perfectly approve the idea. Almost the whole requires a new regulation. I think the judges in particular ought not to be paid out of the civil lift, but by the public. They cannot be now displaced, but they may be starved by the crown. The fpirit of their independence

ought to extend as well to their falaries, as to their commiffions. I obferve, fir, in the Civil Lift accounts on the table, an article, "Lord Howe and Sir William Howe Commiffioners, for restoring peace in Amèrica 100l.

per week each, arrears 1,7421." The noble Lord with the blue ribband has juft called them Ambafadors. Have we then already acknowledged the United Colonies of America as á fovereign state, like the United Provinces of Holland? If we have not, that event must happen. The peaceful mode adopted by the brothers, according to my calculation, will not foon restore peace in America. It may poffibly be the period of the Trojan war, ten years at leaft, fo that the nation may compliment the Howe family with above one hundred thousand pounds free gift, at the rate of 100l. per week each brother, befides the fettled pay and perquifites, as officers. But, fir, what connection has

fuch

fuch an article as this with the Civil Lift, with his Majefty's household?

Let us not now, fir, rafhly proceed in the iniquitous method of deciding on these two important questions, the expenditure, and the increase of the Civil Lift, without hearing the evidence, or hearing it only in part. We have not fufficient Data to proceed. By fuch injuftice we loft America. We profcribed the inhabitants of Bofton without hearing them, and in the fame manner adopted coercive and fanguinary measures against the other colonies. Let us not now advance a fingle ftep but with caution, with fear and trembling. We are asked to furnish the minifters with weapons, which may be employed to our deftruction, against the liberties of our own country. An increafed undue influence muft neceffarily be created, and the overgrown power of the Crown enlarged. Minifters only want what are called the finews of war. The doctrine is now avowed of the legality of introducing foreign troops into the British dominions. The minifter has the power of the fword, when we give him that of the purse. How many nations have totally loft their liberties by

internal corruption, and by mercenary armies? There is an affected false alarm about faction and civil difcord, difturbances and † infurrections, but it is well known, that civil diffentions have often among us been even favourable to freedom. Montefquieu observes of England, “On voit la liberté fortir fans ceffe "des feux de la difcorde et de la fédition, le "Prince toujours chancelant fur un trône in"ébranlable."

I defire, fir, to fubmit to the noble Lord near me, whether, in point of form and precedent, instead of difcharging the order for referring the King's meffage to the committee of fupply, which his Lordfhip has moved, it would not be more proper to inftruct the committee on the two important points of the meffage, the paying his Majefty's debts, and the addition to the ftanding revenue of the Crown. If his Lordfhip and the Houfe adopt that mode, I fhall then move, "That it be an "inftruction

+ Wife and good Kings, being taught by reafon and experience, that nations delight in the peace and justice of a good government, will never fear a general infurrection, whilft they take care it be rightly admiitred, and find themselves by this means to be safe.

Algernon Sydney, page 417.

"inftruction to the faid committee, that, before

they proceed to confider of his Majesty's "moft gracious meffage, they do confider of "the causes of the debts due on account of the "Civil Lift, and likewife what further pro"vifion may be necessary to support the fplen"dor and dignity of the Crown of Great"Britain."

The

The PROTEST of the LORDS,

On the 16th of April 1777

Diffentient,

FOR

OR the reafons contained in the amendment propofed and rejected, viz. in lieu of the Address, to fubftitute the following:

To affure his Majefty of the inviolable affection and loyalty of this House; and that it is with the fincereft affliction we find our duty to his Majefty, and our country, entirely incompatible with our compliance with the request made to us in his Majesty's name.

That at a time when the increafe of Public Debt, attended with a decrease of the British empire, manifeftly required the utmost oeconomy in the management of the Revenues of the Crown, we cannot behold, without aftonishment and indignation, a profufion in your Majefty's minifters, which the greatest profperity of our affairs could scarcely excuse.

That