any fixed idea, I think what he fays will make just as much impreffion as if the starling himself was to utter his words. [Here the House could fcarcely give the Noble Lord an opportunity to proceed, they fell into so violent a fit of laughter.] As to the Coalition, and the abuse which was so often thrown upon it, they always bring to my mind two perfons for whom I felt no inconfiderable fhare of concern; these were two men who were fhut up in the Eddyftone Light-houfe to mind the fire. They were both of different principles, and therefore though they were shut in from all intercourse with the rest of mankind, and though they might by their converfation have amufed one another, yet they never exchanged a word with each other for fix weeks; and they had rather let the fire go out, and see all the navy of England dashed to pieces under them, than that one should consent to give up the moft trivial point to the other.-[Here the House was a confiderable time in another fit of laughter.] The enemies of the Coalition would have had my Honourable Friend and me resemble the two men in the Light-house; but we have acted more wifely for the public good; we confidered the fafety of the public our principal care and duty; and in order to fave the fhip of State from running afhore or dashing against the rocks, we all agreed, at all events, that the fire in the Light-house should not be extinguished; but that let who would ftir it, it was to be kept in; thus what fome affected to call a curfe, was in reality a bleffing to the nation. I will not charge the Right Honourable Gentleman at prefent at the head of his Majefty's affairs with being an enemy to Coalitions; on the contrary he likes them fo well, that he has formed one himfelf with the Noble Lord who fits with him in the Cabinet. The Right Honourable Gentleman has endeavoured to imitate our Coalition, but he has bungled the bufinefs; for, as I faid before, he has coalefced with the remnant of parties, and not with the parties themfelves: therefore I may apply to them the expeffion of the Roman Orator, Placuiffe, fed non tetigiffe. But to return from

my

my digreffion, my Honourable Friend behind me (Governor Johnstone) fays, that my Right Honourable Friend means to cram down the throats of the Houfe of Lords, a Bill which they had already rejected: but furely he cannot be in earnest, for he knows my Right Honourable Friend is no longer in a fituation to cram any thing down their throats; and the Honourable Member over the way (Mr. Banks) fays, that a Bill totally different from that which was rejected, in as much as it is free from all thofe objections which are faid to have made fo many enemies to the Bill that is loft, is to be prefented by the new Minister and therefore as one perfon has it not in his power to present the fame Bill again, and another perfon will prefent a totally different one, there is no danger that the old Bill will be crammed down the throats of the House of Lords; and confequently there is no danger that the event should take place, which in my Honourable Friend's opinion, would justify a diffolution of the present Parliament. My Honourable Friend has been mistaken in another point: he fays, that my Right Honourable Friend faid, before he refigned, that he would bring in again the fame Bill. This is, indeed, a capital mis, take; for my Right Honourable Friend did not refign, he was turned out; I was turned out; we were all turned out: not the merit of having voted against the Bill, could preserve the Lord Prefident of the Council from the mortification of being turned out with all his friends. As to the affurances given to the Committee on the part of the Right Honourable Gentleman now at the head of his Majefty's affairs, that no diffolution or prorogation will take place through his advice, I am very well inclined to fay, that in his honour and integrity I have a great reliance; but what fecurity can he give that fecret influence in Lords of the Bedchamber will not defeat his intentions, and produce a diffolution not only without his advice but even contrary to it?-I value highly the character of that Right Honourable Gentleman; and though he is my political enemy, ftill I always feel myfelf difpofed to treat him with more

respect

respect than I ever experienced from him: but highly as I value that character, I cannot truft to it upon the present occafion, because the events to which that character is pledged, may not be within the controul of the Right Honourable Member. At prefent there are only two Minifters in the Cabinet; but when the number is compleated, who can answer to the House of Commons that a diffolution may not be propofed in the Cabinet, the Right Honourable Gentleman out-voted, and the queftion carried? This is upon the fuppofition that the event will depend upon the Cabinet; but the difficulty will be still greater, if the Committee will reflect on the power of secret influence, which can put an end to the ftrongeft Administration, as has been experienced within thefe few days. I therefore must declare, that as the Addrefs is couched in the strongest terms of refpect, duty, affection and loyalty to his Majesty, I think it ought to be carried, as the only effectual means of preventing those calamities which would flow from a diffolution of Parliament in the prefent critical fituation of affairs.

