now entrusted;" at the same time stating his ow clear and decided opinion, the result of much serious reflection, that fome effectual means ought to be adopted for the purpose of terminating our present unfortunate differences with America. His Grace remarked, "That the inclinations of the majority of persons of respectability and property in England differed in little else than words from the declarations of the Congress-That if Deputies from the United Colonies CANNOT be acknowledged by the King, other expedients might be devised, by which the wishes and expectations of his Majesty's American subjects might be stated and properly confidered-That a want of intercourse had hitherto been, and must still remain, an infuperable bar to accommodation. His Grace observed, that the idea of a powerful party in America ready to avow their loyalty under the protection of a military force was now vanished. It is evident that, as the means of offence are increased, America has also in the fame proportion increased her means of defence; that the event of such a struggle must be hopeless, disgraceful, and ruinous: and his Grace concluded his letter, written at this critical and perilous juncture, by suggesting one mode at least by which intercourse and negotiation might commence, under a generous offer of a truce to the revolted Colonies, fanctioned by the address of both Houses to the King, on various motives of policy, affection, affection, and humanity." To this letter the Duke received a polite and respectful, though very unfatisfactory answer from Lord North, upon the whole purporting that measures of coercion were unalterably determined upon.

On the receipt of the Congress petition, delivered to Lord Dartmouth by Mr. Penn, his Grace again renewed his folicitations with the Minifters for the adoption of a pacific system, but with no better effect. The Duke then, as the last resource, requested an audience of the KING, in which he stated to his Majesty, without reserve, his reasons why he could no longer take any part in the administration of affairs. The King listened with attention, and condescendingly endeavored to demonftrate to his Grace, by calm and dispaffionate reasoning, the justice, the policy, and neceffity of this war, and the absolute certainty of ultimate success; and finding that he was unable to effect the conviction he wished, he flatteringly expressed his regret at parting with so experienced and faithful a servant.

On the usual motion in the House of Lords for an address in answer to the speech from the Throne, Lord Rockingham in the most pointed terms condemned the measures recommended in it, as bearing the most portentous aspect to the British empire, and fraught with the most ruinous consequences. The charge against the colonies of aiming at independence his Lordship severely repreK 3 hended, hended, as totally unfounded: "but what," sfaid his Lordship, " they never originally intended, we may certainly drive them to they will undoubtedly prefer independence to flavery." The charge of making infidious profeffions of duty was equally reprobated. On the contrary, it was observed by his Lordship, that they had from the beginning declared, in terms the most explicit, that they never would submit to be arbitrarily taxed by any body of men whatever. They did not WHISPER their complaints, but fairly told the world what they would do if urged to extremity. What, his Lordship asked, was that lenity of Parliament so much boasted of in the speech? Was it to be discovered in the Boston Port Bill? in the Fishery Bill? in the Massachusetts Charter Bill? or in the indemnity and encouragement held out to military license in the Bill which professes as its object the impartial administration of justice ? Ministers, faid his Lordship, have been warned feffion after session of the danger in which they were involving themselves and the country; but the sources of information which Ministers relied upon were the false, partial, illiberal representations of selfish, artful, and designing men, who had held public offices in America, and who by this means were glad to gratify at once their interest, their prejudices, and their revenge. His Lordship concluded an excellent speech by moving an amendment to the address address-"That, deeply impreffed with the melancholy state of public concerns, they would on mature deliberation endeavor to apply the most effectual means of reftoring order to the distracted affairs of the British empire, &c."

The Duke of Grafton now rose to support the amendment, and in a particular manner attracted the attention of the House and of the Public, by an open and ingenuous acknowledginent that he had by mifinformation and misrepresentation been induced to give countenance to a plan the most abhorrent from his mind and opinion-being repeatedly affured that the mere appearance of coercion would fuffice to establish a perfect reconciliation. His Grace declared, that he could no longer hefitate as to the part he ought to take, being now fully convinced, that nothing less than a total repeal of the American laws passed since the year 1763 could restore peace and happiness, or prevent those fatal confequences which he could not even think of without grief and horror. Such, he said, was the strength of his conviction, that no personal confideration whatever could induce him to refrain from giving his most determined oppofition to the measures actually pursued, and to those which he understood were yet in contemplation. After a long and vehement debate, the amendment of Lord Rockingham was rejected by 69 voices to 29, and the original motion, on a second divifion, carried by 76 voices to 33. But the Lords in the minority entered upon the Journals a most spirited and vigorous protest against it. "We have beheld with forrow and indignation," say their Lordships, "freemen driven to resistance by acts of oppreffion and violence. We cannot confent to an address which may deceive his Majesty and the Public into a belief of the confidence of this House in the present Ministry, who have disgraced Parliament, deceived the Nation, loft the Colonies, and involved us in a civil war against our clearest interests, and upon the most unjustifiable grounds, wantonly spilling the blood of thousands of our fellow subjects."

On the refignation of the Duke of Grafton, Lord Dartmouth, whose mild temper was ill calculated to enforce the present bloody and coercive measures, was advanced to the dignity of Lord Privy Seal; and Lord George Germaine, so famous, or rather infamous, under his former appellation of Lord George Sackville, who, after a long course of oppofition, had uniformly voted with the Court on the questions relative to America, was appointed to the vacant poft of Secretary of State for the Colonies. The most odious of tasks was now therefore properly affigned to the most odious of instruments. Lord Rochford also at this time choofing to retire from public business, the Earl of Weymouth was reinstated in the office of Secretary for the Southern Department, resigned by his Lordship in the