In a few days after the addresses were presented, Lord John Cavendish, exhibiting in the House a printed paper, purporting to be a proclamation of his Majesty's Commiffioners in America, called upon Ministers to inform him as to the authenticity of it. This being acknowledged, his Lordship expressed in the strongest terms his aftonishment at the contempt and indignity offered to the House, who, through the medium of a common newspaper only, were at length informed that they stand engaged to America to undertake a revision of all those laws by which the Americans had conceived themselves to be aggrieved. Notwithstanding the resentment he felt as a Member of the House at this minifterial insolence of conduct, his Lordship faid that he felt a dawn of joy break in upon his mind at the bare mention of reconciliation, whatever color the measures might wear that led to fo defirable an event. The great object of restoring peace and unity to this distracted empire outweighed so far with him all other present confiderations, that he not only would overlook punctilios on this account, but even such matters of real import as would upon any other occafion call all his powers into action. On these grounds his Lordship moved, "that the House should resolve itself into a Committee to confider of the revisal of all Acts of Parliament by which his Majesty's subjects in America think themselves aggrieved." The Minifters, Minifters, though thrown by the surprise of this motion into some perplexity, alleged in their vindication, " that the paper in question was not of fufficient moment to be laid before Parliament, being no treaty nor part of a treaty, but barely a preliminary which might poffibly lead to one. That a public proclamation, submitted to the general inspection upon the walls and houses of New York, could not however be intended to be kept from the knowledge of Parliament; and they conceived the authority exercised by the Commiffioners to be already delegated by the Act under which they derived their powers-that, as to the motion itself, they conceived it to be highly improper, as tending to disgrace the Commiffioners, and defeat their endeavors to obtain the most advantageous terms for this kingdom. They also insisted, that, until the spirit of independency was effectually subdued, it would be idle and futile to enter upon any revifions; but from our late fuccesses there was little room to doubt but that the cruel thraldom in which the people of America were held by the Congress would be quickly diffolved, and that America would return to her duty with more eagerness and alacrity than she had entered into this revolt; and that then would be the time to talk of legiflative regulations for their future government."

This language kindled anew the indignation of the Oppofition. "That the most important paper published

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published in the course of this controversy, con taining propofitions of conciliation in which the House were parties so nearly concerned, fhould not be thought of fufficient moment to be laid before them, was treated as an incredible extravagance ; and to pretend that the Commissioners were already authorized to engage for the revision of the laws in question, was a palpable falsehood. The Act by which they were appointed empowered them only to grant pardons, and enquire into grievances; and the concurrence of the House was absolutely necessary to give effect to the proclamation. If the Minifters opposed such concurrence, it was evident that the offer was a branch of that infidious and treacherous system by which they aimed to divide, while, by their fleets and armies, they were endeavoring to destroy and exterminate the Colonies. To say that this proclamation was not intended to be kept from the knowledge of Parliament, was a mockery of Parliament; for how could the Members of that House be supposed acquainted with the papers posted up in the streets of New York?" But the doctrine they most of all reprobated, was, that an absolute and unconditional renunciation of American Independence must precede the revision of the laws in question, or any redress of grievances whatever. "Upon what precedent," said they, " is this horrid maxim founded ? or what code of hiftory or policy have our Minif

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ters made the rule of their present conduct? Philip II. of Spain, who was in his day confidered as the most gloomy and unrelenting tyrant in Chriftendom, adopted a wifer and more moderate policy. In his wars with the revolted provinces of Holland, he repeatedly promised, in terms the most explicit and positive, the complete redress of all their grievances, without requiring a previous renunciation of their independence. But the doc trine now broached was a doctrine which led to the last extremities of human misery. It was a condition which could not be enforced without the effufion of oceans of blood, and in fact it was holding out to America the option only of SLAVERY OF DEATH." The motion, after a long and paffionate debate, was negatived by a majority of 62 voices; and from this time many of the Oppofition, chiefly of the Rockingham party, absented themselves from the House, and a clear field was left during the greater part of the session to the Ministers-the vast supplies demanded by them being granted in almost empty houses, without examination or debate.

A gloomy filence prevailed, and Minifters in the height of their parliamentary triumphs were ill able to counterfeit the external appearances of fatisfaction. The Members of the Seceffion, in vindication of themselves, urged "that there was no saving a people against their will; that they had for VOL. II. a fuca fucceffion of years apprized and warned the nation of the dangers attending those ruinous meafures which it was pursuing, and of the fatal precipice that must terminate this mad ministerial career-it was too degrading to be the continual inftruments of oppofing the ineffective weapons of reason and argument to a system of pre-determined irritation and violence that as good and bad fuccess were equally urged, and alike admitted, as motives for a preseverance in this course, it was not the part of wisdom to strive with impoffibilities, or to draw upon themselves the odium of their fellowcitizens by an ineffectual attempt to serve themthat they would therefore referve their exertions for a season when the present national delirium had fo far abated as to afford fome hope of advantage."

Soon after the recess the Minifter, depending perhaps on the present indisposition of the minority to conteft any point whatever with the Court, introduced a bill to enable his Majesty to fecure and detain persons charged with or SUSPECTED of the crime of High Treason committed in America, or on the High Seas. With fuch negligent latitude, or, to speak more juftly, with such treacherous artifice of conftruction, was this bill framed, that, by the enacting clauses, the Crown was enabled, at its pleasure, to commit any person refident in any part of the British dominions to custody, without bail or mainprize,