"encouraging the rebellious dif"pofition which unhappily exifts "in fome of my colonies in North "America. Having entire con"fidence in the wisdom of my "parliament, the great council of "the nation, I will fteadily pur"fue those measures which they "have recommended for the fup"port of the conftitutional rights "of Great-Britain, and the pro"tection of the commercial in"terests of my kingdoms." This remonftrance was productive of a particular mark of refentment. In a few days after its being prefented, a letter was received by the Lord Mayor from the Lord Chamberlain, in which, as chief magiftrate of the city of London, he acquainted him from his majesty, that he would not receive on the throne, any address, remonstrance, or petition, of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, but in their corporate capacity.

As the American fisheries were now abolished, it became neceffary 10 think of fome measures for fupplying their place, and particularly to guard against the ruinous confequences of the foreign markets either changing the courfe of confumption, or falling into the hands of ftrangers, and thofe perhaps inimical to this country. The confumption of fish oil, as a fubftitute for tallow, was now become fo extenfive, as to render that alfo an object of great national concern; the city of London alone expending about 300,000l. annually in that commodity. Whatever prefent purposes the evidence lately before the Houfe might answer, in fhewing that there was a fufficient fund of money, fhips, men, and inclination ready, for an imme

VOL. XVIII. 1775.

diate transfer of the fisheries, not only without lofs, but with great gain and benefit, it foon became evident, that the minifter did not chufe to rifque matters of fuch infinite importance upon the veracity of those representations,

It feemed alfo neceffary in the prefent ftate of public affairs, that the kingdom of Ireland fhould be taken more notice of, and fome greater confideration paid to her interefts, than had been the practice for many years. The queftion between the colonies and parliament, particularly in the manner in which it had been lately argued, was not calculated to quiet that kingdom. The repose of all the parts ftill at reft was never more neceffary. In the crisis to which matters were now evidently tending, little doubt remained, that even affiftance would be requifite from that country; befides, her patience, her fufferings, and her forbearance, were to be held up as a mirrour, and in contraft to the colonies; and though thefe merits had long paffed unregarded, this did not feem a fit feafon to encourage an opinion, that a fimilar conduct would never obtain any reward. The nature of the benefit was however to be confidered, and nothing could feem better adapted than a donation which would be an advantage inftead of a lofs to the giver. A fhare in the first fruits of a spoil, was also a lure of undoubted efficacy for enticing future fervice. It was not, in itself, very confiderable; but it was faid, it might be confidered as a beginning; and fmall benefits carry weight with those who had not been habituated to great favours.

It was fhewn in the courfe of the

[*H]

the late evidence before the House, that the exports from this country to Ireland amounted to 2,400,000l. annually; befides her fupporting a large and excellent ftanding army, at all times ready for our defence; and the immenfe fums of her ready cash, which her numerous abfentees, penfioners, and placemen fpend in this country. Yet from oppreffive restrictions in trade, fome of them highly impolitic and prejudicial to ourselves, that country is cut off from the benefit of her great natural staple commodity, as well as excluded in general from the advantages which he might derive from her admirable fituation, and her great number of excellent harbours.

The minifter accordingly moved for a committee of the whole Houfe, to confider of the encouragement proper to be given to the fifherics of Great-Britain and Ireland. This attention to Ireland was generally approved of, and after fome converfation upon the hardships which that country fuffered, it was propofed by fome gentlemen who were particularly attached to its interefts to extend the motion, by adding the words trade and commerce, and thereby affording an opportunity of enquiring particularly into the ftate of that kingdom, and of granting fuch relief and indulgence in thofe refpects, as could be done without prejudice to ourselves. The minifter did not object to the realonableness or expediency of entering upon this fubject at a proper time; but faid that the propofed amendment would introduce a mafs of matter, much too weighty and extenfive for prefent confideration; that he would therefore confine the

motion to the immediate object of the fisheries, leaving the other matter at large.

