, he had no doubt but he would take care conftantly to approve cf their principles, what- ever they might be, or whoever were the minifters. It was alfo imputed to him, that he had when in office lowered this country before the States of Hol- land in a very unbecoming manner, and that then there appeared none of thcfc proud thoughts, nor that high expeftation which he now expreffed. He had no dcfirc, he faid, to conceal what he had done with regard to the Dutch j nor if he had - fuch a de» fire, would it be poflible for him to gratify it. TH€ letter which he had written was public, and all the world knew what had been his feritiments : he was therefore ready to acknowledge, that as the Dutch were undoubtedly plunged into this war without a caufe, it was his idea that we ought to make them li- beral offers of peace. Such offers were made : but they not only reje<-led them, but made fuch haughty demands, that the policy of the thing Was changed 5 and he and his friends no longer thought them inti- tled to that favour and friendfhip which had been honeftly h'i'*^ < «4 ) hot^ly fxoffmi^ Tii^o thi^y copceiv^d that the $mc% oxfg\k% to iuffer for theij want of frtet)d(bips and that as we had hten great lofers by the war, we ought fo look for recOmpenf% in the po(]^(fion of Trincomale, and other ohjeds. , nn^f ^ This was ckarly his idea ftill ; and if it was true, as it was FUnaoured^ that the cUim was to be abandoned, he fliould think nothing was wanting to make the prefent the moft difaftrous and difgraceful I>eac^, without exception, that ever this country had made at any time. They talked of pur prefeot cirr cumftances, and referred to his language on a for< mer occafion* Were our circumHrances the fanne now that they were in the month of March lall ? Would any man of conunoq fenie and cornnvon hp« oefty fay, they were the fame or fimitar ? He averred, that that which would have been delirable then was pot good now. Our ftate was mended. Ouf navy l^as much increafed ; that of the enemy was dimi- 2)i0Ded. Our force in the Weil Indies was greatly fuperior to theirs. The American war, the mill" "ftone which hung about our necks, was gone ; we had vidories of the moft brilliant kind -—the nation had juft emerged from its dejeflion ; had juil reco- ' Jvered its high tone of thinking and ading v every profpe^ was rich, and yet, jult in this moment of ^ fair expeftation and honell hope, we are danined at once, with a peace, which, perhaps, we fhall never be able to recover., 'tv. Mill C 64 ) The hohpurable gentleman now went into a: regu- lar cxaminatibn of the leyeral leidirtg "articles of the The whole was done, he faid, upon the prin- eace. C'pte of conceflion. It was every where conceflion. If he wiflied to lopk„ for reciprocal advantages, nc> Tuch thing was to be found. He faid, he wduld not follow the courfe of many of his friends, in going over minutely the ground of the various' ceflion^ which had been made; but he declared updn his honour, that the terrhs were obnokiolis in the ex- treme.j and he pointed out a variety of the moft ex- ceptionable paflages, and laid his finger on the points which above others^ Were ruinous and fatal to our compiierce^ He concluded with declaring his tv-arm approbation of the amendment of his rtoble friend. tor. Chancellor P///nfiade a very able fpeech in anfwei* to the various arguments that had been ad- duced againft the motion for the addrcfs to the Throne. He' was pointedly fevere againft the va- rious gentleman who had fpoken iagainftthe addrefs, and particularly a^ainfl Mr. Sheridan. No mart ad- mired more than he did the abilities of that rij^ht honourable gendeman, the elegant fallies of his thought, the gay eflfufiohs of his fancy, his dramatit turns, and his epigrammatic points ; and if they were referved for the proper/^^^, they would no doubt receive what the Hoiiourable gentleman's abilities al- ways did receive, the plaudits of the audience ; but this was not the proper theatre for the exhibition of K ^ thcfe ( «« ) thefe elegancies -, and he therefore mud beg leave to call the attention of the Houfe to the ferious con- iideration of the very important queftion then before the Houfe. The clamoure; excited againft the peace were loud in proportion to their injuftice ; and it was generally the cafe, that where men complained without cauie, they complained without temper. It was necelTary to look back, notwithdanding all that the honoura* ble gentlen)an on the other Cidc of the way had faid, to the language of that Houfe, and to the fentiments of that Houfe on this very fubjcfl. Had they forgot the refolutions of laft feiHon, by which Minifters were bound to recognize the independence of Ame* rica ? Had they confidered, that that refolution, in which he for one moit heartily concurred, took at the fame time from Mtnifters their advantage-ground In negotiation ; and deprived them of the opportu- nity of propofing independence as a boon to be con- ceded, as a matter to be offered as the price, or as the bafis of peace ? I^ad they forgot the application made by the right honourable gentleman over the way to the Dutch, an application couched in terms to his feeling more degrading than any conceffion in the prefqnt peace ? Had they forgot the language of that day, when we were told, that we mud have peace on any terms — peace for a year, for a day — juft to give us a little breathing time? Were not tbefe things to be remembered ? or were they to be lold, X 67 ) ' told, that times and circutnftahccs were Co complete* ly changed, that what would have been defirable then, would not be fo now ? Were the eircumftances fo materially changed? Yes, they were; for thcfe opinipns were given, and thefe afTertions made, when the right honourable gentleman was in office, and when the tafk of making peace was likely to fall on his own head. This was the change j this was the material alteration of circumflances which had taken place, and which now called for different con- ditions. The right honourable gentleman was no longer in place ; he was no longer rcfponiible for the terms, and therefore the circurnftances were changed. But to (hew that there was no other change of cir- curnftances, he went into a long and particular de- tail of the relative iituation of the belligerent powers, their ftrength, their refources, their wants, their ob- jefts, and their nrofpedks, deducing from this the in- ference, that . V is abfolutely and indifpenfibly ne- cefTary for this cou*^ /y to have peace ; and that un« der all the circurnftances of the nation at the time^ the terms which we had piocured were fair and ad* vantageous. That he might (hew this to be the. cafe, he examined the articles, and fpoke particular- ly to the points which had been complained of — - the boundaries of Canada, the fiihery of Newfound- land, the ceffion of the Floridas^ the abandonment of the Loyalifts, and the other topics which had en- gaged the attention of the (Juufe. He concluded K a with ;* ( ?3 ) w.Uh recommending temper -and moderation, and fpurnlng at all unfe^fo^iable and invidious fchemes of opj^fition, in a moment fo calamitous and alarming to the date. The unnatural alliance .which it was reported had taken place, was undoubtedly to be rec- koned among the wonders of the age. It was not cafy to reduce fuch an event to any common rule of judging of men, and went to a point of political ■ apoftacy, which not only aftoniflied fo young a man »as hewas> but apparently ailoniflied and confound- ed the mod veteran obfervers of the human heart. •He-wascxcefllvely fevereon this jundUon, andfpoke -in moft pointed terms of reproach. ,, •^ Mr. Sheridan then rofe to an explanation, which r having made, he took notice of that particular fort -of pcrfonality which the Right Hon. Gentleman had thought proper to inti'oduce. He need not comment .on it — t\iQ propriety^ thetafie, the genilcr.:anly point - of it niuft have been obvious to the Houfe. But, , faid Mr. Sheridan, let, me affure the Right Hon. • Gentlemani that I do now^ and will at any time vwhcn be choofes to. repeat jthjs fort, of allufion, meet it with the moft fmcere good humour. Nay, I will - fay. more tr*- Flattered and enjcouraged by the Right •: Hon. Gentleman's panegyric on my talents, if ever I ''«gar».cngiigc in ^he compofitic^s he alludes to, I may be! tenxptcd' tsx an: ad of jlrefumpiion-r-to attempt I an- impDOvcment; on one of Ben Johnfon*s beft charac- i tws, the charader of the d-igry Boyxn the Mchyniift. ^■^^'">(-'"' '/:.*' A ■■''■■■;•- ■ ' .' - ■■ ■ . ■ . . • Mr. T • - . » ,( ^ i»' ) ■..''-> ■ • .Mr.i^/fppkc wi^h great eartii^ftncfs againft the terms of the peace, and declared updii his honout that io hfs mind they beggaifcd ill tho treaties thaic ever had exiftence, in injury, arid dilgrace. With refpeft to the ceflion of territory — it was gfeat and extenliyc 'n every quarter of the world. Europe, Afia, Africa, and America, beheld the difmeitiber- liient and dimunition of the Britifli Empire. But this alarming and calamitous as it was, wa$ nothing when put in competition with another of the crimes of the prefent pej^cc — the ceffion of men into the hands of their cnemiesi, and delivering over to con- fifcatiori, tyranny, refehtment, and pppfeflion, the unhappy men who trufted to our fair promifes, an'd deceitful words. This was the great ground of his objection ; and he called it a difgraceful, wicked, and treacherous peace ; inadequate to its objeft, and fuch as no man could vote to be honourable without delivering his character over to damnation for ever. The Hon. Gentleman then adverted to what had been faid of a junction between the noble Lord in the blue ribband and his honourable friend. Offqcha jun«Slion he knew nothing ; he would only fay that if it had taken place i if they had done more th^n met on this queftion — he faw no harm, and no grojund for charge. He had not been in that Houfe while the noble Lord was purfuing his fyftemfor the rcduftion of America; but he believed that all who , knew him, knew that^he reprobated that fyllem, that he Jie abhorred a«id condemned it as much as any ma^ in this .kingdom ; but Was this a reafon fOr him to be ihe cneniy of the po^lf Lord? or to confound the man with the Minifter ? Undoubtedly not. He al- ways rcfpe^ed the private charader of the noble Lord. H^ believed him to be honed and manly in his deaVKigs -^that his thoughts were upright, and iiis hands . were clean — and we have the beft proof, fays Mr. Lee, that this is the cafe, for if his charac- ter had not been pure indeed, \ye fhould not have feen the noble Lord attended by {oitizny ftiends when out of office. — He. had obferved his condud narrow- ly, and he had feen none of that (hiiifHing lefc-handed -dealing, which made him the determined enemy of another noble, perfon. When he was to decide which of the two men to prefer — ^the noble Lord, or the Earl of Shelburne, — he could not hefitate for oneinftant; becaufe he could ndt heiitate for one inlUnt to prefer opennefs to concealment, and honedy . to artiBce. He fpoke in mod fevere ^erms of the Minifter, and reprobated in the warmed terms the whole of his fydem. The Hon. Mr. Norton faid, he underdood the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to have, in a part of his fpeech expreded an inclination to feparate the condderation of the European Treaties from that with America, which being anfwered in the negative, Mr. Norton added, that under all the circumdanccs, he was willing to approve of the two former I •rrii ( it J former ; but oil account of the articDe rifetiilg t6 thi Loyalifts, he fdt it irtipbffifetic to' give Ills aflcnt to the fatter: ■' '^ ^ ' '-' ^^^ '' •' ^-'•' ; ''»^i2'> Lord Frederick Campbell took Hit dt WhacMr* Uee had faid, and deciared^e came down to the'Hbiif« unbiaifed, that he, meant to rote honeftly ^ and Fairly, and he meant t& vote for the Addrefs i but he would not bear to hear his chara^r queftion^ cd for fuch conduft, , . ^ The Attorney General rote zXiiO extremely warm, and faid, he did not underftand fuch fwaggering lan- guage. His chara^er was as fair as his learned friend's, and who ihould' dare to fay, he- damned his character by voting for the Addrefs. Mr. Lee explained his meaning, and fhewed he had faid. rhofe that voted the peace honourable endanger- ed their characters, which he took to be fair parlia- mentary language. Mr. Rigby rofe to ftill the troubled waters, and v^dth a happy exercife of pleafantry, faid, he delired to apologize for Mr. Lee as a young Member, for the unguarded manner in which he had delivered his opinion. Mr. Rigby called back the Houfc tp the real queftions before them, termed the conjoined amendment an innocent lukewarm performance, and affigned his reafons for voting for the Addrefs, as originally moved. Mr. Adam concluded the debate with calling to the recolledlion of the Houfe, the proceedings held in general on the ratification of treaties of peace. Before l-f! n^: p'i . ; Sefore th., -,-, 208 h-^irrr-tl i^i^ority'^ainft Miitifters ^^^''* -^ 16 IJI > ' !■ I A Committee was then appointed to^draw up -the Jiddt4h thus ^mta^^^d^:^vhTo^mixmthMi^l ¥\l (I I' ;!» • •jiffc-.t:. , . ,.,•;. .:■ \. .Hop, S E «> iB 208 16 draw Ujp the lU'tiioi hi JM: . -j^ ■ » i ' ^ I •"■ D E B ' A T i. ■• -• '• ■ , ^ -I INv THE .: V^ -.• .:.i,;iw:,a.: " , H Q U^^ fi 9 > L p It P $ jp^ T HI ARTictES ftf »H« PEACE. M* >^ S^iVT ikfofaijyy Jlf^rutfrf 17, J783. Tut lAoufe proc«6kd to tc^ the Attides of i^eace wiCh France and Spain« aiid & Pro- vifionsd Attides with Amenca, intd tcmfideration about four o'clock.. The papers were tead b)^ the Clerk at the taUe; after whidi The £arl ^ Pen^oke ToCtf and traftcd'that it was unneceflary for him to take up any of their Lord- fhips ^ime in Ubouiring to convince them of the pro- priety of approacMng the Throne with sill Addrefs of Thanks, on thehapny bccalioii of his Majefty having ordered the Artklesof Peace'td belaid befbro the Houie. Peace would relieve the kingdom from a load of taxes f revive the old, and open new chan* nels of comnicrce ; reftore harmony and mutual a& fe£lion between the fubje^ of Great-Britain and the United States of America ; and contribute to pro- mote the happinels, and eftabUih the tranquility of Europe. He moved for an Addrefs (o thiei King ; the Cime, literally, as that in the Houfe of ^mm'6ns. i Br ■if: 1 'ii '' ' l,f (: III f a ■ T / * ^ '':'n' c The Marpis of Carmarthen feconded this motiMi* The nation, he faid, i^ifhed f«r peace, and he c(m< gratulated them on its happy accomplifhment. The confeilerstty'fliaf had beieh formed agaihft England was diflblved. The nation was ea(ed of an intolerable and encreaiing load df taixes.^ Trade would revive, and PreatrBritain, purfuing the plans of wifdotn^ moderation, and p^ate, wc^ld ftill'i>e OUr of the firft power s ot iLy , r< ; The EarlofCarlifk faid, that he wifhed for peace, as ardently- iis ; an^ ma :iftlthi|^.'ltt9g^om, and he •would go,gJ.c^t lengths to obtain it.., TJi^ pcftcc now .«»^e,jppf ^irtuc . of |i^King^ p|r9gatiVe^ 1^ c^fi- '^^* f^?^ feH m ^ ^fe?,!?]? o» *<5nrpJre, buT he \'' 1.^:^/ .thought the condihons ini^ous to the ifiterefts, and derogatory of the'ic|nour of preat-Britain It „was cQpt(i;ary jto qa^ural juftice ^lid^nu^^ to (»- gre^Qjl perM^ and da^ers^ in their loyalty fo Bn- , lajri ^ meiir who h^d left thejir lamilics, givert up .theirrfortunes, .and mquea?their'' lives in, the fervice ,of| GrOv tatlpo, and enepurageS a'apneral. Ipi; i£ of revolt a»id . jjijjwrcciions !^rqtetfion ana, airegianee j\'eieinufual. No cgniiderati^n ,pf P^li^y? -ff ^ 3i!rregard to gob^ , fi^ith and eminent delerts ^i^ight be called 15/ that name. li>y»liftsi . The con(iu£l of his Majenv s Mlnifteys Jhad FOQt. jopW .been uoiuft and 4inkeivrou,s tdwa)^ thfifciPgp, and efDecially toinore whd . haa wrn^ anpi in the defence or Goverziment, IsiuiiifmsMaM iodapp^ imppjitip.and improvident. ,He o&hudered ^i$, as an ^^ion of fuch atrpdous tuH)itude;,/tha!t .we ihould be damned in thta world and in cbflt which .was to cqme, ,in. his ppinion, ^d in the ^opinion ^f, t|ie woirldi iThc Minjftcr? had, rthroji^gh i^accurs^c^, or fsregiqus folly, .^rawii fuch j9.. line- of hojiindary between America and Great- 3ri(^n, asdeliverqd Canada and Nova Scotia, .,fet« •t^red, into the hands of the American Copgrefs. Th^ forts^. the pafles, the carryif^ places, the'fitteft trads fix the fur trade; all, all that was valuable was de- • ~ ■' ■•II.,.. Jiyered .'Up.tp: our enemies. True ,we were to enjoy a/ree n,avigatiQn on the river MiQtffippi. This id* rdulgencc we were to have by the Treaty. Butliow ,vreze wc*tQ have it? By what tenure were we to . hold it } The line that boi|nded our territory carried .ti^ far, wide of the Mifliflippi ; and it was only by ^the connivance, of the Americans that we could either -navigate, the Lakes, or that the Miflillippi could be Was it after the unparal- leled defei^ce qf Gibraltar, and the glorious relief of that^^ortrefs by Lord Howe, that Great-Britain ought to record h^r owp infamy by applauding an fm£ife, a loling/ a diihonpurable peace? At a time ^^oo wheti France at;d Spin were exhaufted ; when fiurppe was threaftened with other diftnrbances^ when our mhids were ani'mated^ and when there Was ^very profpeiS of tucccfc, wa4 it imagined that fuch .coQ(:eiO$ons Would have bden made? Was it not enough that Minillers had ceded the territories, atid rftbandbnecl the fubje^s of the Crown of Britain to their, en'emjes ? Muft they be praifed for fuch infa^- ^n^ous tranfadions ? He truHed that their Lordflnt^s ^would never (lain their honour by approving' ah aft that abandoned thbfe whohi we were bound in honour loprbteS, and whicli osded with precipitation* ov«r gnd above all tfiat '^he Thirteen Provinces pofleflfed^, a territory, in extent, three times as great as the ^hree Buti{h kftigdoms. His' Lordfhip move4 an ^mendnuent; and the motion, with that amendm^^ run thus:* . ' ' ' " / . ♦ i^i'-t* ' << Torttum oiir tbankitQlib Majelly for tii# comnmtikttioaof the Preliminary Articles of Peace, and ftn: having pat a flop to the calamitiei of war^ by tt {Kace, wludi being concluded, we muft con<- fider as binding, and not to be infringed without a. violation of the national faith; '* To afliire his Majefly, that we feel, in the ftrongeft manner, the obligation of affording every relief that can alleviate the diftrefles or thofe der ferving fubje^s, who have expof^kl their lives and fortunes for the fupport of Great-Britain : and, at the fame time, we cannot help lamenting the neceC* Bty which bids us fubfcribe to articles, which, con- iidering the relative fituation of the belligerent powers, we mud regard as inadequate to our jufl: expectations, and (derogatory to the honour and dignity of Great Britain.'' The Earl of CavetUry thought peace always a bleffing : it was b.?fore their Lordihips to conGder, whether that whicii had been conqluded between the belligerent powers was fuch as the nation was en* titled to, confidering her refources to carry on the Var, and all other circumftances relative thereto^ For his own part; he thought the peace was as good a one as this country had a right to expe£^, and could not thercfgre but approve of it. The advan- tages arifing vould be numcrqus, of great magnitude, and foon experienced. The man of landed property had no more taxes to apprehend ; his burthen, in- ^r^, was? at piefent great enough ; the peacs would releaft ». il if: I, - V ^, .