is too fmall for the purpofe; if to be fervice. This, he faid, was reason fufgiven up, it is too large. Experience ficient, were there no others, to be has taught you that 70,000 men in jealous of an augmentation of the army, America are barely fufficient to main- but there were other reafons no less tain a fingle garrifon, with a portion of powerful, which it were unneceffary land of little more extent than just to for him to mention; it was fufficient to fally forth and mufter them. What A fay, that the influence of the crown then must be the number equal to the fwept all before it. conqueft of that extenfive continent! Gen. Gr-t, in reply to the first It has been faid, by way of encourage- fpeaker, rofe and gave the House an ment, that we are now in a better fitua- account of the conduct of the war in tion than at the close of the last feffions. the West Indies. When he left New He doubted the fact. In the British B York, his army, he faid, confifted of channel if we had not fled before the 5000 men, of whom 600 were dead or enemy, we certainly bad made a retro- killed when Adm. Byron was re-ingrade motion to Spithead; and to add forced, and there were 1500 convalefto our credit, had left them mafters of cents. He fent two battalions, confiftthe Mediterranean. We had loft St. ing of 1000 men, on board the fleet to Vincent's in the Weft Indies, fhame- Cftrengthen it; the garrifon of St. Lucia fully loft it; and we had fuffered the was 1200; and there were only 700 valuable island of Grenada to be taken that he could fpare for the fecurity of from us. In America we had been Jamaica. He knew there was a strong driven from West Florida; and we garrifon at St. Vincent's, and though had nothing to boast of in Georgia but he was apprized that the French media lucky escape. To whatever fide heDtated a defcent upon that island, he was turned, he faid, he could fee nothing in no pain about the event. Adm, flattering, he therefore blamed minif- Byron was fuperior to D'Eftaign till he ters feverely for rejecting the mediation went convoy with the merchants fleet; of Spain, and the terms propofed of a but in his abfence Monf. Le Mothe ten years truce on the footing of the Picquet's fafe arrival turned the scale Uti poffidetis; and concluded with de- Ein favour of the French; a circumclaring against the estimate. flance which, he owned, he had neither forefeen nor expected, any more than that St. Vincent's could be fubdued by a force inferior to the defenders. While he was preparing to recover the F latter, intelligence was received that the French were haftening to attack Grenada. This too was unexpected; for on the arrival of Adm. Rowley it was imagined our fuperiority at fea was fuch as would have prevented the enemy from hazarding any operations that might lead to a contef. Though the utmoft difpatch was uled, the French had landed their troops before our approach, and were ready on our arrival to range along our line with a fuperiority of force. The refult was, that three of our ships being much damaged, and two in danger of being taken, it was thought advifeable to bear away for St. Christopher's and Antigua, where the troops were landed for the defence of thofe iflands, as what had Mr. T. T―nfb-d exclaimed against the force now to be voted, on a new ground. He obferved, that when the established rules of fervice were departed from, and men of uncertain principles and defperate fortunes were promoted in prejudice to officers of long experience and tried ability, it was time to take the alarm. Such men, at all times, and in all countries, were the fit inftruments to fubvert liberty, and establish defpotifm. By the estimates on the table it appeared, that near 100,000 men in arms were to be kept in this country; and by the management of thofe who had the direction of the army, the most unprecedented arts, had been made u'e of to garble it. Juniors were daily put over the heads of veterans; and officers from half-pay were raifed to high commands for temporary purpoles, in preference to thofe who had undergone long and painful been been loft could not be recovered with to the influence of the crown, which an inferior force. This, he faid, was fome gentlemen reprefented as fo great a faithful narrative of what had paffed a grievance, all he should say was, that in the West Indies, and of the motives at all times it was great, it was necefby which his conduct had been directed. fary it should be fo, and that he had Mr. T―rn-r, after ftating the scan- A never endeavoured to extend it. dalous management in both army and Mr. Meyrick obferved, that the hon. navy, inftanced a near relation of his, gentleman who spoke lait but one, had an old lieut. col. who was now com- been egregiously mistaken in the chamanded at Chatham by one who had racter of the officer alluded to, as combeen