of proceeding, that the apprehenfion of its becoming general influenced the fubfequent conduct of administration to the diffolution of parliament. This opinion, however, feems ill founded. There was no reason then to expect, nor is there now to imagine, that the mode of fubfcribing to tefts wou'd have become general, or even extenfive. The influence of administration, in a great number of the boroughs, and in many of the counties, is at all times too well known to be called in queftion; and the principal and most celebrated leaders in oppofition totally difclaimed all tefts whatever, as unworthy of themselves, derogatory of their character as fenators, and reftrictive of their rights as men.

Other more probable caufes muft be fought, for the measure of diffolving the parliament. The civil lift was again become deeply in debt, and the diftreffes of the lower part of the houshold, from the withholding of their wages, were become fo notorious, and fo much fpoken of, that it feemed difgraceful to the nation, as well as grievous to the fovereign. It was therefore thought, and probably rightly, that it was intended, in the enfuing feffion, not only to demand a large fum of money for the discharge of the standing debt, but also that a requifition would be made, for fuch a confiderable and certain yearly addition to the civil-lift revenues, as would prevent all fuch mortifying applications for the future.

Though no doubt could be enter tained of the good-will and compliance of the then parliament, it was, perhaps, not thought prudent, to load them with fo difagreeable a talk, at the eve of a general elec

tion. Recent experience had fhewn, that this was a fubject which would excite much general difcuffion; and that however a majority might, from their zeal to the ease of their fovereign, overlook all the difficulties that could be raised within doors, fuch a fettlement, attended with the payment of a great prefent balance, and loaded with an entailed irredeemable future incumbrance, would not at all be fatisfactory without. People are apt to be out of humour at the parting with their money, and an application for future truft and favour, in fuch a temper, would feem, at leaft, ill timed. On the other hand, such a measure would be nothing in the hands of a new parliament, and would be worn out of memory, or become only an hiftorical reference, at the time of their natural demife. The finifter events which bave fince taken place have, however, hitherto prevented the making of any requifition of this nature.

Another motive may, perhaps, be supposed, for the measure of diffolution. That parliament had already paffed the moft hoftile laws againft America; and as they could not, with fo good a grace, refcind their own acts, the minifter was, in fome degree, tied down to a perfeverance in the fupport of those measures on which they were founded; whereas, in a new House of Commons, he would be fomewhat at large in chufing or altering his line of conduct, as circumstances varied, and they, if neceffary, might throw all the odium of thofe laws upon their predeceffors.

It may also be fuppofed, that as the iffue of the American measures became every day more precarious, it was thought a right measure to

have the elections over, before any unfortunate event could change the temper, or irritate the minds of the people. If this fhould coincide with the time of a general election, there was no doubt but the oppofition muft carry every thing before it. This, in all likelihood, was the ftrongest and most prevalent motive to this refolution, though the others might have had their fhare. And it may be fafely concluded, that a faving to the friends of government, by curtailing the time for conteft and expence, particularly in the counties, was not at all overlooked upon this occafion. Indeed, the oppofition complained that they did not receive fair play; that fome places were loft by furprize; and, they faid, that thofe in the fecret had infinite advantages, by fetting out betimes for the scene of action, and taking the neceffary measures to ftrengthen their intereft, before even a fufpicion of the defign was formed on the other fide.

However it was, very unexpectedly, and much to the furprize of the nation in general, (as it had not been a measure much practifed of late years, no fimilar inftance having occurred fince the year 1746, and even that being an unique in the long reign of George II.) a proclamation was iffued September for the diffolution of 30th. the parliament, and the calling of a new one, the writs for which were made returnable on the 29th day of the following November. Notwithstanding the furprize, and fhortnefs of the time, fome of the elections were contested with extraordinary perfeverance and ardor.

In London, the popular party carried every thing before them,

and returned all the members. Mr. Wilkes was again elected to reprefent the county of Middlefex, withont a fhadow of oppofition from the court, and Lord Mayor of that city for the enfuing year; and there was no doubt that the court party, grown fomewhat wifer by long and bitter experience, would no longer controvert his feat. The difpute, concerning that fingle feat, had produced to them more troubles, vexation, and difgraces, than the conteft with the twelve united colonies of America. It would have been an imprudence, of the groffeft kind, to mix thefe difputes in the prefent crifis; and thus, after near fourteen years ftruggle, it was thought the best way to leave him mafter of the field.

