In a few days after the addreffes were presented, Lord John Cavendish, exhibiting in the House a printed paper, purporting to be a proclamation of his Majefty's Commiffioners in America, called upon Ministers to inform him as to the authenticity of it. This being acknowledged, his Lordship expreffed in the strongest terms his aftonishment at the contempt and indignity offered to the House, who, through the medium of a common newspaper only, were at length informed that they ftand engaged to America to undertake a revifion of all those laws by which the Americans had conceived themselves to be aggrieved. Notwithstanding the refentment he felt as a Member of the House at this minifterial infolence of conduct, his Lordship faid that he felt a dawn of joy break in upon his mind at the bare mention of reconciliation, whatever color the measures might wear that led to fo defirable an event. The great object of restoring peace and unity to this distracted empire outweighed fo far with him all other prefent confiderations, that he not only would overlook punctilios on this account, but even fuch matters of real import as would upon any other occafion call all his powers into action. On thefe grounds his Lordship moved, "that the House should resolve itself into a Committee to confider of the revifal of all Acts of Parliament by which his Majefty's fubjects in America think themfelves aggrieved." The

Minifters,

Minifters, though thrown by the furprife of this motion into fome perplexity, alleged in their vindication, "that the paper in question was not of fufficient moment to be laid before Parliament, being no treaty nor part of a treaty, but barely a preliminary which might poffibly lead to one. That a public proclamation, fubmitted to the general inspection upon the walls and houses of New York, could not however be intended to be kept from the knowledge of Parliament; and they conceived the authority exercised by the Commiffioners to be already delegated by the Act under which they derived their powers-that, as to the motion itself, they conceived it to be highly improper, as tending to difgrace the Commiffioners, and defeat their endeavors to obtain the moft advantageous terms for this kingdom. They alfo infifted, that, until the spirit of independency was effectually subdued, it would be idle and futile to enter upon any revifions; but from our late fucceffes there was little room to doubt but that the cruel thraldom in which the people of America were held by the Congress would be quickly diffolved, and that America would return to her duty with more eagerness and alacrity than fhe had entered into this revolt; and that then would be the time to talk of legislative regulations for their future government."

This language kindled anew the indignation of the Oppofition. "That the most important paper published

9

published in the course of this controversy, containing propofitions of conciliation in which the House were parties fo nearly concerned, fhould not be thought of fufficient moment to be laid before them, was treated as an incredible extravagance ; and to pretend that the Commiffioners were already authorized to engage for the revision of the laws in question, was a palpable falfehood. The Act by which they were appointed empowered them only to grant pardons, and enquire into grievances; and the concurrence of the House was abfolutely neceffary to give effect to the proclamation. If the Minifters oppofed fuch concurrence, it was evident that the offer was a branch of that infidious and treacherous fyftem by which they aimed to divide, while, by their fleets and armies, they were endeavoring to deftroy and exterminate the Colonies. To fay that this proclamation was not intended to be kept from the knowledge of Parliament, was a mockery of Parliament; for how could the Members of that House be fuppofed acquainted with the papers pofted up in the streets of New York?" But the doctrine they most of all reprobated, was, that an abfolute and unconditional renunciation of American Independence muft precede the revision of the laws in question, or any redress of grievances whatever. "Upon what precedent," said they, "is this horrid maxim founded? or what code of history or policy have our Minif

A

ters

人

ters made the rule of their prefent conduct? Philip II. of Spain, who was in his day confidered. as the most gloomy and unrelenting tyrant in Chriftendom, adopted a wifer and more moderate. policy. In his wars with the revolted provinces of Holland, he repeatedly promised, in terms the most explicit and pofitive, the complete redrefs of all their grievances, without requiring a previous renunciation of their independence. But the doctrine now broached was a doctrine which led to the laft extremities of human mifery. It was a condition which could not be enforced without the effufion of oceans of blood, and in fact it was holding out to America the option only of SLAVERY OF DEATH," The motion, after a long and paffionate debate, was negatived by a majority of 62 voices; and from this time many of the Oppofition, chiefly of the Rockingham party, abfented themfelves from the House, and a clear field was left during the greater part of the feffion to the Minifters the vaft fupplies demanded by them being granted in almoft empty houfes, without examination or debate.

A gloomy filence prevailed, and Minifters in the height of their parliamentary triumphs were ill able to counterfeit the external appearances of fatisfaction. The Members of the Seceffion, in vindication of themselves, urged "that there was no faving a people against their will; that they had for a fuc

VOL. II.

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a fucceffion of years apprized and warned the nation of the dangers attending those ruinous meafures which it was pursuing, and of the fatal precipice that must terminate this mad minifterial career-it was too degrading to be the continual inftruments of oppofing the ineffective weapons of reafon and argument to a fyftem of pre-determined irritation and violence that as good and bad fuccefs were equally urged, and alike admitted, as motives for a prefeverance in this course, it was not the part of wisdom to strive with impoffibilities, or to draw upon themselves the odium of their fellowcitizens by an ineffectual attempt to serve themthat they would therefore referve their exertions for a feafon when the prefent national delirium had so far abated as to afford fome hope of advantage."

Soon after the recefs the Minifter, depending perhaps on the prefent indifpofition of the minority to conteft any point whatever with the Court, introduced a bill to enable his Majesty to fecure and detain perfons charged with or sUSPECTED of the crime of High Treafon committed in America, or on the High Seas. With fuch negligent latitude, or, to speak more juftly, with fuch treacherous artifice of conftruction, was this bill framed, that, by the enacting clauses, the Crown was enabled, at its pleafure, to commit any perfon refident in any part of the British dominions to cuftody, without bail or mainprize,