238 ANECDOTES AND SPEECHES [Ch. XL. vert to Triennial Parliaments. His Lordship concluded with desiring that the House might be summoned for next day, declaring his intention to move an Address for the dissolution of the present Parliament.'-The motion was negatived. That Accordingly, on Wednesday the first of May, which was next day, his Lordship moved, " an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, most dutifully and earnestly beseeching his Majesty, that under the late violations of the rights of the Electors of Great Britain, in the election for Middlesex, still unredressed, and in the present conflict which has so unhappily arisen between the claims of the House of Commons on one side, and those of the people on the other, his Majesty will, in his paternal wisdom, deign to open the way to compose this alarming warfare; and that, in order to prevent the said House, and the Nation, from being involved in intemperate discussions of undefined powers, which in the extreme may endanger the constitution, and tend to shake the tranquillity of the kingdom, his Majesty will be graciously pleased to recur to the recent sense of his people, by dissolving, after the end of this session, the present Parliament, and calling with convenient dispatch a new Parliament." He went through all the arguments which had been formerly used on this subject; and towards the conclusion of his speech, he said, that though no man prided himself more on his attachment to his native country, yet the proceedings of those people who called themselves its governors had rendered it so disagreeable to him, that was he but ten years younger, he would spend the remainder of his days in a country (meaning America) which had already given the most brilliant proofs of its independent spirit; nor should my advanced age (continued he) even now prevent me, did not considerations of the last consequence (my bodily infirmities) interfere.'The motion was negatived. The session ended on the 8th of May, 1771. CHAPTER XLI. Two interesting Anecdotes of the origin of the American War-Impositions upon the People of England-Lord Chatham's Speech against quartering Troops in America-His Speech against the Quebec Bill. DURING the two succeeding sessions Lord Chatham did not attend Parliament. Recent experience had convinced him, that his eloquence, his sagacity, his character, were of no estimation, in an assembly, where arguments more tangible than words, had made so deep an impression upon the majority, that no language, no sense of honour or of danger, had power to awaken them to a just conception of their own disgrace and insignificancy. In the year 1774, the affairs of America brought him forward again. Nothing else could. He resolved to make every attempt he was able, to avert the destruction, which he saw was inseparably attached to the measures the Ministry were pursuing. The History of the rise and progress of the American war, has been given in several books. But there are two Facts, respecting its origin, which seem to have escaped the observation their importance deserves. The first is respecting the East India Company. -When the duties to be paid in America on paper, paint, and glass, were repealed, it was pretended, that the Tea duty (which had been imposed by the same Act of Parliament) was left standing, to serve the Company. But this was not the fact. The tax was left unrepealed to preserve the right, as it was called, to tax the Colonies. That was the true motive. The service of the East India Company made no part of the consideration. The tea sent to Boston was that sort called Bohea, which was conferring no favour on the Company, but the reverse; for that sort of tea was no burden to the Company. It was the sort called Singlo, which lay heavy on their hands, and of which all their warehouses were full. But the resolution was agreed to in a private Committee, when only three persons were present: Mr. Bolton was chairman. A matter of such importance ought to have been agitated in a full Committee, which consists of eleven. The truth is, the Bohea was more saleable than the Singlo; it was therefore the resolution of the Cabinet to send the most saleable: presuming that the temptation to purchase being greater by the offer of good tea, than by the offer of an inferior sort, some of the Americans might be thereby induced to barter liberty for luxury, and, perhaps, a schism might be created among them. Had the question of determining the kind of tea to be sent to America been agitated in a full Committee, it is more than probable, that the interests of the Company would have prevailed over the views of the cabinet at St. James's. When the Directors were informed of the conduct of the Committee, they explained this distinction of the tea to the Ministry, and wished to have the Singlo substituted. But the Ministry would not consent. It was again objected to, at the Minister's house. To the last application, Lord North, being perhaps wearied with representations on the subject, VOL. II. R said—“ "It was to no purpose making objections, for would have it so." These were his Lord the meant " *The Author of Historical Remarks on the Taxation of Free States, formerly a respectable Member of Parliament*, written in the year 1778, relates an anecdote of English taxation, which, as the book is in few hands, it may not be improper to insert here. [The author printed only fifty copies.] "It was told me, says the Author, by an intelligent and most respectable Member of the last Parliament (Mr. White, of Retford). That worthy old gentleman lived in friendship with Sir Robert Walpole, and I believe is the only man of that description, who never took an emolument from the Minister. He gave me this account of his giving up the Excise-scheme. The bill, having been opposed in every stage, was ordered to be reported. The question for its being reported, was carried by a majority of sixty. The nation was in a ferment, and there had been some dangerous riots. "On the evening before the report, Sir Robert summoned a meeting of the principal Members, who had supported the Bill. It was very largely attended. He reserved his own opinion to the last: But perseverance was the unanimous voice. It was said all taxes were obnoxious, and there would be an end of supplies, if mobs were to controul the Legislature in the manner of raising them. When Sir Robert had heard them all, he assured them, 66 How conscious he was of having meant well; but in the present inflamed temper of the people, the act could not be carried into execution without an armed force. That there would be an end of the liberty of England, if supplies were to be raised by the sword. If, there * For Liverpool. |