The committee in

its progrefs granted April 27th. feveral bounties to the fhips of Great-Britain and Ireland, for their encouragement in profecuting the Newfoundland fishery; and the minifler went farther than his original avowal, by two refolutions which he introduced and pafted in favour of the latter kingdom. By the first of thefe it was rendered lawful to export from Ireland, clothes and accoutrements for fuch regiments on the Irish establishment as were employed abroad; and by the fecond, a bounty of five fhillings per barrel, was allowed on all flax-feed imported into Ireland. This laft refolution was paffed to prevent the evils that were apprehended to that country, from the cutting off its great American fource of fupply in that article. Another refolution was alfo paffed, by which the Irish were allowed to export provifions, hooks, lines, nets, tools and implements, for the purposes of the fishery. Some Gentlemen of Ireland however complained that claufes were infidiouly ftolen into the act to prevent its operating in any confiderable extent, and to prevent the employment of English capi als in that kingdom. The committee, bendes, agreed to the granting of bounties for encouraging the whalefinery, in thofe feas that were to the fouthward of the Greenland and Davis's ftreights fisheries; and upon the fame principe took off the duties that were payable upon the importation of oil, blubber, and bone from Newfoundland, &c.

They

They also took off the duty that was payable on the importation of fealkins.

Towards the clofe May 15th. of the feffion Mr. Burke acquainted the Houfe, that he had received a paper of great importance from the General Affembly of the province of New-York, a province which yielded to no part of his Majesty's dominions in its zeal for the profperity and unity of the empire, and which had ever contributed, as much as any, in its proportion, to the defence and wealth of the whole. He observed, that' it was a complaint, in the form of a remonftrance, of feveral acts of parliament, fome of which, as they affirmed, had established principles, and others had made regulations, fubverive of the rights of English fubjects. That he did not know whether the Houfe would approve of every opinion contained in that paper; but that as nothing could be more decent and refpectful than the whole tenor and language of the remonstrance, a mere mistake in opinion, upon any one point, cught not to prevent their receiving it, and granting redress on fuch other matters as might be really grievous, and which were not necellarily connected with that erroneous opinion. He reprefented this direct application from America, and dutiful procedure of New York, in the prefent critical juncture, as a most defirable and even fortunate circumftance; and ftrongly urged, that they never had before them fo fair an opportunity of putting an end to the unhappy difputes with the colonies as at prefent; and he conjured them, in the most earnest manner, not to let it escape, as poffibly the like might never again return.

He then moved, That the reprefentation and remonftrance of the General Affembly of the colony of New-York, To the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgeffes, of Great Britain, in Parliament affembled, be brought up. The minifter immediately moved an amendment, which was an indirect though effectual negative upon the motion, by inferting, that the faid Affembly claim to themfelves rights derogatory to, and inconfiftent with, the legiflative authority of parliament, as declared by an act of the 6th of his prefent Majefty, entitled, &c. It was contended in oppofition to the motion, that the honour of parliament required, that no paper should be received by that Houfe, which tended to call in queftion its unlimited authority; that they had already relaxed in very effential points, but they could not hear any thing which tended to call in queftion their right of taxation; that the declaratory at must be repealed, before fuch a paper was admitted to be brought up; that the House never received even petitions of that nature; but that here the name of a petition was ftudioufly avoided, left any thing like an obedience to parliament fhould be acknowledged.

On the other fide it was faid, that without regard to any abftract quellions upon the authority of parliament, or the rights of individuals, a particular confideration was due, in the prefent circumstances, to the temperate conduct and exemplary good behaviour of the province of New-York. In the midst of all the violence which overspread the continent, that colony preferved her [H] 2 legiflature

legislature and government entire; and when every thing feemed elfewhere tending to a civil war, the dutifully fubmitted her complaints to the juftice and clemency of the mother country. That affembly which was now applying to them, in fuch moderate and refpectful terms, for a redrefs of grievances, was the fame, which not long before had been fo highly applauded by the minifter, for refusing to accede to the affociation of the general congrefs. Were the ministers then determined, or did they think it could answer any ufeful purpofe, to drive every part of America into an equal state of defperation? There were times and feasons when wife men would avoid the difcuffion of odious queftions. There were times in which it was highly prudent to let claims of right, however founded, lie dormant. New-York, it was faid, was already in bad odour with her fifter colonies from the coolness and temperance of her conduct; with what face can fhe refit their reproaches, or persevere in that moderation, when it is known that the is treated with a contempt and difregard, which could not perhaps be juftified with respect to the moft contumacious? When it is known, that fo far from obtaining a redrefs of grievances, her complaints of them will not even be heard? What anfwer, faid they, can be given by the friends of the authority of parliament to thofe, who fhall reproach them with their confidence in its declarations to fuch as fhould dutifully apply for redress of grievances? The predictions of those who faid it would be vain to look for redrefs from parliament, are verified. Those who promifed better things are dif

graced. What refource will NewYork have, in fuch circumftances, but by endeavouring to regain the efteem and confidence of the other colonies to exceed them in violence?

