with the man, be he either Frenchman, Spaniard, Dutchman, or even American, who drew his fword against this country; that till that fword was fheathed, he should hold that man his bittereft foe, and treat him accordingly; that it was by fuch conduct only we could reasonably hope for a peace, at once fafe, lafting, and honourable. He hoped, therefore, minifters would liften to no extravagant demands of ceffion and facri fice, declaring, that though after a war that had been on the whole rather unfortunate and calamitous, we could not expect to make as good a peace as we had a right to infift on at the end of a war replete with glorious fucceffes, that nevertheless, armed as we now were, we had every thing to look for from the valour and skill of our admirals and captains, and the bravery and zeal of our failors and foldiers, and therefore were under no neceflity of making mean and dif graceful conceffions. His Lordship alfo made feveral remarks on different paffages of the speech and address, and declared, that he had never confidered avowing the independence of America as a thing good for England, though he was of op nion, that after parliament had ordered it to be conceded, a minif ter was bound to grant it. On this ground he juftified the Earl of Shelburne, declaring that he had not fet the fun of Britain, but that parliament had been the magician and the wizard that had conjured it down. He concluded by obferving, that he pledged himself to nothing more by his affent to the addrefs, than that he was ready, with his life and fortune, to affift his Majefty in profecuting the war, if the enemy fhould obftinately refute to come to an equitable conclufion of it: but that, on the other hand, he would co-operate with his Majesty's minifters in all their endeavours to make a fair and bonourable peace.

Mr Secretary Townfhend extolled Lord Howe in the very higheft frain of panegyric, and glanced a charge against Gov. Johnstone that he was envious of his fame. He bore teftiriony alfo to the fincerity of Lord Shelburne, whom he never yet difcovered, fince he had been in office, to deviate in the fmalieft degree in his private letters, from his public promifes. As to the colonies being called The United States in his letter to the Lord Mayor, but not fo in the speech, the reaton was obvious; in the late ter, an hiftorical account was given of the proceedings relative to America, before we had agreed to declare her independent; in his letter, the account was given after that period.

Mr Pitt rofe in replication to the feveral gentlemen who preceded him, and very foJemnly affured the Houfe, that he never woud connect himself with any fet of men whofe profilions were not lincere, nor with

a man who would not act as he profefled. He faid, he was glad that gentlemen would object to every part of the address which appeared to be obnoxious to them; and from what could be collected from thefe dif ferent opinions, he was convinced admini. ftration would regulate their conduct accordingly; that was the only criterion by which he wished his actions, and thofe of the other fervants of the crown, fhould be tried. In a few days, he hoped to be able to inform the Houfe of the terms on which a general treaty for peace had been entered into; at prefent it would be very impolitic and inprudent to be more explicit.

The motion for the addrefs was then put and agreed to

Next day, when the report from the com mittee appointed to draw up the addres was brought up, Mr Minchin rofe, and fad, he could not but exprefs his aftoniment at the extraordinary cenfure in the debate of yesterday caft upon the first ornament of the naval profeflion, who flood very high in his own cftcem, and who deferved high's of the public, whom he had effentially ferved, not only on a late occafion, but thick the whole courte of his life. To lay that the British flag was tarnified in his hand, was to fay what fcarcely a fecond man work believe; and he was the more forprifed :0 find it come from fuch a quarter. It was ftrange the Hon. Member should endeavour to take a more from the eye of the Nob Lord, while there was a beam in his ov Another point, which had been agitated: the debate of yesterday, and which he wif ed to fpeak to, was the extraordinary affer tion that had fallen from the Noble Lord a the bine ribbon, that the prefent glories ftate of our navy was wholly owing to the exertion and vigilance of the late Furft Lord of the Admiralty. That House knew that the affertion was ill-grounded; and if he Noble Lord food in need of any proof of the weak, miferable, and difabled ftate t our navy, as left by the late First Lond the Admiralty, let him look to the late the Royal George: there were, he added, many other fhips, that be could name, in a ftate of danger equally bad.

Capt. John Luttrell called Mr Minchin t order.

