.... Conduct of Congress towards New York,
etc...... Proceedings in England..... Prosecution and Trial
of Home Tooke, etc...... Meeting-of Parliament..... Changes
in the Ministry..... The Militia Bill..... The Navy and
Land Estimates..... Petition of Nova Scotia..... Petition
of Congress..... Motions of the Duke of Grafton..... The
Land-tax increased..... Burke's Second Conciliatory
Motion..... Lord North's Prohibitory bill.
{A.D. 1775}
DEBATES ON AMERICA.
During the Christmas recess, ministers had received more alarming
intelligence from America, coming down to the seizure of Fort William
and Mary by the people of New Hampshire, as previously recorded. When
parliament again met, therefore, which was on the 20th of January, the
affairs of America became the prominent subject of discussion. Before
that day it had been concerted between the Earl of Chatham and his
friends that he should make one of his grand displays on the subject in
the house of lords. After the minister had laid some important
documents respecting the state of the colonies before the house, Chatham
accordingly rose. He commenced by condemning all that the ministers had
done, and by reproving them for their tardiness in communicating the
American papers. He then congratulated their lordships upon the fact
that the business was at last entered upon, by the noble lords laying
these papers before them, and expressing a supposition that their
contents were well known, he next made this motion: "That an humble
address be presented to his majesty, to desire and beseech that, in
order to open the way towards a happy settlement of the dangerous
troubles in America, by beginning to allay ferments and soften
animosities there; and, above all, for preventing, in the mean time, any
sudden and fatal catastrophe at Boston, now suffering under the daily
irritation of an army before their eyes, posted in their town; it may
graciously please his majesty that immediate orders be dispatched to
General Gage, for removing his majesty's forces from the town of
Boston, as soon as the rigour of the season and other circumstances
indispensable to the safety and accommodation of the said troops may
render the same practicable.
Pages:
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365