1778 raising money by benevolences and free gifts, which had ever been objected to by the assertors of freedom, as injurious to the national rights. The result was that the measure was approved by great majorities in both houses; and that £,286,632 was voted for clothing the new forces. The minister was thus inspired with confidence in the midst of a scene of danger. Every effort afterwards made to embarrass the administration, or to bring on an inquiry into the merits of its conduct, proved ineffectual. Instead of dwelling on these, our attention will be more profitably directed to a conciliatory plan proposed, at this time, by the premier.‡—His motion was prefaced with a speech in which he declared that he had ever been a friend to peace with the colonies; that he had not been an advocate for their taxation; but that, unfortunately, he had found them already taxed when he entered upon his administration. After which, he proposed two bills, as the means of accomplishing the much desired object of peace; the first" for declaring the intentions of the British parliament concerning "the exercise of the right of imposing taxes within his majesty's colonies, provinces, and plantations in North America." The other, " to enable his majesty to appoint commissioners, with sufficient powers to treat, "consult, and agree upon the terms of quieting the disorders now subsisting in certain of the colonies." The minister was now in a most distressful situation; and, what rendered it still more so, there was scarcely a possibility of extricating himself from it with honour. By prosecuting the war, without manifesting a conciliatory disposition, he would have brought on himself the censures of those who had ever opposed it, and, perhaps, a self-conviction that he was instrumental to all the evils that might ensue from it.-By adopting pacific measures, on the contrary, he incurred the reproach of inconsistency from those whose attachment had been his safeguard, who had been the strenuous supporters, of coercion, and were mortified at a motion which implied a partial departure from it. With the frowns of these he was obliged to endure the irony of his opponents.—Mr. Fox, after complimenting him on his conversion, said, "he was glad to find that his propositions did not materially differ from "those which had been laid before them by his friend Mr. Burke, three years February 17. с Idem. 130. નો Ann. Regist. 90. 94. years before; and reminded the house, that, although they had been reject- 1778 "ed by the minister, three years of war had convinced him of their utility. "He observed that the noble lord was so perfect a proselyte, that the very "same arguments which had, at that time, been so ineffectually used by "the minority, were now adopted by his lordship. He applauded his "resolution in relinquishing the right of taxation from the high satisfaction "which it must afford to several country gentlemen, who had placed so firm a reliance on his former declarations. Nor was he less pleased with the power given to the commissioners, for restoring the charter of Massachusets Bay, as that was a proof of his lordship's wisdom in framing the act by "which it was destroyed. For to do and undo, to destroy and restore, "were not only the singular prerogative and high felicity of power, but they were also the most exalted acts of wisdom." Whilst he was lashed with these sarcastic gibes, he was told by others of the minority that they were willing to concur in a measure which discovered a disposition to peace, but they did it without a hope of success. That the same propositions which would probably have been accepted at an earlier period, could scarcely be expected to find acceptance from the colonists, whose minds were at present incensed by efforts to oppress them, or that they would again commit their rights and immunities, which they had redeemed at so dear a price, to men who had laboured to deprive them of them.-After the bills had undergone these severe strictures, and had been modified to render them more acceptable to the colonists, they were passed by great majorities; and the earl of Carlisle, Mr. Eden, and Mr. Johnstone were appointed commissioners to treat with the Americans by virtue of the powers which the act gave them. The minister saw a storm approaching, and would gladly have avoided the brunt of it by the merit which he thought this conciliatory plan would give him in the eyes of the nation. We have seen the success of his expedient: and we, immediately after, find him under the mortifying necessity of informing the two houses, in a message from his majesty, "that a rescript had been delivered by the ambassador of his most christian majesty, containing a direct avowal of a treaty of amity, commerce, and "alliance f Annual Register. 135. 1778 "alliance recently concluded with America; || in consequence of which "offensive communication on the part of France, his majesty had sent "orders to his ambassador to withdraw from that court; and, relying on the "zealous support of his people, he is prepared to exert all the force and re"sources of his kingdoms to repel so unprovoked and unjust an aggression." -Addresses were then presented to the throne by both houses, giving his majesty the strongest assurances of their support in the defence of his realms. A few days after, the duke of Richmond moved an address to his majesty on the state of the nation; and, in his speech in support of it, he declared in strong terms his conviction of the necessity of an immediate recognition of American independency. This was remarkable chiefly for the accident which happened to the earl of Chatham in the course of the debates which ensued.