CHAP. IV.

The Parliament affembles—a Committee appointed to confider American affairs-the proceedings thereof-various debates in Parliament concerning the Colonies— both Houses of Parliament bent upon humbling the Colonifts-the Duke of Grafton refigns-Lord North fucceeds him.

THE

HE hopes of the nation were now anxiously fixed upon the new parliament, and it was earneftly expected that some healing measures would be purfued to fettle the disturbances in the colonies, and quiet the minds of the people at home. Thefe earneft hopes of the nation were confiderably damped by the speech from the throne, which rather breathed fentiments of feverity, than that mildnefs and clemency, which was thought neceffary to heal the prefent diftempers. The friends of peace and humanity did not however defpair, but that the great council of the nation, when affembled, would in fome period of this feffion, so moderate matters, that the effects of the fevere speech from the throne would be mitigated by the wife counfels of parliament. From the cenfures paffed upon fome of the colonies in the King's fpeech, it was eafy to perceive what were the intentions of the ministry, and what measures would be purfued, provided a majority in parliament gave fanction to their defigns. The whole British empire was deeply interested in

the

the iffue of this bufinefs, and waited with eager expectation, the result of parliamentary determination. There were at this time two parties who were equally agitated with concern for the iffue of this bufinefs; and these were fuch as wanted to have the fupreme authority of parliament exerted to its utmoft extent; who were highly displeased at the behaviour of the Maffachufett's colony, and thought that a fevere check ought to be given to the licentioufncfs of that province. The others who were equally anxious in this affair, were thofe who were lovers of conftitutional liberty, as well, naturally difpofed to moderation and lenient measures; these were greatly alarmed, at the fignatures of vigour, they perceived in the fpeech, and the danger that would follow in cafe of carrying matters to extremity.

A committee of the whole houfe had been formed early in the feffions, for the purpose of an enquiry into American affairs. This was a measure that the different parties in parliament were equally anxious in purfuing: but the motives by which they were influenced were very different, and the methods of purfuing their enquiry very oppofite to each other. The party on the fide of the miniftry confined their views to those recent tranfactions which were moft offenfive, and feemed more immediately to call for interpofing the authority of parliament; which were judged by the moft fanguine, highly worthy of a fevere cenfure, as a violation of all order and government. On the other fide, it was propofed to enquire into the fources and fprings of thofe diforders, and to take a retrofpective view of the conduct of government towards the colonies for feveral years paft, and if poffible, to cure the diftemper, by removing the caufes thereof. This was a work not fo eafily performed, when thofe who

were

were judged the original caufes of thofe evils, conti nued to operate against all enquiries, by which their own conduct might have been lain open.

Before the Christmas recefs, an unfuccessful attempt had been made, to have copies of all the royal letters patent, charters, and commiffions, now fubfifting, and in force, relative to any of the American colonies, with copies of all inftructions which had been given by, or in the name of his prefent Majefty, to any officer, civil or military, laid before the Houfe. These papers, it is fuppofed, would not only have led to a difcuffion of the rights of the colonies, but alfo to a clofe enquiry in the conduct of fome governors, and other officers of the crown, as well as into the propriety of the orders that had at different times been fent to them from home. Nothing could be more reasonable than a requeft of this fort; it could injure none, except fuch as deferved cenfure, which could not be accounted injury but justice, and it would have been the most effectual method to have prevented governors at a great diftance from the centre of power, abufing their authority, in provoking the fubje&ts to outrage by an arbitrary behaviour. The granting of this request would alfo have removed all fufpicions concerning government, and would have alfo confirmed the national confidence towards the miniftry. Administration had at this time adopted other meafures than what were agreeable to the nation, and were not difpofed to give any fatisfaction concerning their own conduct; they therefore oppofed this motion, and prevented its fuccefs. They imagined that the dignity of government might fuffer from fuch an enquiry, and were difpofed to fupport imaginary honor, at the expence of general utility. A vaft number of other papers, were however laid before the committee,

comittee, and feveral refolutions formed thereon, together with an addrefs upon the fame fubject, which came from the House of Lords, but after long debate, the miniftry carried their point and the enquiry came. to nothing. In this, as in feveral other things, this new parliament difappointed the hopes of the na

tion.

Upon January the 25th, 1769, while thefe debates were going on, a petition, in the name of the majority of the council of Maffachufett's bay, figned by Mr Danforth, as prefident of the council, was prefented to the Commons. It appeared that this petition wanted fome formalities, neceffary for procuring it admiffion into the Houfe. It was faid that it had not paffed in a legal affembly of the council, and of confequence, no perfon could be authorised to fign it as prefident. It was rejected under that title, and ordered to be brought in only as the petition of Samuel Danforth, in behalf of the feveral individuals, members of the council, at whofe requeft it had been figned. It was evident from this proceeding of the Commons, that the majority were difpofed to come to no terms with the colonists, and that government intended to make them fubmit to the abfolute authority of the mother country. This petition was fo far from being written in an offenfive ftile, that no petition could have been expreffed in milder terms, nor written with more moderation. It prayed for a repeal of the late revenue acts, and enlarged upon the chartered immunities, and privileges of the colonies. The general rights of the colonifts, as English fubjects, were fet forth, without mentioning the fupremacy of the British leg illarure, or calling it in queftion, although this was alfo touched in a gentle manner, by afferting that their rights had been violated, and requesting

that

it

that in time coming they might be fecured. The inability of the colony to addrefs the Houfe in their legiflative capacity, was regretted, and a particular detail of the difficulties, hardships, and dangers which their ancestors endured; who, for preferving their civil and religious liberties, had made fettlements in a wildernefs, where they were expofed to the rage of the most cruel and favage enemies; where, from the nature of the climate, and the infertility of the foil, no advantage to their temporal interefts was even to be hoped for; and the utmost that could be expected, was only a fcanty fubfiftence, in confequence of the most unremitted labour. From thefe premifes, was inferred, that they not only dearly purchafed their fettlements, but acquired an additional title, befides their common claim, as men and as British fubjects, to the immunities and privileges which they aflerted had been granted to them by charter. Many arguments were used by their friends in behalf of the petition. Their ready and willing fervices at their own expence in our wars; the old colonies having been all established without any expence to the mother country; the great advantages fhe derives from them; the fhare they virtually bear in our taxes, by the confumption of our manufactures; their inability to pay the duties, and the bad confequencs refulting from the late laws, not only to them, but to the mother country, were brought as arguments to folicit the repeal, and to fhew the title they had, not only to a fecurity of their rights, but even to favour.

Administration finding that they had a majority in parliament, was determined effectually to humble the refractory colonies. Thefe houfe of Lords, upon the 8th of February, paffed fome refolutions, and an addrefs to his Majefty, which were fent down to the Commons,