if poffible, worfe founded; infead of being abfurd, or hypʊcritical, I am of opinion, it is fupported by fact, and as found logic as the English language is capable of conveying. Are not law and liberty fled from America? Can it be faid fo of this country? The debate of this day has fully proved it cannot; and I beg leave to remind the gentlemen who have in the course of the prefent evening thrown fo many reflections upon adminiftration, that they would foon find the difference of the two countries, had they dared to make so free with the Congrefs. I cannot, however, but applaud the fpirit which has dictated thofe feverities: I am pleafed with that fpirit of inquiry which has manifested, though it be a licentious fpirit; and I wish it to continue, though I am destined to be the object of attack.

I beg pardon of the House for taking up so much of their time; but I wish them to recollect, that much the greater part of it was taken up in replying to questions and explanations I thought it my duty to answer and give. I cannot agree with the amendment now propofed, because it defires his Majefty to fet on foot a tedious inquiry to no purpose, to procrastinate events which in all probability will foon be produced, and render fruitless every favourable operation which hath already taken place. It has always been my wish, and that of every other fervant of the King, to bring matters to as early an iffue, and with as little bloodshed as poffible; to use the prefent fucceffes and victory, if it were gained, with prudence and moderation, and rather as a means of cementing a lafting unity and amity, than as objects of triumph, or inftruments for forging the chains of flavery, or excufes for tyranny or oppreffion.

He appealed to his own conciliatory motion, that reconciliation had conftantly been his object. He afferted, that that motion held out to the colonies a propofal, or propofition, that they thould raise among themselves a certain, or fuch a proportionate fum, as fhould be fettled and agreed upon between Great Britain and them; and that, in future, they fhould never be further taxed but when we were.

Col. Barré obferved, that the right honourable gentleman, who spoke laft but one, was wrong in ftating that the noble Lord did not pay fufficient attention to the Houfe; that the noble Lord certainly did very regularly attend, and was, in general, ready to answer the queftions put to him; that he answered them fatisfactorily, he would not fay, but he generally answered them; there was one question, however,

which had been put in the course of the debate; a question of the first confequence, of the most serious importance, to which the noble Lord had wholly neglected to speak. In order to give him an opportunity of speaking to it, he would therefore then put it, and fit down, without proceeding further, that the noble Lord might give the House that fatisfac tion which he doubted not many of them wished to receive. The question was, "What powers were General and Lord Howe invested with, as his Majefty's commiffioners, to treat with America?".

Lord North immediately faid, that their commission had lately been published in the Gazette, and that nothing relative to the business had been concealed. His Lordship read part of the commiffion, and faid, he knew of nothing more, unless indeed fome direction relative to prifoners.

Cal. Barré again rofe, and pulling a paper out of his pocket, declared, he had in his hand an account of what paffed at a conference between Lieutenant-colonel Patterfon and General Wafhington, when Colonel Patterson was dispatched with General and Lord Howe's letter; that the account was printed in America, but that it bore evident marks of authenticity, although indeed it did not come directly into his hands; for he could pofitively fay, that no letter directed to him, and fent from America, ever reached him. He commented on the account in his hand, declaring his high esteem for Colonel Patterson, with whom he had the happiness to be acquainted, and afferting, that he was a man of the first honour in the fervice. He faid, the account he was going to read did Colonel Patterson infinite credit.

He then read the following paper from the New York Gazette of the 5th of Auguft.

"The following is an exact state of what paffed at the interview between his Excellency General Washington, and Colonel Patterson, adjutant-general of the army under General Howe, July 20, 1776.

"After ufual compliments, in which, as well as through the whole converfation, Colonel Patterson addreffed General Washington by the title of Excellency; Colonel Patterson entered upon the business by saying, that General Howe much regretted the difficulties which had arifen refpecting the address of the letters to Gen. Wafhington; that it was deemed confift ent with propriety, and founded upon precedents of the like nature by ambassadors and plenipotentiaries, where difputes VOL. V.

