XVIII. authority, the general refusing to comply, he BOOK was divested of all the posts and offices which he held under the government. This session is distinguished above all others for a multiplicity of motions in both houses, by different members, chiefly of the opposition, on various subjects of political concern, which gave rise to long and tedious debates; and which, be ing successively negatived by the influence of the court, it is fruitless to particularize. The most remarkable of these was a resolution moved by Mr. Gilbert, in the committee of supply, (March 2,) that a tax of five shillings in the pound be laid on pensions and salaries issuing out of the exche quer during the continuance of the war; which was carried by 100 to 82 voices; but, on the report, rejected by 147 to 141. A bill for the exclusion of contractors from the house of commons was also lost by a majority of two voices only; on the motion of commitment, the numbers on the division being 115 to 113. Upon the whole, it appeared that the minority gained strength, and a dawn of hope arose that the reign of the present ministry might not be immortal. On the 3d of June, 1778; the parliament was prorogued, and thanks were returned by the king, in his speech, "for the zeal shewn by parliament in supporting the honor of the crown, and their attention to the real interests of the na 1778. XVIII. BOOK tion, manifested in the wise, just, and humane laws which had been the result of their delibera1778. tions." At the eve of a war with France, and a war with Spain in no very distant prospect, two different lines of conduct now obviously presented themselves. Either, 1st, to withdraw our fleets and armies from America, and to direct the whole force of the empire against the house of Bourbon, in the hope of success so decisive as to enable us in the result to conclude an advantageous accommodation with America, conformably to the general ideas of lord Chatham; or, 2dly, which would have been infinitely the wiser, though the less splendid and attractive plan, unreservedly to recognize the independency of America, which would have opened the way, without difficulty, to an immediate and general pacification. But the present ministers, in the same spirit of folly and phrensy which had invariably marked their conduct, determined to adhere to their former project of conquering America; contenting themselves with opposing such part of the general force of the empire as could be spared for this secondary and inferior purpose, to the whole undivided strength of the house of Bourbon. The king of England," says the celebrated monarch of Prussia, speaking of the state of affairs of Great Britain at this period, "who still acted upon the XVIII. .1778. system of BUTE, combated with inflexible obsti- BOOK nacy the obstacles which on all sides presented themselves. Insensible to the miseries and misfortunes of his people, he only became, in consequence of the resistance he met with, the more eager for the accomplishment of his projects." In the beginning of June, 1778, the new commissioners, lord Carlisle, Mr. Eden, and Mr. Johnstone, formerly governor of Florida, arrived at Philadelphia, more than a month after the ratification of the treaty between France and America had been formally exchanged. The reception they met with was such as men the most opposite in their politics had foreseen and foretold, Dr. Ferguson, secretary to the commission, was refused a passport to congress, and they were compelled to forward their papers by .the common means. The commissioners, at the very outset, made concessions far greater than the Americans, in their several petitions to the king, had requested or desired-greater indeed than the powers conferred upon them by the act seemed to authorize. Amongst the most remarkable of these was the engagement 66 to agree that no military force should be kept up in the different states of America, without the consent of the general congress, or of the several assemblies-to concur in measures calculated to discharge the debts of America, and to raise XVIII. 1778. BOOK the credit and value of the paper circulationto admit of representatives from the several states, who should have a seat and voice in the parliament of Great Britain-to establish a perfect freedom of legislation and internal government, comprehending every privilege short of a total separation of interests, or consistent with that union of force on which the safety of the common religion and liberty depends.' These papers, when laid before the congress, were read with astonishment and regret; but from the declaration of INDEPENDENCE they had neither the will nor the power to recede. An answer therefore, brief but conclusive, was returned by the president Henry Laurens, declaring, "that nothing but an earnest desire to spare the farther effusion of human blood could have induced them to read a paper containing expressions so disrespectful to his most christian majesty their ally, or to consider propositions so derogatory to the honor of an independent nation. The commission, under which they act, supposes the people of America to be still subjects of the crown of Great Britain, which is an idea utterly inadmissible." The president added, "that he is directed to inform their excellencies of the inclination of congress to peace, notwithstanding the unjust claims from which this war originated, and the savage manner in XVIII which it had been conducted. They will therefore BOOK be ready to enter upon the consideration of a treaty of peace and commerce, not inconsistent 1778 with treaties already subsisting, when the king of Great Britain shall demonstrate a sincere dispori sition for that purpose; and the only solid proof of this disposition will be an explicit acknow. ledgment of the independence of the United: States, or the withdrawing his fleets and ar mies." The commissioners, finding the door of negociation shut against them, published very unwarrantable appeals to the people at large, calculated to excite discord among the several colonies, or seditious tumults against the established governments. These producing no manner of effect, they promulgated a most signal valedictory manifesto, containing a dark and mysterious menace, warning the people of America of the total and material change which was to take place in the future conduct of the war, should they still persevere in their OBSTINACY. The congress, who had taken little notice of their former addresses, were now provoked to publish a counter-manifesto, in which they say, "If our enemies presume to execute their threats, we will take such EXEMPLARY VENGEANCE as shall deter others from a like conduct." The commissioners now returned to |