Lord North, Dec. 22, 1783.

THE laft Houfe of Commons acted contrary to the opinion of those whom they reprefented, and attempted to fubvert the Constitution, by an infraction of Charters, which, if effected, would at once have convulfed the empire, and thrown every thing into anarchy and confufion. But his Majefty, like a parent, anxious for the fafety and profperity of his children, has liftened to the voice of his people, and exercised his undoubted Prerogative by a diffolution of Parliament. This meafure immediately overturns the dangerous plans of an abandoned faction, who have already ftretched their power to an alarming length, and panted for universal dominion. They attempted to seize on the effects, trade, and territory of the Eaft-India Company, whofe Charter had always been confider

ed as fufficiently binding to answer the emergency of any time? but his Majefty, befides discomfiting the dark manœuvres of thofe enemies of the Conftitution, has made an excellent choice of another Ministry, whose zeal and patriotism justifies the prudence of his measures, and proves how dearly he has the intereft of his people at heart. I cannot but prefage the happiest effects from the late diffolution of Parliament; and flatter myfelf, that the new Houfe of Commons will gratify the wishes of the people. In the prefent Minifter, the fondeft hopes of the people are repofed; he is a person whofe character merits public patronage-he has confecrated that period of early life, which by others has been commonly squandered away in idle frolic, in youthful diffipation, to profitable ftudy, and to the fervice of his country. He is not one of those characters, who, having diffipated their fortune, ruined their conftitution, and prostituted their powers, have entered these walls for the purpofe of political traffic, for the purpose of repairing their finances, or from motives of ambition and aggrandisement. He has not come to offer the dregs of his being to the service of his country; he has confecrated to it the first-fruits of existence. There is therefore every thing in his character to conciliate the confidence of the people; notwithstanding the calumnies which have been raised and propagated against him, this he has fortunately obtained. I congratulate the House on the event. It is a prefage aufpicious to the interests of the country, as it tends to ensure the preservation and continuance of their privileges, which have been attempted to be violated. My Right Honourable Friend has been accused of being the champion of one branch of the Legiflature, in oppofition to the other; of the aristocratical influence of the kingdom, in oppofition to the interefts of the Houfe of Commons; but the nation knows, that these affertions are unfounded. My Right Honourable Friend is not the champion of the House of Peers; he is not the champion of the Prerogative; he is not the champion of

the

the Houfe of Commons, but the CHAMPION of the CoxSTITUTION!

Mr. Hamilton, May 24, 1784.

MANY of thofe connected with Administration, are perpetually holding out the idea that I have been the caufe of all the calamities of the country by promoting the American war. Sir, I deny that to be true; I found the American war when I came into Adminiftration; I did not create it, it was the war of the country, and approved of by the people at large. Sir, had Parliament been reformed, they would not have expreffed more clearly than the unreformed Parliament did, the opinion of their conftituents on that fubject. But, Sir, I defire once for all, that Gentlemen will defift from those unfounded affertions, that I was the author of those calamities. If they are of that opinion, let them come forward with a charge; I am ready to meet it; I call for it; nay, Sir, I demand it as a right. Sir, there can be no reason for withholding it now. If I was protected before, I am not protected now. Sir, the Minister has every thing that can enable him to carry on the prosecution against me; he has a Houfe of Commons to accuse, he has a House of Lords to judge; he is master of all the written evidence against me. And as to parole testimony, those who were my friends, those who were in my secrets, those whom I received into my utmoft confidence, from whom I concealed nothing, are now the friends of the Right Honourable Gentleman, Sir; and I dare fay their love of justice and regard for the public, will make them fit and ufeful witneffes upon fuch an occafion. Yet, Sir, with all these advantages on the part of the Minifter, of accufer, judge, written and parole teftimony, I do not shrink from, but court the inquiry; but this I must infift upon, that if the matter is not inquired into, it fhall not be argued upon as if proved.

Lord North, June 17, 1784.

THE