had been delivered by the Ambassador of his Most Christian Majesty, containing a direct avowal of a Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Alliance, recently concluded with America; in consequence of which offensive communication on the part of the Court of France, his Majesty had fent 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 resources of his kingdoms to repel so unprovoked and unjust an aggreffion." Addresses were voted by both Houses, containing the strongest assurances of affistance and support. An amendment moved by Mr. Baker, containing a fevere reflection on the conduct of the Minifter, was previously rejected in the House of Commons by 263 voices against 113.

A fimilar amendment was moved in the Upper House by the Duke of Manchester, which gave rise to a debate, chiefly interesting as it brought into full view a very important difference of opinion fubfifting between the Lords in oppofition, and which had on various occafions more covertly appeared, respecting the recognition of American Independence. The Marquis of Rockingham, and the whole Rockingham connection, maintained without reserve the neceffity of admitting the Independence of America. "To attempt impoffibilities," said they, "can only render

our

our ruin inevitable; it is not now in our power to recover what we have wantonly thrown away." On the other hand, the Earls of Chatham, Temple, and Shelburne, and several other Lords, who had unhappily established a distinct connection, and were throughout the long course of oppofition to the present Ministry confidered as a separate party, disclaimed every idea of relinquishing America, and deprecated its independence as the greatest of all political and national evils; and as including the utter degradation and final ruin of this country. The numbers on the divifion were, 100 Lords who voted against the amendment, to 36 who fupported it.

On the 7th of April, the Duke of Richmond, at the close of the Grand Committee of Enquiry, in which the Upper House as well as that of the Commons had been during the greater part of the feffion deeply engaged, moved an Address to the King on the State of the Nation. In his speech in support of this Address, his Grace declared in strong terms his conviction of the neceffity of an immediate recognition of American Independence. "The mischief, he said, whatever might be the magnitude of it, was already done; America was already lost; her independence was as firmly established as that of other States. We had fufficient cause for regret, but our lamentation on the subject was of no more avail than it would

would be for the loss of Normandy or France." The Earl of Chatham, in full expectation that this point would come under discussion this day, refolved, however enfeebled and afflicted by his corporeal infirmities, to make his personal appearance in the House, in order to bear his decided teftimony against it. The mind feels interested in the minutest circumstances relating to the last day of the public life of this renowned Statefinan and Patriot. He was dressed in a rich suit of black velvet, with a full wig, and covered up to the knees in flannel. On his arrival in the House, he refreshed himself in the Lord Chancellor's room, where he staid till prayers were over, and till he was informed that business was going to begin. He was then led into the House by his fon and fon-in-law Mr. William Pitt and Lord Viscount Mahon, all the Lords standing up out of respect, and making a lane for him to pass to the Earls' bench, he bowing very gracefully to them as he proceeded. He looked pale and much emaciated, but his eye retained all its native fire; which joined to his general deportment, and the attention of the House, formed a spectacle very striking and impressive.

When the Duke of Richmond had fat down, Lord Chatham rofe, and began by lamenting "that his bodily infirmities had fo long and at so important a crisis prevented his attendance on the duties of VOL. II.

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Parliament. He declared that he had made an effort almost beyond the powers of his conftitution, to come down to the House on this day, perhaps the LAST time he should ever be able to enter its walls, to express the indignation he felt at the idea which he understood was gone forth of yielding up the fovereignty of America. " My Lords," continued he, "I rejoice that the grave has not closed upon me, that I am still alive to lift up my voice against the dismemberment of this antient and noble monarchy. Pressed down as I am by the load of infirmity, I am little able to assist my country in this most perilous conjuncture: but, my Lords, while I have sense and memory, I never will consent to tarnish the luftre of this nation by an ignominious furrender of its rights and faireft poffeffions. Shall a people so lately the terror of the world, now fall prostrate before the House of Bourbon? It is impoffible. I am not, I confefs, well informed of the resources of this kingdom, but I trust it has still fufficient to maintain its just rights, though I know them not.Any ftate, my Lords, is better than despair. Let us at leaft make one effort-and, if we must fall, let us fall like men."

The Duke of Richmond, in reply, declared himself to be "totally ignorant of the means by which we were to refift with fuccess the combination of

America with the House of Bourbon. He urged the the Noble Lord to point out any possible mode, if he were able to do it, of making the Americans renounce that independence of which they were in poffeffion. His Grace added, that if HE could not, no man could; and that it was not in his power to change his opinion on the Noble Lord's authority, unsupported by any reasons but a recital of the calamities arifing from a state of things not in the power of this country now to alter."

Lord Chatham, who had appeared greatly moved during the reply, made an eager effort to rise at the conclufion of it, as if laboring with some great idea, and impatient. to give full scope to his feelings; but, before he could utter a word, preffing his hand on his bosom, he fell down fuddenly in a convulsive fit. The Duke of Cumberland, Lord Temple, and other Lords near him caught him in their arms. The House was immediately cleared; and his Lordship being carried into an adjoining apartment, the debate was adjourned. Medical afsistance being obtained, his Lordship in fome degree recovered, and was conveyed to his favorite villa of Hayes in Kent, where, after lingering some few weeks, he expired May 11th, 1778, in the 70th year of his age.

On the first intelligence of his death, Colonel Barré repaired to the House of Commons, then fitting, and communicated the melancholy information,

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