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or difficulties of rank had arifen; that General Washington might recollect he had, laft fummer, addreffed a letter to General Howe, "To the Honourable William Howe, Efq." that Lord Howe, and General Howe, did not mean to derogate from the refpect or rank of General Washington; that they held his perfon and character in the highest esteem; that the direction, with the addition, &c. &c. &c. implied every thing that ought to follow. He then produced a letter which he did not directly offer to General Washington, but observed, that it was the fame letter which had been fent, and laid it on the table, with the fuperfcription to George Washington, &c. &c. &c. The General declined the letter, and faid, that a letter directed to a perfon in a public character, should have some description or indication of it, otherwise it would appear a mere private letter; that it was true the &c. &c. Sc. implied every thing, and they also implied any thing; that the letter to General Howe alluded to, was an answer to one received under a like addrefs from him, which the officer on duty having taken, he did not think proper to return, but anfwered it in the fame mode of addrefs; that he fhould abfolutely decline any letter directed to him as a private perfon, when it related to his public ftation. Colonel Patterson then faid, that General Howe would not urge his delicacy any further, and repeated his affertions, that no failure of respect was intended. He then faid, that he would endeavour, as well as he could, to recollect General Howe's fentiments on the letter, and refolves of Congress, fent him a few days before, refpecting the treatment of our prifoners in Canada, and that the affairs of Canada were in another department, not fubject to the control of General Howe, but that he and Lord Howe utterly disapproved of every infringement of the rights of humanity. Colonel Patterson then took a paper out of his pocket, and, after looking it over, faid, he had expreffed nearly the words. General Washington then faid, that he had alfo forwarded a copy of the refolves to General Burgoyne. To which Colonel Patterson replied, he did not doubt a proper attention would be paid to them, and that he (General Washington) was fenfible, that cruelty was not the characteristic of the British nation. Colonel Patterson then proceeded to fay, he had it in charge to mention the cafe of General Prefcot, who, they were informed, was treated with fuch rigour, that, under his age and infirmities, fatal confequences might be apprehended.

* General

"General Washington replied, that General Prescot's treatment had not fallen under his notice; that the perfons under his particular direction he had treated with kindness, and made their fituation as eafy and comfortable as poffible; that he did not know where General Prefcot was, but be lieved his treatment was different from their information. General Washington then mentioned the cafe of Colonel Allen, and the officers who had been confined in Boston gaol. As to the first, Colonel Patterson answered, that General Howe had no knowledge of it, but by information from General Washington, and that the Canada department was not under his direction or control; that as to the other prifoners at Boston, whenever the state of the army at Boston admitted it, they were treated with humanity and even indulgence; that he afferted this upon his honour, and should be happy in an opportunity to prove it.

"General Washington then obferved, that the conduct of feveral of the officers would well have warranted a different treatment from what they had received; fome having refused to give any parole, and others having broken it when given, by escaping, or endeavouring fo to do. Colonel Patterson anfwered, that as to the firft, they misunderstood the matter very much, and feemed to have mistook the line of propriety exceedingly; and as to the latter, General Howe utterly disapproved and condemned their conduct.

"That if a remonftrance was made, fuch violations of good faith would be feverely punished; but that he hoped General Washington was too juft to draw public inferences from the misbehaviour of fome private individuals; that bad men were to be found in every clafs of fociety; and fuch behaviour was considered as a dishonour to the British army. Colonel Patterson then proceeded to fay, that the goodness and benevolence of the King had induced him to appoint Lord Howe and General Howe his commiffioners to accommodate this unhappy difpute; that they had great powers, and would derive the greatest pleasure from effecting an accommodation; and that he (Colonel Patterson) wished to have this vifit confidered as making the first advances to this defirable object. General Washington replied, he was not vested with any powers on this fubject, by thofe from whom he derived his authority and power. But from what had appeared and tranfpired on this head, Lord Howe and General Howe were only to grant pardons; that those who had committed no fault, wanted no pardon; that we were only

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defending

defending what we deemed our indifputable right. Colonel Patterfon faid, that would open a very wide field for argument. He then expreffed his apprehenfions that an adherence to forms was likely to obftruct business of the greatest

moment and concern.

"He then obferved, that a propofal had been formerly made for exchanging Governor Skene for Mr. Lovell; that he had now authority to accede to that propofal. General Washington replied, that the propofition had been made by the direction of Congrefs, and having been then rejected, he could not now renew the business, or give any anfwer, till he had previously communicated it to them.

"Colonel Patterfon behaved with the greateft attention and politenefs during the whole bufinefs, expreffed strong acknowledgments that the usual ceremony of blinding his eyes had been difpenfed with. At the breaking up of the conference, General Washington ftrongly invited him to partake of a small collation provided for him, which he politely declined, alleging his late breakfast, and an impatience to return to General Howe, though he had not executed his commiffion fo amply as he wifhed. Finding he did not propofe ftaying, he was introduced to the general officers, after which he took his leave, and was fafely conducted to his own boat, which waited for him, about four miles diftant from the city.

"Made public by the order of Congress,

"JOHN HANCOCK, Prefident.” Colonel Barré demanded of the minifters, why fome account of this matter had not been given the public through the channel of the London Gazette? He faid it was that feandalous concealment of intelligence from the public, which roufed his warmth; that from the account he had just read it was plain, the minifters had been bold enough to break through an act of Parliament, for that in that very House the act had paffed but laft feffion, limiting the powers of the commiffioners fent to America, and rendering their commiffion altogether ineffectual. That he should have applauded them for their spirit in daring to violate the law, had the violation produced a falutary effect. That he had last year told them what would be the confequence of their fending fuch commiffioners, under fuch an act of Parliament; that he had advised them to fend a trumpet from camp to camp, previous to any action; that the Houfe, he was proud to fay, had approved of that advice, and that he was fure it

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