hearts at the foot of the throne, and teftify their loyalty and their intention to fupport his just rights and legal authority. Could they refufe to do that? This was all that was expected, and lefs they could not do with any degree of duty and confiftency. The amend

ment implied a doubt that the Americans were in rebellion; but can there be a doubt? Is not America in open war against the king's forces? Is not all civil order diffolved? Is not the administration of the colonies in the hands of ufurpers? In this cafe our filence would be deemed an approbation of their measures. A neutrality is impoffible, as it would be impolitic to be maintained, as it would affront both. The Irith must declare, and for whom is it most juft, moft prudent to declare? For Britain, who was breaking down the barriers against our trade, encouraging our manufactures, and extending our commerce, or America who had refused to trade with us. The proclamation was not without fufficient authority; it was legalized by the refolutions of both the lords and commons: And the earl of Chatham's speech was not held of that confequence to be contradicted exprefsly by an addrefs of that house, for many of his fpeeches were more famous for their boldness than their veracity.

Mr. Huffey Burgh had hitherto been filent, and had been employed in framing a fresh claufe, as he thought that propofed by Mr. Hatch went too far: It promifed affiftance again any disturbances, which this country was not able to afford. He communicated his amendment to that gentleman, who confented to withdraw that which he had made. Mr. Huffey Burgh then moved for the adoption of his claufe, which was "To affure his majefty, that his faithful commons, equally zealous for the prefervation of the rights of his crown, liberties, and privileges of all the parts which compofe his extended empire, and for that firm union of the whole, which can never be maintained but by a just regard to both these objects, cannot fee without concern, the differences between the parliament of Great-Britain, and his American colonies, grown to fuch an height, as to threaten confequences fatal to all his majesty's dominions. That full of confidence in his majesty's unlimited, paternal ten dernefs for all his fubjects, and relying on the refources of his royal wisdom, for bringing those difficult matters to an happy iffue, they have been hitherto filent during the long agitation of a difpute which must be highly affecting to his faithful people of Ireland. That finding the event not answerable to the rectitude of his majesty's intentions or our most ardent whes, they fhould think themselves wanting in their duty to his majesty, and in regard to their own particular as well as to the general welfare, if they delayed to exprefs their fanguine hope of an amicable termination of a difference which they are apprehensive can never be terminated otherwife upon a folid and fecure foundation. That his faithful commons further allure his majesty, that when his majef

ty and his parliament of Great-Britain shall have graciously condefcended to conciliatory and healing measures for the removal of the difcontents which prevail in the colonies; if any perfons there fhall for the purposes of mif taken ambition, continue to foment disorders in that country, they fhall exert themselves with as much zeal to preferve every part of his majefty's dominions in due subjection, as they now do, to reftore the general tranquility and fatisfaction."

Colonel Brown urged the neceffity f the house contradicting the affertion of the earl of Chatham, that all Ireland to a man, was with America. Mr. Gardiner declared his abhorrence of the measures of the British adminiftration. He faid the British ministry have acted like thofe rafh practitioners who prescribe immediate amputation, when any inflammation or gangrene comes on, which might be cured by gentler means; and I am confident agreeing with the words of the original clause would carry us farther than we were aware.

Captain Hamilton gave a long detail of the proceedings of the different administrations from Mr. Grenville to lord North Said the laft war was merely an American war, as it was undertaken folely on their account; inveighed strongly against their ingratitude, and their behaviour in regard to the tea, and concluded they were abfolutely rebels.

Mr. Holmes spoke in favour of the addrefs; and Mr. Dillon declared he fhould be against the amendment, as he was against making any mention at all of the Americans.

Mr. Huffey Burgh. I confefs my strong ap prehenfions of the confequences that must refult from joining in an address which supports fanguinary meatures, and urges a vindictive administration to proceed to the last extremities. If the Americans are brought on their knees to the minifter, as had been the favourite expreffion, they can expect nothing but flavery. A conqueror, when he held his word over the head of the vanquished, has, indeed, been known to spare his life, but never to give him liberty. When the colonies are fubdued, to keep them in a state of subjection will require a large ftanding army, and thefe troops will be ready, whenever required, to come and deftroy the liberties of the other fubjects. Ireland will then be enslaved, fince those who are flaves themselves are the fittest to enflave others, and Great-Britain itself will at length become only the feat of a wide extended defpotifm. It is evident Britain has not relinquished her defign of destroying the rights of this kingdom; the has torn off already one of the valuable privileges of a free nation, an appeal to the houfe of lords: and the book written by Molyneux, in defence of Irish rights, was burnt by the hands of the common hangman. They only wait an opportunity, and it would be wrong to give them the least handle for one. An hon. gentleman (capt. Jephfon) has called the Americans the offspring of convicts, the outcafts of this country: many of them are fo, but why this cruel infult on perfons guilty of

· DO

no crime? The law fpared the lives of their forefathers who were criminals, but it is tenfold cruelty to deftroy their guiltlefs children. Many gentlemen have doubtlefs undertaken to do, as it is called, the king's business in the houfe, and are to be properly confidered for it: but this is the minister's business, and ought to have an extra charge.

