fo deeply engaged before the meeting of parliament that the legislative could not then in honour recede from the fupport of it. Upon this principle, the plan of moderation that had been adopted, was oppofed with the greatest acrimony, and the feverest invectives pointed at adminiftration, for not having immediately employed troops and fhips of war to enforce the laws in fuch a manner, as the outrageoufnefs of the refiftance, and the importance of the authority which was refifted, did, as they afferted, indifpenfably require.

"In the mean time the American affairs were become a general fubject of difcuffion, and numberlefs pamphlets were wrote on both fides of the queftion; in general, both fides were guilty of the fame fault, though in the moft oppofite extremes; the advocates for the colonies carried the idea of liberty to the highest pitch of enthufiafm, while their antagonists feemed to imagine, that a perfon forfeited every birthright and privilege of an Englishman by going to live in America. They both alfo proved a great deal too much, while the former feemed to confider the colonies rather as independent ftates, in a fort of equal alliance with the mother country, than as deminions depending upon and belonging to her; they furnished the ftrongeft reafons why that irregular fpirit of enthufiafm thould be timely checked, by making them fenfible of their dependence.

"On the other hand, the enemies of the colonies, by exaggerating their power, opulence, and popularity, fufficiently proved the neceffity of treating thein with tenderness, as if their calculations were allowed to be half founded, it must be impoffible to retain them long in subjection by any other means.

"In this fituation were affairs, (17th Dec.) when the parliament met in the latter end of the year 1765. Particular notice was taken from the throne of the importance of the matters which had occurred in North America, and which were given as a reason

now vacant.

for affembling the two houfes fooner than was intended, that they might have an opportunity to iffue the neceffary writs on the many vacancies that had happened fince the laft feffion, and proceed, immediately after the recefs, to the confideration of the weighty matters that fhould then be laid before them, for which purpose the fulleft accounts of the American affairs fhould be prepared for their inspection. Moft of the friends to adminiftration had vacated their feats in confequence of the late changes, fo that by death and promotions, there were forty-one feats Some thought it would be ungenerous to make any ftrictures upon the conduct of the minifters, till they fhould be in a fituation to vindicate or explain it, in their proper perfons as members of the houfe: it appears, however, that others were of a contrary opinion. An addrefs having been refolved in anfwer to the king's fpeech, a motion was made by the oppofition, that his majefty might be addreffed to give orders, that copies of all lettters, papers, orders or inftructions, fent from the Secretary of State's office, or the other principal departments, to the governors and officers of the crown in North America, together with copies of all anfwers thereto, and of all other papers relative to the late difturbance there, to the execution of the ftamp duty, to the enforcing of the law, and to the quelling of riotous and tumultuous disorders, fhould be laid before the houfe. This motion feemed the more extraordinary, as it had been declared from the throne, that the fulleft accounts of thefe affairs fhould be laid before parliament.

"The houfe probably thought the propofition not very decent with regard to the crown, nor candid with regard to the miniftry, in their fituation at that time, fo that on a fharp debate, the previous queftion. being put, it was carried in the negative by a majority of 70 to 35. The house having then issued the neceffary writs, adjourned for the holidays."

66

Mr. Burke was thus brought into parliament, at a time that a fingle glance, even at the map of our territories, was almoft fufficient to difmay a young fenator-our extenfive colonies in America, our posfeffions in the east-our navy triumphant in every quarter of the globe, and the joyful found of victory in our ears, and all under the aufpices of a youthful monarch, the dawn of whofe adminiftration promifed a refulgent day. But thefe appear to have been fo many objects that tended rather to excite than to difmay our young fenator, his mind was well tored with reading, his imagination glowing, his heart, no do doubt, filled with gratitude to thofe that had raifed him to that exalted fituation, and every pulfe beating high with emulation to diftinguish himfelf by his tongue, as he had already done fo by his pen. The firft queftion of deep confideration that called forth his eloquence, was on the impolicy of taxing the colonies." The very first speech he made on this fubject, was fo much admired, that the late Lord Chatham, who immediately followed him in the debate, faid, "he fhould not go any further into the detail of the business, as that young member (alluding to Mr. Burke) had forcibly and eloquently anticipated every thing he had to offer on the fubject." This compliment was felt by the house, and infured Mr. Burke a very patient hearing as often as he rose to deliver his opinion. The next question that involved the confideration of parliament, was a bill for the "total repeal of the ftampact, brought on in the fpring of 1766." This momentous queftion furnifhed Mr. Burke with a full opportunity of bringing all his oratorial powers into the field; it must be confeffed that he conducted them with all the energy of a youthful commander, and all the prudence of an experienced General, till victory, after a dubious conteft, at length perched on the banners of adminiftration. The univerfal joy which pervaded the nation on this occafion, cannot