* ttfeafcliim from every appBclienfion of attvdtcreafe. Thofe who bad property in the liinds yv^iikl 6ti4 tlieir profits encreafd, and their ' Iccirrity {>ett^fed; two cttcumftances of the rood a^re^Ie na^nfc.^^ fiis Lordihip, after a few words, declared bimletf a friend to the motion before the Houfe, as originfally madie. ' ' -^ ^T^fls o^ *» ^^ ^"^ Ldrd n^^'^%/iaw faid he was in a gre«t meafure anticipated by what had fallen from a nc^le Earl (Lord Carlifle) who bad very abl)? commented upon the boundaries prcfcribed tothe American it erritorics. He queflioncd the right of the Crown to difmehibfer the empire without the confent of Parliament; of territories not acquired byconqueft during tht war; arraigned the cruelty atid injufl:ice of abandoning^ 'the ]Loyaltft«, -and bur ilridian allies; not le(s dxan twenty-five Indian nations, our allies cind friends, ^crc given up. He particularly. ft aied the obligations 'We werie Under, by Various treaties (blemnly madie, to 'pidtefl the l^ndian Nations, and he enumerated the treaties which had been ihade fi'om time to time. The immenftJ lra6l of land given up, not Icfs than •5000 fqu are miles, which in his mind the Crown 'Could not alienate by prerogative, was at the fame 'Hknethe moft valuable t^ this country of any that *we could polfefs in Canada j and from which we had drawn all our furs. Lakes George and Chanl- plaiti were totally given up : All the entrances into Canada were in the hands of the Americans : AH •ibe foils which had cofl thisr nation fa iriimctile.a (vim\ in amcnt; df 5tlA war; bandoning, ; lc(s dian id friends, □ibligations y made, to lerated 'the tie to time* )t Icfs than the Crown t the I'anie f any that I which we and Cham- trances into ericatts : All tncti/fe.a (i*«^ ■Mi \y-m m in tmildlifig: AH the pafies of the Lakes: Ail the canying p]a£es--»>nay, St. Laurence itfdf was, in ont place, under the difguife of another name, givtti up CO the Americans. * s ^tw-j, .^^jj .; • It is not in our power to follow the noble. Lord in the delineations which he laid down of the geo* ^aphy of Canada, and the Lakes: Bs^t hA poidtCKJl •out minutely every advantage lod by the boundaries^ •nd dated that that which was called a regulation of boundaries, was in fa6l a ce0ion of Canada. H'? went into a long and particular exaniination iof the boundaries agreed on fdr Canada^ whirh were fo defe6live and erroneous as to dedroy all the Value of the province, lie touched on the other parti- culars of the three tteatie», and.obje£led to thera ieverally. On the^ whole, he approved of thj[? 'amendment fuggeited by the noble £arl, and tlK>ught it the only thing to which the Houfe could agree. Lord Hawke did not think that the peace« by any means, deferved thofe epithets that had been applied to it by the noble Lord who propofed the amend- ment. He thought it was as good a peace as We, had any- reafon to exped, confidering the hod of foes that aflailedus. The Loyalills, his Lordlhip contended, had not been abandoned. Congrefs had engaged to recommend their caufe to the aifitnblicsjof the diffe- rent Provinces. He was aware that the word recom- mend appeared feeble and inefficacious to thofe who were zealous friends to the Loyalifts. He did not wtOi that the Loyalifts fliould be abandoned; and u he "! ■■'-) ( » ) ' ,n he affirmed, that all that tould be done for them, in the treaty, had been done. For what could Congrely do btU recommend the Loyalifts ? Congrefs poflefled^ indeed^ the executive, but not the legiflative power^ and a recommenddtidn of the Loyalifts w^s all that Was in their power. The Crown of Britain fpoke, in the ftile of recommendation, to Parlia- ment. The language it ufed was not ftronge^. Congrefs, in like manner, recommended the caufc of the Loyalifts; that is, they recommended,, they urged it with authority and earneftnefs, and he hoped they would recommend it with effie^^.. Ij^ infifted upon the powerful combination that had been formed againft England. He admired the eondu6t and valour of thofe military and naval heroes, who, in the courfe of this laft campaign^ had done fo much honour to Britain. Their ikIU and bravery were not loft to their country. They enabled her to (land on good ground,, aqd to de- mand good terras. The proper time for making •peace was the time of viftory. Could any of their Lordftiips promife with certainty, that next cam- paign would be more fuccefsful than the Uft. Herts he painted the force that was oppofed to Great- Britain in Europe, in America, in the Weft^Indies, ' and in the Eaft. On the ftorm that was gathering in the Eaft, he dwelt at length, and with the greateft pathos. The fun, faid his Lordfliip, that illumi- ■ natcd for a ftiort time your Eafteni heoufphere is obfcurcd by clouds, and no longer darts .th*jfeeo - -- hvcning '.,5,' ■(f- hem, ill \ power» W9S all Britain Farlia- [Irongejr- he caufe •d, thfty and he that had ircd the id naval ampaign» heir fkul They jd to de- r making of their ext cam- Hei« o Great- ft-Indies, gathering ic greatell it ilium i- ifphere is vh*>(e en- livening iivemnjf Tap; which had almoft reflored us to our oriorinal vigour. From the whole complexion of things, a jSeace was wanted, and fuch a peace as we had procured was all that we could expe6l. Loret Vifcount Dudley declared the peace to be, in his mind, totally inadequate to our expeftations, pretenfions, and of which he could not by any means approve. .„ The DvAc of Chandos thought the contrary. Our condition was fuch as demanded an immediate peace; and on a review of every particular, it would be found to be more than equal to what we had a right to expe6);. Lord Vifcount Toxim/Jitnd was very pointed in his remarks upon the eonduft of Adminiftration, who had difgraced this country beyond all former in. ilances. To deferfc men who had conftantly adhered to loyalty and attachment, was a circumftance of ftich cruelty as had never before been heard of. What was to become of the poor American Officers too, thofe who had drawn the fword in defence of this CO intry ? They were deferted likewife, and left to ff wk their forfeunes any where out of Englifh prnfection. The poor Loyalifts (hould have had Ibmc t^nft of land afligned to them, where they might have lived free from oppreffion, wanton cruelty' and refentment. His Lordihip fcverely cenfured the boundaries as defcribed in tlie Preliminary Arti- cles, and imagined, that as the Americans had taken ftich care to iccure what they had negociatcd for, *B the vt *• \ II !*"^ 1; * ■| ^: '! f|: f ■-/?. they would ' in the end takb all Canada into their hands. They had evidently been too cunning for us in their negoctation. Why could not fome man from Canada, or re^£iable Canadian Merdiant^ who had been well acquainted with the country, have been thought of for the bufinefs, which Mr, Ofwald h^ been fent to negotiate ? Dr. Franklyn, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Laurens had been an over-match for him ; he either did not know, or appeared ig- norant, how the country lay, that he had been grant* ing away, as the bargain which he had made clearly indicated.— The Articles with Franice were full as fEXceptionable as thofe with America. The admiflloQ of 'that natiotito a participation of the Newfoundland £ihery, was a piece of the moft dreadful policy and conceflion that ever difgraced a negodation. The very thing which reared us fo tnany fine feamen, was to be divided with that nation which was our natural enemy, and at all times inclined to difpute the fdv^reignty of the ocean with us. In the Eaft* Indies the advantages allowed them were almoil as great. I'hey were to be at liberty to make a ditch round Chandenagor, for the purpofe of draining it. This might be an innocent thing enough ; but fup- ppfe it was converted into a regular fortification «nd had ramparts; were thefe things beneath thte con- fiderrition of Minifters ? Siich an inftance had oc« curred before ; and the £a(l-lndia Company did, without ceremony, fill up the ditch ; but now it TfTds allotted by treaty, and the French would, no :. '; 0.- doubt I .'.O ik h ( II ? doubt cake^tie advantage of it. But dill a more extraordinary thing than this was, the engagement entered into on the part of Great Britain^ to pro. cure a dependency round Pondicherry, which muft i ■ m '< li pity, wkh' every tcftimonv of refpe<5t and admiral tion. T'Jbe Duke of Graff on was in hopes that the mo* tion fird brought befope the Houfe would have paHed without thofc comments which liad been- made by noble Lords, who had already fpoke in. the debate ; he thought the Addrefs might have been carried with that unanimity which marked their Lord(hips proceedings at the beginning o£ the fefTion. He wifhed that it. might not be op- pofed from any famous motives> or by that kind of converfation which is exprefli' i of general dif* fatisfaflion upon all fubjefls alike. It would have a (Irange appearance abroad, that divilions fhould happen where unanimity only ought to predominate.. Witk refpe^ to the peace, all cirCiUmftances confidered, it was- as favourable a one in behalf of this country, as^ihe had any right to expedt. It had not been concluded without firft being duly conGdered, and every circum- Hance maturely weighed. Thofe who wiflied a continuance of the war, (hould confider how fiiffi- cicnt refourccs were to be found for the purpofe of carrying it on. Thefe there would be great difficulty in finding *, the nation had been greatly; exhaufled, and it became necelTary to coi\clude a peace upon the bed terms that could be procured^ and MiniHers had fucceeded beyond hisexpe6U'- tions in their endeavours. Was not it time ta ^.ake a peace when our i^ec in ,the Weft Indies, ll though fuperior for three monihs pad to chat of the French, could not recover even one of our loft poficITions. According to fome late and authentic advices, it was well known that there were in Cadiz. Bay (ixty fail of the line, ready for aa expedition to the Weft Indies, a little tinic previous to the con- clufion of the peace. Thefc Ihips were to be joined by others from the Havannah with troops on boards There were likewife feventeen thoufand troops in the iiland of St. Domingo ready for embarkation againft Jamaica, and which, was intended (hortly tt> have taken place. It was then for noble Lords ta conddcr what our inducement could be to carry on the war another year, and at the expiration of that time, how much our (ituation would be im- proved by it. From the circumftances he had mentioned, the temptation was not very gr/eat. The fleet in the Weft-Indies would not have been equal to that which was deftined for that quarter of the world ; and it was fo much confined to fi- liation, that the inftant it fell to leeward, Antigua muft have fallen. .His Grace was a warm advocate for the peace^ and concluded by yving his aflent to the motion. • Lord Vifcouni Keppel followed the Duke of Grafton. His Lordftiip began by obferving, that in a late Htuation, which, he faid^ he unworthily filled, he had hiade it his particular ftudy and care to put the navy of this country upon the Eiioft refpe^able footing. He thought the noble ■ ' Duke ~> . :J f i^W :■. .'i !f '■'' IXikie BaS exaggerated the account of tlie Spaniffi navy; it might indeed be numerous, but many of their (hips were foul. According to fome accounts that his 1/ordihip had lately received, two or three were careeningat the Havannah, and feveral very much out of condition in other places. The French iiad ftill more bad (hips than Spain ; their navies amounted together to about one hundred and twenty-three (hips of the line, that of England CO about one hundred and nine. What the noble Buke had faid about the Weft-Indies had nothing ib terrible in it to hi^ Lordlhip. If the (hips his Grace h^d mentioned had chofe to have gone to the Weft-Indies then, and to have made a lodge- ment of the troops faid to be in the ifland of St. Ddmingo, they mdft have come to an engage- ment, which would have been decifive, and the event of which his Lbrdlhipfhould riot have feared to have rifqued. He begged to inform his Grace, that let the French or Spaniards have taken what courfe they would in the Weft-Indies orelfewhcrei we had force to oppofe them, both of (hips and men, and that we were ready at the time alluded to by his Grace foradive war, which Was in contemplation. We were fully prepared for either offchfive or defenfive war. When his Lordfhip computed the navy of England at one hundred and nine (hips, he included tholfe which wouW be ready for fervict by May next. With fuch a navy as his Lordfhip had de- fcribed, compared with that' of Frarice and Spain, •ad could ( 15 > could w.e be fajd to have gained that peace which^ comparatively, we had a right to cxpcft > No, bf> no means. He (lood in a particular lituatien fbom the office he had lately filled, which, however^ hft was under thb necefllty of refigning, becaufe he could not advife his Sovereign to conclude a peaoe^ .of which he did not in his confcience approve* We ought to have had a better peace ; our (ituatton entitled us to it. We had made an inglorious one^ with ten ihips of the navy of France in our pof- ieflioH} and they had not, at that time, one of ours. His Lordihip mentioned the feven fhips ' taken by Lord Rodney, and three others that had fallen into our hands, all of the line. He repro-r bated the peace in theitrongefl terms of expreflion^ -. ^ and gave his hearty alTcnt to the propofed aoDcnd*** m^nt* ^ * -The Duke of Grafton rofe to explain; The Duke of Richmond {a,id, that, in confideringi' the merits or demerits of the peace now under | their Lordfhips confideration, it was neceilary to "^ take, ifl a variety of circumllances, which would Vx all be found to have their weight in a fubje^t of # that.ituportance, which was then the objcA pf their |.x)rdflkips attention, and without which it woultl ^ be impofTible for their Lordlhips to form any; , judgment, and cither approve or difapprove of *' the terms. Itwasfirft to be confidered what was f our fituation at the time of making the peace, and •? ' howfartl^ofe vrha^ had advifed the cone lufion, ba4 m ^'il L?nv:.:; ", 'r^il av^(| availed thcmfelves of the advanfagcs of it.' The ^efliotk that had been made demanded particular attention, with an eye to the reafon that authorifed their being fo given up ; how trade and commerce was affected m all inftanccs, both in the ceded ter- ritories and at homel There were many other particulars not before their Li dfhips, which it would be requifite for them to take into confidc- ratron, previous to the formation of a right judgment upon the matter; Such as the inftruc- tions to the agents, the letters in various correfpoh^ tlence on the po'mt in c^uedion, the chara^ers, the condu6l, and the inftru6tions of the princi- pal agents in the bufincfs. Nay, Oral Converfa- ttons on the fubjc6l would form a great part of what they (Hight to fcrutinize. And above all, they (hould not omit the minuted invcftiga- tion of the relative force and weaknefs of the bel- ligerent powers, the fituation of their cabinet, the Kate of Europe in general— the probability of ncv\f wars, — and the profpcft that there was of our gain* k>g alliijncfs — and a variety of more miouce n:iat^ ters, which yet the good fcnfe of every noble Lor<} who heard him would, upon reflexion, be con- vinced muft be abfolutely neceffary to examine and compare, bcfcpe, in fairnefs and ft rid jujftice, a matter of fuch importance, as well to the Minifter. lndiv^dually, as to the nation -in general, could pof- fibly be decided on. However^ if one muft form in idea of it* partially, from the few materials be- fore the Ho life, his Grace freely owned he did not like ( ,7 ) like the terms of the ti^eatics, ^nd couj|jlri^9t theroi fore agree to the original addrefs. ^Lord Vifcount StormonrtQok ji iwide range on th? fubjcct. He fet out by acknowledging, th^^ ^^ agreed with the noble Duke who fpoke Jaft, that.^ full and fair judgment on this bufincfs cpul4 not be well formed, without a confidcration of ^llqf thofc articles his Grace had fo properly defcribed. Bu^ yet, how defirous fpeyer he was of with*holdin| his opinion, it was not in his power to dp fo. Mi- niftry were refolved to force their Lordfliips to dc* live^^heir fentim^ntp on the fubjedt of the peacc^ merely from what lay upon th^ir table; they mul^ therefore only ^aqie ^hemfflves for fhe confc* quences. For my own part, faid his Lordfbip, I would with more pleafure than I can expreis9 read any ;hing the noble Lord at the head , of his Ma- ]e(ly*s affairs could offer in defence of his own, ancji his cplleagues conduct in the negociation of thi$ peace j for at prefent tjhere appears tp me frima facie evidence^ — Evidence, on the fir(^ view pf thp papers on the table^ fo convince me, that there is the grblTeft negle<^ the mod bla^^ajttle ignorance| or (hameful ofcitancy. iri the conjftf!U§ipn of the pre- fent treaties, by which an irremediable woAind is given to the deareft intcrcfts of this country, and gin eternai (lain brought upon the Pxitilb reputation. . The .noble, Lord ftated with great accuracy th« queftion before their Lordftiip?, viz, ** Whcthcj "' the Preliminary Articles of Peace were fuch as * C •' merited i At IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ks A* <^J^ 4^ 4is 9s 1.0 1.1 ltt|21 125 m ijii? 11^ |U 11.6 i^^^^s inii^^^s Hm^^^b -M Photographic Sciences Carporation 23 VtflST MAM STMIT VVniTIR.N.Y. USM (>U)I72-4»0S 4^ 4^ >^^ , • ( i8 ) *** ilieriftid tbdf ap()ltufe, or dcferved their difapX ** fwobacion.'' , Ht confldered them, for hit owh M injundiil to the eflbntial interefts, dangerous ^e Afetf, derog^toty to the honour of Great %irit«n, and not warranted or juftiJBed by theiitua^ iiU'Qf the war. And firft of all he bbferved^ that Mk fiMIM gOvernmentii, like Sweden before the late k^bhition, and like Foltod i^iU^ kmi^t hap|kn ^at n6 tri^JJiKy bf ptdce coiiM be Ytlid without the rkfificai^bii .