raised from a half-pay lieutenant, manding his relation at Chatham. That and he was glad of it. He had told B gentleman had been a captain fo early him, that though he was his nearest as the last war, had long acted as a relation, and there was only a fickly major in a militia regiment, and for daughter between him and his eftate, fome years paft as a field-officer; that he would not leave him a fhilling if he he had no command at Chatham, nor fought against his American brethren. was he stationed at that place. This had no effect, and now he was rightly ferved for his zeal *. He reprobated the American war. Infifted that the interest of all England was facrificed to that one object. The whole county of York, where he refided, was left fo defenceless, that when Paul Jones appeared upon the coaft, every one prepared to fecure their best effects, expecting nothing less than to be expofed to plunder. In no country upon earth could property, he faid, be worse de fended. Mr. F-x rofe, and defired to know before he gave his vote, whether the war in America was to be an offenfive or defenfive war. C Gen. C-nw-y declared, that he abhorred and detefted the American war, yet gave it as his opinion that the force, enormous as it might feem, fell fhort of his wifhes, confidering the prefent exigency of affairs. He was Dnot only for the force propofed, but for granting it without annexing any conditions. Col. B-ré obferved, that if the noble lord had not extended the influence of the crown, he had certainly been beholden to that influence for every Emotion he had carried inimical to America. He recounted every measure fince his lordship's acceffion to power which led to bring on the war, and Ld N-th entered into a full justifi- afked at the end of each, if it was not cation of his own conduct, and that of by the influence of the crown that he the commander in chief. He infifted, F had carried that measure through this that the future intentions of government Houfe? He was very full on the conrefpecting the American war was an duct of the American war, and contraimproper fubject of difcuffion in that dicted many accounts which had been Houfe. He thought it fufficient to publifhed here as authentic, particufay, it was not abandoned. He then larly the fuccefs of Col. Butler, whofe replied to the former fpeakers. He defeat he could confirm from actual inaffured the Houle, that when the formation. That officer, he faid, he ground of the apparent partialities com- well knew; and could not account for plained of in the army promotions came his undertaking fo infamous a service, to be fully known, every idea of blame as that of carrying fire and fword into would vanish; and that the commander the fettlements of his fellow fubjects. in chief would appear to have acted He could, however, affure the House, firictly within the life of his duty. As that the Virginian militia had routed his army, taken him prifoner, and driven the Indians who accompanied him to take fhelter beyond the Niagara; that they had laid wafle the Indian fettlements, and it was thought Opi * On this anecdote the author of Liberal feems to have formed a n wel, called Corbet, or the Miferics of Civil War; in which there are feveral defcriptive fcenes that are very interefting, and cannot but atfcét every feeling mind. G would would totally extirpate them in that part of the country. He could not help obferving, he faid, an inconfiftency in Gen. C--nw--y's argument, who, though he had condemned the American war in all its flages, had notwithstanding recommended unanimity of fentiment on the only fubject in which the Houfe could not agree; he was therefore at a loís to reconcile the hop. General's prefent opinions with past experience, and concluded with reprobating the American war, which, if not fpeedily got rid of, would prove a mill-itone about the neck of the ftate, that would fink it never to rife again. preceding day was brought up, which ferved to renew the former debate. Mr. T. T—nsb-d afked the Secre tary at War how it happened that the charge of the staff in the year 1779 fo greatly exceeded the charge of the staff A in 1762, the most expenfive year of any in the last war. Mr. fnk-n acknowledged that he was unprepared to anfwer that queftion. Mr. H-pks defired to know what were the real number of provincial B troops in British pay in America, as the noble lord at the head of the American department had in a former debate afferted that we had a larger number fighting for us there than Washington's whole army. Mr. T. L-tt-ll, in the courfe of a long speech, adverted to a declaration of Gen. Gr-t before the commencement of the American war, that he would undertake to lead 5000 men from one end of the American conti nent to the other without molestation; and asked the hon. General, if he fill thought the Americans the