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Majefty's prefent adminiftration are not immortal, their fucceffors may be inclined to attempt to undo what the prefent Minifters frall have attempted to perform; and to that objection I can give but this anfwer: that it is my firm opinion, that the plan I have stated to you will certainly take place, and that it will never be departed from; and fo determined am I for ever to abide by it, that I will be content to be declared infamous, if I do not, to the last hour of my life, at all times, in all places, and upon all occafions, exert every tower with which either am, or ever shall be legally invefted, in order to obtain and maintain for the Continent of America that fatisfaction which Thave been authorized to promife this day, by the confidential servants of our gracious Sove reign, who to my certain knowledge rates bis honour fo high, that he would rather part with his crown, than preserve it by deceit.

A glorious and true character! which (fince we fuffer his Minifters with impunity to answer for his ideas of taxation) we ought to make it our bufinefs to enable his Majefty to preferve in all its luf tre. Let him have character, lince ours is no more! Let fome part of government be kept in refpect!

This Epiftle was not the Letter of Lord Hillborough folely, though he held, the official pen. It was the letter of the noble Lord upon the floort, and of all the King's then minifters, who (with I think the exception of two only) are NOT E.

This appears fo evidently in the Virginian Addrefs, that we will introduce it. The Affembly of Virginia, in their Addrefs to Lord Botetourt's Speech, exprefs themselves thus: "We will not fuffer our prefent hopes, arifing from the pleafing profpect your Lordship hath fo kindly opened and displayed to us, to be dafhed by the bitter reflection, that any future adminiftration will entertain

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wifi to depart from that plan, which affords the fureft and moft permanent foundation of public tranquillity and happi nefs: No, my Lord, we are fare our maft gracious Sovereign, under whatever changes mult happen in his confidential fervants, will remain immutable in the ways of truth and juftice, and that he is incapable of deceiving his faithful fub jects; and we efteem your Lordhip's information not only as warranted, but even fan&tified by the royal word." Lord North,

his Minifters at this hour. The very first news that a British Parliament heard of what it was to do with the duties which it had given and granted to the King was by the publication of the votes of American affemblies. It was in America that your refolutions were pre-declared. It was from thence that we knew to a certainty, how much exactly, and not a fcruple more nor less, we were to repeal. We were unworthy' to be let into the fecret of our own condust. The affemblies had confidential communications from his Majefty's confidential fervants. We were nothing but inftruments. Do you, after this, wonder that you have no weight and no ref pect in the Colonies? After this, are you furprized, that Parliament is every day and every where lofing (I feel it with forrow, and utter it with reluctance) that reverential affection, which fo endearing a name of authority ought ever to carry with it; that you are obeyed folely from refpect to the bayonet; and that this Houfe, the ground; and pillar of freedom, is itfelf held up only by the treacherous under-pinning and clumfy buttrelles of arbitrary power? "If this dignity, which is to ftand in the place of juft policy and common fense, had been confulted, there was a time for preferving it, and for reconciling it with any conceffion. If in the feffion of 1768, that feffion of idle terror and empty menaces, you had, as you were often preffed to do, repealed thefe taxes, then your, ftrong operations would have come juftified and enforced, in cafe your conceffions had been returned by outrages. But, prepofteroufly you began with vi olence, and before terrors could have any effect, either good or bad, your minifters begged pardon, and promifed that repeal to the obftinate Americans which they had refused in an easy, good-natu red, complying British Parliament. The affemblies, which had been publicly and avowedly diffolved for their contumacy, are called together to receive your fubmiffion, Your minifterial directors bluftered like tragic tyrants here; and then went mumping with a fore leg in America, canting and whining, and complaining of faction which reprefented them as friends to a revenue for the Colonies. I hope nobody in this Houfe will hereafter have the impudence to defend American taxes in the name of Ministry. The moment they do, with this letter of attorney in my hand, I will

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tell them, in the authorized terms, they are wretches," with faétious and fedi fious views; enemies to the peace and profperity of the Mother Country and the Colonies," and fubverters* of the mu fral affection and confidence on which the glory and fafety of the British Empire defend."

After this letter the question is no more on propriety or dignity, They are gone already. The faith of your Sove reign is pledged for the political princi ple. The general declaration in the Letter goes to the whole of it. You must therefore either abandon the scheme of taxing; or you must fend the Mini fters tarred and feathered to America, who dared to hold out the Royal Faith for a retrunciation of all taxes for reve nue. Them you must punish, or this faith you must preferve. The prefervation of this faith is of more confequence than the duties on red lead, or white lead, er on broken glass, or atlasordinary, or demi fine, or blue royal, or biffard, or food's cap, which you have given up, or the three-pence on tea which you retained. The Letter went ftampt with the public authority of this kingdom. The inftructions for the Colony govern ment go under no other fanction, and America cannot believe, and will not obey you, if you do not preferve this channel of communication facre You are now puniffing the Colonies for act ing on distinctions, held but by that very Muntiry which is here fining in riches, in favour, and in power and urging the punishment of the very offence, to which they had themfelves been the tempters.

