1775- be nowife apprehenfive of fuch an unhappy turn. The defection of New York they imputed to its being compelled into meafures, by the Connecticut infurgents, which the people there would never have otherwife adopted. They pleaded, "We must either reduce the colonies to fubmiffion, or for ever relinquish all dominion over them, and all advantage from North America." The motion for the address was at length carried by 76 votes against 33. But a proteft against it was drawn up, and figned by nineteen peers. In that they condemned the war commenced against America, with the utmost freedom and afperity; and alfo cenfured with equal feverity, the employing of foreign troops, and various other parts of the minifterial conduct.

As none of the meafures adopted by administration gave more umbrage than the employment of the Hanoverian troops, oppofition determined to bring it before parliament, in the moft folemn and ferious man

A motion was accordingly made in the houfe of lords, declaring that to employ foreign troops, without the previous confent of parliament, was dangerous and unconftitutional, as being clearly against law. In the debate which followed, various arguments were used for and against the legality of introducing foreign forces into the kingdom or its dependencies, without confent of parliament. As an act of indemnity would have been a recognifance of its illegality, it was ftudiously warded off, as well as the motion itfelf, which was defeated by the previous queftion, carried by a majority of 75 to 32. In the house of commons, the debates on this fubject were no lefs elaborate, and confifted of much the fame reafonings. The motion was fimilar to

that in the houfe of lords, and was loft in like manner, 1775. 81 for, and 203 against it. Thus was a queftion, of which the magnitude is equal to that of any other fundamental point in the conftitution, put off to future de cifion. While it was in agitation, an incomparable majority of the public agreed in the opinion adopted by the oppofition. However they might differ concerning measures to be pursued refpecting America, they cordially united with them in condemning the admiffion of foreign troops into the kingdom, or its dependencies, without the exprefs affent of parliament.

That the defigns of the Americans might be completely fruftrated, it was propofed in a committee of fupply, that the naval eftablishment of failors and marines, fhould be augmented to 28,coo men; and that the number of fhips of war on the American ftation should amount to eighty. The land forces were to confift of 25,000 of the selecteft troops in the fervice. Thefe formidable preparations called up the attention of feveral principal members in the oppofition. In order, if pcffible, to render the operations of war unneceffary, it was propofed to facilitate the means of reconciliation. To Nov. this purpofe, Mr. T. Luttrell moved for an addrefs to his majesty, "humbly requesting, that he will authorize the commiffioners, who may be empowered to act in America, to receive propofals for conciliation from any general convention, or congrefs, or other collective body, that fhall be found moft perfectly to convey the fentiments of one or more of the feveral continental colonies, fufpending all inquiry into the legal or illegal forms under which fuch colony or colonies may be difpofed to treat, as the most effectual means to prevent the fur

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1775.

ther effusion of blood, and to reconcile the honor and permanent interest of Great Britain, with the requifitions of his majesty's American fubjects." The motion was feconded, but when the queftion was put, it paffed in the negative without a divifion. Lord Barrington, in ftating the army eftimates, obferved that the number of effective men in the army at Bofton by the last returns, was 7415; but that the forces in America were augmented to 34 battalions, amounting in the whole to upward of 25,000 men. This augmentation being confiderable, he thought it neceffary to speak a few words on the fubject. He faid, he understood that the idea of taxation was entirely given up, and that being the cafe, it was abfolutely neceffary to fecure the conftitutional dependence of that country. The general plan of administration, he believed to be, first, to arm and fend out commiffioners; and then if the Americans should continue to refift, to employ against them the whole power fent out in forcing them to obedience. His hint about the idea of taxation being entirely given up, alarmed many gentlemen, who had fupported government in their coercive measures, with a view, and in a firm perfuafion, that the revenue to be drawn from America, would in a proportionable degree leffen their own burdens.

Neither the fecretary of state who received the congreffional petition brought by governor Penn, nor any other minifter, or person in authority, had fince his arrival propofed a fingle queftion to him, or defired the fmallest information from him. This circumftance gave countenance to the charge, that a fyftem had been chalked out for minifters, which they were obliged

10.

blindly to pursue, and to act in, merely as machines, 1775without being at liberty to form an opinion, as to justice, eligibility, or confequence. The duke of Rich- Nov. mond procured however an examination of governor Penn before the houfe of lords. It appeared from his examination-That congrefs was in the highest veneration imaginable by all ranks and orders of men:-That he believed implicit obedience was paid to their refolutions through all the provinces:-That in Pennfylvania 20,000 effective men had voluntarily enrolled themselves to enter into actual service if neceflity required; and that among them were perfons of the moft refpectable character in the province :-That he prefumed the major part were in flourishing fituations:-That befide thefe 20,000, there were 4,000 minute-men, whose duty was pointed out by their defcription. They were to be ready for fervice at a minute's warning:-That the Pennsylvanians perfectly understood the art of making gunpowder :-That they had made that, and falt-petre: -That the art of cafting cannon had been carried to great perfection:-That fmall arms had been made to as great a degree of perfection as could be imagined :That the Americans were equally expert with the Europeans in fhip-building :-That he was fure the language of the congrefs expreffed the fenfe of the people of America in general, as far as it applied to Pennfylvania; and for the other provinces he affirmed the fame, though from information only :-That the petition which he had prefented to the king, had been confidered as an olive branch, and that he had been complimented by his friends as the meffenger of peace:-That he imagined the Americans, who placed much reliance on the peti

1775. tion, would be driven to defperation by its non-fuccefs: That he was apprehenfive, that fooner than yield to what were fuppofed to be the unjuft claims of Great Britain, the Americans would take the refolution of calling in the aid of foreign affiftance:-and That, in his opinion, the neglect with which the laft petition was treated, would induce the Americans to refign all hopes of pacific negotiations. When he was afterward cross-examined, he answered to fome queftions put to him:That except in the cafe of taxation, he apprehended, the Americans would have no objection to acknowledge the fovereignty of Great Britain:-That he knew nothing of the proceedings of the congrefs, they were generally transacted under the seal of secrecy :—and That in cafe a formidable force fhould be fent over to America in fupport of government, he did not imagine there were many, who would openly profefs fubmiffion to the authority of parliament. When governor Penn had withdrawn, the duke of Richmond, after fpeaking a few words, moved, “That the matter of the American petition affords ground for conciliation of the unhappy difference fubfifting between the mother country and the colonies, and that it is highly neceffary that proper fteps be immediately taken for attaining fo defirable an object." After a long and violent debate, the motion in favor of the petition was rejected, by a divifion of 86, against 33, including proxies.

The houfe of commons was filled with no lefs altercation in confequence of the demands for the fupplies on account of the American war. The land-tax was to be raised to four fhillings in the pound. This augmentation occafioned the country gentlemen to turn their