and thrown out for the moft prepofterous purpofe, to invite the people to fly to the Treafury and the Crown, as an afylum from corruption; thereby meaning to infinuate to the people, that they could and ought to have no confidence in their reprefentatives, and that they must feek for protection in the crown. This was what he termed the moft infidious attack that could be formed, in his mind, against the conftitution, for it was aiming to infpire the opinion, that the period was arrived which Montefquieu predicts to be the fall of British liberty when the legiflature fhall become more corrupt than the executive Government. He trufted, however, that we were not yet come to this period, and he had a confidence in the good fenfe and energy of the people of England, that they would never be brought haftily to en tertain fufpicions of that Houfe; and when they did, that they would not fly to the Crown for deliverance. That this was the scheme of the Minifter, he did not entertain a doubt; the whole tenor of his life fhewed in what infignificance and contempt he profeffed to hold the Commons of England; and what pains he took on all occafions to fix an odium on their name. The right honourable Gentleman concluded with declar ing, that he wished Mr. Burke would make a motion on the fpeech, in order to rescue Parliament from the reproach which it threw upon them; and to teach Minifters, that they must not fport with the dignity of the Commons of England. The The Speaker fald, it was his duty, with great humility and deference to the Houfe, to ftate the point of order. He then Speaker. with infinite precifion laid down the rule, that no Gentleman was to fpeak more than once in a debate; to which there were only two exceptions, which cuftom and conveniency had introduced. The one, where a Minifter, or Member in office rifes to give the Houfe neceffary information; the other, where a gentleman rifes to explain, in order to prevent his facts or his reafoning from being mifconceived and mifreprefented. The Speaker begged it to be underftood, that whenever he attempted to enforce the order, and the Houfe over-ruled him, (as they undoubtedly had the power to do, whenever they pleafed,) it was not to be imputed to him as a neglect of duty. Mr. Pitt faid a few words in explantion of his former Mr. Pitt. Speech. VOL. IX. K General General General Conway rofe, and in a fhort fpeech declared, that Conway nothing appeared to him more clear than that the recognition was unconditional, nor did he fee why any fallacy need be practifed, fince the treaty itfelf would be fubmitted to Parliament in a very few days, when the House would be able to judge for themselves. The General faid, he laid claim to no great fhare of knowledge or learning, but he thought there were fome parts of the fpeech, properly the fpeech of Majefty; and fome, for which the Minifter was refponfible. He declared, he was amazed to hear such conftructions put upon the fpeech, as he had heard; he saw it in a different light. Before he concluded, he faid, he had regarded the Minifter merely in his public, and not in his private capacity. That he watched him clofely, and faw no reason to doubt. That the fureft way to keep him fincere, was to take care that he acted up to his profeffions, which, he declared, he had hitherto uniformly done. Mr. Burke. Sir Richard Mr. Burke rofe again, and defended his former argument. He fail, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer, talked of treating him with fcorn and contempt, he made use of unfair weapons; for, however he might differ with that right honourable Gentleman, no circunftance under Heaven, could make him treat him with fcorn and contempt. Sir Richard Sutton role to affert, that the whole of the utton. King's fpeeches were ever to be confidered as the speeches of the Minifter. Sir Richard faid, he had read a printed account of what paffed the preceding day in another place, and in that account it was ftated, that a Minifter had declared the recognition of the independence of America was done by virtue of the Royal Prerogative, and not in confequence of any Parliamentary vote or power. The addrefs was then read a fecond time, and agreed to. The following is a copy of the addreís. Moft gracious Sovereign, We, your Majefty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Great Britain in parliament affembled, return your Majefty the thanks of this Houfe, for your moft gracious fpeech trom the throne. We beg leave to acknowledge, with fincere and hearty thanks, your Majefty's royal care and attention to the inpor tant and critical state of public affairs fince the laft feffion, and particularly for having been graciously pleafed to direct your your measures to promote a cordial reconciliation between Great Britain and America. Permit us to exprefs to your Majefty our fatisfaction that your Majefty, in the exercite of the powers which were vefted in your Majesty, has laid the foundation of a peace with that country, and has actually agreed upon articles to be concluded whenever terms are finally fettled with the court of France. We moft ardently with, that religion, language, interefts, and affection, may yet prove the bond of permanent union between the two countries. We are impreffed with a due fenfe of the advantages refulting from the fafety of the great branches of our trade, and of the happy fuccefs which we owe to the spirit of your Majefty's governor and garrison of Gibraltar, and to the fkill and bravery of your Majefty's fleet: and we reflect with peculiar pleasure on the uninterrupted continuance of our domeftic tranquillity, and the fignal inftances of public fpirit which the fituation of the country has called