Sir John Blaquiere repeated,-no fapply is wanted in confequence of this addrefs; I beg gentlemen would recollect that the acts in favour of Ireland were refolved on before the war broke out in America, and therefore are not held out as any inducement to this expreffion of loyalty. Moreover it will fhortly appear, that 25,000l. per annum had been faved on the military establishment, and near 30,000l. on contingencies, and therefore the king well deferves any expreffions of duty and loyalty.

Mr. Conolly and Mr. Yelverton replied in behalf of the amendment. The latter faid, a proffer of loyal hearts would foon bring on a fupply for the American war, as it was well known the Irish never gave their hearts with out their hands; that the miniftry were acting the wish of Caligula. They had cut off the rights of thirteen or fourteen colonies at once; Ireland would be next, and then, when liberty had but one neck, that too would be lopped off at one stroke.

Mr. Prime Serjeant and Mr. Solicitor General spoke against the amendment. The house divided thereon,

Majority for the clause, Tellers for the Ayes, Mr. Mafon,

90

54

36

Mr. Solicitor General.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr. Dillon,

Mr. Barry Barry. Thus the address was agreed to, as was that to the Lord Lieutenant, reported by Colonel Rofs.

The house ordered in, on the motion of Mr. Robert French, heads of a bill to regulate the future elections of members to ferve in parliament; and alfo, on the motion of Mr. Conolly, heads of a bill to repeal part of an act entitled, an act for the better keeping churches in repair; in which the proteftant diffenters were restricted from having any vote in parish veftries.

On this occafion Captain Wilson faid, he was concerned any gentleman had anticipated, at a very late hour on Tuesday night, his intentions of moving for a repeal of the veftry bill, which was fraught with fuch manifeft injuftice and abfurdity; but that he was content to fecond the motion, as he should, on the in

troduction of the bill into the house, have as good an opportunity of delivering his fentiments.

Mr. Wm. Skeffington rofe, and expreffed his defire the bill should be repealed or amended. Mr. Conolly. I held it particularly incumbent on me to move the repeal or amendment of it, as I have been falfely accused of being a promoter of it; the principles of the bill are diametrically opposite to my fentiments, declared both here and in another house, as, that bill fubjects a most respectable fet of men to be taxed without their confent. Iftedfaftly believe his Majesty has not better fubjects than the diffenters of this kingdom; therefore, on that very account, I wish to repeal that law, as oppreffive to them, and dangerous in its confequences.

Mr. Johnfon agreed to the propriety of the motion, and gave it his hearty concurrence.

Mr. Stewart spoke on the cruelty and oppreffion of that law; he faid it is a moft unjust act to ftigmatize fo confiderable a body of loyal fubjects, to whom we owe every thing that is dear to us; but I rely on the juftice and equity of parliament for a repeal of the obnoxious claufe; for was it not from the great loyalty of the diffenters, and their love of the prefent family, infurrections must have been the confequence of the undeferved treatment they have received; and their principles had been bafely misrepresented.

Mr. O'Neill. I most readily agree to the motion, that leave be given to bring in heads of a bill for the purposes mentioned by the Right Hon. Gentleman, and I hope he and his friends will form the bill in fuch a manner as to remove the causes for which the former bill became necellary to be enacted.

Mr. Hill, member for Derry, declared his with, that the part relative to the diffenters fhould be repealed.

Sir Edward Newenham. In the courfe of this day's debate on the American business, every gentleman who has fpoke either for or against the Americans, profeffed his unbounded loyalty to their good, pious and wife Prince; I hope therefore they will be unanimous in repealing a law which materially injures, and unconititutionally deprives the diffenters of their inherent right of voting, as the ancestors of thefe diffenters remarkably diftinguished themfelves in placing the house of Hanover on the throne of these realms.

Mr. Hamilton, a Northern member, faid he was of the opinion with other gentlemen, that the law should be repealed.

