fioners of Congress ratified this article with a determined resolution to carry it into execution, for his part he did not doubt but they would faithfully adhere to it. From their prefent unsettled condition, he did not see what they could do more than to pledge themselves ftrongly to recommend their cafe and their claims; and it was not candid to doubt their performance of this article, so much preffed upon them by Dr Franklin. As to Canada, he admitted, that a very extenfive boundary had been given away; but he would not have gentlemen believe that it was all gone; enough of it was left for the purposes of trade; immenfe tracts of it ftill remained in our hands, which, he hoped in God, would never be fettled and peopled from England: the trade of that country was all that was wanted; we had ftill enough of it for that purpose: and as for colonization, he was an ene my to it, and never wished to fee it take place in Canada to any extent from this country. The Americans were, by the treaty, to be allowed to fish on the coaft of Newfoundland; but this was a privilege which they had always enjoyed, and which they were in a condition to infift fhould be confirmed to them for ever. Thus placing the treaty in every point of view, and taking into his confideration every thing that ought to be fairly weigh ed, he was ready to return his thanks to the minifters who had so happily rescued us from a war, which, if purfued any longer, muft have ended in our ruin, He concluded by moving an addrefs to his Majefty, thanking him for laying the preliminary treaties before the Houfe; affuring him they had carefully confidered and weighed them, and that they moft beartily approved of them, &c.

Mr Wilberforce seconded the motion, and endeavoured to show, that the peace was certainly better than we had a right to expect from the combination against us, and from our own impoverished refources. He touched upon the provifonal treaty with America, and dwelt with fome emotion on that part of it which related to the loyalifts: it was there he felt for his country; it was there he faw her humiliated; it was there he faw ber at the feet of America: but ftill What could ministers do? Were they to renew the horrors of war, and plunge their country once more into expences which the never could be able to bear? He was of opinion they ought not, from

a thorough conviction of our inability to force Congrefs to give them better terms.

Lord John Cavendish was of opinion that better terms of peace might have been made. His Lordship therefore moved an amendment, viz. to thank his Majefty for the attention he had fhewn in laying before the House the articles of peace between Great Britain, France, Spain, and America; and that the Commons will confider the fame, and report their opinion thereon as foon as poffible. Mr St John feconded the amendment. Lord North declared, that during the thirty years he had served his country in that Houfe, he never rofe with greater unwillingness to speak. He wished not to throw any embarraffments in the way of miniftry, it was therefore with anxiety and pain that he rose to diffent from them on this important occafion: but as he was called upon to give his approbation to a peace which he condemned, he could not remain filent. Miniftry should have imitated the wife example fet them by the able, honeft, and upright minifter who had concluded the treaty of Aix la Chapelle: the war which was terminated by that treaty might have been called an unfortunate war; but ftill that honeft minifter, wrapped up in his own probity and integrity, and looking down equally upon incenfe and upon cenfure, Contented himself with laying the treaty before the Houfe; but without ever thinking of moving, either by himself or his friend, for a vote of approbation of that peace.-I have laid the articles before you, faid he; canvas them, twist them, weigh them; if they are attacked, it is my business to defend them; but I have nothing to move upon them myself. Here was a conduct worthy of imitation by the greateft statesmen. But our present miniftry defpifed to follow fuch a laudable line of conduct. They call upon you to give your approbation to this treaty before you have thoroughly weighed and digeft. ed the articles. He then reviewed the different articles very minutely, and infifted that they were not fo-advantageous as might have been expected. He said, that many of the articles of peace between France and us were exception. able, and was surprised at our conceffions in the Weft Indies. Why did we give up St Lucia? while it remained in our hands, together with fuch other iflands as we are this moment poffeffed of, we unquestionably held the balance

of

of power in that quarter. He condemn ed ministry for allowing the French to fortify Dunkirk. He doubted much whether we were at peace with France; one of the articles fays, that in cafe France has allies in India-but we know that the has very powerful allies-in cafe the has allies in India, they shall be invited to accede to the treaty; but a term of four months is allowed them from the day on which they make the proposals to make their decifion, and either approve or difapprove of them. Here Hyder Ally has an excellent opportunity of ravaging the country, and may wanton unreftrained in all manner of cruelty and barbarity. He condemned the privileges we had given France on the banks of Newfound land, and said, that we had greatly hurt our fisheries in that quarter. He spoke of the Spanish articles, and afked why the miniftry had given up East as well as Weft Florida? and fhewed, that both were of great benefit to our commerce, especially the former. Where is then, fays he, our great and advantageous re ciprocity? Some gentlemen had talked much of the reciprocity of the articles, but he must confefs that the reciprocity is all on one fide. He then took a view of the American articles, and said, that he could not there difcover any of the equity and reciprocity talked of. He took notice with what a lavish hand we had given away our territories in Canada, and abandoned our allies in that part of the world. He faid, we had totally deftroyed our India trade there, and shamefully forfaken twenty-four nations of Indians, who were our allies, and bad affifted us frequently in the war. He then, in a geographical manner, took notice of the boundaries agreed upon between us and America, and expofed the abfurdity and error of fome of them. He faid, he did not argue against American independence, but be infifted that we had given her too much, and more than fhe ever expected. Above all he objected to the article relative to the loyalifts: thefe gallant but unfortunate men, were not, and ought not to be confidered as traitors and rebels; because when they took up arms, it was at the call of their King, and in obedience to that allegiance which they had fworn to him: their loyalty therefore fhould have met a better return, than that they should have been made the fubject of an odious exception; that those who had deferved of this couns

