you are doing, when you are taking the trial over the Atlantic seas, three thousand miles to Great Britain; witnesses may be subpœned, and called upon by the prisoner, as many as he pleases. Let me, for God's sake, wish that gentlemen would think a little more that a fair trial may be had in America; and that while the King appoints the Judge, there is a degree of fairness that People should the Jury. Repeal, Sir, the Act which gave rise to this disturbance; this will be the remedy to bring peace and quietness, and restore authority; but a great black book, and a great many red coats, will never be able to govern it. It is true, the Americans cannot resist the force of this country, but it will cause wranglings, scuffling, and discontent. Such remedies as the foregoing, will make such disturbances as are not to be quieted.

Lord North arose to answer Mr. Burke. He desired leave to look at Lord Hillsborough's letter, as he had not a copy of it; and explained the passages in that letter very different from what Mr. Burke, had: he read the words, "That neither the King, or any of his Ministers, wished to tax America." His Lordship observed, That this was not an expression that carried with it a denial of the right, but only a wish that no further taxes "should be laid on." A man, says he, is not factious, that says America may be taxed; the letter contains an opinion, that no further taxes, at that time, ought to be laid. I am sorry to hear a charge thrown out, that these proceedings are to deprive persons of their natural right. Let me ask of what natural right, whether that of smuggling, or of throwing tea overboard? Or of another natural right, which is not paying their debts? But surely this Bill does not destroy any of their civil rights? You have given them a Civil Magistrate and a Council, which they had not before; you have given the innocent man a fair trial in some Colony or other; and if he cannot get a fair trial in that country, the whole being in a distempered state of disturbance and opposition to the laws of the mother country, then, in that case, and in that only, he must be sent to Great Britain. All that these Acts profess to do, is to restore some order to the Province, None that admit the least degree of sovereignty, can possibly deny the provision of this Bill; it is not a military Government that is established, but the alteration of a civil one. I am sure that this is adopted as the best method at present; I do not say it will succeed, but I hope for the good consequences of it; and if the Massachusetts Bay is to be governed by management, this is the only remedy. By what means is authority to be maintained, but by establishing that authority from Parliament? I do not know, Sir, what is the proper time to lay a fresh tax on America; but this I know, that this is not the proper time to repeal one. We are now to establish our authority, or give it up entirely; when they are quiet, and return to their duty, we shall be kind, whether by repealing this tax, or what not, I cannot tell; but this I will answer, that when they are quiet, and have a respect for their mother country, their mother country will be good-natured to them.

Sir George Savile. I shall say not a word of preface at this late hour; I do not hold it improper to take this into consideration in a legislative capacity, in preference to a judicial one; but I hold this to be a principle of justice, that a charter which conveys a sacred right, ought not to be taken away without hearing the parties, either in a judicial or legislative way, which has not been done, but from their own declaration in the papers on the table, and which I, in my mind, do not think sufficient evidence.

Then the House divided:

Yeas, 239; Yays, 64.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative:

And the Bill was accordingly read the third time.

And after several amendments were made, the Bill was Passed.

Ordered, That Mr. Cooper do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their concurrence.

THURSDAY, May 12, 1774.

The Bill was returned from the House of Lords, with several amendments.

FRIDAY, May 13, 1774.

The House proceeded to take into consideration the amendments made by the House of Lords, which were severally agreed to.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

TUESDAY, May 3, 1774.

A message was brought up from the House of Commons, by Mr. Cooper and others:

With a Bill, intituled, "An Act for the better Regulating the Government of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England," to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

The said Bill was read the first time.

Ordered, That the said Bill be read a second time on Friday next; and that the Lords be summoned.

Ordered, That the said Bill be printed.

FRIDAY, May 6, 1774.

The order of the day being read, the Bill was accordingly read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Ordered, That the House be put into a Committee upon the said Bill, on Monday next, and that the Lords be summoned.

MONDAY, May 9, 1774.

The order of the day being read, the House was accordingly adjourned during pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the Bill.

After some time, the House was resumed,

And the Lord Boston reported from the Committee, that they had gone through the Bill, and made several amendments thereto.

Ordered, That the said Report be received to-morrow.

TUESDAY, May 10, 1774.

The Lord Boston reported the amendments made by the Committee of the whole to the Bill;

And the amendments were severally agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the said Bill, with the amendments, be read a third time to-morrow, and that the Lord be summoned.

WEDNESDAY, May 11, 1774.

Upon reading the Petition of several persons, Natives of America, whose names are thereunto subscribed, taking notice of two Bills depending in this House, the first, intituled, "An Act for the better Regulating the Government of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England;" and the other, intituled, "An Act for the Impartial Administration, of Justice in cases of persons questioned for any acts done by them in the execution of the law; or for the suppression of riots and tumults in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England;" and praying, "that the said Bills may not pass into a law,"

It is Ordered, that the said Petition do lie on the table.

Upon reading the Petition of William Bollan, Esquire, Agent for the Council of his Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, taking notice of a Bill depending in this House, intituled, "An Act for the better Regulating the Government of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England;" and praying, "this right honorable House will be pleased to suspend all other proceedings therein, until he can give the Council notice thereof, and they can prepare their defence, and give proper corporate authority for the regular defence of their corporate rights and privileges; and that he may be heard by their Lordships in support of this Petition;"

It is Ordered, that the said Petition do lie on the table.

Moved, "That Mr. Bollan be called in, and heard at the Bar?"

Which being objected to;