Com. Johnftone infifled, that he was ged to affert a fact in his own defence, whi he was ready at any time to prove. Her peated and infifted that Admiral Barring had bore away before the wind four league, instead of facing the enemy.-He called to on an Hon Member who was in the cogagement to difprove or contradict his fertion; and as he did not, it furely w fair in argument to infer that he ad the truth of it; fince, if it was falfe, ever

tie of honour engaged him to fay fo, not only in juftice to the Noble Lord, but for the fake of information to the Houfe. But, to fet this matter in a more pointed view, he then called upon any officer in the Houfe to contradict him, and offered to meet any three officers who were in the fleet, and undertake to convince them, that the conduct of the fleet before Gibraltar was not only dishonourable, but productive of the very humiliating terms now offered to us; inafmuch as, if the combined fleet were defeat ed, as they ought to have been, with either seamanship or skill, we should now dictate, and not receive, the conditions of peace. He never had, he faid, accufed Lord Howe of acting wrong. His accufation was, that there had been a grofs mifconduct fomewhere in the fleet, and that point fhould be fifted to the bottom, and pledged himself fo to do. The Hon. Gentleman had alluded to the beam in his eye. This obfervation could not reach his feelings; there was no beam or stain in his character; he had applied for a court-martial, but could not obtain it; nor could he hear any charge that was not fo vague and general, that it was mpoffible to make any answer to it.

Mr Secretary Townshend declared, that I was to him very extraordinary, that an fficer, fuch as Lord Howe, admired by the avy at home, revered by his country, and Ireaded by all the powers at war, fhould evertheless have the hard fate within those Talls to have his character affailed, his hoour arraigned, and laurels blafted by one ember; who, though a naval character, ad yet a series of great actions to perform ) reach the fame of Lord Howe.

Com. Johnstone alledged that he had not btruded on the Houfe, but was particularalluded to and called upon by a flourish g orator, openly to declare and avow if had objected to the conduct of the Adiral in his expedition to Gibraltar. mplied with the call; for he was not one thofe who felt fear to fpeak the fentients of his mind, or the refult of his judge

ent.

He

Mr Hamet objected to the address, on count of its granting independence to Ame4. The refources of the country, he faid, ere fo far from being exhaufted, that he uld take upon him to produce two huned millions. He trufted that Gibraltar as not to be given up.-If any minifler ould confent to its ceflion, in his opinion, = would deferve the fevereft punishment. Mr Burke assured the Houfe, that he Guld not take up much of their attention that late hour; and though he did not innd to make a motion, yet he could not mit such a speech as that before them to ape thofe marks of contempt and indig

nation which every fyllable of it, from the beginning to the end, deferved. He called it a farrago of nonfenfe; an infult to com. mon fense; an infult to the House individually; an infult to the Houfe collectively; an infult to his Majesty; an imputation on the virtuous part of the miniftry; whom he attempted to perfuade into a belief that the fpeech was a delusion and mockery to their reafon.

From these fevere epithets the tranfition was fudden to comments on every word of it; thefe comments he placed in a variety of ludicrous attitudes, which he painted at pleafure in different lights and fhades, to the infinite entertainment of himself and the whole audience.

Mr W. Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a ftile of dignified cenfure, called the attention of the Houfe to the real fituation of the country, if they could collect their ideas, after the diffipation they must have been thrown into by the drollery of the last speaker, whofe imagination was fo extenfive, and whofe matter was fo laughable-This was not a time for jest, though the Hon. Gentleman had jested a great deal; fo much indeed, that, if it was not for the brightness of his genius, what he had faid would have appeared little better than buffoonery. Mr Pitt then recapitulated feveral arguments advanced on the former debate, in support of adopting the address as it flood.After which the addrefs paffed without a divifion.

On Dec. 10. Mr Burke moved, that the clerk fhould fead the titles of the feveral bills which he had obtained leave to bring in, on the 11th of Feb. 1780. These bills were for fettling the crown-lands, &c. and uniting to the crown the county-palatine of Chester, the principality of Wales, and the Duchy of Lancafter.-He fuppofed that, as the House had then unanimously given him leave to bring in the bills, it would not be neceffary to wait at prefent for his Majefty's previous confent. [vol. 42. p. 130.]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, he was not prepared to give his Majesty's confent; nor indeed could he fee the neceflity for the Hon. Member to be in fuch hafte; for the bufinefs did not ftand now as it did in 1780: he must recal to the memory of the Houfe that part of his Majefty's fpeech in which he mentioned the royal forests, &c. the Houfe would fee, from this, that minifters had not lost sight of this great object: inquiries were now on foot; and as foon as all the neceflary information could be collected, it shoud be laid before parliament. He prefumed this would fatisfy the Houfe, and that in this bufiuefs the Hon. Member did not wish to run a lace with his Majesty's minifters.