^^ill th^ edate^ that compofed the legi^ lativepdwer. Here he quoted 'Burhunaqut, on the Il&wofNatufe and Nations. It was^contended by iliime perfom, that in fuch a cafe as tife pitfeht dif- inemben^benc of America, the {^rerogitire royal of the<>oWncouid not aloafl( conclude a treaty for ^fl%i6ting that feparationl But hb Lp^dfhip did not itfibhi^ToOt oh thatgrdundt The conftitiinon had ^a(6^; iiid wifely phiced; the making of peace Or iriur lb the executive powers and God fbrbidi^faid &1& Bordfliijp, that t (hbiild ettr fee that prii^ge^ ^^d out Of It. As the iK^le Earl mo had. ifibvid tiie siieinament h^ iaid, the pdic^ Witf ^i^luded; irad it wai not now' to be a^aed by *^i4t titingirhidi that Houlb could conclude on ; the hood was tx^ili 9idd hivibfiiii^ What his £Mi§i|p tidhihki^ w^ tAelhndl^^^ <^ Iti in dfldioib itfpefb that nat^Hdly pt^Sdi^wd thilofeivet fi^hii ^sff, ^wheii: h^bdhfldeM Ae ttM» ^foi« b% He H«adv4crte4 to jthe (hamcful Jgnorance and Umf^ plicity, Iplly and abfttrdic]^, tb.at appeared intlit negodation and piovifional articlei of pea^ teif!|Mi|i' England and t^e Vnited Americaa Staiei. MQwc; reafon could be |^ven fyr lending oat fucb a man tt* Mr. Ofwtikl, to jcreat with the four American Cbm« miflioners? He was hr overmatched bjf.anjr onel of tbem: Nor would anj m'»n compare min o» Dr* Franklin, or Mr. lAurens^ or any one of thp Coir* tniiiionen— ^«^ Congtfffi* ^chflS^tid his Lord* ihip i for I am, fure there was notonipof themjwha was- not an Achilles compared wt(h hiip. But if was not Nf r. Ofwald, he fatd.'that licrhad tocjo witlL but chofe who confided in h}m and employed hinit The firft queftion that xhe intifik Agent oughi to have put to the i^in^Hcan ^ommUl^oMrs, was, whether they had iiiir powers to conclude and i^gree upon a generil ^mnefty and reftltuti^ of gQods td all Loyalifts without exception f TheTe were men whom Britain was bound in juftice, and h9n^r, and gratitude, andaSe^ion, and every tie,, to provide for, and proced. Yet, alu, for England as well as them I they were made a part of the price of peace^ Thofe who were the beft firlends qf Britain, were, t9Homni^ on that very accqunt| e?c9epted from thjl indulgence of Congr^is, S^ricain Connives a^ tte bloody faai^cej and feeks for a fhameful |ret)vat» at the cxpence of her mofi valiant and foithful ;fons ! How different from this was the condii^b of Spain |o the Loyidiilt in the H«Cherlands, in the reign of •C 2 " PhUip ■t>:,i ,S?«£5^^ tH^^n* SiiAteiitlip^ated^fi^^^^ i^o^^i'^it^'^il^ sit vfas jpadeiJy^witHdbt iexcepti(>h'6f pUtt or pei^^n. j^orS^i^'iii(B;''^ou(bBed iih Ciie' |6ans iof the Ca- talQn1ans,'wl)o 'revoked ifrbb^ ^i^th, oh6e %hl;n unffagain Hi^Iiieh thcl pu^ thcWelvd'lihaAi- the pro- pen aSdmiii^^w%^:% mmm^^ ^i^nc aitiui^n to iAy Wfi^TiAt^»y%' Mil^em calf any pckdtit iAkikriiii/iiii^^^^^ that^ah' a£tioh ^HM Vyc^^cmic, chdiMi^iSy H«l6 Icnip^lous' on ttbft oe<;|i^^^^t!eM^iJ it UwiMisA fie negocu«cd tii<>#^i>f %e j^ms'1^^ Lord uid' llof the Lily ( « ) Lor(IStdnn«fA,>let im^ noBleliovdf^pedc outv aiid 6n this 'fiibje^'lTwiD be flkrit. > FixNbthe>ljoyilias lie |iilflred bttto^^or Indian^nllic^ hmthwho»iff« hid Hf^aTbhgebhii^kibiT, 0ti whmh welhid^ Mmdl the liat^e'^iof ehe Children of the' Kii%v^uid Inth i^hdm, faid he, you^ fwore «D' pKlerre tmlnviofawe . Ifriend)h{p Is Itmg lithe ^oods/ andonoiifttains, and rivers ih«6ld femiiiiw ^ His iidrd^i^ ni»kt tdmed Int'* attention .to ;tiie bouridaty lirte that h^ been agreedon by the-ikine- ticanCdmoliiSldAersi and that ^eiy extiaordUiaiy ^geogfraf^h^r f efitedhtb (he arddes of peace betsireen 'finglahd' ihd^ AlntHca/a very ffompous preamble, ^dng'Bt-tfi fhlrt fhdfe treatiest'Werrthe ibeft ob- ¥iTfidW^9m(^m^ retiproealadfantages*^ He %ki afbngtihfie'^a'lors to dnderftarid tlie meaning ^bf tbdfe #brdar'^%^^ athmti^4t. But at bft he dirco^eitd, ibit nhif meaiit only the advaiuage of * iAloheri^a^ tbr * iti^retiflrrt for the manif^didxoncer- ^ fion^ on%iiir pai't^' nOt one had been made on theirs. ■tn truth,' 'the Ameridaiif'Gorilmifiioners had enriched ^the^^glifh Di€^i6nary iititb ieveral new terms and phrafes; redprdcaladvuntdgesit for iibftante, meant the^adVlntag^ of Hfieofiht parties \ and znpJaiign His Lokjfhip^ then tbok a view of our co^ceflions •bn Newfoiiiftdlarid ■ the 'arded i^ of St. Pierre andl^^rorfi Whithbeing'fortified, will Command IJbiie enuance of th^ river of 3t. Laurence. The liberty Kberfy aixorded to (he Amerioips to fettle in Nova Scotia I the ceffion of PenoSlbot^ a nurfery of ma^ ; iht living i^p df ^ ib^ was impojrtant or valuaUc in Canada J tbe Fkiridas, important for their fituation, and agicqdbJe in refpeift of dimiate and fotl-^ weari^at wdl have, ceded ail Canada to them, aa to. lave drawn fiich a lin^ of iepaiation;'for all the forts which commanded the lakei were in theur hands, and we were whoIlyrdefeiiceIe&, and at their mercy, in our navigation of the Ia}(c> : befides, w^ had given up to theih hy that boundary, a trad of coonti^ four times, it l^rge a$ Britain, and in that trad above fix and-twenty natsonaof our Indian .aUies> whole hunting ground we wsrp obligfd» hy treaty^, to proteA^ and from whom (Cettiii|; fifide tfiofe fedingt which dignify- hu^ian nature) we re- ceived moft cflential benefiu in t|;ie jirtide of theit trade of peltry and fiiri* ^ The noble Viioountdwe}t on diis topic with great energy* • and dedaired hin^ felf at ono6 aflonilhed and co-founded attbecon- duft'of the Kiog'i Mioiftcrs in this refpe^. Froni this impolicy his Ijprdibip turned to Newfoundland, and there he complained of Miniilers \gtying to die Frend) near (even degrees of latitude for. their own exdufive fiihing, and at the fame time that we d^ that, we alfo gave. die Americans ^partidpation ^n alL.onr fiflieries^ in ,^ our creeks and harVours, and nevier made my ftipiilatipn for oi^r fiihing re- ciprocally in theirs. The granting of St. Pierre and AIi*][uelon tp 4>e:fi^nd| wfs tl^ |iext obje^ \k<^t . nitt' inet the reprehenfioil of huh^fhi^. If libty Icr* * ti&ed thefo two /plaoet , ta iheycertainly might, if tfaq^ pleafbd, htl liordfliiip declared, our fifheriet en that' coail to be altogether unfiife,. and of courfe of little or no advantage to Us. The noble Vifeount leferred to die* various treaties which had beea made in relpell to this fifhery, and fliewed Wh^i^ honourable pains the Earl of Chatham had always taken to prefeive this fmitful nurleiy of (eamen^ ^ Britifli Crown.~-»By the proviltona made leTpe^^ ing thia fiihery, there would be an <€nd at oQice put tQ the Britiih trade. \ While he was Amfaaflador at the jCeuit of Ver(ail{es,rlthey let up atitleto.the fiihery ceded to dion by the peace of Utreeh^ imihacUed liy reciprocity .-r-He wrote. home foriinfiru£lions-7* and receivied fo dear, dtftind, ewd at the iame time ib peremptory a ftatement of the £»i(,]iQi right to fifli in common with the French, on the Welt fide of the ifland, that they werejatisfied^ prat leaft they relin^tiiihed their claim for the tifiie^, ao^ wifely poftponed it until a moment ihould- come more favourable to their ambition, when, peihapi, there ihould be an '£ngli(h Minider^ kt ifdicitDus of power, fo anxious to fix bimffllf in hiftici|t«.as lo hurry a ncgociation to its end; with(M|t{.€aiie4Mr anxiety for the intereft of Uie ftate\ which he was appointed to govern. He now confidered the fiihery as irretrievably gone) for there wat^^not 4 fyllable of reciprocity in the treaty, and we> yielded* in fall right, the pofleffions of St« Piernt.. and « Miqijelon, ( ) fifli^tll^toii, wKidi th^ would^ itifktuly fotify^ and f«OBtiii «d Uiemfekei sm murianfetradd The' eoiu '* li^aidiM' Ibadfe to" Aflitcfksi in tbi^ {idi'tibilar; weUr l^fpint^ macdria!. Tint onibeUo^ oo^fti and ba)iis inl^a Seetiii #0re to bel)peiKfl'^thcin, andwii WM^ tollave lid po#cr to fifli m iheic]»yt'iii ntuhb SibnaA^aloaitts \%ouM arifs^i and infbbd ol fiscor- iiigifr|)e{ite> t*bil^4faeidante» tod inhabitants, nor any ptovifioti •ti)^ by w&ich we obuld imoQie^t onr fur« to ^ny i maii^ki^t; • In ^hbrl, the aitiel<; fwt tb^ navigation jpf the Mifliffi^ jwas «n- infah on- iJNir tin|le)!0^diti^ j ' added to^aft Aii tochar ii^uiies done^'^o otir^ti^ert)^ ' b^^' Ih^ ^i&nr-p^ce^ ': .-^ .^'^^W •; '' :,■ ' : iu^v ' . . Thf li%5Q|ec9l jofi^Ji Ipoft argufnent t» proi?e.t|« li^4f in. ,9«9i power ^ Uyc ma^, tjip^ac^^witli, FrfU^M*^^^^<*®9n:^( Tobfigo,;r. W# ^mi^ be^ Its i^trin^o >ralue» the. Fl^enph^ qob Ajkc a&.. iiir> v^Mtbk;^. We>wi;re io ppfieipoii jof $%Pler^#n4 M|qC^lpiii,[^hidi50CDpIetely ihuc thegi q|ut; Irpjoi, th^^^whc^e .of thic ,fi(Jti^ of NcwfouncjUft^ j; ;|pA haviog therefore thefe ftrong poinu, we, lhoulc| haye fi^opo^l, to agree (p a peace, pii . the gismAdi o£iud^,04^h.J^ own, ;hat tl^9^ T^9HyS«?;!W?^^ ^v^ble to us jn ijhe W^*'" Iiijdic|^;b\it^ the ia£tpt ^fft the^Fr^ch dt^rft^nq^ T^ejr^mjaft have t^^ aad ^ere^e, as they^ mqft reg^ the ofiei; ai ntipeifidtHfy ^e. alteroatiirii was pl^ipt^ifl u^ agKC| then p^' the[£f>otiiig .^ €c»np|ete refikitution* To this weji|rqr&/a^))r;uic| fully entitled^, Bu;> j^^^ o^ ^l|i*» r^*^ W(^ >ip T.<^fgpf ,an.,Ulan4 of the tt{n^9ft' cpnfj^qoi^i? : ta tlje np^nuj^ures pf cl^ coupcry, (fUk r^eU lu ti« att incereilpL in .the Weft-IiuUes. . He , mf ii(tiopeii l^ i^ns^ nufafiory 9f cotton :gP9ds lady . ^(^W^lj^ iii Fcance, which on|y wanted the c^tto^; pf^T4|l)s(g<> t(^ ma|:eL it. the tival of Manche%t;r; Jiidt:» wM given to thfp, ai^d there, waai no; cquivfdcnp ^y^at^ ever giveli.to us.m,rewrti, , QuitJ^e.cQ^ft 9fv4|rte the conce/Tions were fubje^to the fiune,coi^S(i^if|tw ;; •£> We '% We btd^rvtR up tting^i$M^ i^ itd mide fttcK ftiJE^hdobi, ifr ie^ tdfiU ^;^ ^tififtd^ of ditehi aiid the tH-bmiTe to fniocttit iktiizontjtfb^m bur alfie^, were ctrtumftahte i^ 1^ ilnjuriotn^' thm he cotild ^ti^; confee^Ve j^ 'WHit^ i^khge fatalitf oor Mhitfters we^e adttited WMi irtftle^y^fpeathgfcheB^fl^ )^d pointed btit^iA^ jiiHes'ddne to ^Coti^'wii^'mn^ fk tte» c^tKiiter of the wortd vfc h^ "dfit^ ^ FttHA f^tAiivdjM^, ^1*ikf Hti^ no^^fiiir^i^ ihe^had ttt^lMn^i^they 1^ tiiimSa^^irk Mihk h^e fbtuia^m «tte S^IHa^f ^^^^ hr ai borldics hi the* W«fli^>^i)# the fi^^^ dwli kffidil W^iiMe re^tdJed^^ dtif MJMfteri in % thit^hi^hiljddonb: ri^mi^^ pir the fin^^ tkiic6U Dtthldrlc viy l^aot^. Iit^a inu' wiil^]^ |liu^v lihafe hiailxnifv bj^ed aiiji rep^itidv^lii^bdld Ibodmit^burthek. '^^ iHlnhg >uir»^I} ^ilBii^ vhSM m^f bur t^^ n[ hi V^t^ 'tiMr; i«d d^rbailiuit^ me^fiWe^e -^dilihtiig^i oF d^r Ibekl fitnatibtt ibr ctjt^meret.^/^^^^ #ietoietijt)ie^ wbohibe df nb i^ W the l^itnch, bUtiftlataf^tiEtiglatidk tn t>ur ' >ecipii:iui(^ V'/ to M ;J!.) ( *r>. ) o, i-j'/^a* ;/0i w^^ ...)if:a -iJtn tpf th$ JirUilbnSefb.* ^hi ift ^ IeJ^c jtrcati«B tjb#c ««i«| Q^^ft^nm Amg jh^uimi: cirticr the ol^i)^ of priite ftr of inj^icft. , ;Xfej# ^w i^ infu^t iw)|icii tiif -eifijp^ntiyaivitj of -Jf^^^ fond to^xo^ but ^hicfa oMgbc mj^l Ijw Jt>c«P /Mffibriiil, JBuii CQ^fi^qratioiW pf itbU k^fi4^ M^^^ bcfici||^ ]d^at$«Qr. ti9n.j9fc¥*^iflpw,of th(t|H(^ca?^ ;<^^ w^^fff^l^ 4oiRnjcri$orioui jif^rl?;, ^^-^j^h as .^^.i^fjfli^i^ fftWfe nw»tt,fiprt«^ when aRplkd w li^jir 4;Ii^t f i^r pul^ ^np}^.th^t idfa, the prciait ^iqi^ 9f f4r g$|ci)()iusi crflondcft^ga^^ tijf, to cpngfsit^^^ hi^ miKM) tbcfciurn of peace, but to gaia ijie ikwlka »Da o^ \ I ;j!. Jib nneHocd ^ fblly to^' fUbiyribe' tot ^fiKdHtil'bf ' the noble Lords faw tbe intent of tbisi 'a^X^'^ibiDld' takifergafe thH fHeri iiiMi^(e#^s;'^(ho0ltf'(f9^%«A^ ditfHfed-bjr any^ fi^h^lki^ =ftnai6ii» M^ori'i^^ e&titiiai^^' thkt all iil^rt|^tit^l6 ^liNilfnj|Mle^ii^Mkf > tfefpii^tedlf iupppe^'%iKi! ilta^(liirefetir Ikeiee #4^ a^o6dj6ai^«idti^ gr^lcep^caUtnitiei tk*illlh(^i)9t Jhdd f^ oyght heitrt^^ad anfwer poikTv^iy, Wl" 1^^^^^ be^rt bfoag4i( u)> iti the habtcs^^^ i^depcitdtiieci^ arid iroUld thiereib^e o|i all oeeafiood^ gWe- s^ opinioni acc6fdittgiy. Wpuld riot erfei^ hii*^^ ^iidei>ce^ -knfweK on 'the preifent oirdtQoii' ik hd did>l-- -Certainly he wb^Wj* ind wh^ri'>#ia the jireumftj^hce onr^ the '^ifwii • ^faa& apj^etkii^' 6f iMiigs'.thktimiicated^tfft k^^^^^ flfeft^fminiitioriv Mtni^ wtnild %i tb«t\lf a I*ifeVfeirtim*^be^had.t^^ tc^i W^?b^ Wtllica fM /il il^^^peai^nt that' it -1^ ic(xfpted"W vpdA #i|^^riiii( w^^^ arcf bftei^cf^ 'The jHrtcipte <^ flds' p^^tittii Hs EortMhiJy^ iH<)\ie<^ tlic fipj)lkfiti6h. It w^ls^a FAa^ffo l»e rrtoilfnt*, ' k iiociccf of, in the nioft*filiifiiig'tnaiin«'i\,, :f -''■^^-^- ^^'^ '^'^1^ coAddib of MiUlfteb 'by comfngi^bwn to ihRlMK^, ^ rut»ffU€«ie ili appfob^tioni of their jiiiio^ #i^liyiri^ tO^lhlit'Oif foliDs^^horiitivho lfi«$- 1^ thfch* cOiillCliy : thci ^«idl ae^ feMbel ^ilr^he^ fiibk fphere of «^ioa i w|kO aftcr^ &^ii%'^^()iill^«ide^ y peac6» i»i#il'ii4dlinith^«^f^nlllte'>W^^^^^ not ^''£^d4¥ami0m [f^j^^^ lb I^Wfd 'l5toirftiont» Hit iMAfhiphn^m with* reiiAarktng^ that he had tho pent^\)f^^ fbr the iiuth^ty, » which the noble £>6rd ha^ all^dd W in the ^otirfe cf hfs fpeech, and'l^lifkihafktKought himfelfeiikeedifigliy hippf, t6 halreli&d'ic in his< powtr, to hd^ imitated tho (k^diiaFof^iiikt g^(^c Man, i«ha his Lordfhip hod held^c^'io r 3f )) difiicultifs in negoeiadoA. A44m^^KiMif§l^$fMlri was wnbb\i^iwm,»;M^Mf.\%^,# n- Hfioeflijiy for fo doiqg, His LofdQ^^p fa^.J)P, ^darnnA^oJielcci! |»imt»rlffroiitt bli^nqi *iyf1hfi^ing it 'M^^9Mt vmoQeat-mm or coHf^ud:) ^4.tkieii:* foHmfAo m iaupje iq d^lnfed^t^a^ ll)c;. reafqn wl^ibiiie MTords the i|^: V ifroii^ W infuUoncd sttrptK^fc M^K inieri9d. '»<^ f c^nm W^ ^ ^^ ^" ticlCiftlluM to %:timi :«M. ^\ Ipyfomc roqA unaccoumable and unhappy mlAake of,Jm f>mh ,H 'they vv V took ^very '^m5k in^hi W rcso^ att?cliss dad' b^n (cM off witlt this cl^fiefeil^^ iM fiiiras ib^ha^Jf^^as'tdr (ba:!e«}/and ait iiiftruiMit #8^ ifig^ flik exchaiig^^ ciifing tK^^^ Md )^6ttb Seas the BHtidi Seas s fo tfiair thcevtt i^k^ miiSEDid by the 6ii!jr inetlk>a thiitiiib^^b^ i|h/«4^il^ I^»^ dijfa^^nxabl^^ihg^ ^6 dopbCi^ tto i^ i c^^^^ blip m^i W»^ l^^i^^^B luit ^ii^ a|^ {Ky^^^ ca^ of ciion i^hsU^I^ of %Iikft muft ^x;onaden:di< as tiKili^ wK^'^iieliilf <|i^ and' if ch^ [fjro()C|^4ife i&oi^'t^^^^ not pcrha^ fuBjfet ilfeuch ha^dttiip by i change of allcglance.-i^Witfi fsi^^ cbil^e reft :.£ the cdlions that had been m^t d^tice, hb could not look upon cHem m tUk liutttiiaiing light which fome nobtc Lords had cofr-* fzddred them hi. It was neceflary to make cohV dediOAS b Ffance } Ihe was determined at ail evetk^ to have them, as fonns eqm^lent for tfbfe' birniB- Ifatoig onbs^hkh % herfilf wm obVtge'd tb ^iniike ttthe conclufioti of thelal^mr« Koblt Lords «0iAK not but TecoflipEl tKc fubmtflion' France wide .to tHfe country. T.'ii. 'i^'4 % 1^4 Nf i^^loijt, 9od tl^(, w^;i|ioal4 depart frqm cbc^ pVt,«r.ji9|e f<)rthe;deinj^^eml. ;|{?--,,.,'/"^,. ;■ oC,reprp|M^iQi^^o?-c^|^ , df dared 1^10^ be $^^0^ ii»i^f;ce t^ jiupl^i^^ impolitic,! and ruinQ|a$> of fiiy treaty tl^f; this o^U^try had ever n^e. In regfard tath(^|^an- dbpipent of.the ^oyalifls, it was a tiung^of f^ atrpcious a kind, that if, it* had not been ^ready pilijued in all its horrid coloui^s^ l\e ib^uld have a^napted the ungracious tafk; l^ut never j|boi)14 ha^ been able to defcribe the cruelty in language as, ftrong and exprefnye as his feeVmgs. | The King's Minifters had weakly imagined thtc the jiconmundation of ,the Congrefs was a fu^cient fe* cuf ity for tbefe unhappy men. Tcr his own par^ fo far irom beli^^ing tha^this wqi^d be fufBtient, <)K any thing l*ke fuHicient for their pFOtci^ion« m4 %t 44 el *'t '•td «« «« ( 33 ) vnd if they entertaiiM any notions of this forty he ^votiM pelt an cad to their idle hopes at once* tjy reading ftom a ftaper b his poCket, a re(blitlk>ii vrbi^h the Aflenib^'Of Virginia had come t0| fe late ■«$ on the i;^th of Deoember Uft, Therefo- lution was M follows : *^ That lite laws of this ftateconfiicaiiag property ^ heldundi*' tbelftWs of the former government ^ (which tiid been dMbWed and : made void) by ** thoU^ 4iho hlve^ netef been admitted hxtp the *< preliMt iMial coil^^ founded on legal «* pi^iples;^^ 3^ ft^bngly di^iated 6y that '** pjtyB^^^ juflke, demand thaty if «* viliiMMis MmMh ih^ defbiee of their ifltilral and coni^imonal'fi^itSirilfc their 1^^ libett/i andi pii^^y^ their filccefs, the vicious citixths *« Vhd^ fide-wkh lyrMinf atid oppitflSon, or who <« dbd| tliimi^iVts u^ maik of Aeutriility» ** Ao|ilr at leift^ :ha«ard their property, and net »^enj0]|f the benefits {procured by the labours and «* dangers Df tkofe wliole deftni^ions they wished. - 'tHial- all df man ihaU fepiefent thefe States-in^khe '* General Gopgrefr for adjufttiig a peace or trucr» ^_ neithecto agree fid any fuch leftitutioni or iilb- «« •( ■ r; •• 'i / ''^ \ .••^tbis wniw/bc fiib)f4W,l9 *^ »<8^^^ r His l:oiiij|0i^ lijivffig i«$id tbe f>fi}>er««> 4^ipnded what Minifters bad to fay npivv fortliiv boated r«- commei^^^tlori;^ ^