During the debates, the queftion was repeatedly called for, and being at length put upon the minilter's amendment, it was carried upon a divifion by a majority of 186 to 67; and the queftion being then put upon the amended motion, it was rejected without a divifion.

The affembly of New-York had alfo transmitted a memorial to the Lords, and a petition to the King. The Duke of Manchester brought in the memorial to the Lords, and moved for its being read. This motion brought on much difcuffion; but which ferved fufficiently to fhew the general temper and complexion with refpect to the fubject. It was faid, that the title of the paper rendered it inadmiffible, as the term memorial was only applicable to the reprefentations which paffed between fovereigns; that the noble mover had not fufficiently explained the contents, and that it might contain fome matter not fit to be heard. In the fame fpirit, fome remedies were propofed; that if the noble Duke did not chufe to explain the contents, he might read the paper in his place, as a part of his speech; or if that was thought too troublefome, the clerk might ftand by him, and read it for him.

To these objections it was anfwered, that the lowest commiffioned officer in the service had an unquestioned right to prefent a memorial to his Majefty, in any cafe of real or fuppofed grievance; fo that the term in queftion did not at all militate with their dignity;

that

that the noble mover of the queftion had fafficiently explained the matter, by reading the prayer of the memorial, and fhewing that it was for a redrefs of grievances; that for farther particulars he referred them to the original which he propofed to be read; declining, rendering himself refponfible for the fate of the petition, by the explanations which he might give of the contents. The propofed remedies were rejected with indignation, and an end at length put to this altercation by calling the queftion, when, upon a divifion, the motion for reading the memorial was rejected by a majority of zo, the numbers being 45 againft, to 25, who fupported the queftion. Such was the fate of the applications made by the affembly of New-York for a redrefs of their fuppofed grievances. Nothing done in parliament feemed to be better calculated to widen the breach between GreatBritain and the colonies.

The day before this tranfaction, a petition to the Lords from the British inhabitants of the province of Quebec, was prefented to that Houfe by Lord Camden. This petition was founded upon the fame principles with that which was lately prefented to the throne; and the petitioners, after ftating the grievances which they fuffered in confequence of the late law, conclude by imploring their Lordships' favourable interpofition, as the hereditary guardians of the rights of the people, that the faid act may be repealed or amended, and that the petitioners may enjoy their conftitutional rights, privileges, and franchises.

Some endeavours were alfo in effectually used to prevent the read

ing of this petition. It was asked by what means it came into the noble Lord's hands? how they could be fatisfied that it came really from the perfons to whom it was attributed? And the propriety of receiving any petition, which did not come through the hands of the Governor and Conncil, was called in question. To thefe it was replied, that the first was a matter of very little confequence; the petition had been for fome time in town, and had been refused by every Lord in adminiftration; as to the fecond, the agent for the province would remove every doubt on that head; and as to the third, it was faid to be a new and dangerous doctrine, that petitions for the redrefs of grievances could only be tranfmitted through the hands of thofe, whofe intereft it might be to fupprefs them totally, and who from fituation were liable to be themselves the authors of thofe grievances.

The noble Lord who introduced the petition then obferved, that upon the fullest examination of the late law, he found it fo thoroughly impolitic, pernicious, and incompatible with the religion and conftitution of this country, that no amendment, nor any thing short of a total repeal, would be fufficient. He arranged his objections to it under the following heads; viz. The extenfion of the limits of Quebec-the establishment of Popery there-and the civil defpotifm in which the inhabitants of that immenfely extended province are to be perpetually bound, by being deprived of all hare in the legislative power, and fubjected in life, freedom, and property, to the arbitrary ordinances of a Governor and Coun[H] 3

cil,