In the СНАР. XVI. 1769. prepared to meet it with adequate refiftance. Houfe of Lords a motion was made, that directions be given to the speaker, not to fuffer a protest of any perfon, who was not a lord of parliament, to be entered on the journals. But the question was overruled by a large majority, and confequently the lord lieutenant's proteft was recorded. At the conclufion Prorogation of his fpeech, the parliament was prorogued; but parliament. the Commons on returning to their own House, forbad their clerk to enter the fpeech, which they had just heard, on the journals, as it implied a protest against a proceeding in which they were determined to perfevere. of the Irish the mea THE fudden prorogation of parliament at a period Inconve when they had done no business, except voting fup- niences of plies to government, excited much refentment. The re temporary laws which related to fo many important objects were expired, and the regulations of trade, the public fecurity, the fupply of the capital, and the public charities were left in an unprovided ftate: confternation, diftrefs, and difcontent were loudly expreffed in all quarters, and the whole kingdom was in confufion and disorder. 1 CHA P. 1770. CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH: 1770. - Meeting of parliament. King's Speech. Addrefs oppofed by Lord WH debate THEN the British parliament affembled, the King in his fpeech, mentioned the affliction he felt at being obliged to acquaint them that the dif treffes 1770. 1770. treffes of the fubject were likely to be augmented by CHA P. a distemper, which had recently appeared among the XVII. horned cattle *; but, by the advice of the privycouncil, he had used his best efforts to ftop the pro- 9th Jan. grefs of the contagion. He obferved, that the great Meeting of burthens already imposed on his fubjects, by the ne- Parliament. ceffity of bringing the late war to a profperous conclufion, måde him vigilant to prevent the present disturbances in Europe from extending to thofe places where the fecurity, honour and interest of this nation might make it neceflary for him to become a party; and that he had great hopes of maintaining the country in peace. He adverted with regret to the diffatiffactions still prevailing in America, and the combinations tending to deftroy the commercial connexion between the colonies and the mother country. In conclufion, he recommended both houfes to avoid heats and animofities, and cultivate a spirit of harmony; which would, above all things, contribute to maintain, in their proper luftre, the strength, reputation, and profperity of the country, and strengthen the attachment of the subject to that excellent conftitution of government from which they derived fuch distinguished advantages. oppofed by LORD CHATHAM, who was now fufficiently reco- The addrefs vered to attend his duty in Parliament, oppofed the Lord Chataddrefs. His age and infirmities, he faid, would hamhave formed a fufficient excufe, if he had continued in retirement, and never again taken a part in public affairs; but the alarming ftate of the nation forced him once more to come forward, and execute that duty which he owed to his God, his fovereign, and his country, and which he was determined to perform at the hazard of his life. He gave his approbation to the prudent measures taken with refpect to the diftemper among cattle, and avowed his opinion that there was a power in fome degree arbitrary, with *This fpeech was unfparingly ridiculed in the public prints, and the feffion was nick-named the burned-cattle fession. CHAP. which the crown was intrusted by the constitution, XVII. fuch as he had himself exercised to fave the people from starving. 1770. WITH this obfervation Lord Chatham's approbation of the measures of government ended. He disapproved of the peace, and averred it had been made fo improvidently, as to leave the country without a fingle ally: from this circumftance we had during a peace of feven years, been continually on the verge of war. France on the other hand, had, carefully cultivated her alliances, especially Spain, and that thus the whole houfe of Bourbon was united within itself, and fupported by the clofeft connexions with the principal powers in Europe. Bur however important might be the confideration of foreign affairs, he confidered the domeftic fituation of the country as demanding ftill greater attention. He lamented the unhappy measures which had divided the colonies from Great Britain, and which he feared had drawn them into unjustifiable exceffes. But as the houfe had no documents, he could not concur in calling their proceedings unwarrantable: to ufe fuch an expreffion was paffing fentence without hearing the cause or being acquainted with the facts. The difcontent of two millions of people deserved confideration, and the foundation of it fhould be removed; but we should be cautious how we invaded the liberties of any part of our fellow fubjects, however remote in fituation, or unable to make refiftance. The Americans had purchased their liberty at a dear rate, fince they had quitted their native land, and gone to feek it in a defert. His lordship proceeded to observe, that the parts of the addrefs already adverted to, bore no comparifon in point of intereft to those which remained. There never was a time when the unanimity recommended by the King was more neceffary: and it was the duty of the houfe to inquire into the causes of the notorious diffatisfaction "expreffed by the whole English XVII. 1770. English nation; to state them to their fovereign, and C H A P. to give him their best advice in what manner he ought to act. The privileges of the House of Lords, however tranfcendant, however appropriate to them, ftood, in fact, on the broad bottom of the people. The rights of the greatest and meaneft fubjects had the fame foundation, the fecurity of the law, common to all. It was therefore their highest interest, as well as their duty, to watch over and guard the people; for when the people had loft their rights, those of the peerage would foon become infignificant. "Be af fured, my Lords," he continued, "that in whatever part of the empire you fuffer flavery to be established, whether it be in America, in Ireland, or at home, you will find it a disease which spreads by contact, and foon reaches from the extremities to the heart. The man who has loft his own freedom, becomes from that moment an inftrument, in the hands of an ambitious prince, to destroy the freedom of others." He then affirmed that the liberty of the fubject was invaded, not only in the provinces but at home. The people were loud in their complaints, and would never return to a state of tranquillity till they obtained redress; nor ought they; for it were better to perish in a glorious contention for their rights, than to purchase a flavifh tranquillity at the expence of a fingle iota of the conftitution. He had no doubt the univerfal discontent of the nation arofe from the proceedings against Mr. Wilkes, and therefore moved an amendment to the addrefs, purporting, that "the House would with all convenient speed take into confideration the caufes of the prevailing discontent, and particularly the proceedings of the Houfe of Commons, touching the incapacity of John Wilkes ; thereby refufing (by a refolution of one branch of the legislature only) to the fubject his common right, "and depriving the electors of Middlefex of their free choice of a reprefentative." LORD |