stead who was a known friend to the American war, and a staunch supporter of it ever since it first began. Therefore, as we found the minister's promise was not to be relied on, we should not let the opportunity slip; but while we had it in our power we ought to have exerted ourselves in doing our country that justice which it loudly called for. He begged gentlemen not to imagine that his proceeding in this business was in any shape personal against the noble lord who was at the head of the admiralty, nor that it tended to any criminal proceeding. He had nothing to say to the Earl of Sandwich; it was to the board of admiralty; and gentlemen ought not to be induced from personal regard to that noble lord to fail in the execution of their public duty. He therefore hoped every gentlemen would lay his hand upon his heart, and he was then confident they must be of his opinion, and would vote with him, "That it appears to this House, that there has been great mismanagement in the conduct of his majesty's naval affairs, in the year 1781."

The motion was opposed by Earl Nugent and Mr. Dundas. Sir William Dolben, who had supported Mr. Fox in the committee, and was supposed to have weight with those members who were called country gentlemen, declared his resolution of voting against him on the present occasion, on account of the intimation he had given of his design to move an address for the dismission of the first lord of the admiralty. This he thought by far too hasty and precipitate a proceeding. Lord Howe also declared, that though he could not, in honour, avoid voting for the resolution before the House, yet he should certainly be against the next step proposed. He asked, if gentlemen were provided with a proper successor, who would act with the present servants of the crown? The plan of the ensuing campaign was also, he said, certainly arranged, and he doubted whether at such a moment it would be safe to overturn the actual administration of the marine. Mr. Fox was ably supported by Mr. William Pitt, who laid his hand upon his heart, and declared that he thought the whole of the proposition fully, clearly, and expressly proved. General Conway, Sir Horace Mann, Mr. Dunning, Admiral Keppel, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Thomas Pitt, and Mr. Taylor, spoke also in support of the motion. The House divided:

GENERAL CONWAY'S MOTIONS FOR PUTTING AN END TO THE

AMERICAN War.

February 22.

TH HE appointment of Mr. Welbore Ellis to the office of secretary of state for the plantation-department, vacant by the resignation of Lord Sackville, and of Lieutenant-general Sir Guy Carleton, to succeed the commander-in-chief of the forces in North America, having occasioned a general alarm amongst those who were persuaded that there still existed a secret and obstinate attachment in the court to the prosecution of the war against the colonies, it was resolved to make another attempt in the House of Commons, to bind up the hands of the executive government, by a strong and explicit declaration of the opinion of parliament. With this view, General Conway, on the 22d of February, moved, "That an humble address be presented to his majesty, earnestly imploring his majesty, that, taking into his royal consideration the many and great calamities which have attended the present unfortunate war, and the heavy burthens thereby brought on his loyal and affectionate people, he will be pleased graciously to listen to the humble prayer and advice of his faithful Commons, that the war on the continent of North America may no longer be pursued for the impracticable purpose of reducing the inhabitants of that country to obedience by force; and expressing their hope, that the earnest desire and diligent exertion to restore the public tranquillity, of which we have received his majesty's gracious assurances, may, by a happy reconciliation with the revolted colonies, be forwarded and made effectual, to which great end his majesty's faithful Commons will be ready most cheerfully to give their utmost assistance." The debate on this occasion lasted till two o'clock in the morning. All the arguments used on former occasions were recurred to on both sides. The ministers continued to hold the same vague and undetermined language`as before. In reply to Mr. Welbore Ellis, and Mr. Jenkinson,

Mr. Fox, in an able speech, exposed the duplicity of ministers. He said he was happy to find, on a late occasion, two hundred and nineteen honest, independent men. If the people would only consider the vast number of contractors and placemen, that unworthily and unjustly had seats in that House, they must be convinced, that a majority of nineteen, for a minister was, in fact, a minority, as it proved most clearly and unequivocally that the voice of the people were against him. He was severe on administration, and was glad to find that he had discovered who the evil spirit was that conducted all our mischiefs; it was a person higher than the noble lord in the blue ribbon: for the noble lord was only his puppet, and acted as he was told, The right honourable

gentleman (Mr. Ellis) had spoke out. He now understood what was meant. He would take the word of a principal. The other persons on the same bench with the right honourable gentleman, though ostensible ministers, were only secondary kind of beings compared to him. That infernal spirit that really ruled, and had so nearly ruined this country, which was much greater, though not so visible as ministers, had spoken through the right honourable gentleman's mouth. He said, it was now evident, that the war was to be pursued in America in the same mad manner in which it had been ⚫ conducted hitherto. He talked of the distinction of carrying on a war with America, and in America, and said, every body had hoped from what had fallen from the lord advocate, and the noble lord in the blue ribbon before the holidays, that the war in future was only to be continued with America, and not in America. But the right honourable gentleman's explanation of the sort of war of posts to be adopted, had fully convinced him. He declared, if the learned lord advocate did not vote for the present motion, what he had said before the holidays would bear the construction of having arisen from personal animosity; otherwise how was his speaking against one minister, and supporting another for pursuing the same measures in the same manner, to be accounted for?

The House divided:

Tellers.

Tellers.

YEAS {Mr. BYDE 193.—Nors Mr. J. Robinson

Byng
Hussey

}

So it passed in the negative.

