It deeply fixed a new colour upon our public affairs. It was decifive, on this fide of the Atlantic, with refpect to America; and may poffibly hereafter be compared with, and confidered as preliminary to that, on which, unhappily, in a few months after, the indepen, dence of that continent was declared on the other. Adminiftration now, and their numerous friends, totally changed their ftile and language upon that fubject. All modifications were laid afide; all former opinions and declarations done away; conciliation, they faid, was little lefs than impracticable; and that if any thing could be added to the difficulties of fuch a scheme, it would be by conceffion. The tone of the houfe of lords was much higher than that of the house of commons had ever been, although the language was grown much more firm and determined there alf than it had been at the beginning of the feffion. No alternative now feemed to be left between abfolute conqueft and unconditional fubmiffion.

The debates were long and various, and notwithstanding the beaten ground which was travelled 'over, would at another feason have been interefting. Moft of the confiderable fpeakers on both fides took a large thare in them. Much altercation and contradiction took place, between feveral lords who were of the cabinet in the years 1767, and 1769, relative to the American measures which were at thofe times adopted. Much pointed and direct animadverfion took place between two great law lords, ene of whom has long been out of office. The quetion being put

after 11 o'clock at night, the motion was rejected by a majority of 91, including zo proxies, to 31, 20 including three proxies.

A bill for the eftaDec. 8th. blifhment of a militia. in Scotland, had been brought in before the holidays by lord Mountftewart; but from the very remarkable neglect of attendance which prevailed, and the defire of having a matter which included a clafhing of interefts between both parts of the kingdom difcuffed in full houses, it hung over during the greater part of the feffion. Befides the apparent weight and fanction of administration, this bill was eagerly patronized by the gentlemen of North Britain; but notwithstanding these powerful fupports, it met with a strong, and at length effectual oppofition. Many of the country gentlemen were extremely jealous of this novel attempt. In this conteft, it was ably controverted in all its ftages; and though the views of the oppofition avowedly extended from the beginning to the rejec tion of the whole, yet frequent amendments were propofed, and new claufes continually offered; fo that it afforded a very confiderable fund of debate; the divifions run very clofe, and the utmost candour and fairness was practifed on

and invariable attachment to government, which the Scotch have fhewn for many years paft, had entirely removed thofe objections which might have formerly operated in oppofing fuch a meafure. And that the retaining fuch an invidious diftinction, ferved only to keep alive ancient jealoufies, and to nourish odious prejudices and malignities.

On the other fide, it was objected to, on the general ground of expence, there being no neceffity nor occafion for a militia in Scotland. That it was increafing the dangerous and unconftitutional power of the crown, which was already greater, than had ever hitherto been deemed confiftent with public liberty. That a militia was local, and immediately paid by the land-owners for their protection and defence. That Scotland only paid one-fortieth to the land-tax, the very specific tax, out of which all the expences of a militia were to be drawn, and yet fhe would hold one fifth in the proportion of numbers to be embodied in both kingdoms. That the difproportion in point of representation, was equally to be confidered, though not fo great, being on her fide one eleventh to the whole. That it was highly unreafonable in the people of that country, and carried the most glaring abfurdity in the very face of the propofition, to apply to parliament for a Scotch militia, when five-fixths of the expence to be incurred by that establishment, must be paid by English land-owners. If he is in love with a militia, and wants to be put on a footing with England in refpect to conftitutional defence, let her take the

inftitution with all its confequences of pay as well as of establishment; let the expence be raised by a cefs upon the lands there, which can well afford it, from their being at present so much under rated to the land-tax. However exceptionable the measure is in other refpects, in point of expençe, this will be fubftantial juftice. But furely, the Englif mut expect to become objects of the contempt or pity of all mankind, if they fubmitted to be the dupes to fo abfurd and monftrous a propofition as the prefent.

To thefe objections it was replied, that Scotland was taxed according to her ability as well as England. That though the landtax was under-rated, other taxes were not fo. That a great, if not the greater part of the rents of Scotland were spent in England. That the people of that country confumed vast quantities of English manufactures, befides Eaft India goods, and other foreign commodities, purchafed here, by which means they were virtually taxed, and bore a great share of our expences. That the arguments now brought only proved, that Scotland was not fo fully reprefented in the British parlament as the ought to be, nor fo opulent as England; two matters which had nothing to do with the prefent question. And that it could not have been expected, that a propofal for general and national defence, thould have been confidered in the narrow view of provincial jealoufy.

Both parties having March 20th. muftered their forces

as well as the prefent ftate of ar tendance would admit, upon the

day

day appointed for receiving the report from the committee after the fecond reading, the bill was thrown out upon a divifion, by a majority of 112 to 95. The minifter found himself in an unusual fituation upon this occafion, having divided in the minority.

It may be neceffary to take fome notice of an affair which about this xime made a great noife in the city, occafioned much difcontent amongst the merchants, and was at length, though without effect, brought into both houfes of parliament. A claufe in the late prohibitory act, which enabled the admiralty to grant licences to veffels for conveying ftores and provifions to the forces upon the American fervice, had been made ufe of to countenance a trade in individuals who were favoured, by which, it was faid, that a monopoly was formed, and the American trade was transferred from the ancient merchants, and known traders, to a few obfcure perfons of no account or condition; and an illicit commerce established under the fanction of that bill, which was utterly fubverfive of one of its principal apparent objects.