try every grace, every favour that it could bestow, fhould be abandoned to the im potent recommendation of a Congrefs, whofe authority to levy money was dif puted and denied by every state in the confederacy. What, could not the furrender of New York, Long Island, Pe nobfcot, Charlestown, the extenfion of boundaries, the acknowledgement of independence, have enabled us to call fome terms for the brave loyalists? for these men who had rifked family, fortune, and life in vindication of the caufe of Great Britain? Here he felt the degradation of this country; here he saw the triumph of American vanity; or rather here he saw the glory of America reared upon the ruins of that of Great Britain, What! was America fo fixed and determined on this point, that she was refolved to pursue the war, when she could not raise a farthing to carry it on, fooner than restore to the loyalifts their eftates? Or would the French and Spaniards, once fatisfied on the great points they had at heart, countenance the protrac tion of the war, for the vindictive pur. pofe of preventing the loyalifts from regaining their eftates? It was improbable, if not impoffible; and therefore he muft condemn, instead of approving this article. With refpect to the right of fishing on the coaft of Newfoundland, which was to be fecured to the Americans, it had been faid, that they ufed always to enjoy it : it was truly faid; but it was becaufe they then were British fubjects; but in this the boasted reciprocity was to be difcovered; for while the Americans were to have this fishery secured to them, there was no provifion whatever for fecuring to his Britannic Majesty's fubjects of Newfoundland, Canada, the Bahama and Bermuda inlands, and Nova Scotia, that right of fishing, which they also ufed formerly to enjoy, on the coaft of America. He fupported the amend ment, and faid, that as foon as it was carried, he would move for an addition to it, which was an article relative to the loyalifts.

His Lordship was upon his legs near two hours. He was fevere on ministry, and made the House frequently laugh at their expence. [He was once interrupt. ed by a dog that had got into the House, and upon the House withing to know the reafon of it, he faid it was only the intrufion of a new (peaker.]

Mr Powis replied to Lord North, and

was

was convinced that the peace was the beft that in our circumftances could be obtained.

Lord Mulgrave thought that the intentions of the court of France were diftant to a peace of long continuance; their conduct, he faid, from the beginning of the negotiation, indicated the contrary. He disapproved of relinquishing that part of the treaty of Utrecht relative to Dunkirk; it would undoubtedly be fortified; and in cafe of a future rupture, France would have it in her power, it being fo near our own coaft, to annoy us, and counteract our opera; tions. Our right, he said, to prevent its fortification, was never confidered as a point of honour, but as a condition in which this nation was highly interefted. The ceffion of the islands of St Pierre and Miquelon, was well worth the attention of France; for by putting them in a fortified state, they would in time of war prove of the utmost advantage to ber. In fhort, he was convinced, from every confideration, that the peace on the part of that power was not permanently settled, and that it could only be looked upon as a fufpenfion of hoftilities. He then adverted to the American loyalifts; and faid, that New York, Long Inland, and Charlestown, ought to have been retained, till they were put in full poffeffion of their property.

Mr Burke, with his wonted powers of raillery, attacked the addrefs as fingularly modeft and affuming in its ftyle and compofition. He afterwards went into a ferious argument against the articles of the peace, and cut at feveral of them with a weapon wielded by a power

ful arm.

The Lord Advocate made an admirable speech in favour of the address: feverely retorting on members who had formerly deplored the wretched ftate of this country, and now thought she could have demanded better terms.

Gov. Johnftone demonftrated that great errors had efcaped minifters in drawing the boundaries of the United States; and efpecially in afcertaining the limits of Eaft Florida.

Sir H. Fletcher faid, that the terms agreed on would be highly detrimental to the interefts of the Eaft-India Company in India.

Mr Sec. Townshend, with great temper, met the arguments of thofe who had taken exceptions to the peace. He ju

ftified the propriety of the boundaries fettled for Canada; and faid that we still preferved a great flare of the fur trade, and that of the beft fort. No one, he declared, could regret more than himfelf the fituation of the loyalifts; but that it was impoffible to procure better terms for them, without continuing the war folely on their account. Congrefs were in honour bound to treat them generouf ly; and he believed they would but if he was difappointed in his expectations; they must be provided for at the expence of this nation. The ceffion to France in the Eaft Indies had received the approbation of the Eaft-India Company; and was no more than a restoration of what they had formerly enjoyed. Upon the whole, he thought it the beft peace that could poffibly be obtained, every circumstance confidered.