It was faid, by fome of those who are curious in attending to fuch obfervations, that notwithstanding the furprize, and the fhortnefs of the time, a greater number of the old members were thrown out than was common at general elections. However the fact might be, thofe who were the beft acquainted with men and things, did not augur any change of fyftem from this circumftance. The court, notwithstanding all the ill fuccefs of all the measures from which the beft fuccefs was fo confidently expected, feemed firmly refolved to perfevere in the fame courfe. It is faid, that private advices from America encouraged them to fet a light value on the public appearances.

On the meeting of the new parliament, Sir Fletcher Norton was, without oppofition, ap- Nov. 30th, pointed Speaker. the fpeech from the throne, the two Houfes were informed, that a moft daring fpirit of [C] 4

1774.

relittance

refiftance and difobedience to the law ftill unhappily prevailed in the province of Maffachufett's Bay, and had, in divers parts of it, broke forth in fresh violences of a very criminal nature; that thefe proceedings had been countenanced and encouraged in others of the colonies, and unwarrantable at tempts made to obftruct the commerce of this kingdom, by unlawful combinations; that fuch meafures had been taken, and fuch orders given, as were judged moft proper and effectual for carrying into execution the laws which were paffed in the last feffion of the late parliament, for the protection and fecurity of commerce, and for reftoring and preferving peace, order and good government, in the province of Maffachufett's Bay; that they might depend upon a firm and ftedfast resolution to withstand every attempt to weaken or impair the fupreme authority of this legislature over all the dominions of the crown, the maintenance of which was confidered as effential to the dignity, the fafety, and the welfare of the British empire; his Majefty being affured of receiving their affiftance and fupport while acting upon these principles.

The greatest fatisfaction was expreffed, at the peace concluded between Ruffia and the Porte, whereby the general tranquillity of Europe was rendered compleat; and the ufual affurance given of every endeavour to preserve that tranquillity, of which there was the greater hope, as other powers gave the strongest affurances of an equally pacific difpofition.

No particular fupply was demanded; but it was not doubted, that the fame affectionate confi

dence, and the fame proofs of zeal and attachment, would be met with in this Houfe of Commons, which had been conftantly received from others. The fpeech concluded, by particularly recommending to both Houfes, at this time, to proceed with temper in their deliberations, and with unanimity in their refolutions. To let the people, in every part of the dominions, be taught, by their example, to have a due reverence for the laws, and a juft fenfe of the blefings of our excellent conftitution.

An addrefs, in the ufual form, having been moved for, an amendment was propofed, on the fide of oppofition, that his Majefty would be gracioufly pleafed to communicate the whole intelligence he had received from America, to the House, as well as the letters, orders, and inftructions upon that bufinefs. The propofal for this amendment was productive of fome confiderable debate, as well as of a divifion.

The fupporters of the original addrefs went, in the first place, upon the old ground, that addreffes were no more than general compliments, matters of courfe at the beginning of every feffion, which did not preclude any future enquiries; that particular measures were not at that time, in any degree, objects of their confideration: and that American affairs would come in their due order before them, when there would be fufficient time for deliberation, and confidering them either feparately or in general.

On the other fide, it was contended, that though no particular meafares were immediately under confideration, yet, the address being drawn up in very general terms,

it implied, or even contained, a general approbation of all the late meafures purfued with respect to America; that this general judgment could not, nor ought not, to be given without the fulleft and cleareft information; that a delay in forming fuch judgment, while the most important concerns both of England and America were hanging upon it, might be fatal to both in its confequences; and that it was a deception to the inexperienced, and an infult to the Houfe, to pretend that their addreffes were words without meaning, and to be confidered only as echoes to the speech.