j| QuOne giiet^ou^ to fiiindslof iuWn^) ;Ui«lii ^^'^^^^^^ §h9it hmdcd()i)i^4i(j;^ a iifiKorifice, IIS !lbi9^:0nlkft^: li^icciii^ ^f .Gddiatadtiftani HI^ It.Qfdftip^adl)id;,ft]i«|^ 'M junuii^yerfiap «ii fotbceiiitcsftiiiFlhf^tftld^fimt- Jar to rlbSolr^^ieH bidi becp<^4i«ai4^ ii(aj|%;th«^ |fcftd«tim' who b«dr$okcii Jo; iiif oiir cof ch6 t- fn^odinebc, ."partiev^kifywit^ ne^Mift to tbftl&itnda- f iei» Hid thit{bq^lee>t9 wiiibigMtf .^nlblavmfifi :and ,iictfuiit7l ! Att^dle fditaikis |ti6fdlbi^ikidi^De' on Itfae AftiWSian £dc-*^t^dib«aiiBfteQ%dtAri^q^;i^Ouotfy Xidtsd. widi'^ M9^ri^0^f.0 ;iirhcre tlbm ^icnj^tiiii^ «IU^ ckuQtcliid^cltf iirhb giv&nt l^|Mntf g^pp^^ to it I ^ut bcfor« be had Ap^ j|| took notice cif an. an. «xpre(fion wbidi ha4 falleil frbm a noble Duke (die' btii^ of Orafitoii) W^ hi'tiv'^i^uce to oU^e tlib iilAacy wi6; w]»tch die debase was cbndciCM* ^ ai^mudiasdieixJiMNl^ of tU& Ukt Ailinfiiiftratfon,; to Jwtiicii fo-^oilieb ^ the ifii^di^l^Ads of tbis ^odlMif^ ^ toiintrjr nrfre uii|Ntt« »ble,-J|y^r^ not fo Jiiiidi; iM once ineati6iKd« .NoW. he im fr^td oii^« Jherwa^ one of tbdfe ;wb6 count« c»dit\io ddi^aqr to foiliear adtrertitig'to that^ t^^< a peribd itid«e«l, ^birb ^ |yrefent MfiiiJfteii wooU do i^eb td^Kiie f^ti|^'4Sii. • For though it wai difaftroutri it waslMM(M^ttiia$lionowr«l]^^^ 0vefy 'iiwagkhit ^utd htlvf «omnia«ded fucceft^ if ene^ioufd'liok i(^rWiirl^ iiwl' count lipoa certainty in'feliltiiliBii^;tifanla^^ti^#^^ J'^ ^ \.- - ^ X^Nf f*^^^ '^Khw^ uti^ thoii^hti OD tbi CutjeSiiik iq lol^ a V«(fee«' that Uhere Hvom ibaroe ^ iioffibltt^ <£f: coilefBiig att^ thingf ' whicH f«H from |iimv>^ ^lidwevei< it f^tiM^ that lifb^r^i^ving m ac« courtt^iilf tb« fti^^ tlVi^ tiaf y Hi th^ j^tkh ' he fttm« ttied uphiti-roitte, kh^^AuS^ th»cf b)r Miy lioiii^ what wiiA ith^ ntiMbarof vdi^ Whad'alread^s*^ al)44«ei» nov^ in forw^rdhefir; tHi^«6iinlry' Wi^ t«f^lSt^ »P0ft i)inety.miie' line> of Il^iitdd Ihitts, toleiKlilf^fic^fbr fer* vice; and, by the bell accounts, the forc6:^.the united fl6ilfti of ]$6«iMn 'Might b^ al^tuOdehun- dredf<^d tWent^.five. fl^^, thai 1^ 1^ iateft accovci^ti horn CMt, tin Spaniards anjd F#Mch had (ixty fafi^ the Unl Ij^ itf th«t tiftfboiir, 1^ grime (^miitjbfi/ ind in every 4e%ea we'S '^utj^ for^ the f^ ^oroiif aiid g^vet larvice. , His Lor^- lbip*i f|)«ech was of cto^iable ^ngtb, i^d firooi fucli jmito of it a« rstic)ic4 u^« audi what we coold ciiUef^ iroiii the afinfions of thofe foeakerji who foln •■■■'"■, . ,, , • '. * ' , " '. kmredy afipeaijed to be iatendecl atf a defi:i:iptian of the.wealt fiace of our naval power, and of ccMirie a jqllifipa^kM, in foine meafuie,. of the treaM^ liefore |l|e,Hoore.. He xeooiinted the tranfaflipOf of the late can^giH-attraNited a gr^t deal of pur. fuccefs HxvdianceT iioitiin a coi^petllicinoof >9t^!B^ with tfaeeneniyf, wewitfe: gret^^ferior* ,' l^soiyr of thjc ih^ were in a poor COl¥KtioiJi£ that> fo^rrJnlbnce^ on boaid of wkidiilx^ ltoi0ed Am fk%t the' Vii^ovy^ was very bad^ and very iinc^n.' He'ekifed'ii^iib tftleiying, U^t If no o^erfood attended the pre&nt pacification than the tqerebieathing^ time it gave ns» we oa|bt la tmM the nitefval a happy orud^, iqan ivould tliinic was ftretching'the ac^^i;^ ito (he utcnoft ver^^e ^ijhm^ indeed^ he coi||d Jbtt]|;diy fay t .uti^t/i but to include the M,sn the ilatement, voul4 1^ l^^d indeed. ^ i>n2 i!^, laid, lie did not approi-^ of the inan- ner in wl|ich the war had hfi^J^ earned on ; nqr was J19 tnove reo^ndled U^ the peace— TVi|(our and fpiri^ iifh^l^ tone^ Jtk.. hifO^ ef^tialiy necelTary to the djgnity of tnartiat^or pacific tran(a£lir, ^fifle^i^cb hi!S>Tor^ ^ wa»i| "alt^^ttjlntion.^^^^ 1^; t$j^ tefiibert^ itiy feeling woui(f di«i^n pi^c^^^ b 0!rd»^'^fbJ^ bt36aii6iii 1 ihali: i^t tddrfi^ vof^r {(>adSon»'^^'^tbilidid |m^ Vike'it, >;^ ^«»^e to thb(e'%]^ me't^n'ia^ ability f6t'iil» TOVftnme|^^t6t'n ' '|^s titiy'€oiidtt6i t J. be i:^ii:^iiO - , ... ■. X % i ^ Im becQ; founded qpofi iotegH^— fads^ and pUm f n^lbmng, wiH-fi^irm 'rnU^A foppoitv; — ^I fliaU ne* ^adSknly wave the q»i^d|e(ation of the cntioit nio*> .tn^af which Ifieppcdi into die iHimimftntioo of . the affi^n of this oonntry*-^ mpooent wheii, if thete ■■■'■■• * . 1 . . < ' ' ' ■ i. ' ' ,be.#ny €x«dt^ due to the folenui, puUic dedatatioiif of meti, who feemed then^^ and feem now, to nave the jVVf^re of the State neareft to dmr he^rts-^eveiy hope of rennoy^ted fa^ftrp was |pptie, and nothing hut dreary defpondfliicy reinaine4. fo the well-w£^ers of Grea^«3rjfauii* I ani now fpeaking witbin^meino^^ . and Goi^iequentlx; v^ithin proof. It ^ notTor nie to .^toift.of fit'y fnoMye^ %.^andin^ forward at1a|Kn^ .ibalarmuia^ > My drqimftancet, aie not (b'ohlcufe >a$ to nmd^r my oondua a, master of dubiety/ioia . 0iy owuffiPplanafion; of my feelings .wo^l^, t ^fiallec ^i^yfelf, Call £ir4hort of t|iat credit which iympathy woijfld givejne uif the n^iods of xpf^^ iffhofe |»tri(^(ni is pot, dial o|^ words; Ini^ n^ ineri^ of rny ^h^"* ^oa|^[ai9d;Wbai 1 (peak of nijiae, I.^IQCyour Ilof4*>^ itufKi wtth air it^ relations, and ati. inti- mate acquaintance with ihititary 38^irs» and all its concomitants.T-Were men q^this dcfcripcion con- fu)ted preyiotls tQ» and during the prtfgrefs of the treaty now before your l^drdlhips f I )uifwer, they ■ were. And -witti this landion Adininiffration neecl aflu^ie PQ falfe brow of brav^rj^^ in combating gjlittering aflertions without edge, and ^fnBated fp^- culatiohs without (tamina. Let tn exjRtiinetheh^p my Ijbrds — Min^ftry, in the firll place, it bJan^d for (Rawing the boundary they have ^one between the ternt6ri<^ of th^ United 3^tes antf' thole df ourlSp^T^igrt in Canada/ I'wHfitotmiAih^^l-y jpart of the treaties on the fair rule tjf VaM^' of tite ^iiti ceded--To examine j|t on tfie atiibunt df tf;^ exports and imports^ by which aloniier- %t ^uM JiS^c of its importance. The ekpciits^bf Whk 'cbubi^ry ip Canada then wef^ only •140,6001/ Hhd tlwi^pbrts V/cre tto mote tihan 5o;66bf.- Slippofe the e)itlft fur traxle fiioic into the fet^ .#ij^e & t^ \ dcirimcit to ihii country ? Is ^.dodli a-yftir'irfi- > ( if > PHt!^ in thit article any objeft for Great Britain td, iboiitinue a war which the people of £nglai)d, ^ their rep^njtativest have declared idheir abhorrencfp. off Surehr it is. not. But much Ids nnift thb[ appear in our fight» when I tell Parltament, and Ae whole kingdom, that for many years paftf onr. • year with another* the pccfervation of this annual^ Import of 50,oool. has coft this country, on aa average, 8oo»oool. I have the vouchers in my pocket, ihould your Lordfliipl be inclined to exa- mine the fa6b; Biat the trade is not given up, ii^ is only divided, and divide for ouf benefit; I ap- peal to ^11 9ien converfant with the nature of that tra^ whether its beft refqiirces in Canada do not Ue to the noifthwardb What then is the refuit of this plrt of the treaty, fo wifely, and with fo much 0ncer!e love on the part of England clamoured.againft by noble Lords i Why this. You have generoudy givea Americat with whom every call under Heaven ufges^ you to ftand on the footing of, brethren, a fliare, in, a trade, the monopoly of Which you fordidlj pre^^! ierved to yourfelves, at the lofs of the enormous fuiil- of fevcn hundred and fifty thoufand pounds^ Mono^^ poiies fome way or other, are ever juftly puni|he.d*. They forbid rivalry, and rivalry is of the very ef- fenceof the ^11- being of trade. This fecms to be the era of Proteftantifm in trade. All Europe appear enlightened^ and eager ^to throw p^; the yile, jbackles of opprc^e ignorant monopf l]f, Qf that^ unfiaanly and illiberal principle, which is at once ?S ungssneroua 1*;; if ( 4* y oiigencMnil itno dcccitniL An^tatcreftcdCaiitf'' cKiki ' merchanti might cbmptiiii $ fof merdkanc^ woiitd always tore monoikilf^ with«^ taking af moment's time to thbk, Whe^er U wil for their intercft or not*« I avow tha^ afkmbpbiy is always linwifes but if there is ;aiiy nation under Heaven, who ooght to bethe firfll to' rgbft mohioiioly, it is the £hgli&. Situated aSi Hire are between the oYdf world aAd dfe Aew— «nd between the foutherh and aOftheim Eufope— il! that we ouglvt to covet upbii e^th' wss' free trade^ and fair equaKty. Wirhr mdl« irfdtiftry, with ttoit tht^rpfize, #ith iM^ capital than any trading; traobli i^pdh eafih, ii ought t6 be Ouf tohftanitcr^-^ ev^ry inaABer hki. open-^let os meet oar* rivids fkirly-^and we aflc Ao mote. It is- a piindj^e on which #e have bad thi6 w¥fi3om to dift Wiih riii^^ io oui fetr^thrtn of Iteland; and. If tOntdiation be btir ^ew; why ihbuld we not reach'k botalfo to A^^iel Ou^ gcne^rbfity is not mu£h,r btit iiirie las it isi let ui give k widi a griidc. 'Ih'deedv^ta (^aicjpraiyerlyf it is not generofityto thbM; 1>ut cecdnbitiijr' to diir^ ielv^S; atrtd- m the bmihda^e^ Which are i^fUd^HA^ we ha^6 laved otirfelves' the immenfe funii* of 8oo,bodl. a-year, and Kh^ed' to the Atherieanir bur lihctre k>ve and fair iht#ntiohS, ih dlv^dlrig th^ l^tle bit dP trade which Natttte h^d laid iit: thci^ dbbi-s i/ahd tdRing them that we defired ed Ihd With theiti^ in cBmmunidn of benefits; khd lar the fthc^ty (jif ffifertd!hip.' IWi tW indiafts were abian^ ■I' a (43 ) 4^(t.fO tlieii;^nemie^,. Nojite Lords Ji^ye takes g^t p>^|i^ poikfiw th{6 immbiDift yifbi^ of cjieic lor i$^n,s V ic.i)f||J|( not uni*i|uril[ fpr poi»le Lqrd'f, whp hw^n^ci^^ foJjfvUh^an i^fc if t^e Indiana, .to coilv |>|ajnpi^tfa5ir J^t^fK^ Acjfc wllo abihhci inycftiga* tiqn qi the irft of the o^eSions ^i the treatica o£ pjw:ificati9Q. .^|i^hay^y4^^ dotn o^ Rifling lo ,4)l| fovijt ^reek^ and harbours, and cirpecialiy on th^ t^jliiilcs of .NewfQUQdland, fay ths - Dotik qbjp^koH to j^s iU^^ .^^ ^ ^c^^^* i? the fir^^lac^ they couljd^ from their locdit^^ hay# eyercij(e4 ^ fil^ery |q[ t^^.quurier lor the firft Tea- iian (for there are twoY without our confent, and ^ in fiute of fll,our elrorts .to repel then)*. In l^e* ^ bruary^ i|;ber JEirft jfeafon^ooxx^mencest and that is en- ' tirely at tlieirjclevotibn i, :^r bur people have neTer^ ^ad can never ^Ike their 1^^ fo Toon. "With regard to the other feafoo, let us ae^^in re* yer|( to.what I have already f^d refpe^ing the fur trade^ though we have W^ we have £pt f^ch Superior adv^^ in the article of dry* - ! iV" •Fa Jng i 44 ) ingt ciirtqgr and preparing our fi(ii for mair£;cf^ from the exdufive command of the moft con* Uguoiis Ihores, that 9 rivalry can only 'w^et bur induftry to reap thple benefit!: oisr pre^rible iituation in this refpeft prefents to us. But why have we not ftipulated a feciprociry of fiihing 1(1 nie American harbours and creeks ? I'll teU your Xtordfbips:- — ^Becaule we have abundi|f|t i^mpjdy- imeht in our own. Would qot m American thihl; ft fordid in the extreme, hay« conQderii; bordering on madnefs, to covet the pi^ilej^ of battening pur cattle pn fome of tt^eir fteril wilds« wiien we had our own fertile Savannahs to hav« recourfe tcf. rSuch wquKl'be the opiniori entertained of Mittiftry, if iVhad childiihiy and avaricipufly made a ftipula-r tion of t^e nature the objeAors think they ought toliave. As to themafts, a noble Lord faid, we 'wer^ to' have ih fuch abundance at Fenobfcot. I will bppole a fa6t to his b)ife aflfertion, I l^ave \n my pocketa certificate frpm pne of the ableft fuf- yeyors in our ferVif^e, Captain Twifs, tfiat there is not a tree there capable of being rh^de a maft. "but there remains fomewhjit in %Mc provifiona| articles (li)l to be conGdered, which 1 have never refle£icd on without feelings as pungent as any which tlie^ wartpe(^ admirers of the virtues of the Loyalifts c^n poflibly have experienced. I mean the unhappy neceflity of our affairs, which ihduced the extretbity of fubmittii^g the fate of the property of thefe brave and worthy men to the xHTcretion of thein IQB* jr ifneniid;— I have bui one anfwe^l^ fHre thl llouie in thi^ particuhr,- it ii the atifwer I gavt my own bleedrng hearty A pan muft b^ iifwiMtd^ dat the whofe of the iprnpire' may not perifh; If Ijctter terms couH be had^ th*mk you, >ny Lo^^ that 1 woQld not ha^e embraced thedi. You aH know n)y creed. You all kiiow my fteadlnelk. IF 1^ were poffible to poc lifide the bitter cup the attK Verfities of this country prefented to itie, yoa kno# I would have dohe it*, but you called fbr pieaetf. To make it in the eircumftances, n^hich your Lord- (hips all know I ftood on^ was moft aittuoui. Ift this pbint nothing could be more grievous to RMi. Neither in public nOr in^ private life is it my ch«* radiertodciert my frietids — I had but <;he akeiv Tiative--eithe)r' accept the terms, faid Oongi^Jb, of ^our recommendation to the ftates, in £ivbur of the Colonifts, or continue th^ war. It ia in oinrpower to do no m^yre than reedmmend. Is there Any man who hears me who will clap his hand on bis heart and ftep forward and fay, I ought to have broken off the treaty } If there be^ I am fure he neither knows the (^ate of the couutry, nor yet has he paid any attention co the wifhes of it. But ftiU I do notdefpond with refpeA to the loyaliffs— I rely upon the wifdpm, the honour, and the temper of the Congrefsi They were cautious in wording their treaty, left they ihould pofllbly give offence to the nevir fVates, whofe confticutions had not ad- Vf^noed to thdle habit$ of appearance and ftrength thsit ( 4« ) ^Iff^lda^mrfio the F|»vuicial A0eii^^s— jind it luif #|wi9]^ betp paid r€%e6l to. Aad, JieUevp in«« 4^y do t^ L<^9liQti the officer not of fnea^, who j^Jtrmii^ .4oubtg on this occaGon. But (ay the Ifmti /ftQ^thatiafterdU, thiseftimablfifet of lofO «i0 4i0iri9cctfivtd ftndcheriflied in the hoTomof their #wn couBtiy. l§ England fo loft to gratitude, ami ilil (bo ieelingf of hun^anity, as not to affoi^ .tfaaoi^ 1 an , >(ylufn.^ — -t-^W ho can be fo ba(b ^ to^ tliink ihe will «^fe it to tl^m?— -^ ^urdy it «ftfmot Ik that nohle-mindteit inan, who iWOfiildflii^liifl OHjMitry again knee«fdeep in blood, fjmd laddie lit with an <)cp0ncfr of twenty millions fof ilhe>|iiMfK>fe; of iteftofiag them. Without one drop tiBf ^jowi^lt, t and wi^thoiit one-fifth expence of jCHKK f(c(ii^a oam|iaign, happinefs- and eaie can bo tipfen^tbe Loyalifts in as ample a manner as thefe -llfe^qg^'were ever in their enjoyment | iherefpre ilet^ the onccfy ceale on this hei^ But which, of fbe>t«|Qi} ililes of kngnage is the n^ore IfMx f9 ?j!* m the l4fytms ^ The fttle of rtie adOre^ which dedafeft •the cofn6dence of Parliament in the great intentiona of • the Coi^giefs — or the i^e of the • noble Lords who deela,t(^ (hjiit recp^nmenda^on is no« .thing. It (firely requires^ my I^rds» no great depth r'<»f jpeDetralioil to diftinguilh between thefe things, . .. : Anobl«. A p6ii time noBlj fiiafil f{ had C 47 ) Andbfe VKbottnt afltf 11A7 lAt.' efmOHmm^ title N6f. Ofin^ailid JtiM 90t ith(( CMwtoriiitsbiMtt of liiil nobte'VUcotim, the •CicfvoHiaii ftile,* liori tlw ptt« Ibafive tiM-^fi. The nolAe VifixNin^ ivoofM^. 1^ Qx^en in a difkmat language; huk Mri OSwM had other uUntM, and, in my opittion, talents of It li^erior <|odi^-^th)e faknts ^ bM infiNsiatioa otk iht fubjed — ^^ ^xmimeirciai ikiioir]edge'e-re Saai i would not . willingly take fo much from the com^ merce oF the nation ; but amidil the tn^ions of otuf trade, is this an objed worth contending Sot^a^i^ iHut^rd of continuing w^r? W^ will now, injr Lords, confidertbe articles witl;i France, and £rft Jet us look to Europe. I am aiked, why overlobl; all the treaties rrTpe^iog Dunkirk? W|iy^]etaic «flc the c[uefiion in return, why were not idu^B treaties ever infolt;ed during all the admioiAracian* which have palled awa^ iinoe the demdlfttoia of that harbour was firft fiipubtf d ? Thb negl^gitKe' « ^ima/aeu mdenoe of the iitde acooaat in whidh ihe fulling of that treaty has ludierio becA heldf for wera it otberwife, wo had often iince tfaepowet t9 enforce it. Andi i have beard that adbk IbBnin;: * * ihe • ihc late Lord Hawkii, iedne, that all tbe art anif €oft that France could beftow on the balbn of DttQw Icirk, would not render it in any degree foimidable &t noF.ioas to Great Britain* Bm, aa < was inU ob* iervdd hy a naUe friend iiear me iCLoi^d Orantham) Firance wilbed to have tht feathisra ihe fojF^erly firuttcd widi, rellored to her; and; furely, noib-> ber man woiild continue the war to thwart « fancy fo little detrimental to us. However, if I am miA taken; if Lord Howe be miftaken^ if former Minifters be miftakenj let the proof be produced. 7ill thien, I trull your Lord(h^s, if you do not now approve of the condu6t of my adminiftiation^ in this particular, you will at leaft fufpead your judgtiients. We will now, if your Lordfliips pleaf^i^ advert to the ofcjeflions refpeQing the eei9<>n to France on the coaft of Newfoundland . This, to be fure, is not to be tried by the rule of imports and exports. But what is it ? Seven degrees of latitude^ Thefe are founding words ; but they are no mor^. By this part of the treaty future quarrels are guarded againft. The concurrent h(hery formerly eaercifed was a fource of endlefs Q.rife—?the French • are now confined to a ceiiain- fpot' — it 'is nothing compared to the extent we poffefs, and it is befides fituate in the leaft productive part of that coaft^ But I would not have your Lordfhips pay greater attention to my bare aOertion^ than I truft you will to the aCTertions of thole who take upon thcmlelves to pronounce this part of the treaty wrongs I have ■ ,[» ■ here ( '49 ) lT€*e ready fpr ypur inrpe6tion the opiniotis of the ableftmen.on thatfi|l>je!E>l t ^jiplie^ tot tWpferlbii ^ bcft qualified to point tlicm 't>itit to trie. The nofi!^ ^ Lord near to me, ( Corf' Keppel7 then at the' head ^ of t6q Admiralty, referred itie tO tliree'bifficeTii^^iti » his Majef^y's fervice, wliofe Judgnifcnt* iM Intt** giity he could rely on, aticl y^duf LcJ^dflil^S, 6ft thiB ' bareiiamingbftbem. Wirt rely &tfeitt to6l' Adftrfral ^ Edwards teftiniony ipuflVhaVe iXS w<»i^ht— the tefti- ^ mony of Captain Leyluin iGpwer, "i^hofe' fervices ' the nation are to enjoy ip peace as' wetf as* w*fc^ * and that of LieutenanV l^ricj^wto' toiik! att id^ furvey or the whole coatti and who'Was "ji^drqaali- ficdforthe talk, as he lerved undet aii^ i}!Ofleffed' the confidence of .the fampiis circum-navigator^ Cj^ptain Gooke. Thcf^ officers all declare, that liie heft fifhing w^s to the fout]^ ward, which was en- tirelyin the po^ffion of'the Engliih; fo that we mud doubt the natiiit prac- tiqe ,^|f ,)oIid experience. My language does not loiofk yoAW underibnding wit|i a^ethons;---it feeds it with:ia£t.. .With this conftantly in your, eye, I CQttit for nyfelf and iny ; coUeagues, '^nr Xord- Ihips , decifipn 0^ our cc^aduift. And we Will vxm^ if:^^i^r'(..9r^i|^ips pleafe, take a view of ,oi|r afiPairs in ihc^) W^ft. indies, ^tt the ifiands there are re- fijore,^ -to m, and in return, we cede St. Liicia and \T,ol^agQ^,,iS^ Lucia^ hel3 in fo much eftimation n^W^^^ay^Ji^ tried iQor^ fairlv bv the value feft upCMj^it. ^itb^' |«k{) peace.; A& I laid telgre, on a)] hjsp^ ,i|^;i^ f^ioived that was not a huimiliatiiig, but a.hjg^ai^d »>»g^'y pc?jce for fhis country. Whyi^ Iherf^fon^ if- thi^Jfland waj^ a& ibc o|^e^ors prc- t^dy }^' )[ey<(lone .that ifupportea and connc6led t^3Cg5Mffifl(Crt^ hjf fupcri^r evidence) to be bril >iid, ,i(i[hm l,affi«t> that S^.Liicia is not.of ttat vaft coii- ^ff^^Qce fome nobk Ljo^ds woul^ pbUels tliis Houfe w itlji ft. rf' :f.' 4 f »' Ivc JiJ V' vitfi tbe opinion of,, in order to depreciate tKe ttierit* ;,% tii^ ti'eaty. W»^rdp<;ft to Tdbttg©; it ii fifid, ' ithe ceCStonf^df tbiit iOlkild'will ruin our co^t^ jnanu* UetdtV ' Pray'let be alk taolide Xx>rds, i^ «iir t'X)tt6nma1)ufa£!tir^'i {)0or dde before we pdHefled that' llfeiid? Ai hd^'iibble Lord riies to lArt ihe ' dffirn^ativie; I v^^li^ ^^lowed lb ftsite it^in the; n*- '''^^jgsttivc:'' ityfis ttbt 'Jiboir then. Why lOuovlAM ^ |)oor nbW f -We fisivi; bedn long in pofieffioni ofthat greai^1>r9i^ek of trild^, cb^equendy- Wt> daa afford to give^"ii greater 'jiHbe for coltdn ^an kn^ of 'our neigHbddrs. Cdtibb, ' t1xerefoi«!> be it in die hands of frknd br foe, will nI ways, your Lmdfliipt unay be a^iired, fitid its'way' to our dooiri >i&>pre£erence to thai of tfadfe #lib cannot meet it widii fii£h a pime.' ^Bub'I kiio^^ a iie^ over-grown monopolizer^ bf llia;c artKile, <»r {onve felfifli prop^ielotl^ would ise the haeiont Aet^ptd iii blfbd; foofier duo the>c ^buld forfeit, bjr tl]e"pieace,ione Ifarthing of that ' eniblumetit whith th^^ *^ied to milke %hen Tdbago was iuour hanld^^ 'L^' me comfort^ thefd |vi>rthy tpep, by telling thk:kilibktth6 iCktids t«ftorai|:to us, comjtain a v^ft nuitiibiei^bf acres, Ufibnlti;!i^t(Bd,) which may be applied to th^ grdwth of this fo miich' eovet« ed tbmmodity. ' ^t let it be remeitikbered, that we have kept Oominiiquei^sin idand as valuable to this cpiinti^, if not mor^ lb, than St« Lucla^ if confi- deWd a$ a place df bbiervation and ftrength. I have it on the authority of a noble Admiral, ^bofe coy^qUefts in the Weft-lhdies have been diftinguiibedi • G2 }y. ,,f • i i m ( > ) ri % ^ure)t>:l^ fviU b!iooni}-,f9r; ever. Mj^jWilJ pow, '- my Lmxk^; prpce^ t<|? thq jBjij^iuninatip,!