On the approach of winter, the general had ordered temporary barracks to be erected for the troops, partly for their security, and partly to prevent the disorders which, in the present temper of parties, would unavoidably have resulted from quartering them in the town. Such however was the detestation in which they were held, and the dislike to see them provided for in any manner, that the select men and committees obliged the workmen to quit the employment, although they were paid for their labour by the crown, and although employment was at that time with difficulty obtained. He was not much more succesful in his endeavours to engage carpenters in New York, and it was with considerable difficulty that these temporary lodgments were erected.

The agency for purchasing winter covering for the troops was offered to almost every merchant in New York, but such was the danger of engaging in so obnoxious an employment, that notonly those who were sincerely attached to the resistance now made by America to the views of administration, but those also, who were in secret friendly to those views, refused undertaking it, and declared," that they never would supply any article for the benefit of men, who were sent as enemies to their country."

In great Britain, a new parliament was assembled, and the king in his opening speech informed them, "that a most daring spirit of resistance and disobe dience still prevailed in Massachussetts, and had

broken

broken forth in fresh violences of a very criminal nature; that the most proper and effectual measures had been taken to prevent these mischiefs; and that they might depend upon a firm resolution, to withstand every attempt to weaken or impair the supreme authority of the legislature over all the dominions of the crown."

The addresses proposed re-echoed the sentiments of the speech, and amendments offered were rejected in both houses by very great majorities*. Yet the business respecting America was not promply entered into. The administration seems to have hesitated on the course to be adopted, and the cabinet is said to have been divided respecting future measures. The few friends of conciliation availed themselves of this delay, to bring forward propositions, which might restore harmony to the different parts of the empire. Lord Chatham was not yet dead. "This splendid orb," to use the bold metaphor of Mr. Burke, "had not yet set for ever. The western horizon yet blazed with his descending glory," and he determined to employ the few remaining moments of his life in the service of his country. Taking a prophetic view of the future course of events, he demonstrated the impossibility of subjugating America, and urged with all the powers of his vast mind, the immediate removal of the troops from Boston, as a measure indispensably necessary, in order to open the way for an

* Belsham.

adjustment

adjustment of the present differences with the colonies. Not discouraged by the great majority by which this motion was negatived, he brought forward a bill for settling the troubles in America, which was also rejected by sixty one to thirty two voices.

The day after the rejection of this bill, Lord North moved in the house of commons an address to his Majesty, in which it was declared, that from a serious consideration of the American papers," they find that a rebellion actually exists in the province of Massachussetts Bay." In the course of the debate on this address, several professional gentlemen spoke with the utmost contempt* of the military character of the Americans; and General Grant, who ought to have known better, declared that " at the head of five regiments of infantry, he would undertake to traverse the whole country, and drive, the inhabitants from one end of the continent to the other." The address proposed was carried by two hundred and eighty eight, to one hundred and six ; and, on a conference, the house of lords agreed to join in it. Lord

* Mr. Gordon, represents the military gentlemen to have said, when speaking of the Americans; "they are neither soldiers, nor ever can be made so, being naturally of a pusillanimous dispo sition, and utterly incapable of any sort of order or discipline; and by their laziness, uncleanliness, and radical defect of constitution, they are disabled from going through the service of a campaign; but will melt away with sickness, before they can face an enemy; - so that a slight force will be more than sufficient for their complete reduction.”

North

North soon after moved a bill for restraining the trade and commerce of the New England provinces, and prohibiting them from carrying on the fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland.

While this bill was depending, and only vengeance was breathed by the supporters of the present system, his lordship, to the astonishment of the house, suddenly moved, what he termed, his conciliatory proposition*. proposition*. Its amount was, that parliament

• This resolution proposed, "That when the governor, council, and assembly, or general court of any of his Majesty's provinces, or colonies in America, shall propose to make provision, according to the condition, circumstances, and situation of such province or colony, for contributing their proportion to the common defence (such proportion to be raised under the authority of the general court, or general assembly, of such province or colony, and disposable by parliament) and shall engage to make provision also, for the support of the civil government, and tlie administration of justice in such province or colony, it will be proper, if such proposal should be approved by his Majesty and the two houses of parliament, and for so long as such provision should be made accordingly, to forbear, in respect of such province or colony, to le ́vy any duties, tax, or assessment, or to impose any further duty, tax, or assessment; except only such duties as it may be expedient to continue to levy or to impose for the regulation of the commerce, the neat produce of the duties last-mentioned, to be carried to the account of such province, colony, or plantation respectively,"

This resolution was communicated to Congress, on the thirtieth of May, in the following manner;—' "A member informed the Congress that a gentleman just arrived from London, had brought

parliament would forbear to tax any colony, which should tax itself in such a sum, as would be perfectly

with him a paper, which he says, he received from Lord North, and which was written at the desire of his lordship, by Mr. Grey Cooper, under secretary to the treasury, and as the gentle man understood it to be his lordship's desire that it should be com municated to the Congress, for that purpose he had put it into his hands. The member further observed, that he had shewn the pa per to a member near him, who was well acquainted with the hand writing of Mr. Cooper, and that he verily believes the paper was written by Mr. Cooper. The paper being read is as follows:

"That it is earnestly hoped by all the real friends of the Americans, that the terms expressed in the resolution of the 20th of February last, will be accepted by all the colonies, who have the least affection for their king and country, or a just sense of their own interest. That these terms are honourable for Great Britain, and safe for the colonies. That if the colonies are not blinded by faction, these terms will remove every grievance relative to taxation, and be the basis of a compact between the colonies and the mother country.

"That the people in America ought, on every consideration, to be satisfied with them, that no further relaxation can be admitted.

The temper and spirit of the nation was so much against congessions, that if it were the intention of the administration, they could not carry the question.

"But administation have no such intention, as they are fully and firmly persuaded, that further concessions would be injurious to the colonies as well as to Great Britain."

That