poltroons hewar was to be carried on. had reprefented them, who from their native aversion to perfonal danger would never dare to face an English army. See vol. XLV. p. 63. Ld G. G―rm-ne faid, he spoke then C from information that he credited. He now believed the number was from fix to eight thousand. Gen. G-nt denied the charge; undifciplined as they were at firft, his opinion was, that an English army had little to fear from them. But every one knows that habit and actual fervice will make foldiers. He could fay from experience, that he never faw better troops than fome of the rebel regiments are. Mr. F-x fpoke chiefly against the chimerical project of attempting to reduce America by force of arms. He faid, we might as well undertake to conquer Turkey. He inveighed with great vehemence against the enlarged influence of the crown; which he confidered as the root and the growth of all the malignant humours that have pervaded and infected the healthy con itution of this once happy land. Other speakers protracted the debate to a lase hour, when all the refolu ions which had been moved for by the Secretary at War passed without a divifion. Mr. Fx renewed his former queftion, in what manner the American Mr. 7-nk-n replied, that he was no minifter, and therefore could not be fuppofed competent to answer that queftion. Sir W. M-- adverted to an affertion of Ld Advocare D-nd-s on a former debate, "That Rome in times of danger had a d'Etator, to whom the fenate delegated its power;" inferring from thence that the minifter should now he dictator, to whom parliament ought to refign its right of interference Fin matters of peace and war. Sir Wm. abhorred the fentiment. Ld Advocate denied the inference. He had faid, that in times of war and trouble Rome had appoined a dictator to carry on the executive part of governiment; but never faid that the fe Gnate had refigned its rights to that dic tator. This he had applied to Britain. This he fill maintained. A motion was made to adjourn the report, but pafled in the negative, Noes 149, Ayes 113. The relolutions were then reported and agreed to, and bilis ordered in accordingly. Dec. 10. Mr. Wood, member for Middlefex, prefined a petition from his electors, com Summary of Proceedings in the prefent Parliament. complaining of an injury offered by mi- Mr. W―lk―s then moved for a call 259 the undefined fenfe of that general term. He faid farther, that he had and unprejudiced commercial people of reafon to believe, the most intelligent both kingdoms were of opinion, that the advantages would be greater in proA portion as both participated in the common traffick. The commerce, import the reign of Charles the IId, when by and export, was held in common till tion Ireland was excluded from trading an artful omiffion in the act of navigaFrance, Spain, or any other foreign Bwith the British plantations as much as ftate. In the reign of K. William the Mr. T. L-tt-ll complained of the to the manifeft prejudice of both counprejudice ran fo high against Ireland, undue influence used in the election of tries, that parliament paffed a law to members to fit in that House, and in- C prohibit the importation of lean cattle ftanced the county affording a damning proof. of Southampton as from that kingdom. And towards the Mr. W-k-s confirmed what Mr. latter end of the fame reign a kind of L-- had ftated, and produced a compact took place, the general terms letter from the duke of Chandos, lord_enjoy the woollen trade, and Ireland of which were, that England fhould lieut. of that county, to a freeholder, Dthe linen; though, as it often happens, recommending in the strongest manner the election of Sir Simeon Stewart; of which an ample account has already been given, vol. XLIX. p. 613. Dec. 13. Ld N-th opened three propofitions E relative to the relief intended to be given to Ireland. 1. To allow Ireland a free export of her wool, woollens, and wool flocks. 2. Allo a free export of glafs, and all kinds of glafs manufactures. And 3. A free trade with the British plantations in America and the West Indies on certain conditions-the bafis of which was to be an equality of taxes and cuftoms. gain. England ftill carried on the linen the weakest had by far the worst bartrade as much as if no fuch agreement had ever been made, at the fame time folely with her. This appeared to him that the monopoly of woollens remained fo unfair, and he believed it must apof that Houfe, that he grounded the pear fo to every unprejudiced member is expedient to repeal fo much of the following motion upon it, Flaws of Great Britain as prohibit the "That it exportation of Irish wool manufactures, &c. from Ireland to any part of Eu rope." The next matter he wished to fubmit to the confideration of the committee refpecting glafs. Previous to the 19th was, the restrictions laid upon Ireland of