this perilous crifis, perhaps the present moment may be thể only one in which we can hope for fuccefs *, for in their negotiations with France, they have, or think they have, reafon to complain: though it be notorious, that they have received from that power important, fupplies and affistance of various kinds; yet it is certain, they expect it in a more decifive and immediate degree. America is in an ill humour with France on fome points that have not entirely an fwered her expectations, let us wifely take advantage of every poffible moment of reconciliation. America and France cannot be congenial. There is fomething decifive and confirmed in the honeft American, that will not affimi late to the futility and levity of Frenchmen. The natural difpofition of America ftill leans towards England, and the old habits of connection and mutual intereft that united both countries. This was the established sentiment of all the continent, and ftill, my Lords, in the great and principal part, the found part of America, this wife and affec tionate difpofition prevails.

The defigns of foreign powers, he faid, was to be judged of rather by their actions, and the nature of things, than by interested affertions. The uniform affiftance rendered to America by France, fhewed the difpofition of that kingdom. The most important interefts of France, in age grandizing and enriching herself with what the most wants, fupplies of every naval ftore from America, must inspire her with fentiments not pacific towards England. In this complicated crifis of danger, weakness at home, and calamity abroad, terrified and infulted by the neighbouring

*This warning voice was heard in vain ; and in less than two months after, a commercial treaty was figned at Paris; upon which event the Minifter eagerly adopted the salutary plan of conduct here advised ; but it was then too late; the Americans faw that the overture was dictated by fear, and that it tended only to allure them to break their faith with France.

powers; unable to act in America, or acting only to be destroyed, he asked, where was the man with the forehead to promise or hope for fuccefs in fuch a fituation? You cannot conciliate America by your present measures; you cannot fubdue her by your prefent, or by any measures.What then can you do? You cannot conquer, you cannot gain, but you can address; you can lull the fears and anxieties of the moment into an ignorance of the danger that should produce them.

His Lordship then proposed an amendment to the addrefs to his Majefty, which recommended an immediate ceffation of hoftilities, and the commencement of a treaty to restore peace and liberty to America, ftrength and happiness to England, fecurity and permanent profperity to both countries. The amendment was rejected by 97 to 28.

When the nation had somewhat recovered from the confternation into which it was thrown, by the arrival of the dispatches which related the furrender of general Burgoyne and his army, ftrenuous endeavours were used to set on foot fubfcriptions for the purpose of raifing men. The towns of Liverpool and Manchefter raifed each a regiment; the cities of Edinburgh and Glafgow furnished the like fupply: feveral independent companies were raifed in Wales. The livery of London was convened for the purpose of raifing and maintaining a body of 5000 men, but the meafure could not be carried. A private fubfcription was then fet on foot at the London Tavern, by which about 20,000l. was collected. At Briftol, the corporation could not be brought to adopt the plan, but many individuals gave a public teftimony of their zeal, by affixing their names to large fums of money, profeffedly for the purpose of raising men for his Majefty's fervice. The number of

men

men obtained in confequence of these corporate and private fubfcriptions were faid to amount to 15,000.

When the parliament affembled after the Eafter recess, this mode of raifing troops without the concurrence or knowledge of the legislature, was objected to as highly unconstitutional, and dangerous to the liberties of this country; it being the fole and unalterable right of parliament to grant money and men for the service of the ftate. The plan on which thefe benevolences were conducted, was equally cenfured, because it was calculated to ferve a few men of influence, who were complimented with the privilege of naming the officers, the purchafe money of whose commiffions, it was faid, would greatly exceed the whole expence of raifing the men. The full amount of the gratuities was calculated at 80,00ol. and the nation incurred an expence of not less than 480,000l. by the full and half pay of the officers, with the pay and cloathing of the men. It was likewise afferted, that the only ceconomical plan would have been to offer bounties to recruits entering to ferve in the old regiments, which plan had been adopted by the city of London in the laft war, and was found to render effential service to the army at a cheap rate.

Whilft thofe who were ftrenuous for purfuing, at all events, the American war, had now an opportunity of contributing their benevolences to it, people of a contrary fentiment, found another channel through which their bounty flowed. The American prifoners, at that time confined in England, fuffered many hardships, which the fubfiftence allowed them by government, if faithfully dealt out to them, could not be fuppofed to remove, and which were increased, in many inftances, by the inhumanity and cruelty of their keepers. To relieve thefe unhappy men, a sub

fcription

fcription was opened, by which they were fupplied with cloaths, firing, bedding and other neceffaries, during the winter,

On the 30th of January, 1778, a treaty of commerce was figned by the American Plenipotentaries, and the Count de Vergennes, the French minifter for foreign affairs; and the week after, a treaty of alliance was executed. The Earl of Shelburne, on the 5th of December, had put the queftion to the miniftry, in the House of Lords, whether fuch a tranfaction had not taken place? which they then disclaimed any knowledge of, but on the 17th of February, Lord North brought in two bills tending to a reconciliation with America. The firft was expressly defigned to remove all doubts and apprehenfions concerning taxation by the Parliament of Great Britain, in any of the Colonies, Provinces, and Plantations of North-America and the WeftIndies, and it also repealed the act of parliament which impofed the duty on tea. The other bill enabled his Majefty to appoint Commiffioners with fufficient powers to treat, confult, and agree upon the means of quieting the diforders fubfifting in certain of the Colonies of North-America. Thefe Commiffioners were endowed with very extenfive powers, they were authorized to treat with the Congress by name, as if it were a legal body, and so far to give it authenticity, as to fuppofe its acts and conceffions binding upon America. They were empowered to treat with any of the Provincial Affemblies upon their new conftitution, and with any individuals in their civil capacities or military commands: with General Washington, or any other officer. The Commiffioners had a power to order a fufpenfion of arms; to fufpend the operation of all laws; and to grant all forts of pardons, immunities and rewards; to reftore all the Colonies, or any of them, to the form of their

ancient conftitution, as it ftood before the troubles; and in any of thofe where the King nominated the Governors, Council, Judges, or other magiftrates, to nominate such at their difcretion, until his Majefty's further pleasure could

be known.

It had been objected to the former Commiffioners, that their powers were deficient: this act therefore declared, that should the Americans claim their independence at the outfet of the treaty, they fhould not be required to renounce it, until the treaty had received its final ratification by the King and Parliament of Great Britain. A reafonable and moderate contribution towards the common defence of the empire, when re-united, was to be negotiated for, but fuch contribution was not to be infifted upon as a fine qua non of the treaty.

The conceffions which the British Parliament hereby made to America, were much more ample than those recommended by the Earl of Chatham and Mr. Burke, three years before, but which were then unhappily disapproved. It was the opinion of feveral members, that a repeal of all the obnoxious acts fhould be a preliminary to any treaty, inftead of being held out to them in future. The minority, in general, fupported the bills, though fome of them declared, that, in their opinion, the offer would arrive too late. Both the bills paffed the House of Commons on the 2d of March, were carried through the Houfe of Lords without a divifion, and were paffed the 9th of the same month.

On the 17th of March, a meffage from his Majefty was prefented to both Houses of Parliament, relative to a declation delivered to Lord Weymouth by M. de Noailles, the

French