Mi Burke grew very angry at this last obs 4 L * fervation

fervation; he faid he was not going now to ftart; he had started, and was at the winning-poft, before the Hon. Member had a feat in parliament: from the year 1780, he had received the orders of the House to bring in the bills in question: if he was to run a race, it should be with aged horfes :--He then complained, in the moft paffionate terms, of the injury done him by ministers, in taking out of his hands a business which he had undertaken by order of that Houfe; and he did not forget to compare the conduct of the new miniftry on this occafion, to that of Lord North, who had wrefted from Col. Barré the merit and honour of the hill for appointing commiffioners of public accounts. He concluded by declaring, that as he had acted by order of the Houfe, fo nothing but the order of the House should make him give up the management of his bills; and therefore he certainly would, as foon as his Majesty's confent fhould have been expreffed, move for leave to bring in those bills.

On Dec. 11. when the order of the day, for confidering the fupplies, was called for, and a motion about to be made for the Speaker to quit the chair, Mr Fox rofe. He faid, that previous to his voting on the bufi. ness of the day with any fort of farisfaction, he could not forbear animadverting on the conduct of ministry, in grofsly deceiving the public with the ridiculous idea of peace; and he was at a lofs, whether their ignorance or iniquity should attract most his abhor. rence and deteftation. So far back as the 23d of last month an Hon. Secretary had written an official letter to the Lord Mayor, and other perfons in the city of London, acquainting them, that a treaty of peace was nearly completed, and that the decifive ifflue of it would be known on the 5th of this month, which induced the adminiftration to prorogue the parliament to that day, on which, to a certainty, gentlemen were to determine, if there was no peace, on the means of profecuting a vigorous war; yet, wonderful to be reflected on, on the arrival of that much-expected period, the minister was as totally ignorant of the ftute of negotiation as any man in the kingdom. What were the public to infer? What were the reprefentatives of the people to conclude from this deception? Certainly either fome untoward and unexpected interruption has retarded the progrefs of the negotiation, or no fuch treaty had ever been commenced. In common charity he was inclined to the former opinion. In the name of common sense, why are not the reafons afligned, which in all probability might exculpate minifters in fome degree for their impofition on the public at Jarge? He would not even urge them fo far, but to pledge themselves that fome untoward

event had impeded or retarded the treaty, which it was impoffible for human wifdem to forefec; and that at the time the letter was written, that they were as morally certain, as the nature of affairs would admit, that they would have had a categorical and definitive answer for the meeting of parlia ment on the day to which it was prorogued. If there were reafons exifling at that mo ment to render fuch an eclairciflement im prudent and impolitic, certainly there was no reason to justify their declining to promife ample elucidation on the fubject at fome future period. However, it became the dignity of that Hoafe to prefs and expect it, especially when official men became lo reluctant on a point fo clear and explicit: for the Hon. Member could not deny that he afferted that which, whether true or falfe, at the time of the writing, incontrovertibly terminated in the groffeft deception and falsehood on the very day on which the completion of the act was promifed, without any qualification, to be communicated. This being the Hon. Gentleman's specific fitua tion, he had too much confidence in his own good fenfe and difcretion, to doubt an inftant of his giving the neceffary explana tion; or if that could not at prefent be done with propriety, he was fure the Hon. Gentleman would make a complete and fatie factory apology.

Mr Secretary Townshend feemed extremely furprifed at the Rt Hon. Gentleman's requifitions, but peremptorily declined to comply with either. As to the explanations required, it would be imprudent and impohitic in him to convey them at this junŝtare, however naturally difpofed he might be to give every communication to the Hook, which fhould in any degree gratify eidst curiofity or anxiety. As to apologies, he did not think any neceffary, where he thought himself correctly right, and on a fubje& for which he received the praife and commendation of some of the most refpecable men in the city and elsewhere. He was justifiable, by events and circumstances emit ing at that period, in writing that letter, which he fent from the belt of motives, víz. a conviction that rogues and stock-jobbers would take advantage of the prorogation of parlia meat, inferring very naturally that it aro from the treaty then in agitation; and ia order to prevent mifchiefs, fimilar to the which happened in the late reign, when every man may recollect with what infa mous means large fortunes were acquired, he thought it prudent, just, and honourable, to fet all parties on a level, and give all ranks and claffes an equal chance, by common information to all, of what otherwi would be only partially known, and to few placed in a fituation to enrich themselves