^ ,^^. ,^e ob- «/^je^on8,9|[ftt(i(ltt|ie|)art. of^^he t^ren^ph trea^ that B'^'iefpe^9 0U|c affairs, oa iJb^,a^Ct of Afl^g., Senegal - • IS giiten oiip^ 4i|d . the gum'tcfdf » Is ''f.tbat mfdtestcehiAl^f Is-.notjttM-f«u^ of France en- »d gagcklJ^\0ur haying afair.fhare q£ that trade. ^^i^MoikiiiMi>» filare .«v« never were in Dpfleflion of. B" Butiwhatvtie; is this latx^e fiUlh ?y It lyiU ^ a(ked» viis^Whs^'tier? iWhyrw ftifp^g.ajpie.as all men of reflec- i-lnfaoritiauBi kiio^ ewiTiR^f^.W^nt tie is b^Uveen rival v^oiiatjoil$v*rOftly to be< oJTieiyf d while intercft pr. con- f>^:>( meniet^ceioh^es./MThQ ties,,of: nations, no man can }* ' htt & inoreitchedly verfeci ii^hiAoryy; or To miferably ^4o:<.d6^Giftnfe'i^ ol^fervatipn,. as tQ. place upon the-vparallel tiuiwithtlhofe'il^Hififh jf e ^ndiog} upon indivi^jiials; but X^^ipai^etqtikK^uir; Lor^i^i i\fiU find, that Senegal, 9l^di\ii2li(^ tiffi ^iiti]l!eiogfnce wbi(;h;^e^j^^^^ In a lioiflwoi&fejiw j^R,^tiGlco%hc|ty/:kr.sriver>fof Pi^ ftellpw ,f|ibie^ thoulanc)^ .pf whom ^ . ivere atnnuaUy devoted [ to deltru^ion ft6\n the un- ^I<-iiI hejiflthindi^.of that ^limatf; Ji^y^ineans of our jealoufy, ijiOI.which:ieol:thej7i there tOiwalch an article of trade, X^ r .; ' • which \ ) T. . (^^3 ) Syl bU yfthich in vaiti we endeavdUMd to ipdnopditaifi:* I muit iioW, my Ijords, csdl yench» who wcr*? at. the very Hjifsnficz^ (prtaing : alliJiiiceswith Hyder AUyt our moil foiri^idable ind -inveterate enemy, to drivft us enttrelyr out of the coiititry-^ Our oldt foo, .Monfieur de Bull^i in tho decline of life » aloioft at tl^e age of ei^ty, leaying France purpofely to ioxm aMiances. -^^AikJ^ what l^ve We to witfaftand their force when fprnfied? AVill tm« jiaid troops fight, think you ^ But (ay that ijt W^s ppfli^ '^'^ bk' to^expe€l'^rudhtBN$ Mahrattas •-^ ^^%^^uftratcd-»-tbat we^ have been dec^)y^d by idle ~ •'floi^H of applications being made to njen of power ' ^ 'ihvllie' Mabratta States, who. promiieijl' (o exert their -^-H'liifitiehce, but il was found, that,,t})ey had no in« »^^de Bafljr^riie* ggdation with the Indian Ponrers,- was it nct | « nc fe K in the Britifh Mitriftry to conicede, as thty didrat tfatt * nioment, when 'ihiere wds a pi-obability that they had conceded what was no longef in t^eir pofwerto- keep ?' I have now, faid his Lo^dfhip, ^bne, as Mfdl as my memory ferves me, throngh the detail of sSi the-obje€lions which have b^ein m^deto thetrea^ between us and France; and, I trufl^, yoiJrl.ord« ihip' fee, fioni the fads to Which I' have ail along^ xefeft^d yoti^ the rieceffity and the poUcy of onr^ coridu£l in this particular. Let me, before! con^ jclude, call to 3roar Lordihips' minds tfaegenen^ftate Did xlbt the boldeft of i» cry out for peace ? Was iiot the bbjeiEl of the "war dbne ^ Was not the indepehdeace of America iblett^nly i^oghized by Parliament? Gould that independence be afterwards tnade a IHpdatioia for the re{lo?iitk)n of tratiquility? On an entire (not a partial^ view of 6ar affairs at that time^ is there any htm^ fi^fible mati in the king* dom, that will n0t &y the powerful confedexacy with whom We had then to 'cobtend^ had tfaie moft decided Ihpefiority ovet us? Had we "i^arce one taxable article that Was not a&eady talxd totfae iitilnolt tdttetit?— Wti« we not one ^tmdred and niiiecy-leycki nuUions Sn debt? and ;^ i(i(^ not ^he enbfttiottt Amd of ^eoty'five Qullionf iH-ii ( S6 ). imltidni' iittfuhdcd?--4)Ur navy bills' bearing an ,. cnormowdifcount—^ur, public credit beginning., to tottef— our refoufcea confefl^l/ At an end-^ - our comriierce day by day becom'Mig wprfe — our , army redpcedv and' in want of thirty-choufand r men m .make up its ei|tabli(hmentS'**our navy, • which Has^ been made fo much the boaft of fome men, ii^ fuch a condition, that the noble Vifcount, , jiow atthe. bead of the profe(non, in giving a^ defcription of jt^ drove to conceal it$ weaknefs, by fpeaking low, as , if he wi%d to keep it. from going abroad into the world. But in fuch a, day as this it muft be told-^(heir Lordlhips niuft, be told what were the difikuUies which the King*s, Mirrilters had to encounter with in the cqurfe of the lad campaign; Your Londlhips mull be told, how many IQeeplers nights I have fpent»— hoW many weary hours of. watching and dir.refs; What have been thy. anxieties for Ncw-Yarkl,;,What have I fuffered from the apprehenQon of an attack on that gartifon, which, if attacl^ed) muft have fallen 1 What have I fulfered from the apprehen- fio» of .all attackon Nova Scotia or Newfoundland ! 1 he folly, orthe.want of enterprize, of our enemies akxne pratefbd tbofe places \ for, had they gone there in dead of Hudfpn's Bay, they muft hate faJleii. :Whai: have I fu^ered for the Weft-Indies, whefe, with all Our fupcrlority of navy, we wete not able to undertake one a«^ive or olfenlive mea- fiirc for want of ..tcp6i. fuid whene, if an atjtack ! . had T bikl been mtfcU where M wu me4itBtcd» .^ were; liable |o lofectur qiofl y^lwible^pQflcflipM ! . Hpfw many fl«eplefs nights hi^e I not ruffered % o^r, poflfeOlQns in the Eaft-Indies^ where our diftrefleSf were undefcry»ble ! How n^ny fleepl^ls nights di4 I not fiifR^r on ^c^Qunc of oyr campaign i(i Europe, where,i witK al^Qur boi^ftod iiavy> we had only one fleet with which tp accpi^plUb various pbjedst That nayy« he was fair CO, own, was well fondoded* lis decaphment to the North Seas, to, inti(nidate tne.Dutcb, jwasahappy and a reafpri- able ftrpke; but the la^yatipn of the Baltic fleet was Jipt all to.be afqribt^ to Ability—- actident cor« tributed to that event— lUscidcnc contributed to more than Q|i^riJ€le c^ our naval triumphs. How many of^jf^f (hips- were unclean i The noble Vifcoitirt hss. told us the cafe of the fleet with which hewaji fent to the.relief of Gibraltar. He coi^ hardly venture, to fwim home in the Vidory. How nuany of our Ihips were in fa,d| undermanned ? Did the Houfe know this? Did they know that our nav(d ftores were ezhau(ted — that our cordage was rotten-x-that our magazines were in a very low condition— and that we had no profpeCl of our navy being much better in the next campaign than it was in the preicnc. [The noble Earl, during all thefe queries, directed his eyes, to Lord Keppift until the noble Admiral caUed him, to order.] Dp the Houfe know all thisj The noblf Lord is ofleiyied at my dire^ing myfelf.to^him^ I have no ♦H ' ='' ' idea ii idea of ' inniimtthg blaintf to the oobte Vifcoun^ His abtlittes are UhqucftiOiiedj but when t^e greatnefs of the naVy - is made upt only a boa^^ but air argument^ iris Fair to ^xamiiie the fadb« AreLHot ^thdb things ^iartd ai'e not there> things t6 be cohfidered, weighed, and taken into the actOuntj before Minifters are coindeuined for givingpeace'to the t^ulllry^ Let the man who will anfwer^tnethe&quei^ons fairly, tell mfe how^ hk' fut^ circumCbances, he would make a peaces before' hie lets hia tongue loofe againfc thole tricatier,tte ratification of whidh has caufed (for xnyftrff at loift i "^lU (peak, and I belicTc I may ifto'^atifwer for my coBcagues)^ fa many anxious days' and (tee^lefs nights. It Is eafy for any bungler -tb pull down the faired fabric, but is that i rfeafon, my L^rdiiJ he fliould' ten Aire the fefll af the architeA Wha reared it. But I fear t I trcfpafs, nry Lordsi on your patience too long. The f^bjcft was nea* my heart, and you will par- , ^on ril^i if t have been earncft in laying befo?e your Lordfbips our embarraifments, our difficul- iiesf, ourviewsj and our realbns for what we have ^done^ I fubmit them to you with confidence, a^d %\y on the nObienefs of your natures, that in judging of men who haive hazarded fo much for •their country, you wiUnoc be guided by prejudice^ iibr ihflucnccd by party. ^* ii^tl Vifcmmt Reppel made a fhort reply to the ^tloble Lord, in the eourie of which ho faid, that «, i^-: , . ., . • lie ♦ ( 59 ) ht'^ had not l>een iavtted to' be prefent ^ibsa 'ibe •ffuiioni of A^inii:^ EdtrattU," «nd llie.^otlMr offi- istu, hkd^heea afldechOiEibe N^wfbuiNHaiid £(bev^, otbctprifii he iinigbt ha^ /given M% opiinionsof wiuit hadlMeehfaid.' In r«^>c€l«o iiduM^^'iidU hiA 4ttbfini out with 'regard to die ftflte of the ttavy, flind ti^e embarvaffinents and aoeifsMts of the Ufk dampki^n, he wa^^jbot fofidtons of the noble £ai^^firaif«, and he w«8 not mheh hoit at his int (InUaCilkt^he wotild ^a'bide by ^hat; he had faid**^ ihetiivyii||f''£ng^ia»fd WM rnot' only in a flouriih^ «a^i 4il^'^ vigoi^oafs ftate i and 'We iiad the hap^ pieil ^rcff ^hib ; h^ could find ai hundmd iaults with It ; and^tfs* to Gibraltar, |)is Gmce did not well un« ^ei^ami^) the iioblelioird when he threw out, that '«0 Olie had tver (aid^ that it might not be given ^pilaAefa€b to give force to argument, or however proftflbnal tnen might difie^ in ieiiti- meiit wtUi reipeft to the teal ftate of the firft ob« je6ts of natiohal concern, he thought himfelf au- thorized to (ay that our conditipn was refpefiable, and thai we had every reafon to a(k or to demand eqtial and honourable terms of peace. Had our condu€^ however been fuitable to fuch ideas? Hsid we a6led agreeable to bur dignity as a na- tion? Did;not)Our fituation entitle us to honour^ able terms of capitulation ? But had we not puli« lanimouOy Cupplicated? And great as our liefouroes w^e; Ivigh as the ^^aiiimated^^irit of the nation Wa(i» ' had jva tot bafely furrendered to the enemy^ ^^ difcre(ioQ[^ Look tkt the articles before you, (continued his Loj^dflup) and you will find no^ thing in them but or ^effiotii conceffiw from begin* ning to end. They afie£t, indeed, to hold out a ^reciprocity of intereft to the capittilating parties i |iut in what is this fpecioiis appearance founded ? Is there one mutual advantage which we now re- l^ive, or<»n ever hope to derive fVom the treaty before you. Even the peace you hive fupplicated and obtained, when properly examined, will be ^und to communicate no fubftantial good to this country, to be ihadowy in its nature, and even to ^Qti4ni io it9 firft principles, the " prolific fadi tf *'difcord;\ .'B>f 'I 'iW -*. **Mfiioiti^' itAath «uiftv ihortlf' lutal dur intop Ofim ]»Mt^andh)var._llhe^id*(»]todlgrtaon 4^^ jinniis, in fa&„:j]o ipeaoe. !It is o^lya trnftmaiy: funtpirnxvifarms^ whicbwilkihorlty iK'iief^^ aodiif it fervc at^, pui^iofe at allp'i^ i^ fucli as' mjhxibbl^ firieiid (Ldl^d Howti)oliak^jiferibsd' it to: be> k gnries us a '* breathing tinbe" to tpivpaV^ Qurfekes for retuvtibig wkh a renewed ailabvity to tbe cbaxg^: Nor is 'this trea^> only iinfafe iti itt ^ Aatane, ahddeftitute %)f that lecurity which is the dbjed of «veiy weU conduced ^(^em of -general padficatton ; the prtneipte' bn wfai^ die noblo Lofd einjdoyrd in the Ic^xmation^ of it has pitW ceded, is to nie the moft^extieptiGjnable that could- . i»e.'^aled^ The nobl^J Lord has enlaiged upon itW cxtdifive views, )\hkt;A pnndple» -and^yo^ft t^ s^ctatiott of privilege^ on "i^hMi he Ikas eft«ldiflied iMsiyfteni of fcnieral padficaeiOn« • He ' entertainft ihcivitisA flattenng ^oTp^Qs >df niuiaal advantage to AiiieTuai^nd 4ib ooubt^y, from tfaefe' itnaignani** inous conceptions and g<^rou$ 'don^tfdn^. He diicards the idei^ of monopoly, which has r^ifed this coohtry to an unrivalled piti^ of fplcAdoc^r, and throws himfelf on the generofity of a diftant and independent nationl But oH' what grounds does the noble Lordfoufid his Utopian ^(yftem^ J*rom what experienced, from what hiftories does ht derive ^cJk fond hopes of routoal atidfiibftan- iti.ll connexion, of itnmenfe advantage, of pro* ^fitable commerce, with/a ii^te we have epdea^* vourecl lodto ded£r<^%^^ libve ibcfa maxirot igjar-^do" raiCed tHs oouiit^ to its former hcigfafi and j^oifjrl' iSnd 43 not t&e adop^ng them, in Bi£^«xdhai^ ing thole mb,' pHnciptes^ -whizk I animated anft condiifled our fiwefathers, for> a.'fyftem ^sei^ fangfed maKims, unfafn in thcb ciaturei ^tmtne^ and 4M)g8roiR ill thtir compHcatc^ opnatiom.*^ Nor does an^r piin(%le, but thaet of the moft' pnnfigsl atid gratutcous , odnceflion^ feem io have animated the noble Lord in conducing the bussXy of peace;'*-^ As a faciifice' to this favouritse indinatiotr^ lie ham . ^edgned immenfe territory in the eaft, and in thd weft, ceded iflands^ and evacoated forticfles With-i out equivalent; relanquifiiing the certaintki oflm^ mediate advantage for the fond and Jhsldowf profpe^ of foftui-e commerce and aggrandizemofit* Need I go over thefe grounds of argument ^hidi have already been fo ab^ Explained to ybnr Lord>« fiiips, as an illuftration of my pofition on this fub^ jtS^} Need I dire£i your attention to thatini^' menfe ceffion of empire which has been made in Canada; and to thofe important military fortrel&a which you have found from experieaee to be fo advantageous in carrying on your wars in thofis / parts of the globe, which were your own by right, and v/hich you had.purchaled by bl6od.^-I do not ipjcfak of renouncing claims which you 4xmld na^ Vindicate, or relinquilh&hg privileges which yon could not aflcrt; and unable to redeem a co^ iQuered ii. ( n y queeni ooontiy, wbich was once jycnm^^j^^y!^ ndlibrdy to have retamed.diofr-^^i'lNlffidm wbid^ ' die fortune of irar had rendered ^^r owii ? Yxmh tbiifi evicuaoed Charles-Town* Ti fhct which I hive \kctk wdl informed^ i^X a liStttt I have ieen ffom that brave,;: a^ve» an^ ingenious officer i Major Moncriefl^, was as impregnahkas Gibtalbr i V and yoii havf given away St. Lucia; themoft im«, pi>rtiant ifland you had captured in die Weft-Indies^. t6 the French. — Upon what principles ihefe ciel^' fims can Be explainec^' except, that of the mofti beniEvbknt Quixotifm, I spi at a lofs to divine.— The «/i/q^^if^/j has in all treaties and iik all de* icf iptions of right been aeknowledgM a fafe and pnn^ . dent maxim.—- Here it feems abandoned and re- probated.^^ But thefe are not the. only coticefr; £ons which have been made, the only right!? which faav Lordikip conclacled with obferving, thait nhe tdiic^flions which bad been mad«, jind the ter- iritqri^s ftiit hftd been givieh ^wa)r, were ia virtue ol tiw'MiiJ'eftyV prcro]gativc>— He coikfidered this a» ^' c^ai^^tbus aiid unconftituctoma} exertion of this *^ndfile?.-^Hc w*s too mach'faTjgoed , by precedent 'iisAvelt as^th^'bell authbrs, sind he wbnidmeet the '^iieftioh MieheVfcr thtii tcH^dfc^ -*-^i^A^ tbyi CliMeltfr feft the wobH'ack, And madfe ^ribfiiJ Siid'iteft aWc'^nnvlft to Ibe'ttoble airid 4^ittediib^^vrh6 hid:j|uft Ikt down. Me cttuld eralWt Ib'yMk, htt filtid; no p^^^ of th6 sittehtibn V jfe Hdiife^'cm tJid groi&u^'bf "elbciudice and di»- 'i6*Jr. TBefe ' bcte^flge* peciiK^rrijjr t6 the noble LWi irhb* had fdi Ibrtg'^hd To alSiy ^ veneivt ; but he jdid oljeCi to their prefling thoif chinicni» i%fi r^rQgative of the crown ^d ndl reaeh fo far, ds tOi warTatK ihe ali#||a|io9 of t^ fitories, in |he fnaluDgt of poaqsi wf»l^ je6l, more from kfiighr ^nnntry tfian patnotifiai^ ,9tid that h^ «ras pipre ifM^Uned jDo OifW th« HoiMb jivhj^t po^^en of dciclatnFiiofi he pdflbflMin thefiipi» port, of hypoiheiical^ropofitiom, than arixicMu t9 tki^P9s orlo cpni^ a pow^rjvifeljr ytficid.ite te f ^ecu^ve hmpth of our, Cot^«rQinc|it,tiiiqDeftioicfoiM(cts mentioned fri^ which the SaM Lord .^hp^e to dra\t hi> >Ml«ii|«aieSiiHld/aigifttDClif3i. ) Oim mmlA faiavf |h6iighi;»;tha^-i)i^hca * ^seai, e^pfufeoc^ 4()«, aAd JH^ly .ftmi^ent.lftiaifytr haskfM inopiMk ffi^ls0Qm$%mA li^poptaMi^ff^ii^ migbi be on the droits des'gmi^ and other points^ whidi neither Were nOr o^ld be fixed by any iblid and permanent rhle, he denied their knthorSty^-^he exploded their evidence, when. they ^i^e'^^iou^hc to explain ^to liim what was, and 9irhatwasl30lihe prerogaitiv^of tlie Brittfh Crown; dMavihg ihotight it neceflaty to fay juft fo much, «s ilb:>his W4y^iju^gitig on (he^ueftion^ he would inform the noble andlear^iedXoid^ that he atetp^r •d' of< hirdisilliiit^<— he w^is prfipared to meet hini', ^bd'ti^ oofobat^tfatti^eflion,' ttdty-hi^ever, with tht .vi|l|iims> which 4he noble and •Jearned Lord had liitd oni tfa«tphiidtt^ ^idi thef^ w^ idaleulk^ ^periuf^fvinMndied to ^(ain-^b^ w^h AndeobMned inife, :and ^ttipie irgmneilt; 'lfi^did viot appear* to Ihem ikry ihcbnfiAent ' with > the ' ' dimity of thst Hoiife^ who Were to prefent the atddrefs, and' c£ ^ CrOwn/ wh& w|s to' reckive it. ' But, hei4id^ ll^WJs #itrittiyiy iwo^ it llSTi m 1 Mi' WW m ' ftk w wu «ii :B0t ^IBaak id difoom /! tet h^ tlioil|i|t il tHi-r ymUbf ii their LofdHnfit /b d9 tjbtt b^ a ^^de^ ilrMfNdddi if tk^dxMigfat fifeK> dd. ie bceaoic ihb nobkneik of ilidr i^ruVts to d» oflenly. J| ihay dKiiigiittiw ;IUag^Mimfter»4ifi»vflid <«iilW for the pciD&wkicb tiie^ M conchdcd^ «Hiy 110^ iiAfir6i tkdr ccnlbre til tliit W117, wbicb tkHle wM nake that oenfbrs^ piinilhincilt, mniait, maiily^ and diic^lmamier^/iicb aaibfcama ilie higjN cbl^ nlQcriittltatHo^feit . . . ja* ^v TI16 noble «id jeanlfd Lord ibcn came 40. e|%^ qiaiiv vbeth^ die |iea6f nobk Lordi* who, hot a few* ^fOEf few niontfas ago, were ^ mod eager ..anii ctamonrous for peaea* /When Jh0ie prrioaa »p4 |nrehtf)dp< l > dot ibi difficuk taik of a^itiig peace awuJsi latl upon ;themfi3lves, theft otif condition iMrss parted in a}]^ and, perhaps, in .Hior^ ihaii itt eeai gkHini«*^eild their Lordihipa were deptefled 9Rid Soirtitircd with thti acconntft which weae givieti id 'mm n»v3fV' and 6ur reCMiraeB. ^Theo an^ j^eaiQei ibiiitas dechDAed^ D^ontd he^ a i^ood tee, A pe»0t IJDir a ^car einp-#«iay^ Igqr a llMtothv;^ #^ Wd f i« ] was cdveted-^Any thing (hit would juft give -^ breatfaifig tttne« aod fitfva tp 1>reak th$ daiigeraiiii confederacy 11110(1 us-^would bt a {frofpi^roiti event. But when the grievouf ' uSk wat ftiftfcd M^ others— how did the language differ. Tlkmvj grew aa it were by magic.