for. We rejoice to learn that advances have been made towards a general pacification, at a moment fo fuitable to your Majefty's dignity, and to your gracious and parental regard to the lives of your Majefty's brave and gallant fubjects. We defire to thank your Majefty for having promised to acquaint us, as foon as the terms are concluded; and to affure your Majefty of our refolution to take every measure to fecond the moft vigorous efforts in the further profccution of the war, if any unforeseen change in the difpofitions of the belligerent powers fhould fruftrate your Majefty's confident expectations of peace. We are anxious to offer the warmeft return of gratitude to your Majefty, for your gracious difpofition to diminish the burthens of your people; and to affure your Majefty that your faithful Commons will, as they ought, moft zealously. co-operate in fuch measures as may be neceffary to give ftability to regulations for that purpofe. We will chearfully provide for the deficiency of the fum granted laft year for the difcharge of the debt on your Majefty's civil lift. We will apply ourfelves, with the moft ferious attention, to the many important points which your Majefty is pleafed to recommend to our confideration: we will do every thing in our power to remedy the evils which may be apprehended from the general scarcity of corn; to put a top to the alarming excess of theft and robbery, and the cautes from which K 2 thole thofe crimes originate; and to lay the foundation of a gradual redemption of the public debt, by a fixed course of pay ment. We recollect, with great fatisfaction, thofe liberal measures adopted with regard to the rights and commerce of Ireland, which will, we truft, insure the harmony which ought always to fubfift between the two kingdoms. And we fhall be ready to confider of fuch a general revifion of our trading system as may, in the prefent circumftances, be wife and expedient. We are truly fenfible of the neceffity of framing fuch regulations as are adapted to the fituation of affairs in the Eaft Indies. And we beg leave to affure your Majefty, that it will be our great object, in all our deliberations, to manifeft that temper and thofe principles which your Majefty is pleased to inculcate, and which are required of us by the duty we owe to your Majefty, to our conftituents, and to ourfelves. December 7. The Earl Ludlow reported to the Houfe, that his Majefty having been waited upon, to know his Majefty's pleature, when he would be pleafed to be attended by the Houfe, had appointed that day at two o'clock. The Houfe proceeded to take into confideration the King's fpeech, and refolved that a fupply be granted to his Majesty, and appointed Monday for going into a committee on the motion. The Speaker attended by a number of members then repaired to Saint James's to prefent the addrefs of the House to his Majefty, December 9. Mr. Speaker reported to the Houfe, that the Houfe attended his Majefty on Saturday laft with their addrefs; to which his Majefty was pleafed to give this moft gracious anfwer: "Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I return you thanks for this loyal and dutiful address. "I am happy to receive your affurances of fatisfaction on being acquainted that articles have been agreed upon with America, to take effect whenever terms of peace fhall be finally fettled with the court of France; and that while you rejoice to learn, that advances have been made towards a general pacification, you are at the fame time refolded to fecond fecond the most vigorous efforts in the farther profecution of the war, if any unforeseen change in the difpofition of the belligerent powers fhould fruftrate my confident expectations of peace." In a committee of the whole Houfe, Mr. Ord in the chair, it was refolved that a fupply be granted to his Majefty. December 10. Mr. Rolle rofe to ask Administration if they had any in- Mr. Rolle tention of moving a vote of thanks to General Eliott and Lord Howe. Mr. Secre Mr. Secretary Townshend faid, that he was not prepared to answer the queftion officially; for his own part, he did not tary Townfknow that there was any fuch thing in contemplation, and he hend. believed there was not; for it was confidered that the honourable mention that had been made of their condu&t in his Majefty's fpeech, and the approbation of that conduct expreffed in the addrefs of thanks to his Majefty, fufficiently conveyed the thanks of the Houfe. He had a good deal of converfation with Lord Howe, and fome of the officers under his Lordship upon the expedition to Gibraltar, and they were all thoroughly fatisfied with having received the thanks of parliament in the manner already mentioned; and when it was mentioned to them, they faid, in confequence of what had fallen from an honourable gentleman, in debate, they would much rather it were not mentioned. As to General Eliott, he could inform the Houfe that he had received orders from his Majefty to write a letter to the General, expreffing, in the higheft terms he could conceive, his Majefty's approbation of his conduct, and alfo to inform him, that his Majesty intended to bestow on him a distinguished mark of his royal favour. Mr. Secretary faid he fpoke on this point totally uninformed of what others of his Majefty's minifters might mean to do. Mr. Brett faid he would, on a fubfequent day, move for Mr. Brett. a renewal of the act which authorifed the fale of captured veffels. Mr. Huffy hoped, that the claufe which impowered the Privy-council to treat for ranfoming them would be left out, as it was fhamefully abufed. He did not mean to throw any afperfion upon the Privy-council, it was not their fault, nor was Mr.Huffey. |