at

at the expence of unfufpecting individuals. This was the fole motive of miniftry; they had no finifter view in it; and if the Hon. Gentleman, or any one elfe, can point out any man bafe enough to traffic in the stocks, who might have availed himself of any official information for that purpose, he would be the first one to drag him into light, that he might meet the punishmen: he merited; for every perfon who knew him, would bear teftimony, that there was no man who detefted, more than he did, that infamous hand wretched trade of stock-jobbing. As for the compliments paid to his integrity, at the expence of his understanding, he owned no obligation for them, inafmuch as his ahead and heart were in unifon in this tranfaction, which the common fenfe of man te kind approved, however it may be mifreprefented by the eloquence of fome gentlemen, to ferve purposes altogether mysterious or problematical.

Gov. Johnstone rofe, he said, not to give any oppofition to the fupply, but barely to ak miniftry the reafon of not fubmitting to the confideration of the Houfe, in the first instance, the provisional articles entered into with the Americans; for fuch procedure would rather accelerate than retard their negotiations. When a definitive treaty fhould be agreed on with France, and other belligerent powers, ftill it would not be conclufive or binding, until it acquired the approbution of that Houfe. Why then was not the bufinefs in its progrefs regularly laid before them, but more particularly thefe pro visional articles? because they were of more importance and confequence than the treaty with France, as they were the object of contention between all parties! Exclufive of that confideration, there were in the Houfe differences of opinions on the subject of independence, which he for one believed most folemnly to be furreptitiously furrendered, under the pretences of a power in an act of parliament which did not exist in it. But whether it was furrendered under this act, or by the prerogative of the crown, it became the duty of that House strictly to investigate, as a matter of greater importance to themselves and pofterity, than all the questions ever agitated within those walls. The public were never more anxious, nor ever had more reasous for anxiety, than at this awful crisis. We are all anxious to know what terms have been made for the unfortunate loyalifts, who facrificed every thing to their attachment to the best of Sove reigns, and this country and conftitution; alto what fatisfaction, indemnification, or ecurity, has been ftipulated for British merchants, in compenfation for the debts due o them from America; and alfo what bounlaries have been set between these indepen

dent ftates, and our remaining poffeffions in the West-ladies and America. As for thefe provifional articles, they are the principal foundation of all our proceedings within these walls; and it is impoffible for us to decide on the advantages or difadvantages of a general peace, but from the nature and circumftances of the agreement in the prêlis minary articles, which undoubtedly would be null and void, if a definitive treaty could not be concluded upon between this country and France. If ministers would perfevere in refuting to give the House such information as was now called for, he himself would move the Houfe to compel them to it.

Mr Eden followed Gov. Johnstone in faying, it was the duty of adminiftration tô lay before the House such information as would enable them to judge of the propereft meafures to be concluded upon.

Mr Wraxall contended, that it was not in the moment of her brilliancy that Britain was to be dictated to. No honourable peace could be acquired at this crifis; and, what was more extraordinary, he was confident that France had not yet entertained a serious idea on the fubject. She had dispatched twelve fail of the line, and fixty-three tranfports to the West-Indies, at the very time that he was amusing and deceiving this country with the femblance of pacification; However, we had nothing to apprehend from her fallen and fractured power, but every thing from faction and timidity at home. Her fleets were defeated in the Eaft and West Indies; but, in the latter, fo complete was her defeat and difgrace, as to leave her almost without a navy, in comparison with the fleets of Britain. From Holland, there is nothing to excite apprehenfions. Their fleet has been ruined by Adm. Parker, and nothing but diffention and difcord prevail now among them. In fuch a view of our own enviable ftate, and the wretched condition of our combined enemies, how must it excite his aftonishment to hear from very respect able authority, that it was actually in contemplation, besides ceflions in Europe, tô concede to France fuch poffeffions in the Eait-Indies, as muft make her mistress of that valt continent and all its commerce: He concluded by adjuring the Houfe not to concede more than was originally the object of contention, if they were not perfuaded that their fituation was inferior to their foes; but the contrary opinion was afferted with exultation, from every part of the House. It is true that peace was a very defirable object, but yet it was not to be purchased at the expence of our eternal disgrace, and only to obtain a peace which on fuch terms could have no duration.