— The refbiircea Of tbfs (late became immcnfe. <-^ The condition of the country flourifliiogi— and the Minillry were to be tried by the (trideft ind nuSll rigid law. The noblo Lord dwelt QO this glaring iDConrifteiu^.C<3C fome time, and concluded a long and moft inge- nious rpeech, with a high commendation of the Addrefs, and the moll dire^ c^uiip o| the prq^ |K)fed Amendment. fiitf JSarl of Carlifk thought it neceO^y. to Cbe^' .that there was na ground for tbeiiDputed abfi;irditf in the motion as amended. They were to thank liii Majefty— for what ? — For the commuHicatioH Of the Preliminary A nicies of Peace-^they were to hold that peace facred bccaufe concluded — but they were with the manlinefs which became them, to declare that it was inconfiftent with their expe£U- tions, and deregatory to the honbur and dignity oi tlie empire. In all this he could not perceive any' thing abfurd. Earl Gowtr concluded the debate, wUh declar^K, mg his opinion ihortly, that the peace did not come up to his e3cpe6^ations. He thought we Werci entitled, from our colftdition, to better ten» ; but he didl not think hio^fi^ at liberty to ' reprobate ■■■ 'lit ^ ''I •• 1:1 ,11' '( 72 > jcfivoftjkte It m (he k^erc tasnns of the antendmenf;. He nhM thei-efore in a ftrangs predicatnent-<-he '«oiild neither vote for the addrefs nor againft it ; and he ihoidd therefore withdraw. It being, near half paft four o'clock in. the morning, the Houfe divided on the queflion— that the words propofed to be omitted (land part of the addre&» ' . ; . Contents, —- 6^ Not to^tents, — 55. Proxies — 3 Proxies — — .4 ■ 72 59 Mi^rity for the ./fi/(2r^ 13. There were in the Houfe at one time of tht day 145 Peers, which is a greater number than has been Icnown on any <^ueltion during the pre^ fi:nt reign. . \. .':j •' •i.;jc.. <:■ .?,.i.' ■ ^ ." '. . •■'■-, r> ■ \ ♦ * v:'i;c-!C^yi / reporj his at glifli their HOUSE of COMMONS. FRIDAY, F]R^RUARY ^i, 1783. • ■ , - s LORD John Cavendifti having intimatec|^fome farther propofitions on the Articles of Pe^ce, the Houfe was amazingly crqiided. The ordinairy bufinefs v, as dilcuffed, and about four o'clock. Lord John Cavendijh rofe to open the bufinefs of the day. He began with obferving, that, by fome unaccountable means it had been reported abroad, that the majority of that Houfe, on the divifiofi which took place, in confequence of the amendment he had prppofed to the addrefs on Monday laft, had abfolutely voted againji the peace : fome perfons he made no doubt, might have had their views in pro- pagating fuch a report, from which they expedcd to derive fome advantages ; but a more groundlefs report had never been fent forth into the world \ for his amendment ftated, in 'ihe ftrongelt terms the En- gliih language could afford, that the Houfe, let their opinion of the peace be \Vhat it might, would L abide PI i m m m mi i.j.. abide by the terms of it, and inviolabliy adhere to them. However, in order completely and effeftually to deftroy every report to the contrary, and to defeat the deiigns that fome men might wiih to anfwer, by Gpuntenancing fuch a report, he had drawn up a refoUition, which he would fubmit to the Houfe, de- claratory of the (IrongeH: determination to maintain the peace. When the amendment which was pro- pofed on ^Tonday lad, had been adopted, he had it in contemplation to move for papers, on which he intended. to move an enquityj but on re-confidcra- tioh, as no criminal proceeding was intended againft the minifters^ as he did not wi(h to condemn the peace, with a view to cenfure minifters ; as his only objeft wis to ihew that the terms of that peace were fuch, that minifters deferved no compliment from Parliament or the nation for having made it : he did not fed any neceflity for moving for papers, as the Houfe had matters of public notoriety, on which they might ground their refolutions. -^ The relative ^tiiatidn of affairs of this country, and of the belli- geirent powers, was a ground which would fupp'ort him in declaring;, that he thought the peace inade- quat6 to what we had a right to expert : every part of the three treaties was marked with conceffions, which were the more mortifying, as we were in ^ . fituation to have refifted them, -r- To France, mi- pifters had given away Goree and Senegal in Africa 5 Tobago and St. t-qciainithe Weft- Indies ^ Miquelon . - and ( 7B ) and St, Pierre, together with the right of filhing on the coaft of Newfoundland, and curing their fifti oil a greatly enlarged extent of fhore ; and in the Eaft- Indies, their former poflbffions wer6 to be reftored and enlarged. To Spain, Minorca and the two Floridas Were ceded ; and to America, hot only in- dependence was given, but an immenfe tradl; of land belbnging to the province of Canada : to the Dutch he underftoed we were to reftore every fettle- ment of theirs now in bur pofleftion; fo that* rin taA, we had fcarcely done any. thing biit make con-.- ceffions to our different enemies ; and this at a time, when in confequence of Lord tlodney's victory. Ad- miral Pigot was at the head of near forty- two fan of the line, and conft^quently of the dorpinion of the feas in the WeA-Indics and America, where the French had not above feventeen line of bsi^tle ihips. The relief of Gibraltar had proved to adnimiftration that we were able to defend our coa0s.from Jnfulc, pi-otedt bur trade and fprtredes, and meet tfie united fleets of France and Spain. It had ocen. urged, that our ^nances were in a bad condition ; It .was^ true i but miniflers ought not to have attended folely to the ftate of their own Hnances} they Should have taken into the fcale the condition of the iihsinces of the enemy, which they would have found fuch, as would have deteri^ed the miniders of the different belligtrcnt powers from reducing us to the defperat^ alternative of accepting a diihonourabld p^ace, or re- L 2 folving i \ ( i 76 ) folving to profccute the war, which latter meafure our naval fuperiority in every quarter <^ the world might poffibly have tempted us to adopt. He faid, iff every parf of ibe world; but perhaps this afTertion might be combated with refpe^t to the Eaft-Indies. However, .when he confidered the confequences of the laft engagement in that quarter, and the number of the fliips that were on their, way to India, he woiild maintain, that if we had not a fuperiority there, we had fomething fo very like it, that we had nothing to apprehend from the attempts of the French in that quarter. — With all thefe objefts be- fore bis eyes, he had drawn five propofitions, which he would read to the Houfc : — Firft Refolution, — Reibived, "That in confide* "ration of the public faith which ought to be pre- " fervcd inviolate, this Hpufe will fopport his Ma- *' jcKly in rendering firm and permanent the peace •^ to be concluded definitively, in confequence of *^ the Proyifional Treaty and Preliminary Articles, " which kave been laid before the Houfc." ' Second,— " that this Houfe will, in concurrence **. with his Majefty*s paternal regard for his people, ** empldy its bcft endeavours to improve the blef- *' fings of peace, to the advantage of his crown and *•' fubjeiasl" ; Third, — ^ ** That his Majefty, in acknowledg- •' ing the independence of the United States of •* America, by virtue of the powers veiled in him ■' •: ;V ■■ '''"'^ " , *^by r by| *« abll '* cen cc « (C ( 77 ) ** by die ad- of the laft fefllon of Parliament, to en- ** able his Majefty to conclude a jjeace or truce witla 'V certain colonies in North-Americay has adbed as ** the circumftanccs of affcirs indifpcnlibly required^ ** and in conformity to the lenfe of Parliament." Fourth, — "That the conceffions made to the ** adverfaries of Great-Britain, by the faid Pro?ifioQai " Treaty and Preliminary Articles, are greater than they were entitled to, either from the a^ual fitUf ation of their refpediye poflefTions, or from.the^f comparative ftrength." ' .a-.i^. Fifth, — " That this Houfe do feel the r^rd d^c ** from this nation to every c xription of men, " who, with the rifque of their lives, and tlie facri- *' fice of their property, have diftipguilhed their •* loyalty, and been confpicuous for their fidelity ** during a long and calamitous war ; and to affure ** his Majefty, that they fliall take every proper ** method to relieve them which the ftate of the cir- *fi cumftances of this country will permit." He concluded with moving, the firft. The honourable 5/. Andrtw Si. John feconded the motions. The honourable Keith Stewart faid, the conduct of miAift:ers had been condemned by the noble Lord, on account of the great fuperiority of our navy in the Weft-Indies ; now he could affurc the Houfei^ from good authority, that the combined fleets in Cadiz-harbour amounted to fixty fail of the line, ^ ■ • 'all ^^■ii M 1^1 r . ( 7« ) all delHned for the Weft Indies, our boafted fupc- riority coold not be for any long continuance, , In the Eaft Indies, it was true, on the arrival of Sir Richard Bickerton, we fhould have been able to have (bod again ft the enemy; but ^« hen thofe ihips arrived which France intended, and was preparing to fend, we (hould then be much inferior to them^ As to our flc*et at home, it laft year would have been greatly inadequate to our Own defence, were it hot for the diflentibns in Holland, which were carried to a much greater height than even in this country. Our Baltic fleet, was fa ved only by the diflcntioi^i that reigned in the Dutch fleet, which kept them ina^ive the whole year, and gave Lord Howe the opportunity of relieving Gibraltjir:' but was it reaibnable to fup- pofe that our fuccels flioiild continue always > or that the fame caufethat preserved us laft campaign ihould exift ftill? Gentlemen ihould confider the danger this country muft inevitably run this fiimmer. If the war had been continued, the Dutch would certainly have exerted their force againft us ; by that time they would have fifty-fivfc tWo deckers fit for fea, which added to the combined fleets of France and Spain, muft haVfe iricvitaibly rCiined us. Mr. Secretary T«tt;;i/^f»^ exprclTed his furprize that after th^ Houfe haid been led to expedt a ferious en- quiry into the diflfcrtrit articles of the peace i after they had been taught to believe that the addrefs moved lor on Monday laft had been modified for no other prpofe ( 79 ) purpofe ilian that of affording genttemen time to con* fider maturel/, and weigh with attention and deiibe-4 ration, every part of the different treaties^ the noble Lord fhouid now call upon the Houfe to condemn ivithout confideration, what he could not approve, becaufe he had not confidered it : if enquiry ihould neceffarily precede approbation ; with much more reafon ought it to precede cenfure ^ he was therefore really furprifed that the noble Lord (hould h^ve adted the part which he then appeared in.— -As to the firft propofition, it was certainly fuch as met his warmeft approbation*, it was not only proper, but, in his opinion, abfolutely neceffary at a time when reports were circulating, that the Houfe of G)mmons difap« proved of the peace. The noble Lord faid, that he meant to maintain the peace s but he muft give him leave to think, that the confequence of his amend* roent on Monday, and his 4th refolution this day^y if carried, would tend much more to (hake than confirm it. With refpedt to the fecond and third refo" lutiopi he would not'opfofe them ; the fecOnd indeed,- did not appear to him very confiftent with, the con- duft of thgfe who patronized the amendment, and condemned the peace : for to improve the bleffingso( a peace, which they called difgraceful, diftioriourablc, ruinous, was to fuppofe that ruin and dilbonour were bleffings : to the third refolution he could have no obje^ion ; the nation at large had panted for the end of the American war, which could not be attained but Z it i •■(^ V'l t «« )■ bat by a recogmtton of the independence of the cold. mes ; and that independence his Majefty was jutli- fied in recognizing by an exprefs a£t of ParHatneht : the fourth refolution, which condemned the peacd in dired cernfis, he was determined to meet fairly, and have it determined either in the affirmative or nega- tive : for he would not endeavour to evade a decifion by any parliamentajy trick or artifice ; as to the laft refoltttion relative to the loyalifts he was of opinion, to fay the leaft of it, that it was premature; and therefore he would put the previous queftion upon it. After having faid thus much, he obferved, that from the knowledge he had of the un(haken integrity and honour of the noble Lord, who had moved one of the propofitiOns, anci i^ais about to move the others, h6 was convinced it was not in his nature to aA uncan^' didly by any man ; but he might be led away by that refpe^, which he entertained for others, who knew ho^ to choofe their man when they wanted to have any thing done, that was not of itfelf evidently Tight ; for they were aware that the mod candid man in the nation was the moll; fit perfon to make the Houfe think, that the meafure propofed was not un- candid. Sir Peter Barr^// fcprobatcd the Preliminary and Provifional Treaties, as the groffeft infult that any Minifters had ever dared to offer to a rational Houfe of Parliament. They were every way inadequate to the juft expe^atioDS of the country, infinitely worfe, he ■«' ( 81 ) . he faid, than the Trraty erf" Utrecht, and a lading diA graqeto the nadonaii character. The ceiTiond made to ]^rance and Spain he declared unjuftifiable, on any plea, that could be faid to have exiftence; and s»s to the Treaty with the United States of America, Minivers hadafFeded to cheat the nation, by a pretended intention of making reciprocity and mutual advantage its balis, and that th^ prevention of quarrels anddif* putes were main objfds of it{ but, for fear thena«* t ion ihould be deluded into thefe ideas by aperufal of the preamble and the 6 rfl article^ the very next fhewed the palpable falfehood of the , pretence^, and put the matter oqt of all doubt. By the firil article it was faid, it was intended that no difputes (hould arife, whereas in the very next article feeds of endlefs difputes were fown. He went on to f^y, that where" ever fo much as a ihade of reciprocity was difcpt, verable, it was inftantly darkened by Cocnt ccilion Qf . unjufl grant. He indanced the mifchevious allow- ance to the Americans to fifhon the banks of New* fpundland, and the fhallow affectation, of faying, this w.as not a material grant, becaufe in the. fame article, they were not allowed to dry or cure the filh. He fhewed that the Americans by the Preliminary Treaty were allowed to catch iilb, that the French by having their fpace of the Banks changed from the Weftern to the Eaftern fide, were enabled to dry and , cure the filh for the Americans, and that as the French would undoubtedly demoliih the foniBcatians and , . . M works II ] I ( Da ) works tliey had ercdtcd on the fpot, and withrn the limits formerly allotted them to fifli upon, the whole fiihery would be^tuined. He proceeded to the ifcon-' fideracions of other points in the Treaties, and parti- cularly dwelt ort thcjixfeenth article of the Prelimi- naries with France, which, he faid, was the moft egregious piece of nonfcnfe ever 'thrown upon' paper,' and much woric than the famous double creed of the Jefuits ; that would only admit df two interpretatbns,: whereas the (ixteenth article would admit of twenty : indeed it was calculated to pleafe and fatisfy every' readtr j for ft was fo drawn, that it would bear any interpretation; and each man who read it, might ^ explain it his own way, as the Houfe had heafd 6n ' Monday laft from very high authority. It was faid that better terms could not have been procured j that the neceiBty for peace was urgent, the means to carry ^ on the war, fmall and few. Be it fo. Would Minif*' ters have dared to iign worfe terms? Had France de- manded the reft of our Weft India Iflands ? Had ' Spain infilled on Gibraltar and Jamaica ? Had the United States of America required that the poor abandoned Loyalifts fhould be fent back to fue for mercy with halters about their necks ; and America ' claimed Canada ? Would they have granted them thofe conditions ? Was it owing to the forbearance of France, the humility of Spain, or the mildnefs of America, that thefe terms were not demanded ? Noi ' it arofe from the Houfe of Bourbon's knowledge that 4 the m ice of t-^3 ) « the fiatton would never bear the impofition of fucK conditions. They faw they had a weak and impo- tent Minidry to deal with, but their own policy and keen-fightednefs would not let them go farther than they had ventured. Sir Cecil Wray faid, he e^peAed that the pa^fs relative to the in^lru«5)i6ns given to Mr. Ofwald, re* fpedting the Loyaliils, would have been moved for, according to the notice given feme days ago by the noble Lord who brought forward the propofition ; but as they had not been produced, he could not pofllbiy. vote upon the/ourth propofition, which re- lated to the Loyalifts. He faid he deplored the (late .of the country, which feemed defined to be for evrt* torn in pieces by parties in that Houfe. Not that h6 blamed gentlemen of. great abilities and great con- nexion, for being ambitious of obtaining power. Such men could bed ferve their country, in high and refponrible. iituations, and were wife in aiming at their attainment. The perifons he blamed mod: hi that HQufe, were the country gentlemen, who lent their ftrength to every new party, and, by that, kept the country ii) a perpetual change of admlniftratloif, V(ithout its ever having the benefit of a folid and firm government. He was an enemy to the Treaty of Peace, (as far ai he was able to judge oC it) not merely on account of the ceffions that were made, but betaufe we had not made greater. Since the fur trade was given, why was not Quebec ceded too? ( 84- ) . fHe faw.no' region for this country's fudaining the • burthen of the^xpence of keeping it, fincc the other ccflions made it of no value to us. Another pofltf^ iloa likewife, to talk of giving up which he knew was unpopular, he would neverthelefs mention. He meant Gibraltar, which was not worth a halfpenny to us, and yet to keep it would coft the nation at lead fix hundred thoufand pounds, equal to one ilvilling in the pound upon the Jand-tax. He did not mean that it (houtd be given away, but itnnighthave been bargained for, and have fetched ijts price. For Mhcfe reafons he did not appi^oveof the peace, but till he had feen the papers that would prove the prefent terms inadequate, hecouldnotvote for the motion then under confideration. Sir Cecil went on to fay, that becaufe he had voted with his honourable friend on a public ground on Monday, he did not holdhimfelf bound to vote for a new Ad mini ftration. Nor would he ever, let the perfonal confcquence be what it might to himfelf, vote for an adminiffration of which the noble Lord in the blue ribband was to make a part ; becagfe heconfidered that noble Lord's adminiftra- tion as the caufe of all our calamities. How his conftitpcnts would approve of fuch conduft, he knew not ; but if they did not approve it, he would ferve them faithfully to the end of the fiffion, and they ^^ight then elc6t another reprefcntative. * • Sir HQrace Mann was very fevere againft the arti- cle of peace. He faid^ he had always a«^ed inde* •J fendently ( «5 ) pendentiy in that Houfe. He had fapported the nobkLord in the blue ribband whenever he thought him right, and oppofed him whenever he though^ him wrong. Sir Horace declared, he was firtaif perfuadcd that Lord John Cavendifli afted from him- felf ;. he argued, that the finances of France and Spain were to the full as bad as ours. Gibraltar^ he infified, had, during the laft war, proved of infinite ufe to this country, by being a continual drain of men and treafur^ upon Spain. The condufi of Mi* nifters to the Loyalifts, he confidered as an