living, and whose memory I shall for ever cherish, rush into my mind at this moment, though they have not passed through it for very many years. Unaccustomed to speak in public, the Reverend Lord committed to writing what he intended to have delivered in this House upon the awful and interesting subject of America, whilst we were rashly hastening to our final separation. The whole composition would have done honor to the best ages of Greece or Rome, and the conclusion of it is but too much in point to our present deliberations.

"My Lords," said the Reverend Prelate, "I "look upon North America to be the only great 66 nursery of freemen left upon the face of the "earth. We have seen the liberties of Poland 66 swept away, in one year, by treachery and “usurpation. The free states of Germany are "but so many dying sparks, going out one after "another, and which must all be soon extin"guished under the destructive greatness of "their neighbours." My Lords, they have been all since destroyed by one destructive neighbourhood. "Holland is little more than a great "trading company, with luxurious manners, "and an exhausted revenue: with little

"strength, and with less spirit.”

My Lords, she has now neither strength nor spirit: her government is a despotism, under the dominion of France. "Switzerland alone

is free and happy within the narrow enclo"sures of her rocks and vallies." My Lords, she is now neither free nor happy. All these changes, since the death of my Reverend Friend, makes the picture now more impressive: the rest of it remains unaltered. 66. As

8

for the state of this country, my Lords, I "can only refer myself to your own private "thoughts: I am inclined to think and hope "the best of public liberty. Were I to de"scribe her, according to my own ideas at "this moment, I should say that she has a "sickly countenance, but I trust she has a strong constitution.' And now, my Lords, let me entreat you to suffer the conclusion to sink deep into your minds: Would to God that you may feel it as I do!

**But, whatever may be our future fate, the greatest glory that attends this, country, a greater than any nation under heaven ever enjoyed or even contemplated, is to have formed and nursed up to such a state of security and happiness those communities which we are now so eager to oppress, and

even to extin

guish. We ought to cherish them as the immortal monuments of our public justice and wisdom; as the heirs of our better days; of our old arts and manners, and of our expiring national virtues. For what work of art, or power, or public utility, ever equalled the glory of having peopled a vast continent without guilt or bloodshed? To have given them the best arts of life and government, and to have suffered them, under the shelter of our authority, to acquire in peace the skill to use them? In comparison of this, the policy of governing by influence, and even the pride of war and victory, are dishonest tricks, and poor, contemptible, pageantry." My Lords, I should hope that these sentiments would have more particular weight with the Reverend Lords opposite, as proceeding from so distinguished a member of their own order: I should hope that they would think it no offence to that uniform system of support, which I cannot doubt that their conveniences have dictated in the present difficult times to be due to the administration of the Government, if, upon this occasion, they were to give their voice and support to principles which are the sole fruit of the religion they teach; the offspring of the Gospel

which they propagate. Let us leave to our enemies the guilt of discord and bloodshed, and support our country by the virtues of benevolence and peace.

But, my Lords, I have already troubled you too long, much indeed too long; and I am thankful for your patience and goodness. As all the Resolutions, my Lords, are dependent upon each other, I shall not move the first by itself, but move the whole of them as if they were one Resolution, comprehending

them in one motion.

[Lord Erskine then moved the Resolutions as printed in the Appendix, which were not negatived by the House, the previous question only being put and carried.]

THE END.