Thursday, 08. 12.] The houfe met, and went up to the Caftle with the addreffes to his Majefty and the Lord Lieutenant, and being returned, Mr. Speaker reported his Excellency's anfwer to the firit, that he would lay the houfe's loyal and dutiful addrefs before his majefty; and to the latter, that he was fenfible of the good opinion and affection of the Commons, for his perfon and adminiftration, and thanked them for the fame. Those answers

were

were ordered to be entered on the journals of the house.

Sundry accounts were brought in and prefented to the house.

Mr. Barry Barry moved for leave to bring in heads of a bill to amend an act relative to the creating lime kilns near to Dublin.

Alfo, for heads of a bill to ascertain the mode of obtaining injunctions in the court of Chancery, both which were ordered.

He then moved, that the proper officer fhould lay before the house, a lift of the men in garri on in Toome-caftle, with the number of artillery. I make this motion because I have been informed no fuch castle exifts, and yet a governor has been appointed (Sir George Macartney) with a falary of 1500l. a year. Now as it has been declared there is an arrear incurred, if any part thereof fhould be on that account, it is well worthy the notice of parlia

ment.

Mr. Waller thought it would be best to postpone the motion till the arrear was laid before the house.

Captain Wilfon declared he knew the place, and that this pretended caflle was not even fufficient to entitle to a vote for a pot-walloping borough.

Mr. O'Neill. The lands of that place belong to me, and the whole demefne was conveyed to my ancestors as firmly as law could convey them, fome centuries fince. That I have laid my claim not only before fome eminent lawyers in this country, but alfo before the moft refpectable counfel in England, and when I receive their opinions I fhall affert my right as far as law will allow; and in the mean time fhall certainly oppose any governor's taking poffeffion thereof.

Sir John Blaquiere replied, he would be far from oppofing any enquiry, but thought it had best be delayed till the worthy member could

determine on his claim.

Mr. Barry Barry. I really think nominal places with large falaries are worse than penfions; for pentions end with the lives of the penfioners, but nominal places after the death of the poffeffors, will be given to others, and the nation continue to be burthened.

Mr. Huffey Burgh was of the fame opinion; but Mr. Barry agreed to poftpone his motion till the accounts of the military establishment fhould be brought before the house.

Sundry accounts were moved for and oi

dered.

Colonel Burton moved, to bring in heads of a bill to explain and amend an act paffed last feffion for paving, &c. the city of Dublin.

Captain Willon. My knowledge of American politics is only derived from news-papers; I am convinced, as fuch authority has heretofore been deemed unavarthy the attention of the houfe, of my incompetence to difcufs the fubject, although fixed in my fentiments; for which reafon I did not take a part in the debate yesterday. It has been much complained of, that gentlemen too often come into the houle pre-determined how they will vote, let

the arguments be on either fide however cogent; but I think on some occafions it is expedient and neceffary, for gentlemen who do not make politics their entire ftudy. To fupport this pofition I must observe, that the variety of contradictory affertions, which often happen in the house, muft, on fubjects of importance, unavoidably bewilder the understanding of many;for instance, I have heard it afferted, that the greatest part of his Majefty's colonies are now in a flate of rebellion; and on the other hand, that they are only contending for their natural rights, in oppofition to a tyrannical miniftry. I have heard it faid, that the American proceedings are abhorred by almost all his Majesty's fubjects; and I have alfo heard it infifted, that an infinite majority of the Proteftants of Ireland with them an emancipation from their oppreffion, as the probable confequence of the miniftry fucceeding in their defign on America, must be the inevitable vaffalage of Ireland. Í have heard it infinuated, that a great man, well known in the political world, was a man of fire without judgment, and words without truth; whilft by others it has been alledged, he was revered by every friend of the conftitution, and was a moft able and unrivalled statesman. I have heard it faid, the import of the claufe in the addrefs refpecting the American difputes, was of no other confequence than to declare our attachment to his Majefty; and on the other hand I have heard it as firenuously contended for, that it was a very dangerous foundation for a more dangerous fuperAtructure. I have heard it afferted the Ame ricans are an infamous, fanatic banditti, confifting of the outcafts of both kingdoms; and, on the other hand as warmly maintained, that they are a wealthy, honeft, brave, induftricus people, toiling to enjoy their natural rights. I will not at this time pretend to give an opinion; but that if they are that defperate gang, as reprefented, they are certainly very unfit to be entrusted with dangerous weapons; I therefore beg to fubmit a propofal to the confideration of gentlemen, which is, that in the next addrefs they will infert the following claufe: That his Majefty's minifters may graconfly take into confideration the dangerous of fects, on his Majefty's liege troops, of these inhuman weapons called rifle guns; and that they may be pleafed to iffue a proclamation feribwith, that fuch of the Provincial troops as art called rifle men, be disbanded, and the barrels of their guns be turned into plough-irons; and by way of punishment to those who have made ufe of fuch weapons, that they may be convertcd into plough-horfes; and if any difficulty bould attend the execution of fuch orders, that Jaid men and guns be fent to his Majefty's minifters of the gospel in Canada, who will very foon have the matter accomplished, as they do not find the leaft trouble in much more miracaleus transformations.