1

be better expreffed than in his own words. remember, Sir, (addreffing himfelf to the fpeaker) with a melancholy pleafure, the fituation of the Honourable Gentleman (the late Field Marfhal Conway) who made the motion for the repeal of the ftamp-act. In that crifis, when the whole trading intereft of this empire, crammed into your lobbies with a trembling and anxious expectation, waited almoft to a winter's return of light, their fate from your refolutions. When at length you had determined in their favour, and your doors thrown open, fhowed them the figure of their deliverer in well earnest triumph of his important victory, from the whole of that grave multitude there arofe an involuntary burst of gratitude and tranfport. They jumped upon him like children on a long abfent father; they clung about him as captives about their redeemer; all England, all America, joined in his applause; nor did he seem infenfible to the best of all earthly rewards, the love and admiration of his fellowcitizens; hope elevated, and joy brightened his creft: I stood near him, and his face, to use the expreffion of the fcripture of the firft Martyr, his face was as if it had been the face of an angel.' I do not know how others feel; but if I had flood in that fituation, I never would have exchanged it for all that kings in their profufion could beftow."Vide Mr. Burke's fpeech, 19th April, 1794, 4to Ed. p. 36.

6

Hitherto matters had gone on in the moft fuccefsfu} manner with the miniftry; they had weathered a fevere, dangerous, and flormy winter; they had gained every point they attempted in parliament; and had fecured the confidence and good will of the public in a very high degree. They had befides acquired fome credit in their foreigur tranfactions; they had concluded an advantageous commercial treaty with the Empress of Ruffia; they fettled the long contested affair of the Canada bills, to the fatisfaction of the owners of them; and made fome progrefs in re

viving the long neglected affair of the Manilla ranfom.

From the time that the Right Hon. Henry Belfon Legge, was difcharged from the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, in May 1761, and Lord Temple and Mr. Pitt refigned the 18th of September that year, no less than 523 changes of places, outs and inns, happened, by the fluctuating of minifterial influence, a circumftance hardly to be parallelled in any

annals.

Those who had not confidered the fluctuating ftate of administration for fome years back, might have been apt to imagine, that in confequence of fo fair a beginning, they were fecurely fixed in their prefent fituation.

It was then, to the great furprise of the nation, that, notwithstanding thefe appearances, a fudden and unexpected change took place in the miniftry. For on the 30th of July, the Duke of Grafton was appointed to the head of the treafury, in the room of the Marquis of Rockingham; the Earl of Shelburne, Secretary of State, in the room of the Duke of Richmond; Lord Camden, High Chancellor, in the room of the Earl of Northington; Right Hon. Charles Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the room of the Right Hon. William Dowdeswell; and the Right Hon. William Pitt, (created fome days before Viscount Pynsent and Earl of Chatham) Lord Privy Seal. Many other changes took place both at home and fubfequently in all the different departments of state.

The patriotic opinion which has been conceived of the late miniftry, was much increafed by the difinterestedness they had fhewn upon quitting their places; as they retired without a place, pensions, or reverfion fecured to themselves or their friends. The fense which the public held of their fervices, was alfo teftified by the numerous addreffes which were prefented to the Marquis of Rockingham upon that occafion. On the other hand, many of thofe who