Mr Burke faid, he was furprised to hear the Rt Hon. Secretary talk fo much of light,

and

and involve his actions so much in darkness; he had been asked by his Rt Hon. Friend fome questions, which he evaded, and which it was his duty to answer fully; yet he shrunk from the questions, and flood forth, with great pomp, to fay he would drag into light fuch monsters as would dare to gamble in the stocks. Did the Rt Hon. Gentleman know what a body he would have to enCounter? Was the Rt Hon. Gentleman ever at 'Change? if he was, he would then fee what lufty fifh be would have to drag in his pet; but how was it likely he should know, who the perfons were who would dare to do what Mr Secretary fo much reprobated; or, if he did not know them, how could he punish them? Mr Burke then entered upon the business of laying before parliament the preliminaries of a treaty with America. He faid, it was the more neceflary to call for this, as he understood that a minister in the upper floufe had held out terms, contrary to thofe expreffed in the King's fpeech, and to thofe as they had been explained in this Houfe. He faid, he could not look for a more full and fatisfactory explanation of the preliminaries of a treaty with America, than had been given by the minifters in this Houfe; but as that varied from what he heard from another quarter, he was determined to have a full difcuffion of the bufinefs. They had talked of treaties with France and Spain; but he would fay, that nothing of greater moment could poflibly be agitated in that House than American affairs. He wished other minifters who were in an important fituation in that Houfe, and in his Majefty's councils, would fpeak out; he fhould like to hear what they had to fay upon the bufinefs, and not leave the dragging of the work to one Gentleman, whofe inclinations, he feared, exceeded his abilities; but he fuppofed the reafon of it was, that one part of them did not know what the other was doing. They were like a ferpent with two heads, and of courfe therefore one head did not know what the other was about. He concluded with calling upon miniftry to be explicit upon the bufinefs before them, by laying before parliament the preliminary articles, or at least to tell when they would do it.

Mr Townshend urged his readiness to introduce thefe articles when fomething definitive could be concluded: at present there were delays incident to this, like all other great tranfactions of the fame nature; but until the proper moment of communication arrived, the importunate curiofity of certain gentlemen could never extract from him' what he thought his duty to conceal for a few days.

Mr Chancellor Pitt faid, a categorical and definitive answer was expected from the

court of France on the rft inftant, but was not yet received, though expected in a few days; and the very moment of its arrival, it should be fubmitted to the confideration of parliament. As to the difference of opinion or conftruction among the cabinet on thefe provifional articles, he could reply, that they were perfectly understood by them all, for they had all figned them; but this altercation was totally repugnant to order, and the bufinefs of the day, which was to vote the fupply with unanimity: for whether we were to have peace or war, this was the best mode to accelerate the former, and indispensably necessary to prosecute the latter with vigour and fuccefs.

Lord Surrey urged the neceffity of the fupply, and a coalition of all parties, to strengthen the hands of the flate. But this defirable object was not to be obtained by prevarication or delufion. For his own part, he was for an unconditional, unlimited ac quiefcence in the independence of America; not as a temporary expedient, but as a fundamental principle of policy, which he was fure certain people were as unwilling to fubmit to, as the late miniftry were to refign their places and penfions, until they were justly and most deservedly expelled from them.

Mr Courtenay, in a vein of irony and ridicule, which for a long time diverted the Houte, contended, that deception and duplicity were the finest ingredients in the composition of a minister, and that these fine arts never obtained higher polish than in a cer tain character, who had united to him all parties and defcriptions in that House, by affecting to think on all fubjects precifely confonant to their feveral withes, but fill referving to himself the power to act as he pleased.

The question for the Speaker's leaving the chair being now put, it was agreed to;and the House having gone into a committee of fupply,

Mr Brett just stated, that the number of fhips of the line actually in commiffion amounted to 105; and that the seamen borne and mustered during the prefent year had exceeded by fome thousands the 100,000 voted by parliament; he would therefore move, he said, this year for 110,000 feamen (including marines) for the fervice of the year 1783; and that 4 1. per man per month be granted to defray the expence attending the fame.

Capt. J. Luttrell expreffed his moft hearty affent to the prefent motion. He faid, the falvation of this country depended on the ftrength of its navy, and every true patriot should add to its refpectability, inflead of endeavouring to degrade it in the eyes of the world, as was the frequent practice of

fome