Sir, if reafons refpecting fimply your own commerce, which is your own convenience, were the fole grounds of the repeal of the five duties, why does Lord Hillborough, in difclaiming in the name of the King and Miniftry their ever have ing had an intent to tax for revenue, mentions it as the means of re-establishing the confidence and affection of the Colonies? Is it a way of foothing others, to affure them that you will take good care of your felf? The medium, the only medium, for regaining their affection and confidence is, that you will take off fomething oppreffive to their minds. Sir, the Letter ftrongly enforces that, idea;, for though the repeal of the taxes is promifed on commercial principles, yet the means of counteracting the infinuations of men with fretious and feditious views," is by a difclaimer of the inten

tion of taxing for revenue, as a conftant invariable fentiment and rule of conduct in the government of America.

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(To be concluded in our next.)

History of the Proceedings of the British Parlament, continued from Page 9 of our Magazine for January

Thurday, January 19.

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HIS day the house of common: met, parfuant to their adjournment. The Speaker took the chair about two o'clock, when Lord Barrington prefented the lift of the captains widows: After which Lord North prefented to the houfe several bundles of American papers, the titles of which being read, they appeared to be extracts of letters from the governors of the different provinces of Maffachusets Bay, New York, Pennfylvania, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, e. to the Earl of Dartmouth, and his Anfwers: Their dates from April to the 15th of December, 1774. As foon as the titles were read, Mr. Burke arole, and, obferved, that as no mention was made of any letters from Maryland, he fhould be glad to know whether the deficiency of intelligence from that province proceeded from a want of corref pondence, or from any political motive; and whether thofe papers were all the intelligence received from America?

Lord North anfwered, by declaring, that he had brought the papers in a bag, and that he had not examined them, nerther did he know whether there were any from Maryland or not; that if there were any, they fhould most affuredly be laid before the route. As to the papers on the table concerning all the intelligence, from America he would not undertake to fay, as thofe he had then brought with him were only extracts of facts contained in the original letters; that the author's opinions were not mentioned; it having been frequently found that the private opinions of people in power being made public had been attented with bat confequences, therefore his Majesty's fervants had determined, for the future, never to mention the privare opinion of any perfon. Mr. Burke replied, that in fome cafes it might be proper to keep back the private opinion of a perfon, yet, in fo critical and alararing an affair as that of the Americans, the opinion of a man in power on the spot must be of great fervice; he therefore was of opinion, that the whole of the in formation received from America ought

to be laid before the house, and not extracts of particular letters, such as suited the Minister's purpose. Lord North then moved, that the faid papers might lie on the table for inspection.

Monday, January 23. Mr. Alderman Hayley informed the house, that he had a petition to prefent from the merchants, traders, and other perfons in the city of London, He stated its contents fhortly, and, being defired from the chair to bring it up, prefented it, and moved that the fame might be referred to the committee appointed to take into confideration the, papers prefented by Lord North, by his Majelly's command, on Thursday lait,

The ground of the petition is, that, every article almost of British and Irifl manufacture are exported to a very confiderable amount to America; that we import a vaft deal of various raw materials from that country, which, being worked up here, are again exported in great quantities; that by the courfe of this trade it is directly and collaterally connected with our, trade to the Well-Indies; that the benefits derived from this commercial intercourfe are not barely con fined to a communication between Great, Britain, the Weft-Indies, and America, but that the different commodities imported from America add confiderably to our commerce with the Eaft-Country, Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Portugal, and the different Italian States. It tates the return in bullion, &c. from thofe different countries, and the various advantages arifing therefrom, particularly how this circuitous, intercourfe encreafes our feamen and fhipping, and gives employment to our various manufactures. It next proceeds to fhew the very great advantages we derived from our commerce with America till the year 1765, the period the effects of the Stampact were first felt in this country. It then adverts to the apparent benefits derived from the repeal of that law; and fo, taking notice of the act of 1767 for laying duties on tea, paper, painters' colours, and glafs, fhews that the trade and Commerce of this country flourished or declined, juft as the Mother-country perfifled or relaxed in her refolutions of laying duties for the purpofe of raifing revenue in that country. The petition likewife fated, that the Americans at prefent were indebted to the merchants of Great Britain to the amount of 2,000,000l. and concluded by praying, that they might be heard by themselves or agents before the faid committee.

