BOOK these direful negociations: and a great warXVI. feast was made by him on the occasion, in 1775. which, according to the horrid phraseology of these barbarians, they were invited " to banquet upon a Bostonian, and to drink his blood." : SECOND Resignation of the Duke of Grafton. Mr. Penn's Examination at the Bar of the House of Lords. Landtax raised to 4s.-Remarkable Prediction thereon. Mr. Burke's Bill for quicting the Troubles in America. American Capture Act passed. Indulgences granted to the Province of Nova Scotia. Extravagant Overture made to Ireland. Mr. Fox's Motion of Inquiry. Treaties concluded with the Landgrave of Hesse, &c. Duke of Grafton's Conciliatory Motion. State of the Nation. State of Europe. Siege of Quebec raised. Unsuccessful Attack upon Charlestown. Declaration of American Independence. General Howe's Victory on Long-Island. General Washington retreats across the Delawar. Reverse of Fortune at Trenton. The Jerseys evacuated. Proceedings of the Congress. Session of ParliamentMemorable Speech of the King. Conciliatory Motion of Lord John Cavendish. Secession of the Opposition. Suspension of the Habeas-Corpus Act. King's Debts a second Time paid, 618,000l. One hundred thousand Pounds per Annum added to the Civil List. Remarkable Address of the Speaker, Sir Fletcher Norton, to the King. Motion of Lord Chatham for Peace. Insolent Memorial of Sir Joseph Yorke to the States-General. BOOK THE parliament of Great Britain, after a short XVII. 1775. ✓ recess, met at Westminster, October 26, 1775; and the session was opened by an unusually long and elaborate oration from the throne, containing charges against the colonies, the most wild and extravagant-accusing them of a desperate conspiracy, and of harbouring a premeditated design to effect a total revolt; whilst, taking advantage of the moderation and forbearance of parliament, they hoped to amuse by vague expressions of attachment to the parent state, and of loyalty to the sovereign. "This rebellious war," it is affirmed, "is manifestly carried on for the purpose of establishing an independent empire; and it is now become the part of wisdom, and in its effects of clemency, to put a speedy end to these disorders by the most decisive exertions - for which purpose his majesty had greatly increased his military and naval establishments, and he had also received the most friendly offers of foreign assistance. When the unhappy and DELUDED MULTITUDE, against whom this great force will XVII. be directed, shall become sensible of their error, Book he declared himself ready to receive the misled with tenderness and mercy; for which purpose 1775. he had given authority to certain persons upon the spot to grant general or particular pardons and indemnities, and to receive the submission of any province or colony which should be disposed to return to its allegiance.". Upon the whole, this speech breathed a most inveterate and determined spirit of animosity against the colonies; and nothing less than absolute, unreserved, and unconditional submission was held out as the price by which peace was to be purchased. During the summer recess of parliament, the duke of Grafton, lord privy seal, who had long viewed with extreme solicitude and concern the violent measures adopted by the majority of the ministers, but who had been induced in a certain degree to concur with and countenance these proceedings by the most positive assurances of a speedy and peaceable termination of the controversy, now perceiving a bloody and unnatural war in full prospect, determined no longer to take any share in the responsibility attached to his exalted station. But thinking it proper, previous to his resignation, to make one more effort to procure a change of system, this nobleman wrote in the month of August a letter to lord North, expressing "his loyal and grateful BOOK attachment to his majesty, and his zealous desire XVII. to see the government flourish under the admi1775. nistration of the noble lord to whom it was now entrusted;" at the same time stating his own clear and decided opinion, the result of much serious reflection, that some effectual means ought to be adopted for the purpose of terminating our present unfortunate differences with America. He remarked, "That the inclinations of the majority of persons of respectability and property in England differed in little else than words from the declarations of the congressThat if deputies from the united colonies CANNOT be acknowledged by the king, other expedients might be devised, by which the wishes and expectations of his majesty's American subjects might be stated and properly considered-That a want of intercourse had hitherto been, and must still remain, an insuperable bar to accommodation. He further observed, that the idea of a powerful party in America ready to avow their loyalty under the protection of a military force was now vanished. It is evident that, as the means of offence are increased, America has also in the same proportion increased her means of defence; that the event of such a struggle must be hopeless, disgraceful, and ruinous:" and he concluded a letter framed in the true spirit of wisdom and conciliation, and written, |