The houfe then adjourned till Tuesday the 24th inflant. [To be continued.]

Pre

Account of the Proceedings of the American Colonifts, fince the paffing the Boston PortBill. (Continued from p. 558.)

ROM the inactivity of the armies in A

no doubt wish for peace. The fair opportunity that now prefents itself for carrying on a lucrative trade, not only with the Colonies at war, but with the Weft-India islands, and the Indians, cannot escape the notice of a wile and

that a plan of accommodation is now under confideration, in order to restore peace, and effectually remove every cause of future contention between the parent state and her colonies; but how flattering foever fuch hopes may be to those who have the profperity of the whole British empire only in view, there is a fpirit difcernable in the leaders of the contending parties that will not easily be fubdued on either fide. From this obfervation it needs not the gift of second fight to foretel, that no plan of reconciliation will ever be formed that will

content the prefent Miniftry and the prefent Continental Congrefs. The preparations on both fides for fhedding human blood are alarming to a very high degree; but, what is ftill worfe, inveteracy against each other begins to fhew itfelf. The Colonifts, who, hitherto, in all their remonstrances and petitions, in all their addreffes and appeals, have paid a becoming deference to the parent-ftate (in words at leaft) begin now to throw afide that dutiful regard which feemed to be the leading principle that influenced their conduct, and to affume another air in their deliberations, and fpeak in terms that denounce defiance. In this fituation, when the minds of a people are inflamed and irritated, if no gentle palliatives are applied, but, on the contrary, preparations made to crush, rather than overcome them by the more manly exercife of moderation, what is to be expected, but that, when the pillars of the fabric are made to totter, the mighty giant by whom they were fhaken should perish in

Our advices from America differ much with regard to the difpofitions of the Indians, refpecting the prefent difpute; nor is it easy perhaps to fathom the real intentions of a people, who probably would be glad to efpoule the ftrongeft fide. There is, however, a degree of malignancy in endeavouring to engage thofe favages in the quarrel that cannot be juftified on the principles of humanity. Introducing them upon the ftage of action for the purpose of butchering our fellow-fubjects, let which fide foever avail themselves of their affiftance, is equally impolitic and anti-chriftian. The deftroying angel that is already abroad will fufficiently depopulate the provinces without the affiftance of fuch infernal agents to Carry devaftation to their remotest bounds.

The fame uncertainty prevails with respect to the part the Canadians are difpofed to take in the prefent troubles. As merchants, they October, 1775.

government which they have adopted is calculated to keep them fo much under fubjection, as to leave them not fo much as the shadow of a will of their own, which is not derived from that of their fuperiors. It may be poffible, therefore, that they may be compelled to march against the Colonists; but it will be impoffible to make them foldiers.

The following letters will confirm what we have obferved of the inveteracy that begins to be difcernable between the parties engaged in this much-to-be-lamented contest:

Extract of a Letter from the Hon. LieutenantGeneral Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, Aug. 20, 1775.

"MR. Washington, who commands the rebel army, has written to me on the subject of the treatment of the rebel prisoners in our cuftody, a copy of whofe letter I tranfmit your Lordship, together with a copy of my anfwer. Major Skene, made prifoner at Philadelphia, is fent into Connecticut, where he is to be confined with fome others; and I understand they make war like favages, making captives of women and children.

The rebels are very numerous, and continue to throw up works, in fome points nearer the town than before. Their advanced parties have been drove back both at Boston and CharlesTown, and their pofts deftroyed. They landed a large body a fecond time at the light-houfc, where they made prifoners of a few marines posted there by the Admiral, and ten or twelve carpenters, who were repairing the house.

A fleet of tranfports, who had been out in fearch of live stock, is just returned with about 1800 fheep, and above 100 head of oxen, which will be fome relief to the troops in gcneral, and of great benefit to the hofpitals."

Copy of a Letter from George Washington, Efq, to his Excellency Lieut. Gen. Gage.

"SIR,