Sir William Meredith arose, and proposed an amendment, viz. "that the word THE be left out, and A inserted in its ftead;" and that all the latter part of the motion be erafed, which would leave it in the following manner: That the petition might be referred to A committee." Sir William's opinion was, that the petition could not be referred to Thursday's committee, as that was appointed to take into confideration the American papers only; befides, faid Sir William, the hearing the merchants would greatly retard the business which was meant to be done for a reconciliation between the Mother-country and America

Mr. Burke and Mr. Townsend replied to Sir William with great force of argument.

Lord Clare was for not fubmitting to the Americans in the leaft degree, and ridiculed the opinion of those who faid we have a right to tax America, yet fhould not.

Mr. Charles Fox fpoke extremely fpirited in favour of the Americans, and repeatedly called to know who was the man who advised the late acts, for it was he that had created the difturbances, it was he that had placed General Gage and his troops in the ridiculous fituation in which they were, and it was he that ought to answer to his country for the mifchief and expence that might enfue in confequence thereof.

Sir George M Cartney was fevere againft the petition, though, as Sir George faid, he wifhed to be thought a friend to fo refpectable a body as the petitioners; petitions, he faid, were generally framed and brought about by fome interested perfons who had artifice enough to f duce others to fign them.

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Mr. Innes, a merchant of the city. made a fhort fpeech, declaring, that many of the merchants who had figned the petition expected nothing from it, nor meant nothing by it; that he could even mention their names: That all he knew about North America was, that no money was to be got, the Americans being refolved not to pay their debts; but, thank God, he had very little concerns with them.

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A divifion followed, when Sir William Meredith's amendment was carried 197 to 81.

Tuesday, Jan. 24. The following fif teen gentlemen were chofen and appointed a felect committee to try and deter

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mine on a petition of the hon. Mr. Byron, complaining of an undue return for two members for the borough of Morpeth; and alfo, the petition of feveral freemen and electors of faid borough: Lord Frederick Campbell, Chairman. General Howe, Mr. Combs, Mr. T. Foley, fen. Mr. Shuldham, Mr. Whitfhed, Mr. Mills, Mr. F. Honeywood, Mr. Grif fiths, Sir John Barrington, Sir Thomas Miller, Lord Wenman, Sir Charles Cocks. Nominees: The Lord Advocate of Scotland, Sir Charles Bunbury.

A petition from the merchants and traders of the city of Glasgow was prefented, which, after a general state of their trade with America, recites, that the people of that country are indebted to them in the monstrous fum of one million fterling. A motion was made that the faid petition be referred to the committee, appointed on Thursday laft, to take into confideration the papers laid by Lord North, by his Majefty's command, before the house, and an amendment being propofed, and queftion put, that the fame be referred to the committee appointed to confider of the petitions from the cities of London and Bristol, the houfe divided, Ayes, 68; Noes, 26.

Wednesday, Jan. 25. This day the houfe proceeded to appoint a committee for hearing the Westminster election; and the following fifteen gentlemen were chofen to try and determine the fame :Lord Charles Spencer, Chairman. Sir Ma. White Ridley, Mr. W. Drake, jn. Lord Viscount Chewton, Mr. G. B. Brudenel, Mr. Adam, Mr. Langlois, Mr. Hugh Owen, Mr. Brand, Mr. Scawen, Mr. Eyre, Mr. Ogilvie, Sir Robert Barker. Nominees: Governor Johnstone, Sir Richard Sutton.

A petition was prefented from the merchants and traders of Norwich, ftating their Apprehenfions and Fears of the prefent alarming ftate of America, and concluding in the ufual terms, by praying relief as to the wisdom and juftice of the house fall feem beft. Mr. Bacon prefented the petition, but added, that out of two thousand perfons, inhabitants under the above description, no more than forty-eight had figned it; that the morning preceding the evening in which it was agreed to, the Mayor had convened a meeting, to take the fenfe of his fellow citizens on the propriety of prefenting fuch a petition, at which the meafure was confidered, debated, and rejected; and that, on the whole, it was

no corporate act, but contained the fentiments of a very inconfiderable number of perfons, who affembled the fame evening, totally against the fenfe of the corporation.

Mr. Burke defired to know, if those who difapproved of the petition were American merchants, or perfons who had an intercourse at first or fecond hand with America, or on which fide the majority lay of those of that description.

Mr. Bacon anfwered, that he knew of none in that city who carried on a direct trade with America.

Mr. Burke then preffed him to declare, if there were any perfons in Norwich, whether for or against the petition did not fignify, who were interested in the trade to America, or if he meant to fay, that none of the manufactures or fabrics there found their way to America, through any channel; and if there did, if he would venture to affirm, that every perfon concerned in them was not interested in the prefent critical ftate of affairs in that country.