Geo. II. Ireland might import glafs from other countries, and was beginning to make fome progrefs in the lower branches of that manufacture herfelf; but, by an act of that year, Ire Hland was not only prohibited from importing glafs from any other country than Great Britain, but was restricted from fo much as lading any glafs, the manufacture of Ireland, on any carriage with intent to export the tame. To demonftrate the juftice as well as the neceffity of relieving Ireland, his G lordship entered fully into the claims of Ireland, as well from the rights of nature as from its connection with Great Britain; and after a full difcuffion drew this conclufion, that mixing the broad claim of a free trade, and qualifying it with the advantages of a connection with this country, Ireland would be more fubftantially relieved than by any benefits the could poffibly derive from a free trade, according to : This gave great offence in Ireland, and the nature of their constitution could has ever fince been thought a griev- only lay on thofe duties which would ance he therefore moved, "That fo bring the British and Irish commodities much of the act of 19 Geo. II. as pro- upon equal terms to market. He therehibits the importation of glafs into Ire- fore wished to poftpone any farther proland, except of British manufacture, or ceedings thereon till after the Chriftto export glafs from that kingdom, be A mas recefs, when the Irish parliament repealed. might be confulted upon the following The repeal of thofe acts his lordship refolution," That Ireland be fuffered confidered as matter of right: what fol- to carry on a trade of export and import lows as matter of favour. To a commer- to and from the British colonies in Amecial intercourfe with our Colonies, Ire- rica and the West Indies, and her fetland, even were she an independent ftate, B tlements on the coast of Africa, subject could have no pretenfions. By every to fuch limitations, regulations, reprinciple of justice, of the law of na- ftrictions, and duties, as the parliament tions, and the custom of other powers, of Ireland fhall impose." These refoluthofe colonies that have been fettled and tions were agreed to. raised to opulence by the blood, treafure, and industry, of the parent ftate, C are the property of the nation by whom they have been planted. Were it otherwife, what power upon earth would weaken its own strength to erc&t colonies? He therefore contended, that admitting Ireland to fhare with G. B. in the commerce of her colonies was granting, upon the moft liberal principles, every advantage she could wifh in order to establish her trade and manufactures on the firmest basis, to revive the induftry of her people, and to make them E rich and happy. Dec. 14. No debate. Mr. B-ke, after a very long declamatory fpeech, gave notice, that he had a plan to propofe, which he hoped would ferve as a bafis for establishing public economy, and for reducing the influence of the crown; faid, he had communicated it to a few felect friends, Dwhofe approbation had encouraged him to pro ceed; that he intended to communicate it to feveral more; and that when it was thus matured he meant to propofe it to the confideration of the Houfe. [See a particular account of this plan in our Magazine for March.] F Ld J. C-nd- bore teftimony to the goodness and expediency of the plan which his hon. friend had to offer. Mr. D-ft-r believed in his confcience His lordship ftated the comparative the influence of the crown to be the true caufe advantages and difadvantages Ireland and mischievous origin of all the mifconduct would derive fhould the idea' now that has brought the affairs of this nation into thrown out be brought to maturity. If with this emphatical expreffion: "I am as difgrace. He concluded an animated fpeech we did not open this fource of com"heartily convinced, that the King's interest merce to Ireland, we should be thought" is as much affected by it as that of the fubto act unkindly by her; on the other "ject. If it continues, I vow to God, I do hand, if we fhould open our colony his throne." "not think his Majefty will fit fecurely on trade to Ireland without accompanying it with fimilar burthens to those which we fubmitted to ourselves, we should be (To be continued.) NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Gtentions in publishing Names is very just. We published the Names alluded to, to gratify the Curiofity of the Learned, but certainly with no Intent to injure any of the perfons named. J. B's favourable Opinion of our In The Strictures on Hume's Pofthumous Work are much too long for infertion. guilty of an act of the highest injustice 4. W. A's Correction, the Anecdotes of Tarleton the Comedian, and the Original Letter from An Occafional Correfpondent, shall be inferted in our next. The Calculations of G. E. are under Confi- |