CHAPTER XI. CHAP. 1774. Sept. 30. New par. liament. New Parliament Addrefs-Irrefolution of Ministry WH - HATEVER the reasons might be for the diffolu tion of parliament, it is certain, that, to the great furprise of the nation in general, a proclamation for this purpofe was iffued on the 30th of September, and the writs made returnable for a new one on the 29th of November following. The elections, however, notwithftanding the fhortnefs of the time, were contefted with extraordinary vigour; and it was obferved by the curious, that a greater number of the old members were thrown out than is ufual at general elections. In London, the popular party carried every thing before them. Mr. Wilkes was again elected member for Middlefex, as well as lord Mayor of London; and the miniftry were now too wife to give him any disturbance. The court, howev r. did not feem inclined in the leaft to relax from its former plan of coercive meafures, notwithstanding the ill XI. 1774 fuccefs, that had hitherto attended them. The fpeech CHAP. from the throne, at the meeting of parliament, fet forth the conduct of the Americans, particularly the inhabitants' of Maffachusetts-Bay, in the most atrocious light; and a firm refolution was announced of withstanding to the utmost every attempt to oppofe the fupreme legiflative authority of Great-Britain over all the dominions of the crown, the maintenance of which was held to be effential to the welfare, fafety, and dignity of the empire in general. An address, in answer to the fpeech, was proposed in Debates on the ufual form, by the minifter; but the oppofite party the addrefs infifted, that a request should be made to his majefty, that he would be graciously pleased to communicate the whole intelligence he had received from America, as well as the letters, orders, and inftructions relative to that bufinefs. This amendment was oppofed by ministry, on the grounds of addreffes being merely complimentary; that there was not then time for entering into a full difcuffion of American affairs; but that they would come before the house in their due order, &c. After a warm debate, the original addrefs was carried by a prodigious majority, no lefs than 264 to 73. In the house of lords, the debates were no lefs warm than in the house of commons. Those in oppofition argued, that they could not, in the prefent critical fituation of affairs, agree to a mere complimentary address, which might lead into measures deftructive of the lives, properties, and liberties of a great part of their fellow-fubjects. They objected to it as implying an approbation of the unfortunate system adopted by the last parliament with regard to America; and it afforded a melancholy profpect of the difpofition of the lords, in the prefent parliament, to fee them to ready to adopt the proceedings of the former houfe, which had been productive of so much mischief, without any rational profpect of advantage. On the minifterial fide it was replied, that the proceedings in America had been fuch, that if they were not inftantly opposed by a spirited declaration of parliament, the cause would feem to be given up. The fooner, therefore, the new parliament fpoke out, the better; and it was hoped that this affembly would fhew the fame regard for its dignity that had done fo much honour to the former. By the divifion on this debate, it appeared, that the oppofition had not gained any increase in numbers, the divifions being fixty-three to thirteen. The difpute, however, was remarkable for a protest, being the first men 1774 CHAP tioned in the English history upon an addrefs. It con XI. cluded thus, " but, whatever may be the mifchievous defigns, or the inconfiderate temerity, which leads others to this defperate courfe, we with to be known as perfons who have ever difapproved of meafures fo pernicious, in their past effects and their future tendency, and who are not in hafte, without inquiry or information, to commit ourselves in declarations which may precipitate our coun try into all the calamities of a civil war." Irrefolution nistry. Notwithstanding all the hoftile declarations of miniftry, of the mi however, their activity in pushing forward their fchemes in parliament did not keep pace with what might have been concluded to be their defign. The national eftimates were entirely formed upon a peace establishment. The land-tax was continued at three fillings in the pound, the army on its former footing, and only 16,000 inftead of 20,000 feamen were voted for the enfuing year. This gave fresh occafion to the members in oppofition to pour forth their cenfure. They reprefented the conduct of their adverfaries as fo inconfiftent, that it was impoffible to know what to make of it. The fpeech from the throne had announced matters to be in the moft alarming and dangerous fituation; and yet, instead of taking fuch meafures as coincided with that vigorous plan they had fo much infifted upon, they had begun with redu eing the naval force of the kingdom. This had all the appearance of a minifterial trick. They formed estimates; in the first place, only to ferve as waste paper, and never to be adhered to; after which they were to furprise the house with grants of an improper and burdenfome nature: for, to talk of enforcing acts upon a reduced ef tablishment, was a fort of language only fit to be used to children. In the minifterial anfwer, befides the ufual arguments, that there was no information to be laid before the house; that it was not time as yet to confider the affairs of the colonies, &c. the American power was held in the utmost contempt. The minifter of the naval department publicly afferted in the houfe of lords, that, to his certain knowledge, the low establishment proposed would be fully fufficient for reducing the colonifts to