Mr Sheridan fhewed the neceffity of having the negotiation with the Dutch laid before the Houfe, as neceflary to a decifion on the articles refpecting the Eaft Indies. He alfo very ingenioufly defended Ld North's having that day joined Mr Fox, on grounds of fair reasoning and confiftency.

Sir W. Dolben again addreffed himfelf to the lawyers, for fome fatisfaction refpecting his doubts on his Majesty's legal right to declare America independ

ent.

Mr Mansfield, in reply, faid, that the King was vefted with fuch powers by an act of the last parliament.

Mr Fox, with his ufual powers of rea foning, attacked the peace in all its parts, and declared that he never would have fet his hand to it.

Mr Chancellor Pitt went through a long, a clear, and a comprehenfive de tail of all the arguments that had ori ginally been advanced against the peace; answering them one by one, ftating the true nature of the cafe fully and fairly, and reasoning on it with infinite strength of argument. He alfo threw out fome farcalms on Lord North for his having joined Mr Fox, and urged the oppofite lines of conduct purfued by thofe two gentlemen in that Houfe for fome years paft, with ftrong and pointed fatire.

Mr Lee termed the peace difgraceful, wicked, and treacherous; inadequate to its object, and fuch as no man could vote to be honourable, praise-worthy, and proper, without delivering over his character to eternal damnation.

Lord

Lord Frederick Campbell took fire at this expreffion, and declared, that tho' he fhould vote for the addrefs, he meant to vote honourably and fairly; and he would not bear to have his character fo vilified.

The Attorney-General alfo rofe extremely warm, and faid that he did not understand fuch fwaggering language.

Mr Rigby fupported the addrefs as originally moved; and Mr Adam the amend

ment.

At half past seven on Tuesday morning, the Houfe divided; when there appeared, for the amendment 224, againft it 208; majority against the minifter 16. -Lord North's amendment was afterwards put and carried.

Upwards of fixty gentlemen paired off; it was therefore the fullest House ever known.

Commiffions given to the British and American negotiators for Peace, laid before the Houfe of Commons, Feb. 21. First Commission to Richard Oswald, Esq; George the Third, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.

To our trufty and well-beloved RICHARD OSWALD, of our city of London, Esq; greeting.

WH

HEREAS, by virtue of an act paffed in the laft feffion of parliament, intitled, An act to enable his Majefty to conclude a peace or truce with certain colonies in North America therein mentioned, it is recited, "That it is effen. tial to the intereft, welfare, and profperity of G. Britain, and the colonies or plantations of New Hampshire, Maffachufett's Bay, Rhode Island, Connecti. cut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl. vania, the three lower counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, in North America, that peace, intercourfe, trade, and commerce, fhould be reftored between them;" therefore, and for a full manifeftation of our earneft wifh and defire, and that of our parliament, to put an end to the calamities of war, it is enacted, That it should and might be lawful for us to treat, confult of, agree, and conclude with any commiffioner or commiffioners named, or to be named by the faid colonies or plantations, or with any body or bodies corporate, or politic,

or any affembly or affemblies, or defcrip tion of men, or any person or perfons whatsoever, a peace or truce with the faid colonies or plantations, or any of them, or any part or parts thereof, any law, act or acts of parliament, matter or thing to the contrary in any wife notwithstanding: Now know ye, that we, reposing especial truft in your wisdom, loyalty, diligence, and circumfpection, in the management of the affairs to be hereby committed to your charge, have nominated and appointed, conftituted and affigned, and by these prefents do nominate and appoint, conftitute and affign you, the faid Richard Ofwald, to be our commiffioner in that behalf, to use and exercise all and every the powers and authorities hereby intrufted and committed to you, the said Richard Oswald; and to do, perform, and execute all other matters and things hereby injoined and committed to your care during our will and pleasure, and no longer, according to the tenor of these our letters patent. And it is our royal will and pleafure, and we do hereby authorife, impower, and require you the faid Richard Ofwald, to treat, miffioner or commiffioners named, or to confult of, and conclude with any combe named by the faid colonies or plantations, and any body or bodies corporate or politic, or any affembly or affemblies, or defcription of men, or any perfon or perfons whatfoever, a peace or a truce with the said colonies or plantations, or any of them, or any part or parts thereof, any law, act or acts of parliament, matter or thing, to the contrary in any wife notwithstanding. And it is our further will and pleasure, that every regulation, provision, matter, or thing, which fhall have been agreed upon between you the faid Richard Ofwald, and fuch commiffioner or commiffioners, body or bodies corporate or politic, affembly or af femblies, defcription of men, perfon or perfons, as aforefaid, with whom you fhall have judged meet and fufficient to enter into fuch agreement, fhall be fully and diftinctly fet forth in writing, and authenticated by your hand and feal on one fide, and by fuch feals or other fignature on the other, as the occafion may require, and as may be fuitable to the character and authority of the commif fioner or commiffioners, &c. as aforefaid, fo agreeing; and fuch inftrument, fo authenticated, fhall be by you tranf mitted to us through one of our princi

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