guardian genius of America had presided over the counsels of this house, and inspired them with such measures and resolves, as were best calculated to promote the union, and interest of the colonies, and that this bill might be fairly said to stand at the top of the class of those measures, and therefore the title ought to be changed into that of "A bill for carrying more effectually into execution the resolves of Congress." True and forcible as was this remark in itself, and firm as it was, in connection with the corresponding debate, the motion for the bill was carried, December 11th, 192 to 64.

The same spirited opposition attended the bill before the House of Lords, in which the whole force of the arguments of ministers was summed up in a war of necessity, by the following anecdote.

The critical situation of our affairs, says a great law ford, compels us to fight. The laconic speech of a certain Scotch general in the army of Gustavus Adolphus, made to his soldiers, is percisely applicable to our situation. Pointing to the enemy he said "See you those men? kill them my lads or they will kill you."* The question was carried at midnight, 78 to 19.

This bill was also followed with a spirited protest signed by eight noble lords, with the Duke of Richmond at their head, in which "they reprobate the clause in the bill, with indignation, which by a refinement in tyranny, and in a sentence worse than death, obliges the unhappy men who shall be made captives in this predatory war, to bear arms against their families, kindred, friends, and country; and after being plundered themselves, to become accomplices in plundering their own brethren."

The noble lord doubtless had his mind upon the speech of Gustavus Adolphus, in the battle of Lutzen, a few minutes before his death, on seeing three spuadrons of imperial cuirassiers clothed in armour, he called to him Colonel Stalhaus, and pointing to the squadrons said "Stalhaus, charge home these black fellows, for they are the men that will undo us,"

Russel

His majesty gave his assent to this bill, in the house of peers, December 21st, 1775.

His majesty made application, with his own hand, to the States General, for a Scotch regiment in their service, to be employed against America; but it was refused, with a becoming spirit. His majesty's message to the Irish Parliament met with success, and they voted him 4000 men out of the 12,000 voted for the defence of the kingdom, provided they be no expence to Ireland, after quitting the kingdom. The Protestant troops proposed in the message, as a substitute to be stationed in Ireland, were refused.

On the 29th of December, the ships Acteon and Thunder bomb, sailed from Portsmouth for Cork, carrying Sir Peter Parker, and Earl Cornwallis, and the American Col. Ethan Allen, to convoy the transports with the 4000 troops to America.

Colonel Allen had been treated with great severity in England, as well as his fellow prisoners, and had been confined, until this time, in Pendennis Castle, in Cornwall. When Colonel Allen arrived in Cork, a subscription was opened for his benefit and his companions, which afforded them ample supplies; this was the first succour they had received.

This fleet were ready for sea by the 20th of January; but were delayed by the lord lieutenant of Ireland, in the settlement of some doubts about his powers, until the 13th of February, when the fleet put to sea, consisting of 43 sail and about 2500 troops, destined, as was supposed, for the middle states of America. This fleet were overtaken by a terrible storm on the 18th, and were scattered; a part driven back into Cork, others into Plymouth, Portsmouth, &c. and left Sir Peter only 25 sail, to prosecute the expedition.

On the 19th, Lord North moved, "that his majesty's treaties with the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel, the Duke of Brunswick, and other German princes, for 17,000 men to be employed in America, be referred to the committee of supply." This motion caused a warm debate, which involved the questions of propriety, as well as expediency of hiring foreign troops, and the measure was severly reprobated; but the motion was carried at half past 12 at night, by a majority of 242 to 88.

The same question produced the same animated opposition in the House of Lords, where it was stated, that this body of 17,000 foreign troops would cost the naiton 1,500,000l. in twelve months. All that language could express, was said to excite the feelings against applying to foreign princes for aid in this sanguinary contest; princes who trade in human blood; but more especially against calling on the people of England, to sanction by their support, so barbarous an action. The example of foreign aid was also urged, which America would not fail to follow, and then this measure would involve England in a war with all Europe. But the plea of necessity carried all before it in this case, as in the others, and the question was carried in favour of ministers, 100 to 32. This was also met with a powerful protest.

But when the minister brought forward his demands for the sum of 845,000l. on the 11th of March, to defray the extraordinary expences of the last year, from March up to January, a most violent opposition burst upon the minister, and appeared ready to overwhelm him.

Calculations were immediately made to shew, that every man in garrison at Boston, had cost the nation more than 100%. in less than one year, and that even under this enormous expence, their privations had been great, and their supplies wretched in the extreme; that if such an expence had been necessarily incurred, when the resistance

had been so feeble, what must be the expence under the present prospects of the war, when the united strength of America would require such vast land, and naval forces, to make any impression that could promise success ?

All this opposition was idle; the motion prevailed, 180 to 57.

The Duke of Grafton made one more effort for a reconciliation, in the House of Lords, by offering a motion, "that a petition be presented to his majesty, requesting, that in order to stop all further effusion of blood, and to manifest the sincere desire of the king, and Parliament to restore peace, and redress grievances, a proclamation might be issued, declaring, that if the colonies should present a petition to the commander in chief of his majesty's forces in America, or to commissioners appointed for such purpose, setting forth what they considered to be their just rights, and real grievances, the king would consent to a suspension of arms, and refer their petition to Parliament, where they might be confident it would be duly considered, and answered."

This motion, however wise and politic in itself, and however ably supported, was lost by a majority of three to

one.

The lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, presented their humble address to his majesty, praying for peace; but all in vain; America was doomed to bleed-and the first division of the German troops, from Brunswick, sailed from Spithead for America, on the 4th of April, and were followed the next day by Generals Burgoyne* and Philips.

On the 6th of May the first division of German troops from Hesse Cassel, sailed from St. Helens for America. Five days after, Lord Howe sailed for America, in the Ea

Burgoyne had left Boston for England in December.

gle man of war, where he was to act with Gen. Howe upon a commission granted to them by letters patent, "for restoring peace to the colonies in North America, and for granting pardon to such of his majesty's subjects there, now in rebellion, as shall deserve the royal mercy."

The estimates of the forces to be employed this year against America, amounted to about 60,000 men.

His majesty signed all the bills in due form, in the house of peers, and closed the session with the following clause in his speech." It is with pleasure I inform you, that the assurances which I have received of the disposition of the several powers in Europe, promise a continuance of the general tranquillity.”

The sailing of the Cork fleet, and its place of destination, were very providentially discovered before its arrival upon the American coast, by a letter from the British secretary of state, addressed to Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia. This letter, an extract of which is as follows, was taken by Capt. J. Barron, amongst other dispatches sent by Lord Dunmore to Gov. Eden of Maryland, and conveyed to Williamsburg.

"Sir,

"An armament of seven regiments, with a fleet of frigates and small ships, is now in readiness to sail to the southern colonies, in order to attempt the restoration of legal government in that part of America. It will proceed in the first place to North-Carolina, and from thence to South-Carolina, or Virginia, as circumstances shall point

out."

On the 18th of April two of the fleet arrived in Cape Fear river, with part of the 17th regiment, and from that to the 3d of May, the remainder of the fleet arrived in succession, bringing Sir Peter Parker, Lord Cornwallis, Gen.