Mr. Bacon at length very reluctantly confeffed the affirmative of thofe feveral queftions; but after giving at least one proof of the wifdom of the citizens of Norwich, by affirming they had elected him to be their reprefentative unanimoufly, contended, that the petition by no means contained the sentiments of his conftituents.

Mr. Burke moved, that the petition might be referred to the committee appointed to confider the ftate papers, and the ufual amendments being added, it fhared the fame fate with the petitions from London, Bristol, and Glasgow, by a majority of 61 to 11.

A petition of a fimilar nature was prefented from the town of Dudley, by Mr. T. Foley, who followed his motion, by declining to divide the houfe, as he faid there was not the leaft profpect of fuccefs, the laft divifion being fo very small.

Mr. Skipworth next rofe, and acquainted the house, that he had a petition of a very different nature, to prefent from the manufacturers of Birmingham. It was accordingly read, and itrongly recommended the enforcing the American acts.

Mr. Burke rofe, and made the ufual motion. He obferved humorously, that the grand objection against the other petitions, was their being directed to commercial confiderations. Here (fays he) is a matter of downright policy. Tha

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gentlemen on the other fide have happily drawn the line. The other petitions all relate to commerce, theirs is a committee of policy; fince that is the cafe, fure this, which contains nothing elfe, not even a fyllable, fhould be referred by way of contradiftinction to this very politic committee. I do therefore move, that faid petition be referred to the committee folely defigned for the invefiiga tion of political matters. His advice, however, was not followed; it was confequently referred with the reft, after the ufual amendment was proposed and agreed to.

Sir George Saville then informed the house, that on his return towards home from the Milbourne felect committee, a petition was put into his hand, referring to a paper referred to the committee appointed to take into confideration the itate papers to-morrow; that it was figned by Mr. Bolland, Dr. Franklyn, and Dr. Lee; and that it prayed to be heard in proof of the allegations contained in said paper. The paper, he faid, was an addrefs from the delegates of the feveral provinces of America, affembled in congrefs: He thould therefore be glad to know in what mode the petitioners could be heard.

Mr. Bamber Gascoigne infifted, that the petition could not be received, as it related to matters of which the house had not yet taken cognizance.

Mr. Rigby was of the fame opinion. He faid, no Petition could be received touching the contents of a paper not yet known; that when the paper was read, the house would be able to judge whether or not the matter it contained was fuch as the house would think proper to enter into the confideration of.

Mr. Burke contended firongly, that the house could not, confiftently with their ufual mode of proceeding, refuse to receive the petition, nor when it was received, refufe to refer it.

Mr. Sollicitor General faid, that the whole converfation was irregular and unparliamentary, as there was no question before the house; and, that till the contents of the paper were known, it was impoffible to tell whether it would be proper to receive any proofs relative to the matters it set forth.

Mr. Burke then proceeded to frame a queftion, grounded on the arguments of his opponents, in which the negative urged, that when a paper was referred to

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a committee, no perfon interested for or again the allegations which it fet forth, could be permitted to give evidence, till fome refolution was first had on it, that is, fays this ingenious gentleman, we, houfe, will not hear a fyllable relative to a paper which we are to confider, till a committee has come to a refolution; then we will hear what may be offered against or in support of it, when we may as well not hear it at all.

Lord Frederick Campbell repeated the arguments of the gentleman who went before him, and after complimenting Mr. Burke very highly, obferved, that with all his ingenuity, he had been cobbling up a motion for half an hour, and was able to make nothing of it.

A tedious uninterefting converfation was now continued till near seven o'clock, when, on account of the thinnefs of the houfe, it was agreed that the propriety of receiving it, or rejecting it, fhould be confidered again to-morrow, previous to the house going into the committee on the American papers. The other fpeakers were Lord North and Mr. T. Townshend.

Thurj. Jan. 26.]The Houfe of Commons met at half after two o'clock, and proceeded to bufinefs, when Mr. Alderman Hayley prefented a Petition from the Merchants, &c. of the City of London, relative to their former Petition, ftating, that it related to policy, as well as commerce, and praying relief. The Petition being received and read, Mr. Hayley moved, that the order of reference to the Committee appointed to take their former Petition into confideration might be discharged. A debate now arose, well supported on both fides, till paft eight o'clock, when, the question being put, the Houfe divided, Ayes 89, Noes 250.

Petitions were then prefented from Wolverhampton, Liverpool, and Birmingham, which, after a fhort converfation on each, were difpofed of in the ufual manner.

Sir George Saville next prefented a Petition from Meff. Bollan, Franklyn, and Lee, which was the fubject of fo much altercation the preceding evening: This produced another warm debate, which continued till eleven o'clock, when the Houfe divided, Ayes 68, Noes 218.

[To be continued.]

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