indance of the higheft barbarity and ingratitude ^ (ince no z€t could poflibly be more cruel, than abandoning them to the mercy of irritated men, whom they had long, from their attachment to this country, oppofed as enemies. Our adverfaries, he faid, had dictated throughout the .whole courfe of the negotiation; and we had conducted ourfelves, not only as if the nation wanted rcfourccs, but as if it were deftitute of honour. Our honour, however, was not yet gone ; as.an iilufiration of which affcrtion, he produced Lord Rodney's victory. He concluded with obfer- ving, that the peace muft lower us in the eyes of all Europe, and that it could not be too feverely execrated. A loofe and defultory convcrfation next took place upon the point, whether the firft propofition ihould be put and carried, as • there was no objection to it,, pr the debate upon the five propofitions be taken at - •• once. once: In this conver&tidn, the Speaker, Mr: Se* ifttary Itownjhend, ,Mr* D. Hartley, Colonel Onflow^ \jatd Ncrtbf siind Sir Ri chard Sufi on took part. At leDgth it was, agreed to put each motion feparately^ 4Dd the Aril and fecond refolutions were rdpe^ively- piit and carried nemin^ contradtceniCf 1 he third pro- pofition declaring that his Majei^y in recogniHog the independence of America, in the prefent circum-. ftances ©f affairs, had a6ted by virtue of the powers ▼ciled in b4m, and conformably to the fenfe of Par- Kamcnt, was now pur. JLord Nnvbaven faid he was a Hranger td ^he powers by which his Majefty was fai4 in this refo)u- tion to have a£^ed; for he did not conceive that he ; had received .any fvich powers from the ad of Pjar-: liainent pa0cd laft felfipn v ^ind he was as yet to learn that by virtue of his royal prerogative^ he, coujd difqiember the Empire.; Sir IVUliam Dolben knew not how the King became vetted with powers to declare his Americaii fubjc^s. independent ; certain he was that no fuch power was^ given by the ad of lali feilion, which he ought to underhand, as he had fecondcd the motioii) for leave to bring \s in : in that ad a power was granted to . the King to fu/pend fuch laws as hr Ihoukl find to iland III, the way of peace; now to/«^tf»Ul, it was his intention to empower the Crown to acknowledge the independence, Hill he had purpole- \^ omitted the wqrd independence ; becaufe if it bad been in the ad, the Crown muft have aded in con- formity to it i and independence being once men- tioned in the ad, it would be impoifible to treat af-. terwards upon any other principle than that of inde- pendence : but as it was pofllblc that a truce, not a peace, might have been concluded, it became neceA fary to fpeak of/ujpending ads of Parliament, indead of repealing them, naturally mvolving the idea of a revival of hoftiltttes, and confequently it was necef- fary there (hould be a power to fufpcnd or repeal, juft as the occaiion (hould offer: but that the. ho- nourable Baronet (hould not entertain a doubt, but that the right or power of acknowledging the inde- pendence was veftcd in the King by that ad, he beg- ged he would recoiled, that the ad dated, that this |>owcr fhould be veftec( in the Crown, any /"^w, Jfa^ tuts' \\ uite < i9 ) iute^ matier, or thing to the cfntrnry^ witwthftand^ tug: ' '• , .; . Sir fT, I)olhen declared, that lie was fo unfortu* nate as not to be convioccd by the argunnents of the learned gentleman. So. great a power as that of f ree<; ing millions of fubjefls from their allegiance, ought not, and could not be veiled by implication. Qr. con- ilru£tioii of law i and he confefTed* that he wa& not * pofleffed of fufficient/^r^^/'/, or rather fefond fight, to be able to difcover in an aft of Parliament^ ia Mrhich there was not a word of independence^ a power to acknowledge the independence of America* v The Attorney General faid, the honourable member was, perhaps, of that difpofition that no arguments could convince him. •*— He was called to order by Sir Francis Saffet, who exprefled his furprife thac any member fhould dar/ to tell another, that no. ar- guments could convince him* The Attorney General r-'c^'xlcd. He faid, there vrttt perfons in the wc . ' whom no arguments could convince : he iniifted that ne a^ of Parliament -alluded to veft^d iil the King the moll abfolute power to acknowledge the American independence 2 but he differed at the fame time from the learned gentle- man on the queflion of prerogative ; for he would readily meet any lawyer on the fubjedt, and undertake Co prove, that, by virtue- of the royal prerogative, the King could have declared America independent. Mr, Lee^ io oppofition to the dodtrine of the At- torney General^ hid it down as a principle of law^ N th ( $s ) Aat the King could not declare his fubje and gave his Majeily a power which he did not poflefs before. / > Sir Adam Fergu/on agreed that the aft of Parliament gave the King full power to reeognife the indepen- dence of America \ but he maintained, that the pow- er was not carried a (lep farther by that aft : and therefore he muft look upon Miniftcrs as criminal, who had advifcd his Majefty to go beyond this pow* er ; and net contented with recogiiiiing the indepen- dence of the thirteen colonies, had advifed their Toyal mailer to cede to the Americans, and declare inde«> pendent, an immenfe traft of land, which belonged -not to the thirteen colonies,, but to the province of Canada, The Solicitor General begged the honourable Ba- ronet would recolleft, that the difficulty itarted by )| him was not within the compafs of the motion, for it related (imply and folely to the independence of the thirteen colonies. Lord North agreed with Mr. Wallace, that the objeft of the aft which had been the fubjeft of dif- cuflion, was certainly to grant independence to Ame- rica, though the word independence, for obvious reafons, had bj»en defignedly omitted. ■ Governor Johtijione^ in order to prevent future ipifiipns «f tlvc Qrowp from drawing down the recog- nition ( 9X ) nitioh of American independcnce> as a precedent iit fupporc of an unbounded and unconftitutional pre- rogative of the Sovereign, moved, that af«r the WordSj powers vefted by his Majefty^ be added, ly aSi fif Parliament I in order to Ihew, that it was not by virtue of his prerogative, but under the authority ot an aft of Parliament, that his Majefty had declared America independent.. This amendment was recei- ved ; and the third refolution, thus amended, palTed without oppofitiori*; Jjoxd John Cavgndijh then moved the fourth refo<« lution« Mr, Pozvys To(c to oppofc the motfon: he won- dered that an enquiry was not inftituted : he did not fay that it was a good peace; he believed there were conceiCons in it which ought not, and need not to have been made ; but (lill, taking the good and the bad tog;ether, he liked the peace, and than- ked the Miniltry who made it; not becaufe it was a good peace, but becaufe he had broke the confe- deracy which had nearly ruined us. He was afraid that the refolutions of the Houfe would Ihake the peace; and that this would be attended with the moit djfagreeable confequences j for it was polTible, nay it was probable, that the idea would icach the Con- tinent, that the Parliament difapproved of the peace; in that cafe the confederates would Hill' remain ar- med ; and while they remained armed, we could not difarm ; fo that we (hould be at the expence of fup- poning our war ellabliihments without a war. He N 2 wiilicd ( 9« 3 wiflied the fbreign Courts knew that the cohteft here was not about breaking the peace, but merely to deterilnine who (honid be Minifter: if the quefiton ^s (imply, whether the prefent Firft Lord of the Tr^afury ihould remain in office, or. nqt^. he was of opinion, thatqueftion was decided on Tuefday mor- ning, when that noble Lord ,got a pretty broad hint, that he was not popular enough to fupport an Adminifl:ration. He then adverted to thexoali- tion between Lord North and Mr. Fox, and their friends i he faid it might be neceflary there fliould be fome alloy in the coin, but gentlemen (hould take c«Te how' they debafed it ; there were fometinne laft iummer, fomething like a fterling principle, wluch formed the ba(is of Adminiftration ; he (hould be ibrry to fee its luilre tarniihed by.a'difgraceful coa-> Htioif. . . . .'Lord jfobn Cttvendijb faid« the honourable xnemA ber*s wit had outrun his judgment: nethen entered upon a defence of his friends, and an ejtplanation o£ their fyllem. As to the fuppofed coalition, he begt ged that Gentleman would recoiled the ftate. of zU lairs in the year 1757, when this country, waa -torn with parties infinitely more than it had been within the laft five years, infomuch fo indeed, that there was not an Adminiflration in the kingdom during fo long a period as ei^rKt mv^nths ; at length the necefr fny of the public, affairs made men begin to forget parties i they were brought into good humour by long refinance > they became united at lait} and I out by land out ( ?j ) out 6f five different parties was found an Admi^ migration that carried the glory o^ the country ta the greateft height t and he was convinced that the country could not be profperous till all the Houfe ihould fliake hands, and unite cordially for the gqod of the community. ^ ...^. hit, JFilh-aham Btotle dechred^ that before he was a member of theHoufe, and while he attended as a ftranger in- the gallery, he had feen fp much of party, that he refolved, even then, never to belong to a party, and he never had fince attended a meeting of Members, where a word had been dropt tending io perfuade gentlemen to give up their own opi-r nions, HM implicitly fallow the leaders of a party : after having premifed this, he freely declare when he refleded that they had been brought rnto that diftrefs for having been friends to Qreat Britsun. • Sir Edward AftUy was willing* to abide by the peace, and to vote againft the refolutlon : he in* veighed againd: Lord North's adminiftration, but if poflTible, ftill more againll thofe who were forming a juhclion with them. Mr. r ■ i Mt Macdotiald rofp, and in very ftrong and ing«» nious arguments oppofcd the rtfolution. But he firil: began by complimenting the noble Lord, who had moved thefe fcveral refolutions. His ftrain of com- pliment was fuch, that Ijc. appeared to have been, at fir ft, their advocate. He faid, that he wondered how the idea could have arifen, that the noble Lord ^ould have brought forward any motions, in which his head and hieart were not agreed. Was not the name of the noble Lord ufed proverbially for integ- rity and ability? He was certain that the noble Lord would never bring forward any motion but what was agreeable to his ideas, and confiftent with the honour and intereft of his country. This was fiifiicient to induce him to give the vote his hearty concurrence, were it not for the following reaibns : he thought that, by giving this refolution his vote, that it would be dangerous to the real welfare of the country. He thought that it would be demon- ftrating to the powers of France and Spain, that we were inimicai to the peace; that we ihould ex- cite their refentmeiit, and roufe their preparations for another war. It was upon this principle that he confidered the motion could not have but the moft deftruftive and alarming tendency. It was convin- cing France and Spain, that we did not approve of the peace ; and that, confequently, on the firft occa- fion, a new war would be commenced. This idea would even be an incitement to them of not f ulQling the i-i the ratification. He^oniidercd that this peace had its adTantages^ if it were only that of disjoioing the intereils and combinations of the belligerent powers. But he thought there was no poflibility of obtaining even a peace upon other terms ; and therefore he ihould give his difapprobation of this part of. the motion. 1 Mr. Fox rofe, and began with obferving that he ihould not long detain the attention of the Houfe ; but that fome points had fallen from fome hon6u« rable Gentlemen, to which he could not longer delay his defire of making a reply. Yet he wifticd that he could have delayed his obfcrvations, until he had heard farther the fenfe of the Houfe, which might probably have enabled him to have given them a proper and ample difcufiion in the courfc of the ar- guments be was going to offer. He faid that, lie was . Ttoi a little hurt to find that thofe Gentlemen with ««rhom he»hc had been in the habits^ of frie«dfl)ip, connexion, aiid fyftem,, now deferting the prih alition of parties, which had: only exlfied from the neceffities of that Houfc to refift|a fyftem which had proved the deftru<5lion of every confidence and. inter* eH the Houfe had trufted in them. He had to mention ibme circumftances which had refleded v^ry materially on the dondud: of a noble Lord, who had been the immediate caufe and prefervation of thoie from whom jthe cenfure. had originated. But he (hbuld paft over thiS) to coniider of anaccufation which had been made on the condud of a noble X^rd, (Lord KeppeL) It was faid^nhatdurbg his adminiftradon, that the navy was not in a proper and adequate iituation for the fervice. How far this -was founded in juftice or neceflity, he ihould ob^ ferve, not from the adtuai iituation themfelves, but from the relative (xtuation of thofc with whom they were to encounter. For it could by no means be a proper mode of argument^ to condemn . his .condu& froin ( 97 ) from this (hip being fouly the other being unequip- ped, — but from the relative fituatioa of the whole^ > to the fervice for which they were intended. He^ > therefore, called upon any peribn to produce an in^ fiance, not to hazard an accufation. He wiihed to: know in what the fleet had been found deficient to the fervice for which they were required. It was, he was aflured, fo much on the contrary, that France, . in the taft year, had loft thirteen ihips in their gene- ; ral quantity, and that we had encreafed feventeen in the courfe of lait year. He was happy to have this opf)ortunify of bearing teftimony of the conduct of a gentleman who had been mod illiberally treated by . tbofe who were under the greateft obligntions of - gratitude to his ferviccs. . fie calls upon anyone, gentleman in the Houfe to contradidl this aflertion..; It Was eafy to give general cenf^re, biit astdifficuk to corroborate this general cenffure by fpecific evidence.:^ The honourable gentleman then procededto obferve, . that on the ^/»w/<»«^ of the peace, there could not bea doubt ofthePreHmin^ries and Provifional Treaty being inadequate to the relative fituationrof this king-; dom with France and Spain* We had given AnaerirV ca the pofieffion of our fiflicrics, when it was^cOtvt fidered relatively with what we had ceded to: Franpe. — — We had given Eaft Florida for no re-) compence. We had given St. Lucia to France for < the reiloratron of three iilands that could be^r. no; fort of advantage to us that was competent to the O • advantage > ( 98 ) advantage France would dierive from the pofleffion of St. Lucia. He then went into the connder^rlon o( uti pqfidetis, in which he clearly, ingenioufly, and with great pirccifion, demonftrated the difFerence of the principle of the «/i fofftdeth and the principle of the gene al reftitution/ In this he drew a line, wherein he demonftrated that the conduft of the Miniftry had loft even the advantages of both the principles. Had the uti pejpdetis been obferved, France would not have had the teffion of the New- foundland filhcry \ nor would they have had a foot in the Eaft Indies, On the other hand, he made the fame application as a general reftitution. He then adverted to the conduft of the late fyftem to which he had always adhered. And to this reflexion he was called upon by what had fallen from- an ho- nourable gentleman (Mr, Powys)} he had reflefted Vpon his own conduct j he had reviewed not only his condudb,^ but the connexion which had re* gulated tbis-condudt 5 for he was free to own, that li^ h'ad ambition ; that he had a de^re of pofiefllng an office of political and public fervice. However he might have been defirous of this fttuation, he trtifted thaiit wis not without ability^and integrity to rendertts position worthy of the emolunnent and the confidence of the nation. But kft that he Ihould not have been able to controul the perverlity of human pature, fee Had taken care to have cohnefted Kimfelf with gentlemen of known charaftfer and probity. He had taken care tq have conn^ed himfelf with men c W ) of the Hrft chara^er and ability, by which his tenden/ cy to error might be corredted und reftrained. , It was tbas that only human nature could counterad the evil tendency of their warped judgments, and prejudiced difpoiicions. In this fuuation hencknow- Icdged he had found himfclf happy in a retrofpedl of hiscondu(ft, by which he contemplated himfelfasaix adherent to a fet of men, that could eyen give a fan^ion to inadvertency and fallabilityi Whatever weaknefs was the concomitant of hum^ nature, he felt the conneiflion, with which he had unifornnly joined a fufficient palliative. Their principles^ their conduct, their abilities, commanded the conEdence^ however they might be the fubje<5t of complaint in the fyftem pf imperial intereft. But the fyftem o£ imperial intereft could not fuffer b\jt from theic ne^ ceflarily leaving the fyftem which they bad found tehding fo immediately to the deftrudtion.; and anni- hilation of the ftability and exiftencer of rthc .conr^ ilitution.. . ■■ .' • ■ ^ :k^ uk,:Ju -j^ikitp^^^i'^ He then took notice of the obferyittion .whichi bad been made, refpefting the pen fion-tp which. the i%hfc honourable gentlen^an (Sir Edward AftJey) r^had'^aU luded. He iaid, that he did not, appUuiS .the prin^ ciple of the penfion ; but he muft applaud the thotiois which has urged the grants HeJaidj-.thatit wa* entered upon under the generou$ idea.