Little is to be apprehended from the countenance that 1776. foreign powers may give to America: it is fo evident, that their plaineft intereft militates againft their undertaking the defence of the colonies, that it is not a subject deserving of discussion.

After violent debates, the question was carried in favor of miniftry by 100 votes to 32. But not without â proteft, wherein the lords fay, "We have reason to apprehend, that when the colonies come to understand, that Great Britain is forming alliances and hiring foreign troops for their destruction, they may think they are. well juftified, by the example, in endeavouring to avail themselves of the like affiftance; and that France, Spain, Pruffia, or other powers of Europe, may think they have as good a right as Heffe, Brunfwick, and Hanau, to interfere in our domeftic quarrels." When this bufinefs was decided, another came on, which occafioned no lefs ferment. The fecretary of war gave notice, that Mar. the fum of 845,000l. would be neceffary to defray the extraordinary expences from the commencement of March the preceding year, to the end of laft January.· This information excited one of the moft violent ftorms

of oppofition ever known. "Never, (faid they) was fo vaft a demand for contingent expences incurred in fo fhort a time." From the various calculations made on this occafion, they inferred, that no less than one hundred pounds a man had been expended on the garrifon of Boston, within less than the term of a year; during which time, they had been reduced to great extremities, through want of provisions; and had endured a variety of wretchednefs. The miniftry, though affailed with much vehemence, ftood their ground upon the appro

ope

1776. bation and authority of parliament. They argued➡As to the expenditure of thofe fums, which are loaded with' heavy cenfures, it ought to be remembered, that the rations they were employed in, were numerous and chargeable; and that the various undertakings which had been refolved upon, were of fo novel and difficult a nature, as to require the most refolute exertions, and the most liberal support. The Maffachusetts had exercised that resistance for which, not imagining it would have been carried to fuch extremities, they had not made an adequate preparation: but now that nothing less than the most daring and ftubborn oppofition was expected from the colonifts, they fhould no longer withhold their ftrength; but should put it forth in fuch a manner, as would fhow that Britain was fully able to crush them. A feffion or two more of firmnefs and vigor, would bring about an alteration of affairs, and make the colonies repent of the provocations they had given to this country. The motion for the fupply was carried by a majority of 180 to 57.

Mar. A fresh attempt was made in the house of lords to 14. prevent a continuance of hoftilities. The duke of

Grafton moved, that an address should be presented to the throne, requesting that, in order to ftop the further effufion of blood, and to manifeft the fincere defire of king and parliament to restore peace, and redrefs grievances, a proclamation might be iffued, declaring, that if the colonies fhould prefent a petition to the commander in chief of his majefty's forces in America, or to the commiffioners appointed for fuch purposes, setting forth what they confidered to be their juft rights and real grievances, the king would confent to a fufpen

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fion of arms, and refer their petition to parliament, 1776. where they might be confident it would be duly confidered and answered. All the reasonings of those who fupported the motion were totally ineffectual: it was rejected by a majority of near three to one. Thus ended a debate, which put a period, for a while, to all attempts for conciliatory measures, in either house of parliament. But the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, ftill continued their endeavours, in an humble and decent addrefs, which they presented to his majefty. The anfwer, though not according to Mar. their petition, was no wife irritating; and expreffed as much mercy and clemency to the Americans, adjudged to be in a state of rebellion, as could be expected, confidering what coercion was going forward. Some of the Apri Brunswick troops failed from Spithead under convoy of 4. two men of war, and were followed the next day by gens. Burgoyne and Phillips; Burgoyne had left Boston in December, and returned home after a fhort paffage. Letters patent, by his majesty's order, paffed under May the great feal, conflituting lord Howe and gen. Howe, to be his majesty's commiffioners for reftoring peace to the colonies in North America, and for granting pardon to fuch of his majefty's fubjects there, now in rebellion, as fhall deferve the royal mercy. The fame day, commodore Hotham, with all the transports, having the first divifion of Heffians on board, failed from St. Helen's for North America. The troops are to affift in forcing the rebels to ask mercy. Five days after, his lordship followed in the Eagle man of war.

According to the estimates laid before parliament, the army to be employed against the Americans, in different

1776 quarters, amounts to 55,000 men, befide all the recruits raised in Canada and other parts of the continent, which may amount to 5000. These estimates must however have supposed the regiments full. But after deducting for deficiencies in all conceivable ways, we may allow the whole land force, with which the united colonies will have to combat, to be at least 40,000 privates and officers. His majefty went to the house of peers; gave his royal affent to fuch bills as were prefented; and then put an end to the feffion. In his fpeech he faid, "It is with pleasure I inform you, that the affurances which I have received of the difpofitions of the feveral powers in Europe, promife a continuance of the general tranquillity."

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Many in Britain are more than ever difgufted with coercive meafures, from the ill fuccefs which has attended their execution, The difafters which have, happened, have made a deep impreffion upon their minds; and they are ready to impute them, rather to the iniquity, than to the imprudence of the fchemes in agitation. But adminiftration has been fupported by both the prefs and the pulpit. Several pamphlets, compofed with much art and ability, and recommended by many of the beauties of language, have painted in black and hateful colours, the claims and conduct of the Ameri-cans; and have, by that mean, not a little inflamed the refentment of the mother country. One of the leading methodist preachers, Mr. W-, has revived the doctrines of paffive obedience and non-resistance, nearly as afferted in the last century. He declines practifing them toward his fuperiors in the English church, of which he profeffes himself a member. The doctors Johnfon and

Shebbeare, as in duty and gratitude bound for their re- 1776. fpective penfions, have published. many ingenious things on the fide of ministry. But none have distinguished themselves more among the political champions of the day, than Dr. Price. He published in February a most admirable piece, ftiled, "Obfervations on the nature of civil liberty, the principles of government, and the justice and policy of the American war.". Such was the avidity with which it was read, that it ran through four editions within a month.. His opponents may write against it as much as they will, but they will never be able to confute it. On the 24th of March, at a court of common-council, a motion was made and carried, "That the thanks of the court be given to Dr. Price, for his excellent pamphlet on civil liberty; alfo, that the freedom of the city be presented to him in a gold box.” Three days after, at a court of affiftants of the drapers company, a motion was made and carried to present the doctor with the freedom of that company. The doctor has conveyed his acknowledgments to the lord mayor, aldermen, and common-council; and expreffed his hope that their approbation would lead the public to fix their views more on fuch measures as fhould fave a finking constitution, and preferve us from impending calamities,

You may wish to know the fentiments of the French relative to the American contest. Those of the nobility and gentry, who are tolerably verfed in the English language, accuftom themselves to the reading of the papers containing the difputes between Britain and the colonies. The generality conceive of the affair as a family quarrel, which the parties will make up after a while. Whatever they may wish, as to its continuance and increafe, and