CHAP. 1776. Meeting of The king's The facts and circumftances brought to light by or through this mifcreant gave full fcope to the rage and virulence of both parties. Supporters of the ministerial fyftem attributed the acts of Aitken to the inftigation of American and republican partifans within the kingdom; their opponents, no lefs bigotted, confidered the alleged difcoveries as the inventions or exaggerations of tories, in order to bring whigs and liberty into difcredit. There was not the fmalleft fhadow of probability that either party was concerned with John the Painter, or was any farther to blame than for credulity and illiberal comments. Various hypothefes, however, respecting this defpicable perfon, conftituted the principal fubject of difcuffion, declamation, and invective, to the inferior adherents both of minifters and oppofition for feveral months; fo readily do the zealous votaries of party believe improbable stories, and adopt abfurd opinions, when agreeable to their favourite notions. On the 31st of October parliament affembled. Parliament. His majefty's fpeech informed them, that fo daring Speech. and desperate was now the fpirit of American leaders, whofe object had always been dominion and power, that they had openly renounced all allegiance to the crown, and all political connection with the country, rejected with indignity and infult our offers of conciliation, and had prefumed to fet up their rebellious confederacies as independent communities. Were American treason fuffered to take root, it would prove pernicious to the loyal colonies, to the commerce and political interests of the kingdom, and to the prefent fyftem of all Europe. XVIII. 1776. rope. One advantage to be expected from the CHA P. open avowal of this object, would be at home the general prevalence of unanimity, and a conviction that the measures pursued by government were neceffary. The events of the campaign afforded the strongest hopes of ultimate fuccefs; but the delays unavoidable in commencing operations, prevented the progrefs from being complete. Other courts continued to affure the king of their amicable difpofitions; nevertheless, in the prefent fituation of affairs, it was expedient to put the kingdom in a refpectable ftate of defence. He regretted the expence neceffarily attendant on our prefent fituation, but doubted not that the commons would cheerfully grant the fupplies that might be wanted for fuch momentous purposes. His fole object was to promote the true interest of all his fubjects; no people ever lived under a milder government, or enjoyed more happiness, than the revolted colonies, as was demonftrated by their population, arts, wealth, and the strength by fea and land, which now gave them confidence to contend with the mother-country. Addreffes being framed according to the ufual form of complimentary repetition, produced very vehement debates, and motions of amendment diametrically oppofite to the original propofitions. The opponents of ministers afferted, Debate, that the difaffection and revolt of a whole people could not have taken place without error or mifconduct in their former rulers; they repeated their objections to the prefent fyftem of measures, imputed to them pernicious effects, and contended that nothing could restore Britain and America to XVIII. 1776. CHAP. their former happy state and relations, but a total change both of counfels and counfellors. Nothing could be more inconfiftent with a proper fpirit in parliament, than an attempt to bend British subjects to an abject unconditional fubmiffion to any power whatever; to annihilate their liberties, and fubdue them to fervile principles and paffive habits by means of foreign mercenaries, Amidst the exceffes (it was faid) which have happened, we ought to refpect the fpirit and principles which fo evidently bear an exact analogy to those that fupported the most valuable part of our own conftitution. The fpeech had afferted, that the profperous state of America was owing to the mild government and foftering protection of Britain: they admitted the propofition, but a neceffary confequence of the truth was, that thofe who had wantonly changed so beneficial a system deserved the feverest cenfure. The Americans had been charged with implicitly obeying arbitrary leaders: Who were these tyrants? In no country of great population and power was there so near an equality between individuals, or fo little of dependence; in fituations, wherein labour was extremely productive even to the loweft operator, a very moderate fhare of industry produced an ample subsistence, and removed the caufe which in other countries fo often rendered the lower claffes retainers to fome patron in the higher. As the general prevalence of independent and eafy fubfiftence precluded the neceffity of abject fubmiffion to wealth, the want of nobility prevented the authority annexed in other countries to rank and title. The provincials XVIII. 1776. provincials had no motives to yield to the authority CH a p. of adventitious diftinctions: Mr. Hancock, their civil prefident, was a plain merchant, of fair character, who poffeffed no influence over the people beyond that which arofe from the trouble caused by British administration. Mr. Washington was a country gentleman of a great landed eftate, fuch as feveral private gentlemen poffefs in every county ́in England; respectable in his own district, but little known beyond its limits before the fituation of his country called him from obscurity. Others, now most eminent in the field and congress, would have been still more obfcure, had not the oppreffive acts of Britain ftimulated the public exertion of their abilities in circumftances rendering resistance necessary to preserve their liberties, they naturally repofed their chief confidence in virtue and ability; they acknowledged the power of talents and qualifications; liftened to the advice which they thought wisest and most patriotic, from their own delegates and agents; and followed their counfels with a willing ratification, and not an extorted obedience. The perfons reprefented by minifters as governing the Americans with defpotical tyranny, were no other than their own officers and fervants, appointed by their will, and removable at their pleasure. The conciliatory offers, in themfelves totally inadequate to the cafe, had not been brought forward until the whole system declaring them rebels and enemies, and denouncing the venge ance due to fuch, had full time and scope for operation. The amicable and pacific profeffions of other powers deserved no reliance, while they were really affifting CHAP. affifting the Americans, and making powerful pre XVIII. #776. parations both by fea and land. Refpecting the required unanimity, minifters could not be ferious. "We (continued their opponents) predicted the mischiefs which have since actually arisen, because we reprobated minifterial proceedings as pernicious; and though they have really proved more fatal than we represented, yet we are called upon to give our approbation and fupport." Ministers contended, that "the American declaration of independence had entirely destroyed the the grounds on which they had been formerly fupported in parliament. Our colonies enabled us to hold a principal place among the chief powers of Europe; deprived of these settlements, we should be reduced to a state of humiliation and dependence. Should we ingloriously relinquish our prefent fituation, or by a vigorous exertion retain our ufual power and splendour? Befides intereft and fafety, indignation and refentment ought to roufe the Britifh fpirit to chastise the ingratitude and infolence of the American rebels. Though the atrociousness of their crimes would justify any severity of punishment, it was still wished to treat them with lenity, when brought to a knowledge of their condition, and a sense of their duty. Defigning and ambitious leaders never could have fucceeded in inftigating the Americans to hoftility and a declaration of independence, if their difobedient and rebellious fpirit had not been fomented and nourifhed by afpir ing and factious men in this country, who facrificed loyalty and patriotifm to their own felfish and unjustifiable projects. The opponents of ministers in parliament |