- of fervingt even tho/e who were knovijn to have been in thc^opi*". pofite intereft to thofe by whom the pehfidn had becm - ■ O 2 granted li M of ' ♦ granted. He truftcd, therefore, that this could nor, urith any propriety, be an imputation to the conduct of any part of the adminiftration, of which he could be confidered an individual. He had, then, to revert to a part of his condudl which gave him the mod heart-felt fatisfa6l:ion. It was that wherein he and Kis friends had withdrawn themfelves from an .ad- miniftration whi^h had neither commanded their co-* alefcence nor their countenance. There was a cer- tain perfon in the adminiftration, who was, in his na- ture, habitudes, and principles, foreign to the general fyftiem on which the adminiftration had been formed.. He was happy to find them follow him whom he fhould rather have followed. He could not but re- . ceive ic as a gratification to that natural tendency, felfcomplaCcncy^ which is infiplanted in human na- ture, when he faw men who had, he was affured,' ef- poufed the prefent connedfcion from principle, and not 'from party, dropping off from the corrupt and withering ftem of adminiftration. It was a fatisfac-^ liioninhim to fee that the fyftem which had been eftabliihed iince the demilc of his very worthy and patriotic friend (the Marquis of Rockingham) j it convinced him that no fyft?cm could poflibly exift, but what was fupported by a fair, confiftenr, and eftabUftied uanimity. The adminiftration was de^ ilroyed for want of confidence. Ic was folly for any gentleman to talk of preferving the ftation of a man^ who had not a fupport founded on the princi- • '-'A pie "I'l ( 101 ) pic of- the real fnpportcrs of the conftitution. He believed there was n(3t a man in that Houfe who could give his fupport to the prefent Premier. What was the t r.s of this fupport? Had he not trifled away their intereft in every refpedt? Had he not made conceflions in every part of the giobe, without the lead pretence to equivalent ? The honourable gentleman then proceeded to give an inftance, wherein the advantage of the war fhould have been purfued. He faid, that in rcfpeft to ofFenfive war, it was true that ofFenfive war was an objcft of our attention. But he thought that the principle of ofFenfive war on which it had been purfued, was contrary to the interefls of the country. OfFenfive war on garrifons, iflands, and continential poflTcfTions, were only waft- ing treafure and human nature,' for they would have, been reflored with the reft. Had ofFenfive war been direfted againft (hips, then the advantages we had gained would have been retained. It would then have been not in the power of any wanton and incon- fiderate Miniftry to have given away the naval acqui- fitions which we had gained. But now we had the faireft profpeft of reftoring the confidence of the people. It was only this which could give (lability and premanency tothefhatteredfyftem which charadcrized the prefent adminiflration. He hoped, that now there was a profpe(ft of reviving and eftablifhing the fyftem of which he had fo long been proud of con- 3 fidcring .w ''.'>,<«.- «- '.i^;**'-'^.. J ; ( 102 ) lidering himfelf a member, there was now a c^rtainty> whatever might be the hopes, the prejudices of cer^ tain worthy Members, who had more attachments to men than jneafures, of the prefent nugatory, fhattcred fyftem, being repaired, and rendered fufficiently llrong to bear the interefts of the people. Now the fenfeof the nation was awake to conviction, they would no longer lend their aflent to the deftrudion of their wc'fire. The obnoxious part of the Ad^ miniftration mud recede from the countenance of his Sovereign. He had neither the fanflion- of people or Parliament; or, indeed, his wonted colleagues. So that from thefe conBderations, he fat down with the greateft aflurances of his feeing the interefts of the nation once more placed on the bafis of that fyf- tem, which can only fave it from deftru(5lion. Mr, Chancellor Pitt rofe as foon as Mr. Fox fat down, and made a fpeech of two hours and a half in length, wkich began dully, but brightened as it pro- ceeded, till it burft into a blaze of genius and abi- lity, that arrelled the attention, and excited the ad^ miration of every perfon in the Houfe. We, do not remember to nave heard in Parliament a fpeech; more comprehenfive in its nature, more clear in its detail of fa6i;s, more forcible in its rcafon.ng, more juft in its conclufions, or more ppinted and powerful in its ridicule. Mr. Pitt began by obferving, that the ill confequenccs of the vote on Tuefday morn- ing, which he had then deprecated and foretold, • .. . • - • ■•' . , V . ( 1*3 ) feemecl at laft to have made its way to the convic«» tton of all, who had fpoken in the courfe of the debate in favour of the motion, every honourable gentleman having particularly defired to be under- ilood as not being adverfe to the peace, but as wifli-* ing to confirm it, and by no means intenditig by his argument or his vote of Tuefday laft, to weaken its ftabiiity. It was, Mr. Pitt faid, rather an extraor- dinary means of endeavouring to convince the world, that gentlemen were determined inviolably to adhere to the articles of the Preliminary and Frovifional Treaties, for them to move a queflion dire6lly cenfuring Miniftcrs for having made the ^ Peace, and notifying to the public, as well the people at home as foreign powers, that the Houfc of Commons were of opinion, that the Terms of the Treaties were inadequate, and fuch as the ad-' verfaries of Great-Britain ivere not warranted to de- mand, nor the Mitiifters to grant; As Mr. Fox*^' had relied the merits of the queflion on the com- parative ftrength of the two countries, Mr. Pitt faid, he v,ould allow the ilfue to be a fair one, and wobld join it. He then went into a moft elaborate detail of the date of our navy, denying that the authority of the late Firft Lord of the Admiralty, great as it was, and as it confefTediy ought to be, was that which he would fuhmit to as the criterion of t\ic caufe in iflue. He faid, that high authority had a6led in a manner which the Iloufe ought to Jtno»v. When called unon (q (late the French 'til '1 t r ( lOi ) hairy, witir a view to Negotiation for Pfcafce, it had fa happened, that he had generally magnified their number of Ihips and their ftrength; when defired to give the Hate of their marine, in order to guide and dire6l others in their plans of war, he had then confidered their navy in another light, and re- duced their number confiderably. After this Mr. Pitt went into a delcription of the difpofition of the marine of the Houfe of Bourbon. He faid, they had 60 fail of the line in the Bay of Cadiz, and fcveral at Breft, and from their known intentions, previous to (he peace, it was not to be doubted, that they would prove fuperior in maritime ftrength to us in the Weft Indies, fuperior in thf Eaft Indies, and, allowing for the (hips the Dutch could fend fiut, fuperior to us at home. Having argued for fome time lipon the ftate of our navy^ compared to that of our enemies, he took a view of our military force, which he confidered as equally inapplicable to the various fervices, had the war continued, cir- cumftantially accounting for his holding fuch an opinion. He next adverted to our finances, and defcribed them as being in a ftate equally melan-^ cholly and comfortlefs. He reafoned a good deal on the various particulars of each fubje6l that he touched; and having contended, that though our enemies might be in as exhaufted a fituation as our^ felves, that Minifters were bound in duty and in juftice to their country to a6l upon tne neccftities of Great Britain, rather than on thofe of other na^, tions » > \ ♦* C m ) lions f he proceeded to advert to tk other topics dwelt upon b^ Mr. Foy. He' urged the ^hfurcUt^r pf voting on Monday laft an .amendment to the ^ dreis that had been flK>ved w the ground, that thf Houfe had not had time to cpnCdfr the treaties, and then at three d^ys dift^noe moving a refolutioa of cenfure upon the f^niie tre^tief, %Vri tAih^d; eonfcioiift of hii havi. ing eteritisifly contributed "to* the^ 'eafe *afid hap- pinefs of this kingdom, and to the prolperity of hei* fir(i-and dearitft' ihtbf-efts. ^-rpor his , part, free he- was ^to ' G^iifefsY that high fitua- tion and pb^sfer-wefre the dbje6ls of his hbnclft ambi^ tibn, and^jefts^hich hfe ffelt noftiame'ih faying, he dcfit«d Itf pdtRis, ^e*f' IJiey could befaifly and V horiotf^ablyi acquired; 'he-ftk)uld retire ^61 difa^ poii4te^ every occafio^h, where he could confiftently and co iCcientioufly lend them his affillance, Mr. Pitt took a vaft range of fcripus argument, feveie retort, and pointed ridicifle in the courfe of his fpeech, declaring in his exordium, that he appealed to the fobrjety and good fenfe of the ijcniiv^ P 2 Houfe, i< *.4 ■P-. Hoafe, atid ending his (ptcch wi^ hoping, tbit the vote of thut evening Would re(bie his txmntty from the diftra€ti6n and diftrefs into which ffae was once snore going to be pknged by the prevalence of party. Sir Ceci! WrOjf rofe again to explain. Sir Cecil declared he had meant in his former fpeech to throw no blame on great men (eeking connections with others of great ability and weight in the country, btit merely to (ay, he never would fupport an ad- Ininiftration formed of a jun6tion of men, in whofe principles he had the fulleft confide;ice, and any part of that ^diiitniftration which had nearly ruined tiie country. The noble Lord in the blue ribband had ever "been the high affertcr of regal prerogative, and the ih^uence of the Crown. He, therefore, a$ an hon^ft man, could neveir a6b with that noble JLord, and as his honourable friend and colleague had oUce b'^ore forced an alliance in adminiflration, |iy Whicli he tiad ^tf>'R2 his fingers^ he cautioned him to take cafe hpw he proceeded, and not to bum his fingers again. ' / . Lord j\ro>££> faid, he had been fo peculiarly al- luded t6, in the cburfe of the debate, and fo much hacl been faid, that be was boUnd in duty to himfelf ana to his c6nr^e£lions, to take fome notice of what had paflpd A j^reat deal, he pbferved, had been thrown Ofit pn thf^ idea of his having efcapecl cenfure and puni'lhineht, and on that great lenity of thofe who had teftified a 'fpirit of forbearance upon that fubje6l. > -.'• > K > ( 109 ) fCitjed. ^or that lenity be was undoubtedlf bound to make his aeknowledgments, but be begged leave to remind the Houfe, that he had naver abandoned either this chara6ier or his connections, that he had ever been ready to fneet enquiry, that he was yet ready to do it, and confcious of his own innocency, he was bold enough to lay, he defied either cenfure OP pnnifhment. He ihoiild be extremely forry^ he faid, if one honeft man had jufl reafon to fay, he toald not a6l with him, and if the^e fexifted, and it could be made out, that there was any real cauie for fuch a declaration, he was ready then to pledge himfelf to the Houfe, that he never would put himfelf in a iituation to make it neceffiiry for any man To feeling to a^ with hint. With regard to the coalition that had been fo orach talked of that day, and on Monday laft, the noble Lord who made the motion, had <(ver ihewn himfelf fo upright a charader, a man fo clearly ac« tuated by public motives of the purelt and mod dif- interefled kind, that however they might for fome years paft have had the misfortune to differ in polir tics, yet he had never once had the fmallel^ qccafion to believe, that the noble Lord, even when, he was moft violent in the oppolition to fuch meafuies, as he was then carrying on in what he thought the bed grounds of national policy, was impelled to oppofe but from ^an idea, that thofe meafures were unwife and injudi- cious. Ihere were times a^d circumfianceS) his l>ord(hip faid, when honed men, convinced of tb^ ' fr ^4 , •■■ , ' ^ iiitegrity ■■ ( "o ): iotegrity of each others intentions, hoveever.tnuck. tfac)r might have differed as to the rqeaiis of carrying: thofc intentions into pra6lice, might fairly meet, and. each abating fomewhat of the violence of their owa obftinacy, might forui a junction on principles neither diihonourable to themfelves, nor difadvantageous to their country. When a chara6ler fo univcrfally al- lowed to be difintcrcfted in an eminent degre , as that of the noble Lord's, and whofe public motives were fo good, did him the honour to offer him his friendttiip, he thought himtelf happy to receive that honour with cordiality, to embrace the nobie Lord with iincerity, and to rejoice at a circumftance of fo grateful a nature. The noble lord's public enmity to him was, he thanked Qod, at an end, and he, truHtid that their friendihip would not be attended wkh any confequences at all likely to injure their country. With regard to the other Honourable Gentleman, who had alfo been, much adverted to, on the fame grounds 6( reafoning, he made no fcrupletb fay, that in the heat and warmth of oppor iitioni when, as the Honourable Gentleman over the way had exprefled it, he had been viilified and grofsly reprobated, that Honourable Gentleman had uut donbrediy run him hard, and fomettmes treated him feverely ; but boWever his condtiQ: might have been stCGufabk on the fcore of want of wifdom, he trufted it had never merited cenfure, much lefs punilhmenti on the ground oi want of zeal to promote what be •^deived to be the true inteie^ oC^is gouhtfy, or V; -'f^ Vln7;:;jia' want } • ( «" ) want of integri'tjr. ' In the early part of that Honoar<- able Gentrleman's political life, when he had the happiiiefs to have hini for a friend, he had always fdund him open, manly, fair, and hqneft; as an «nemy he had found him formidable ; and formi- dable a perfon .of his great abilities ever mud be •found by whatever Miniiler he a£led againft. The Honor -.^ble- Gentleman who fpoke laft had fa id, he had been an'aflerter of the regal prerogative. He deiired to know in what ? He never had pufhed the ' ToyJal prerogative one inch beyond the limits defined :and pref^ribed by law, and however loud the clamour might at one time have been raifed againft him, as a ■ jperibn defirous of ruling by the influence of the .Crown; it had already been found that the change ■ ' Tvas unttue. Whatever opinions might be formed of the principles of the coalition that had been Co rnudi • 'talked of,..thB noble Lord and the honourable gentle- "" man kneW>him coo well, eithef to require or to expeS that he'wonld'have facrificed any one of hifr public '••^:principie.% or .dcuie any thing to purchafe theirfriend- -: -Ihip,' (mudr as it was to be dcfired, when it was ob- ' ,tained on jull and honourable grounds^ at alt incoQ' fiflcnt .with>;his charafter... After ftatin|^jhis very '"tfully^ hii 'JLordihip reminded the Hou^, .that iti ' .Monday's kiebate, he. hftd alked iCiCfingri^s, unable 'to raife a farthing to carry on a Wat. id tjie heait of -their country^ were (b detiermined ndt to grant tb|i XoyaliHs what the Miniilers, ought tojiave A^fi^kd ' -iuppb in their behalC, thatili^y v^.QUld jath^Juirp ■m 'l!9PK«^^' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 i 1.1 ■ana us . |2£ itt m ■ 2.2 u m ■■■ £ us, 1 12.0 11.25 I U 11.6 VV '^^ %. FhotograiM: ScMices Qxporation <^ as VMBT MAM STRHT WnSTIR,N.Y. USM (7l*)«7a-4S03 v\ * , ^ ^t^^ ^ -Ibfltwii^odfdliiiaM^ce of tiie war ? fCe ha^ Ik iftd, ^fiact bad MKNie bppontuni^ to «iii||iiire ktfai (he h&, and IbiiiBd it to be StiAQiLy at l» fcad ibited. Iii n^oft iof the States Hky reiiifiod |o pa/ Hi^ taoc l^vkdi li^r Cotigrefa for the fervlce of the, wi^. In Rhodes Ifland they lofe fisrcildy on the officers th^t canii to cofleA it, and drove chem awj^ ^ add ib tl|e Mafla- chuietti the tax was dUbounted in the Froiradtti:t )tMK^ iA JHdvp^ndefite iif Ameriai» iiis Uirdfhi^ iPd^lM^iiild loBf Ago have ttoniented isncottdtuon- %tf^^fi ffifk It, Ivid lie dn^ irfiinre 4if ^Stm^pt^^CloM have bien andc (b little itie A or hri^nliA turned e ( Ml ) fdni^jli^ ftti^'a d^^ t6tlieai^itllige of the ccnmfeiyl ; kecnrrmg ajl^ td tile pi^rfoniil' ififitNUM tiqiis and diatgeri tl^ llMl^liie^ ihrdim outi agaidfb hitm htrdUt hii I)dilg4ible- taftaadij^agiuiiff tto thunder i6f Mr. Hit's eld^tiehcej and 'braving /ivA thundeii^ i/as at ^a4 (Me |irefiiinption '^ hU lono- eencb ; a^d #tile hS^h^m6MMm htyfMuckHng to ^U^liyfelf V^i/ 1^ fiMld ilhdo^^ oppqfe U0cit «d the aeci^fa^oB»^«f otheiftf^ ht ilhelr abilities, ^ii^r ; elb^nencb^, and their charadbr vliat Mr, Smrekfry trnM/hmd m^t i fli6ri i^j^eedi in oppofltii^ to 4^ niotio>n,~ which he obpfideted at at direa ii^d (bvierie cdaiiire: of Miwifters.^'^f *^ - i JKf« i^(»ir iti(^^ expl^Ytt Ibfile^ing rdasife to tBt repioval of the army fimm hTew-Yorkf dedaring^^ diitiiad: he done iut dii^ when in office;' h^ .Cbonld' then haVe written to the Oerman Priobe,':^4r|iol» troops were iti that garriimi, upon the £ifc^fil^ iaiii after fetOing that they ini^t'befodlfjalofedof^'l^^ hnv^ fent out ordeiifor their retnova) to theWeftw Indies; but underftanding that fbmr Would '-hi wanted for HaKfax and Mora Scotia, he had htft puHM# ^<>fe meafttfes, becaufehe thocigbt themiii^ foine degree unneccli^ry. llis fuco^ortj^^liaipeveir^- not having tbe-famc reaibiif for d^ioiiig la(iakfc tb•^ ftl^ps he had^'mentionedt (hpuld h»^elUiktn than* and he had it from thie luglk^ authority^ ^cfaat thei^' ^re jranfports ready to tak^ thtni dntloardy -and: COtsv^ylKeinto^dicfW«&|n^Kei, . ! ■.f*'. w ■•-ft ^ i' <• ■' f M4 > ftta Ii!tithe amhorUir be «yf4r/0tbigb, the ^^ wj^i ddverwife* Heftatcd thift^ bid wi^pt^n ov^f tp ftheBrtn€t oiber i»ibpe0^c~rcliron» ftglioKl their rempv^l %>in >|ew York, there were no tranfportsto cmbar|f^iibenv <|nd. lie would jull trouble eht .Houfe with the ^efcitjo% ^ia Mend ftduld have ^fitn^ and enjoyodi htmretfl- TJielwouiided perfon cramled to the emertaii[iineiK» iod iiiuWduiidl Were dreffed, b^ ruch was the athcouf: cdfiibe B^bamn, that in ithe night; he Went yipftmBl»s)A(k6to off thie pbuAett ffo^'^ the focti,. aidl ibettb^ iKpofed tb« Wiliiadt e^cffli. . v tMs, Jii9UMilrifkj^:fp6h^i»^'fy^ tlme^ but the Hoilfe: Witt egioeedmgl^uHiljfiaikniilbf 4be^ qaetlion %, tfoniKtbt^ Jbc-bonottfiblei genfkman infilled' ihac Jj;|iiji > m iii i -*s (' MS.) tbeppaoc ^^19 innde^uamo the (itua^n df |)iC poiuitry., . . ., Mr. Cbaiiftllfir Pin reminded the bonouitlbfe gcntjcmany thathehad^ on the firft day pf ||)eTre- ^iminaries being 1^4 before the Houfe^ tixd, ^he peape was the falvation of this cou^ciy. The Chai^Q^'Ucr then proceeded to vindica^ Lord SHeU burner, and^.(aid, if the removing, that npbrle Lor^ woi^ld be a public gopd, however^ he ihouid rcjpei^ the lofs of a man, whofe abilities and c^ndi^^ li^ sidqiired, h^lhould be happy to thin^ the country hadl benefited, and although po^tisa^ j:moliui||^nt, and office, were pleafuig things (o hMD* he would *"■..■•*■■■. . < ** ■ ** ■» '" '• J* give his abilities out of office to any good measure, that any .other ?^ini^ry oiighf. propofc, , , . ^ , . t Mr. Gtar^ Oi^ficw rofe, and vin^ica^ccl Xor4, ^orth. An honouFi^ble gentleman, he faid, |^d called him a.Bar,barian -, fuc^lji lanjg;uage besought- ^uite UQpar)ia{nentary, 1^4 if .^^.^ ^^!^^}^ ^f'^,!^. tritor to hU country, which fome men would 4a;^ dicate, why was he never impeached, dn^g|e»libcth« andpuniilied } ■ ■ * Mr, A£v*/ifi and ff^, WilriMt both fpoke a^hS the motion. Mr* i£6'i/rofe, and kept the Houfe in a contiaOal roar of laughter during the, A«lit. liive Ibe ^oliea he alTured . the Sprafatr, he would JK>| d?taia nhi HouCe more than five minuica, nor would Jhei%eii^^ as fome others did» for five iteurs v for ilbwaa {4iia^ iet,\jvho would fpcak, they were the J«q(^, tnd 0. An mod mMsmmmii' ' ^ 'MhirtifnrriiiHi fa' ^ .: nJ u l>» j(« Ju" , I ■ <■»? Hw\ ■ /*-« . : ,* '■.• ■'J 1 m ■ts I.' ! 1^ ^-'l V 0^'y-'~fyW^] "it- ♦• * " si