This speech, they faid, was not merely a compliment. It included a fcheme of policy. It included a fcheme of unfortunate policy; from whence nothing good had sprung, and from which nothing good could rationally be expected. They had hitherto been grofsly deceived, and this expreflion of good-humour and confidence, (for it was that at leaft, or it was nothing) must belie the genuine feelings of a new parliament, which ought to be cautious in committing itself in the meafures of the old, before it had time or means of examining them. They faid that this caution would be but decent, even tho' the acts of the former parliament had not left the empire in a flame; but when they met in the midst of the conflagration, it was abfolutely incumbent on them to know fomething of the true nature of the affair, before they took any measures for heaping on new combuftible matter. However pretenders to moderation might delude themselves, or attempt to delude others, with an idea of the unoperative nature of an addrefs, they

would certainly find their previous approbation pleaded against a fubfequent diffent-and an advantage. taken from thence to infufe an opinion into the nation in general, into Europe, and into America, that parliament had, that day, solemnly adopted all the former proceedings with regard to the colonies. That this opinion would alienate more and more the affections of the colonies from this uation, and therefore it would be neceflary to lay a ground for their future fyftem, by an examination into the true nature and effects of the paft.

The minifter faid, that it was not a proper time for entering into any difcuffion of the affairs of America he feemed to acknowledge, that a reconciliation was highly defirable, but that as no terms had yet been propofed by Americà, nor conceffions offered, it could not be prefumed, that England would make offers of fubmiflion; and that as matters were in this ftate of fufpenfe, he hoped the motion for an amendment would be withdrawn.

Several gentlemen who make a merit of being confidered as totally difengaged from all parties and connections, faid they would vote for the original addrefs; not that they would in any degree be confidered to approve of the late meafures against America, or that this vote fhould be at all fuppofed an engagement with regard to their future conduct on that fubject; but they would do it merely as a matter of business and courfe, and hold themielves, notwithstanding, entirely at liberty upon all future queftions.

In the course of this debate, the conduct of the late parliament underwent

derwent much fevere animadverfion, and the minifter was reminded of the mighty effects he had predicted from the late acts against America; they were to humble that whole continent in the duft, without any further trouble, and the punishment of Boston was to strike an univerfal panic on all the colonies; that refractory town would be totally abandoned; and instead of obtaining relief, a dread of the fame fate would prevent even the appearances of pity; that the event has, in every inftance, been the direct reverfe of the expectations thus held out. The caufe of Bofton is now become the caufe of all America; her fufferings have given her a kind of pre-eminence and fupremacy, which he could never otherwife have acquired; and these measures, inftead of dividing the colonies, have joined them in a clofeness of friendship and union, which perhaps no other means in nature could have done. The great speakers in oppofition never diftinguished themfelves in a more ftriking manner, than in this day's debate.

*

The division fhewed, that oppofition had not gained any great acceffion of ftrength by the general election, and alfo, that the temper of the Houfe at prefent, with refpe& to America, was not effentially different from that of the late parliament. The numbers in fupport of the addrefs, as it originally ftood, were 264, and those who voted for the amendment, amounted to 73 only.

The addrefs from the Lords was not less warmly debated than that from the House of Commons. It was couched in very strong terms, and declaratory of their abhorrence and detestation of the daring (pirit

of refiftance and disobedience to the laws, which fo ftrongly prevailed in the province of Maffachufett's Bay, and of the unwarrantable attempts in that and other provinces of America, to obftruct by unlawful combinations, the trade of this kingdom.

A noble Duke, who has long been diftinguished by his manly, refolute, and inflexible fpirit in oppofition, moved an amendment in the following words: "To defire "his Majefly would be graciously

pleafed to give directions for an early communication of the ac"counts which have been received concerning the ftate of the colo"nies, that we may not proceed "to the confideration of this most "critical and important matter, "but upon the fulleft information; "and when we are thus informed, "we fhall, without delay, apply "ourfelves with the moft earnest " and ferious zeal to fuch measures

as fhall tend to fecure the honour "of his Majefty's crown, the true "dignity of the mother country, "and the harmony and happiness "of all his Majefty's dominions."

The Lords in oppofition argued, that they could not agree to commit themselves with the careless facility of a common address of compliment, in expreffions, which may lead to measures in the event fatal to the lives, properties, and liberties of a very great part of their fellow-fubjects. They confidered an address, in the prefent fituation, as neceffarily carrying a confiderable influence upon their future proceedings, and as impreffing the public wirh certain ideas of the measures which they mean to fup. port; that whatever measures they fhall think it advifeable to pursue,