sharers of the glory of Montgomery, than mortification in the disappointment, which only showed that they could not, without considerable exertion, wrest from Great Britain the chief conquest reserved as an indemnity for the toils and expenses of the late war*. For this chapter, beside the authorities quoted in support of particular passages, I have consulted the periodical publications; the histories of the American War, by Stedman and Ramsay; Morse's American Geography; and the Remembrancer; and I have been assisted by very respectable manuscript observations on them. CHAP. XXVI. 1775. CHAP. XXVII. 1775. CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH. 1775-1776. Proceedings in the city of London.-Address to the King.-His answer.--Contest respecting the right of presenting petitions to the King on the throne.-Address of Congress to the people of Great Britain--to the people of Ireland.— Proclamation against rebellion.-Petition of Congress to the King.—Answer from the Secretary of State.-Effects of the answer. Popularity of the measures of government.— Transactions in Parliament till the Christmas recess.King's speech.-City petition presented by Lord Camden ̧ -Petition from the assembly of Nova Scotia.-Opposition to the address in both houses.-Protest.-Debates on the employment of foreign troops in garrisons.-Bill of indemnity.-Motion of censure-both rejected.-Bill for assembling the militia.-Estimates.-Motion by the Duke of Grafton.--Land tax fixed at four shillings in the pound.-Nova Scotia petition.-Debate on that of Congress to the King.-Mr. Penn examined as a witness.-The Duke of Richmond's motion.-Burke's conciliatory bill-opposed by Governor Pownall-rejected.-Hartley's propositions— rejected.—Bill for prohibiting commercial intercourse with America-debated in the Lords-passed.-Recess.-Changes in administration.-Lord George Germaine secretary of state for America-his character.-Other changes.-Despondency of administration. UNDER the mayoralty of Mr. Wilkes, the city of Procecedings London seemed largely to participate in the sentiments in the city of which produced such alarming commotions in America. The majority of individuals was friendly to government; but an active and turbulent minority endea London. voured by every intrigue to make the proceedings of the city councils assume a factious appearance. 66 66 66 In consequence of the acts of Parliament relative to America, the Livery presented to the King an address, remonstrance, and petition, censuring all the late measures, not merely with plainness and freedom, but with acrimonious asperity. "Not deceived," they said, by the specious artifices of calling despotism dignity, they plainly perceived a real design to establish arbitrary power over all America; and, considering the "liberties of the whole inevitably connected with every "part of an empire founded on the common rights of "mankind, they were alarmed at seeing the consti"tution violated in any part of the King's dominions." Numerous grievances, they said, had driven his Majesty's faithful subjects in America to despair, and compelled them to a resistance justified by the great principles of the constitution, in consequence of which, the crown was transferred from the popish and tyrannical race of Stuarts, to the illustrious and protestant house of Brunswick. Persuaded that these measures originated in the secret advice of men, enemies alike to his Majesty's title and the liberties of the people; that the ministry carried them into execution by the same fatal corruption which had enabled them to wound the peace and violate the constitution of the country, poisoning the fountain of public security, and rendering that body, which should be the guardian of liberty, a formidable instrument of arbitrary power, they prayed the King, as a first step toward a redress of grievances which alarmed and affected the whole nation, to dismiss his ministers for ever; so should peace and commerce be restored, and confidence and affection be the supporters of the throne. CHAP. XXVII. 1775. 10th April. Address to the King. The King's answer testified his astonishment that His answer. any of his subjects should encourage the rebellious disposition existing in America; relying, however, on the wisdom of Parliament, the great council of the nation, he would steadily pursue the measures recommended by them for support of the constitutional rights and protection of the commerce of Great CHAP. 1775. Message to the Lord Mayor. Wilkes's answer. 24th June. Proceeding of the common hall. Remon strance voted. 28th June. The King refuses to receive it on the throne. 4th and 5th July. Further proceedings. from re Britain. The Lord Mayor was prevented In a few days after this interview, the Earl of Hertford, Lord Chamberlain, signified to the Lord Mayor the King's determination not to receive, on the throne, any address, remonstrance, or petition, but from the body corporate. Mr. Wilkes eagerly seized the opportunity thus afforded of raising a new contest. In a long letter, he insisted on the right of the city, "a right which even the accursed race of Stuarts had "respected, to present petitions to the King on the "throne; and hoped that a privilege left uninvaded "by every tyrant of the Tarquin race, would be "sacredly preserved under a Prince of the house of "Brunswick, whose family was chosen to protect the "liberties of a free people, whom the Stuarts had "endeavoured to enslave." At the first common hall, an address, remonstrance, and petition, in many respects an echo of the last, but rather exceeding it in violence, was approved; the ministry were described as men avowedly inimical to the principles on which the King possessed the crown; and the Parliament as a body of whom the majority were notoriously bribed to betray their constituents and the country: the ministers were therefore to be dismissed, and the Parliament dissolved. The correspondence between the Lord Mayor and Lord Hertford was entered on the city records, and the sheriffs instructed to inquire when the King would receive, on the throne, this address, presented by the Lord Mayor, the city members, the court of aldermen, sheriffs, and livery. The King having offered to receive it at the next levee, Mr. Plomer, one of the sheriffs, declared the resolution of the Livery not to present it unless the King would receive it sitting on the throne. "I am ever ready," his Majesty rejoined, "to receive addresses and petitions, but I am the judge where." The substance of this conference was reported to the Livery, resolutions adopted, and conveyed to the King, asserting that his answer was a direct denial of the right of the court to have their 66 CHAP. XXVII. petitions heard; that the remonstrance should be 1775 Address of the people Congress to of Great Britain. The American Congress availed themselves of the disposition in the city of London to render their cause popular, and exerted their endeavours to obtain partizans in every part of the King's dominions, or at least 8th July. to render as many as possible indifferent to the interests of government. They circulated a long, elaborate, and insidious address to the inhabitants of Great Britain, appealing at once to their pride, justice, and compassion; exculpating themselves, and endeavouring to alarm the jealousy of Englishmen for their constitutional rights, which would be no less endangered by success, than their prosperity would be impaired by a failure in hostilities. They justified their opposition to military force, by alleging that they were wantonly attacked; but although they repelled assaults and returned blows, yet they lamented the wounds they were obliged to inflict; nor had they learned to rejoice at a victory over Englishmen. They denied aspiring at independency, but declared they would only treat on such terms as would render accommodation lasting; calling God to witness that they would part with their property, endanger their lives, and sacrifice every thing but liberty, to redeem Great Britain from ruin. An address was also made to the people of Ireland, designed, from similarity of situation, to produce congeniality of sentiment. The measures of the reign were decried as indicating that the genius of England and the spirit of wisdom had withdrawn from the British councils, and left the nation a prey to a race 28th. To the people of Ireland. |