XVII. to adopt the precise language of it, " at this cri- Book tical and perilous juncture, by suggesting one mode at least by which intercourse and negotia- 1775. tion might commence, under a generous offer of a truce to the revolted colonies, sanctioned by the address of both houses to the king, on various motives of policy, affection, and humanity." Το this letter a polite and respectful, though very unsatisfactory answer, was returned by lord North, upon the whole purporting that measures of coercion were unalterably determined upon. On the receipt of the congress petition, delivered to lord Dartmouth by Mr. Penn, the duke of Grafton again renewed his solicitations with the ministers for the adoption of a pacific system-but with no better effect. As the last resource, he then requested an audience of the KING, in which he stated to his majesty, without reserve, his reasons why he could no longer take any part in the administration of affairs. The king listened with attention, and condescendingly endeavoured to demonstrate to his grace, by calm and dispassionate reasoning, the justice, the policy, and necessity of this war, and the absolute certainty of ultimate success; and finding that he was unable to effect the conviction he wished, he flatteringly expressed his regret BOOK at parting with so experienced and faithful a XVIL. 1775. servant. On the usual motion in the house of lords for an address in answer to the speech from the throne, lord Rockingham in the most pointed terms condemned the measures recommended in it, as bearing the most portentous aspect to the British empire, and fraught with the most ruinous consequences. The charge against the colonies of aiming at independence his lordship severely reprehended, as totally unfounded: "but what," said his lordship, "they never originally intended we may certainly drive them to-they will undoubtedly prefer independence to slavery." The charge of making insidious professions of duty was equally reprobated. On the contrary, it was observed by his lordship, that they had from the beginning declared, in terms the most explicit, that they never would submit to be arbitrarily taxed by any body of men whatever. They did not WHISPER their complaints, but fairly told the world what they would do if urged to extremity. What, his lordship asked, was that lenity of parliament so much boasted of in the speech? Was it to be discovered in the Boston Port Bill? in the Fishery Bill? in the Massachusetts Charter Bill? or in the indemnity and encouragement held out to military license XVII. 1775. in the bill which professes as its object the im- воок partial administration of justice? Ministers, said his lordship, have been warned session after session of the danger in which they were involving themselves and the country; but the sources of information which ministers relied upon were the false, partial, illiberal representations of selfish, artful, and designing men, who had held public offices in America, and who by this means were glad to gratify at once their interest, their prejudices, and their revenge. His lordship concluded an excellent speech by moving an amendment to the address-" That, deeply impressed with the melancholy state of public concerns, they would on mature deliberation endeavour to apply the most effectual means of restoring order to the distracted affairs of the British empire, &c. The duke of Grafton now rose to support the amendment, and in a particular manner attracted the attention of the house and of the public, by an open and ingenuous acknowledgment that he had by misinformation and misrepresentation been induced to give countenance to a plan the most abhorrent from his mind and opinionbeing repeatedly assured that the mere appearance of coercion would suffice to establish a perfect reconciliation. His grace declared, that he could no longer hesitate as to the part he 1 BOOK ought to take, being now fully convinced that XVIL nothing less than a total repeal of the American 1775. laws passed since the year 1763 could restore peace and happiness, or prevent those fatal consequences which he could not even think of without grief and horror. Such, he said, was the strength of his conviction, that no personal consideration whatever could induce him to refrain from giving his most determined opposition to the measures actually pursued, and to those which he understood were yet in contemplation. After a long and vehement debate the amendment of lord Rockingham was rejected by 69 voices to 29, and the original motion, on a second division, carried by 76 voices to 33. But the lords in the minority entered upon the journals a most spirited and vigorous protest against it. "We have beheld with sorrow and indignation," say their lordships, "freemen driven to resistance by acts of oppression and violence. We cannot consent to an address which may deceive his majesty and the public into a belief of the confidence of this house in the present ministry, who have disgraced parliament, deceived the nation, lost the colonies, and involved us in a civil war, against our clearest interests, and upon the most unjustifiable grounds, wantonly spilling the blood of thousands of our fellow subjects." XVIL. 1775. On the resignation of the duke of Grafton, BOOK lord Dartmouth, whose mild temper was ill calculated to enforce the present bloody and coercive measures, was advanced to the dignity of lord privy-seal; and lord George Germaine, so famous, or rather infamous, under his former appellation of lord George Sackville, who, after a long course of opposition, had uniformly voted with the court on the questions relative to America, was appointed to the vacant post of secretary of state for the colonies. The most odious of tasks was now therefore properly assigned to the most odious of instruments. Lord Rochford also at this time choosing to retire from public business, viscount Weymouth was reinstated in the office of secretary for the southern department, resigned by his lordship in the year 1771. -The debate on the address in the house of commons was chiefly distinguished from that of the lords by the high offence which seemed to be taken by many of the country gentlemen, and some other members who usually voted with the administration, at that clause in the speech from the throne in which his majesty mentioned the introduction of a body of his electoral forces into the garrisons of Port Mahon and Gibraltar; and the corresponding clause in the address, thanking his majesty for the same. This was, not without reason, represented as a measure |