February 27.

Mr. W. Adam

} 194.

The above division having afforded the ministry the melancholy majority of a single vote, was considered by Opposition as a complete victory on the subject of the American war; and as a majority of the absent members were supposed to coincide in opinion with the former, it was resolved to bring the question before the House again the first opportunity. Accordingly, this day General Conway moved, "That it is the opinion of this House, that the farther prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America, for the purpose of reducing the revolted colonies to obedience by force, will be the means of weakening the efforts of this country against her European enemies, tends, under the present circumstances, dangerously to increase the mutual enmity, so fatal to the interests both of Great Britain and America, and, by preventing an happy reconciliation with that country, to frustrate the earnest desire graciously expressed by his majesty

to restore the blessings of public tranquillity." The motion was seconded by Viscount Althorpe, and opposed by Lord North, in a long and able reply. He objected to it as unnecessary, after the assurances that had been given by government; as dangerous, on account of the information it conveyed to our enemies; as impolitic, because it entirely took away from the executive government the use of its discretion; as tending to retard rather than to advance the attainment of peace, the great object in view by both sides of the House. He therefore could only consider the motion as a party measure, and, in that light, he thought it not less exceptionable. If, said he, the House suspects the sincerity of the servants of the crown, if they have any doubts of their ability or integrity, it is not by such a motion as the present that they ought to express their sentiments; they ought to address the crown to remove those ministers in whom they could not place confidence, and to appoint others in whom they could confide. A minister, he said, ought no longer to continue a minister after he was suspected by that House. He should be like Cæsar's wife, not only free from guilt, but even from suspicion. If, indeed, the House should shew that they had withdrawn their confidence from him, it would be his duty, without waiting for an address for his removal, to wait upon his sovereign, and, delivering up the seals of his office, say to him, "Sir, I have long served you with diligence, with zeal, and with fidelity, but success has not crowned my endeavours; your parliament have withdrawn from me their confidence; all my declarations to them are suspected; therefore, Sir, let me resign to you those employments, which I ought not to keep longer than I can be serviceable to your majesty and your subjects." Lord North was followed by the attorney-general, Mr. Wallace, who observed, that there were many more obstacles to be removed, in order to treat of peace with the Americans, than the House seemed to be aware of. At that moment, several acts of parliament were in existence, which would prove insuperable bars to such an attempt. He therefore should recommend, that as the first necessary step, a truce; during the continuance of which, the enmity, occasioned by the violence of the contest, might subside; and each party, being at leisure to consult their real interests, might accede to terms of peace, which, having undergone a slow and temperate discussion, might prove more honourable and advantageous, as well as more likely to secure a permanent union, than those resulting from sudden overtures and sudden acquiescence. He declared his intentions of bringing in a bill, with the permission of the House, for these purposes; and he should therefore move, "That the debate be adjourned till this day fortnight." This attempt was combated by Mr. Fox and several leaders of Opposition. Mr. William Pitt was particularly severe on the motion of adjourn ment; and on the ground of Lord North's own declaration, urged the House, by every consideration of duty or prudence, to withdraw confidence from the present administration. Was there a promise, he asked, which they had not falsified? Was there a plan in which they agreed? Did any two of them accord in

any specific doctrine? No! there was an incessant variation : a shuffling and tricking pervaded their whole conduct, and in them parliament could place no trust. The debate lasted again till two in the morning, when, though the proposition of the attorney-general was supposed to have brought over a few irresolute votes to the side of the minister, there appeared for the adjournment only 215; against it, 234, exclusive of the two tellers on each side. The number of those who were present at the beginning of the debate, but had paired off in the course of the evening, were said to have amounted to 14. The original question, and an address to the king, formed upon the resolution, were then carried without a division, and the address was ordered to be presented by the whole House.

March 4.

The Speaker reported to the House, that the House had attended his majesty with their address, to which he had been pleased to return the following answer:

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons: There are no objects nearer to my heart than the ease, happiness, and prosperity of my people. You may be assured, that in pursuance of your advice, I shall take such measures as shall appear to me to be most conducive to the restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the revolted colonies, so essential to the prosperity of both; and that my efforts shall be directed in the most effectual manner against our European enemies, until such a peace can be obtained as shall consist with the interests and permanent welfare of my kingdoms."

The thanks of the House being unanimously voted to the king for his gracious answer, General Conway rose again, and moved, "That, after the solemn declaration of the opinion of this House. in their humble address presented to his majesty on Friday last, and his majesty's assurance of his gracious intention, in pursuance of their advice, to take such measures as shall appear to his majesty to be most conducive to the restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the revolted colonies, so essential to the prosperity of both, this House will consider as enemies to his majesty and this country, all those who shall endeavour to frustrate his majesty's paternal care for the ease and happiness of his people, by advising, or by any means attempting, the farther prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America, for the purpose of reducing the revolted colonies to obedience by force." Lord Althorpe seconded the motion. Lord North declared, that in pursuance of the address, and of the king's answer, he should use every effort to fulfil their orders, relying on their further instruction, if he appeared to misapprehend their intentions. He considered the motion unnecessary, as it only reinforced declarations already sufficiently strong.

Mr. Fox rose to speak but a few words on the motion; for as the noble lord in the blue ribbon had said that he should