―That nobleman, as well as the earls of Temple and Shelburne and some other peers, although they agreed with the marquis of Rockingham and his party on the general principle of the war, differed from them in their sentiments on this important subject. Lord Chatham, we have seen, was ever a strenuous advocate for an honourable reconciliation with the colonies; but was extremely averse to their independency, as derogatory to the dignity of the crown and the national honour and grandeur. When informed of the intended motion, therefore, he attended the house, regardless of his infirmities; being borne to his seat with his legs wrapped in flannels.— As soon as the duke had closed his speech, the venerable senator rose from his seat; and, after expressing the zeal in the service of his country which brought him to the house in his present infirm state, "I rejoice," said he, "that the grave has not closed upon me; that I am still alive to lift up my "voice against the dismemberment of this ancient and noble monarchy.". The duke, in reply to this pathetic harangue, "declared himself ignorant "of the means by which we were to resist, with success, the combination of "America with the house of Bourbon." He urged lord Chatham to point out any possible mode of obliging the Americans to renounce that independency which they now possessed. The earl would willingly have answered him. 8 Belsham. 2. 287. February 6. him. But he was so exhausted by his former exertion, and his spirits were so agitated in the debate, that, on his attempting to rise from his seat, he fell into convulsions. The duke of Cumberland and lord Temple caught him in their arms; and the vital spark was once more revived by medical assistance. But his death followed so directly in consequence of this event,t that it may truly be said that he died in an effort to maintain the welfare of the state and the dignity of the British crown-"O save my country, "Heaven!" was the patriot's latest prayer.—In testimony of the reverence borne to his memory and their sense of his signal services, the house of commons voted, that the expence of his burial should be defrayed by the public, and that a monument should be erected to his memory in the collegiate church of St. Peter, Westminster. Moreover, in consequence of an address to his majesty, that he would be pleased to make a provision for his family, an annuity of £.4000 a year was annexed to the earldom of Chatham, and the sum of £.20,000 was voted for the discharge of his debts. Such were the testimonies of national gratitude to a man who had devoted his transcendent abilities, during a long life, to the service of the state; whose grand object was to promote the glory and prosperity of his country; and who watched over its interests with unwearied care and vigilance. And no statesman was ever better qualified for the important trust. Few men have equalled, and none exceeded him, in that enlarged, penetrating, energetic mind, and those comprehensive views of things, which distinguish the man of genius from those who climb to the higher stations by extreme assiduity and attention to the minute detail of state affairs. His vast understanding was richly stored with that political knowledge which he had acquired by an attentive study of the ancient historians, and a perfect acquaintance with the history and relative interests of the European states. That manly, fervid, enthusiastic eloquence which seized on the passions of his hearers gave him a great influence in the senate: and the weight which he derived from his talents, his intrepid character, and his popularity, was rendered more formidable, as a partisan of opposition, in the earlier part of his career, by his contempt of money. When placed at the head of administration soon after the commencement of the German. war, the distressed state of the national affairs gave a full display of his powers. 1778 1778 powers. And such was the effect, that the houses of Austria and Bourbon trembled at his name. His excellent system of intelligence assisted his natural sagacity in gaining information of the enemy's designs, and frequently enabled him to counteract them. His persuasion of the expediency of his own plans not only added to his characteristic boldness in the execution of them, but gave confidence to those whom he employed. By the vigour of his administration he diffused new life and spirit through every department: And a series of gallant actions ensued which not only retrieved the national honour, but carried the British name to the greatest height of military glory.—If ambition, the ruling passion in his breast, led him, in the subsequent period of his life, to sacrifice the public esteem to exalted rank, although a regard to truth requires that his blemishes should be brought to account in estimating his merit, yet candour and a sense of his patriotic virtues will induce us to draw a veil over them, or to view them in the most favourable light. From this digression we must return to the parliamentary transactions during the remainder of this session. About the same time that the subject of the duke of Richmond's motion was discussed in the house of peers, which was eventually rejected, lord Nugent moved for the appointment of a committee of the whole house to consider the trade of Ireland. This he introduced by a representation of the distress of that kingdom in consequence of the war. His proposition was assented to. But although no one doubted of the fact on which it was grounded, yet the advantages proposed to be given to the Irish trade and manufactures were strenuously opposed by the English manufacturers, who would have been prejudiced by them. And the result was, that only some small advantage was given to the linen trade. Yet the motion may be considered as of considerable national benefit, as a prelude to the acts which were afterwards passed in favour of Ireland. h This was followed by a motion made by sir George Saville; in which every liberal mind was interested, for the repeal of certain penalties and disabilities laid on roman catholics by an act of king William, to prevent the growth of popery. When a provision is made for the public peace and safety Anderson. 4. 226. May 14. at |