obedience. They were not, and could not be difciplined: fo that their boafted numbers were entirely ufelefs; nay, would add to the facility of their defeat. On this occafion, however, the moft wary filence was obferved by the minifters with regard to their defigns against the Americans; being, in all probability, afraid that they would meet with a violent oppofition from the ham's mo mercantile intereft; and this they were not deceived. A CHAP. general alarm had been fpread during the recefs; the XI. merchants of feveral towns had met and prepared petitions to parliament; and lord Chatham, though now 1775broken with age and infirmities, once more appeared in Lord Chatthe houfe of lords, to teftify his difapprobation of minif- tion for reterial measures. By him a motion was made, Jan. 20, calling the 1775, for recalling the troops from Boston. He repre- troops refented this measure as a matter not of choice, but of nejan, 20. ceffity. An hour loft in allaying the prefent ferment might produce years of calamity, as the fituation of the inhabitants and troops, with regard to one another, rendered them continually liable to events which might cut off all poffibility of a reconciliation: whereas, fuch a conciliatory measure on the part of Britain would remove all jealoufy and apprehenfion on the part of the colonies, and inftantaneously produce the happiest effects to both countries. He feverely reproved administration for refuling to take the American affairs inftantly into confideration; for deluding and deceiving the people by mifreprefentations of facts; perfuading them that Boston stood unconnected with the other colonies in the difpute with Great-Britain, and that quiet would be restored to that city by the appearance of a fingle regiment, &c. After condemning, in the most explicit manner, the whole series of minifterial conduct with regard to America, he is faid to have concluded his fpeech with the following words: If the minifters thus perfevere in mifadvifing and misleading the king, I will not say that they can alienate the affections of his fubjects from his crown; but I will affirm, that they will make the crown not worth his wearing. I will not say that the king is betrayed, but I will pronounce that the kingdom is undone." But, whatever might have been the hopes entertained by lord Chatham of the importance of the motion he had made, or the good effects refulting from an adoption of his measure, it is certain, that the majority paid very little regard to it. The queftion was loft by a majority of fixty-eight to eighteen; and, on this occafion, the duke of Cumberland divided with the minority. Such a decifive victory, however, as it discovered to the minister the true difpofition of the new parliament, fo it was thought to have given him confidence to go farther in his plan of coercion than he would otherwife have ventured to have done. The American papers, at least such of them American the minister at this time chofe to produce, were now laid papers laid before the house. He did not, however, pretend to fay, Houfe. VOL. V. B 2 as before the 1775. CHAP. that they contained all the intelligence relating to Ame XI. rica; nor would he make known the names or opinions of the perfons who wrote them; thus laying himself open to the inuendo of a celebrated gentleman in oppofition, who having in vain called for the rest of the information, charged the minifter with making public only fuch extracts of letters as beft fuited his purpose. To charges of this kind, however, he was now too callous to pay any regard. The papers, confifting chiefly of mutilated letters between the governors of the colonies and the British miniftry, were taken into the confideration of a committee of the whole house; but, left they should be disturbed in their deliberations upon them, a manœuvre was fallen upon to fupprefs that multitude of petitions which was about to invade them from all quarters. It was now discovered, that the whole affair was to be confidered in a political, and not in a commercial light; though it was upon account of the commercial interefts of the kingdom the miniftry had fo violently espoused the quarrel. As the views of the house, therefore, according to this new declaration of the ministerial party, were very different from thofe of the mercantile part of the kingdom, it would be the highest abfurdity to employ a com mittee, whose thoughts were totally occupied with the A feparate former, in confidering the latter. A feparate committee committee was therefore propofed for confidering the petitions of to examine the merchants, and this committee was to begin its fittings petitions. on the 27th of January, the day after that for taking the January 27. American affairs into confideration. appointed On this occafion very violent debates enfued, in which the utmost afperity of language was made ufe of, especially on the part of oppofition. The miniftry, befides the reafons already given, reprefented, that the committee of the whole house was appointed for the more fpeedy difcuffion of American affairs: That the restoration of peace depended as much on the immediate application, as upon the vigour of the measures determined: That the great variety of facts, and mass of matter, which of courfe muft come under the petition-committee, would render it a matter too difficult and tedious in the prefent fituation of affairs, when every poffible difpatch in the way of business. was required. These reasons were treated with the utmost contempt by oppofition. The pretence of appointing à committee, they faid, was a pitiful fhift to defeat the petitions, which they durft not openly reject. Granting it to be true, that the American difputes were merely of a political nature, yet it was certain, that the merchants, |