It appears that these licences were very loofely compofed, and very carelessly granted; that the commiffioners of the cuftoms did not chufe to interfere much in the bufinefs; that though the licences were recalled and fome alterations made in them, this measure produced little effect; and that even, when the noise grew loud, and fomething like a parliamentary enquiry was announced or begun, though fome of the goods were unthipped, yet in general the fcheme fucceeded; the fhips which had cleared out for Bofton, only

altering the deftination of their voyage, and taking a new clear-ance for Halifax and Canada, with liberty to go to any other port in America. It appeared in evidence before the house of commons, that by thefe and other means, a greater quantity of all manner of goods calculated for the North American market, had been fhipped within a few weeks, than was done in any of the ufual feasons of export

ation.

A great clamour was raised in the city. It was faid that it was exceedingly grievous to the great body of American merchants, who had already fuffered fo feverely in confequence of thefe troubles, and who in obedience to the late act of parliament, were at this very time finking under the incumbrance of a vast quantity of goods, which they had purchased for that, and for which they could find no other market, to fee the trade, which for a number of years they had conducted with the greatest reputation and fairnefs, fmuggled out of their hands, by a fet of nominal merchants and unknown adventurers. The injury was rendered fill the more grievous, by being committed under the colour of law, and under the licence of authority.

The first public notice that was taken of this business was in the houfe of lords, where the earl of Effingham, a little before the recess at Eafter, made a motion which was agreed to, that lifts of those hips, and of their cargoes, as well as the licences which were granted by the admiralty, fhould be laid before the houfe.

We fuppofe, that the holidays, together with the duchess of Kingfton's trial, prevented the matter

from

1

from being more immediately purfeed in that houfe. However that was, it was taken up in the house of commons by the lord May 2d. mayor, who moved for a committee to enquire into the whole tranfaction. Administration feemed very fore and very angry upon this occafion; and, as the oppofition faid, ufed every poffible means to baffle or defeat the enquiry. They faid it proceeded from ill temper and malignity, and was only intended to embarrafs and diftrefs government; and foretold truly, that it would come to nothing. Some faid that the matters complained of were too trifling for notice, and were only intended for the ease, benefit, and comfort of the troops; others went fo far as to infift, that the act was not violated, and that provifions and ftores included every thing that could adminifter to the wants or luxuries of man or woman. The minifter, however, at length acknowledged, that the powers given in the act had been mifunderflood, and the licences abused; but that as thefe matters were already rectified, and a top put to the mifchief, their lofing time at this late feafon in fuch an enquiry could anfwer no purpofe. He afterwards practifed a manœuvre, which he knew would effectually check its progrefs, by agreeing in part with the motion, but changing the mode of enquiry, from an open or felect committee up ftairs, to a committee of the whole houfe within doors.

In this committee, feveral 8th. witnesses were examined, and among other matter that appear ed, it came out, that one of thete nominal merchants, and a prin

cipal actor in this bufinefs, who had freighted five large fhips with the most valuable commodities, was fo totally unqualified for fuch an undertaking, that he hawked about a letter in the city from a very confiderable officer belonging to the treasury, in order to obtain goods upon that credit. It was. faid by the oppofition, that fome of the principal witneffes were sent purpofely out of the way; that the papers which the house demanded and which were abfolutely necef fary for the purposes of the enquis ry, were defignedly held back at fome of the public offices; they were therefore defirous to poftpone it for a few days, until the proper information could be obtained, and accordingly moved the question of adjournment at three feveral times, but were conftantly overpovered by a majority. At length, after being kept up till five o'clock in the morning, the minister diffolved the committee (without its coming to any refolution whatever) by the previous question, "That the chairman do now leave the chair," which was carried by a majority of 105 to 31.

On the 13th the earl of Effingham revived the matter in the Houfe of Lords, by moving that the neceffary papers should be laid before the house, in order to profecute the enquiry in the enfuing feffion. This brought on very warm debates, and fome farther extraordinary matter, than what had appeared in the other house, was laid before the lords. The nicenefs of fituation at length prevailed, and the minitters confented to the motion.

The bufinefs being all carried through, and a vote of credit ob

tained for a million to answer any intermediate service, an end was at length put to the fefMay 238. fion. The fpeech from the throne contained nothing very ftriking. The ufual fatisfaction in their conduct was expreffed. Information was given, that no alteration had taken place in the ftate of foreign affairs, and that the affurances received of the difpofition of the feveral European powers, promifed a continuance of the general tranquillity. A regret was expreffed for the extraordinary fupplies which it had been neceffary to demand; and thanks given to the commons for the readiness and difpatch with which they were granted; as well as an acknowledgment, that they had fhewn an equal regard to the exigencies of the fervice, and the cafe of the people, in the manner of raifing them. A proper fruga lity was promifed. It was obferv.

ed, that they were engaged in a great national caufe, the profecution of which must be attended with many difficulties, and much expence; but when they confider that the effential rights and interefts of the whole empire are deeply concerned in the iffue of it, and can have no fafety or fecurity but in that conftitutional fubordination for which they are contending, it affords a conviction that they will not think any price too high for fuch objects. A hope was fill entertained, that his rebellious fubjects would be awakened to a fenfe of their errors, and by a voluntary return to their duty, justify the restoration of harmony; but if a due fubmiffion fhould not be obtained from fuch motives and difpofitions on their part, it was trulied, that it fhould be effectuated by a full exertion of the great force with which they had entrusted his majesty.