of peers there were very few of the ministry, out of the noble lord's own particular connexion, (except lord Egmont, who acted, as far as I could difcern, an honourable and manly part,) that did not look to fome other future arrangement, which warped his politicks. There were in both houfes new and menacing appearances, that might very naturally drive any other, than a most resolute minifter, from his measure or from his station. The household troops openly revolted. The allies of miniftry, (thofe, I mean, who fupported fome of their measures, but refufed refponfibility for any) endeavoured to undermine their credit, and to take ground that must be fatal to the fuccefs of the very caufe which they would be thought to countenance. The queftion of the repeal was brought on by miniftry in the committee of this house, in the very inftant when it was known that more than one court negotiation was carrying on with the heads of the oppofition. Every thing, upon every fide, was full of traps and mines. Earth below fhook; heaven above menaced; all the elements of minifterial fafety were diffolved. It was in the midft of this chaos of plots and counterplots; it was in the midft of this complicated warfare against publick oppofition and private treachery, that the firmnefs of that noble perfon was put to the proof. He never ftirred from his ground; no, not an inch.

He remained fixed and deter

mined, in principle, in meafuré, and in conduct He practifed no managements. He fecured no retreat. He fought no apology.

I will likewife do juftice, I ought to do it, to the honourable gentleman who led us in this houfe *. Far from the duplicity wickedly charged on him, he acted his part with alacrity and refolution. We all felt infpired by the example he gave us, down even to myself, the weakeft in that phalanx. I deèlare for one, I knew well enough (it could not be éoncealed from any body) the true state of things; but, in my life, I never came with so much spirits into this houfé. It was a time for a man to act in. We had powerful enemies; but we had faithful and determined friends; and a glorious caufe. We had a great battle to fight; but we had the means of fighting; not as now, when our arms are tied behind us. We did fight that day and conquer.

*

I remember, Sir, with a melancholy pleafure, the fituation of the honourable gentleman who made the motion for the repeal; in that crifis, when the whole trading intereft of this empire, crammed into your lobbies, with a trembling and anxious expectation, waited, almoft to a winter's return of light, their fate from your refolutions. When, at length you had determined in their fa

vour, and your doors, thrown open, fhewed them the figure of their deliverer in the well-earned triumph of his important victory, from the whole of that grave multitude there arofe an involuntary burft of gratitude and tranfport. They jumped upon him like children on a long abfent father. They clung about him as captives about their redeemer. All England, all America, joined to his applaufe. Nor did he feem infenfible to the best of all earthly rewards, the love and admiration of his fellow citizens. Hope elecated and joy brightened his creft. I ftood near him; and his face, to use the expreffion of the fcripture of the first martyr, "his face was as if it had been the face of an

66

angel." I do not know how others feel; but if I had stood in that fituation, I never would have exchanged it for all that kings in their profufion could beftow. I did hope that that day's danger and honour would have been a bond to hold us all together for ever. But, alas! that, with other plea fing visions, is long fince vanished,

Sir, this act of fupreme magnanimity has been reprefented, as if it had been a measure of an administration, that, having no scheme of their own, took a middle line, pilfered a bit from one fide and a bit from the other. Sir, they took no middle lines. They differed fundamentally from the fchemes of both parties; but they preferved the objects of both. They preferved the authority of

Great

Great Britain. They preferved the equity of Great Britain. They made the declaratory-act; they repealed the stamp-act. They did both fully; because the declaratory-act was without qualification; and the repeal of the ftamp-act total. This they did in the fituation I have defcribed.

Now, Sir, what will the adversary say to both these acts? If the principle of the declaratory act 1 was not good, the principle we are contending for

this day is monftrous. If the principle of the repeal was not good, why are we not at war for a real, fubftantial, effective revenue? If both were bad; why has this miniftry incurred all the inconveniencies of both and of all schemes? Why have they enacted, repealed, enforced, yielded, and now attempt to enforce again?

Sir, I think I may as well now, as at any other time, fpeak to a certain matter of fact, not wholly unrelated to the queftion under your confideration. We, who would perfuade you to revert to the ancient policy of this kingdom, labour under the effect of this fhort current phrase, which the court leaders have given out to all their corps, in order to take away the credit of thofe who would prevent you from that frantick war you are going to wage upon your colonies. Their cant is this; "All the difturbances in America have been created "by the repeal of the ftamp-act." I fupprefs for a moment my indignation at the falfehood, base

nefs,

nefs, and abfurdity of this moft audacious affertion. Instead of remarking on the motives and character of those who have iffued it for circulation, I will clearly lay before you the ftate of America, antecedently to that repeal; after the repeal; and fince the renewal of the fchemes of American taxation.

It is faid, that the difturbances, if there were any, before the repeal, were flight; and without difficulty or inconvenience might have been fuppreffed. For an answer to this affertion I will fend you to the great author and patron of the ftampact, who certainly meaning well to the authority of this country, and fully apprized of the ftate of that, made, before a repeal was fo much as agitated in this house, the motion which is on your journals; and which, to fave the clerk the trouble of turning to it, I will now read to you. It was for an amendment to the addrefs of the 17th of December, 1765:

"To express our just refentment and indignation "at the outrageous tumults and infurrections "which have been excited and carried on in North "America; and at the refiftance given by open "and rebellious force to the execution of the laws "in that part of his majesty's dominions. And to

affure his majefty, that his faithful commons, “animated with the warmest duty and attachment "to his royal perfon and government, will firmly " and effectually support his majefty in all fuch measures