the

now renounced allegiance to the crown, and all political connection with Great Britain; and, with an arrogance equal to the enormity of attempt, lest a doubt of their real design should remain on the breast of any person whatever, have set up their rebellious confederacies for independent states. We are fully aware of the mischief which would accrue from the success of this treason, to your majesty's loyal colonies, to the commerce of this nation, and more remotely indeed, but not less certainly, to the system of Europe, and to every state upon the continent of Europe, possessed of distant colonies.

We reflect, with pleasure, on the solid advantage which will be derived, from the object of the rebels being openly avowed, and clearly understood, the unanimity which will prevail at home, founded in a conviction of the justice and necessity of your majesty's measures. Inspired with the same zeal for the cause of our country, which animates the kingdom at large, we will steadily support your majesty in the vindication of the honour of your crown, and the just rights of parliament, and will chearfully concur in making the necessary provisions for those great purposes.

The assurances of amity, which your majesty continues to receive from the several courts of Europe, afford us great satisfaction; we entertain the most grateful sense of the endeavours which your majesty is exerting to conciliate unhappy dif ferences between two neighbouring powers; and we trust that, by your majesty's auspicious endeavours, these misunderstandings will be removed, and Europe continue to

enjoy the inestimable blessings of peace. Permit us, Sir, at the same time to return your majesty our dutiful thanks for your provident attention in guarding against any events which may arise out of the present situation of affairs, by keeping us in a respectable state of defence at home.

With hearts full of duty and gratitude, we acknowledge the happiness, which, under your majesty's mild government, is extended to every part of the British empire; of which the late flourishing state of the revolted provinces, their num bers, their wealth, their strength by sea and land, which they think sufficient to enable them to make head against the whole power of the mother-country, shew that they have abundantly participated. And we earnestly hope, that your majesty's paternal object of restoring your distracted colonies to the happy condition from which, by their own misconduct, they are wretchedly fallen, will be speedily attained.

Dissentient,

For the reasons contained in the amendment proposed and rejected,

viz.

"To assure his majesty that, animated with the most earnest and sincere zeal for his true interest, and the real glory of his reign, we behold, with inexpressible concern, the minds of a very large, and late ly loyal, and affectionate part of his people, entirely alienated from his government. Nor can we conceive that such an event as the disaffection and revolt of a whole people could have taken place, without some considerable errors in the conduct observed towards them.

"These erroneous measures, we conceive, are to be imputed to a want of sufficient information being laid before parliament; and to too large a degree of confidence being reposed in those ministers who, from their duty were obliged, and from their official situation were best enabled to know the temper and disposition of his majesty's American subjects; and were, therefore, presumed most capable of pointing out such measures as might produce the most salutary effect. Hence the schemes which were formed for the reduction and chastisement of a supposed inconsiderable party of factious men, have driven thirteen large provinces to despair! Every act which has been proposed as a means of procuring peace and submission, has become a new cause of war and revolt; and we now find ourselves almost inextricably involved in a bloody and expensive civil war, which besides exhausting, at present, the strength of his majesty's dominions, exposing our llies to the designs of their and our

enemies, and leaving this kingdom in a most perilous situation, threatens in its issue, the most deplorable calamities to the whole British

race.

"We cannot avoid lamenting that, in consequence of the credit afforded to the representations of ministers, no hearing has been given to the reiterated complaints and petitions of the colonies: neither has any ground been laid, for removing the original cause of these unhappy differences, which took their rise from questions relative to parliamentary proceedings, and can be settled only by parliamentary authority. By this fatal omission, the commissioners, nominated for the apparent purpose of making peace, were furnished with no legal power, but those of giving or withholding pardons, at their pleasure; and of relaxing the severities of a single penal act of parliament, leaving the whole foundation of this unhappy controversy as it stood at the beginning.

"To represent to his majesty that, in addition to this neglect, when, in the beginning of the last session, his majesty, in his gracious speech to both houses of parliament, had declared his resolution of sending out commissioners, for the purposes therein expressed, as speedy as possible; no such commissioners were sent, until nearly seven months afterwards; and until the nation was alarmed by the evacuation of the only town then held for his majesty, in the thirteen united colonies. By this delay, acts of the most critical nature, the effects of which must as much depend upon the power of immediately relaxing them on sub

mission,

mission, as in enforcing them upon disobedience, had only an operation to inflame and exasperate. But if any colony, town, or place, had been induced to submit by the operation of the terrors of those acts, there were none in the place, of power sufficient to restore the people so submitting to the common right of subjection. The inhabitants of the colonies, apprized that they were put out of the protection of government, and seeing no means provided for their entering into it, were furnished with reasons but too colourable for breaking off their dependency on the crown of this kingdom.

"To assure his majesty, that removing our confidence from those who, in so many instances, have grossly abused it, we shall endeavour to restore to parliament the confidence of all his people.

"To this end it may be adviseable to make a more minute enquiry into the grievances of the colonies, as well as into the conduct of ministers with regard to them. We may think it proper, particularly, to enquire how it has happened, that the commerce of this kingdom has been left exposed to the reprisals of the colonies, at the very time that their seamen and fishermen being indiscriminately prohibited from the peaceable exercise of their оссираtions, and declared open enemies, must be expected, with a certain assurance, to betake themselves to plunder, and to wreak their revenge on the commerce of Great Britain.

"That we understand, that amidst the many disasters and disgraces which have attended on his majesty's arms in many parts of America, an advantage has been gain

ed by his majesty's British and foreign mercenary forces, in the province of New York. That if a wise, moderate, and prudent use be made of this advantage, it is not improbable that happy effects may result from that use. And we assure his majesty, that nothing shall be wanting on our part, tò enable his majesty to take full advantage of any dispositions to reconciliation, which may be the consequence of the miseries of war, by laying down, on our part, real permanent grounds of connection between Great Britain and the colonies, on principles of liberty, and terms of mutual advantage.

"That whilst we lament this effusion of English blood (which we hope has not been greater or other than necessity required and honour justified), we should most heartily congratulate his majesty on any event leading to the great desirable end of settling a peace, which might promise to last, by the restoration of the ancient affection which has happily subsisted between this kingdom and its colonies; any other would necessarily require, even in case of a total conquest, an army to maintain, ruinous to the finances, and incompatible with the freedom of his majesty's people. We should look with the utmost shame and horror on any events, of what nature soever, that should tend to break the spirit of any large part of the British nation, to bow them to an abject unconditional submission to any power whatsoever, to annihilate their liberties, and to subdue them to servile principles, and passive habits, by the mere force of mercenary arms. Because, amidst the excesses and abuses which have hap[S]>

pened,