lings, and four Pence, be granted to his Majesty, for defraying the charge of seventeen thousand five hundred and forty-seven effective men, for Guards, Garrisons, and other his Majesty's Land forces, in Great Britain, Jersey, and Guernsey, for the year 1775.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a sum not exceeding three hundred and eighty-six thousand one hundred and eighty-six Pounds, and ten Pence, and one-eighth part of a Penny, be granted to his Majesty for maintaining his Majesty's Forces and Garrisons in the Plantations and Africa, including those in Garrison at Minorca and Gibraltar, and for Provisions for the Forces in North America, Nova Scotia, New Foundland, Gibraltar, the Ceded Islands, and Africa, for the year 1775.

The said Resolutions being severally read a second time, were, upon the question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

MONDAY, December 19, 1774.

Sir Charles Whitworth, according to order, reported from the Committee of the Whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of further ways and means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, the Resolution which the Committee had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was read, and is as followeth, viz:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that towards raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, the sum of three Shillings in the Pound, and no more, be raised, within the space of one year, from the 25th day of March, 1775, upon lands, tenements, hereditaments, pensions, offices, and personal estates, in that part of Great Britain called England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed; and that a proportionate cess, according to the Ninth Article of the Treaty of Union, be laid upon that part of Great Britain called Scotland.

Lord North stated from a paper which he held in his hand, in detail, the amount of the grants and services. He said the former amounted hitherto but to £75,000, the duty on Malt; that the services to be incurred were Navy and Ordnance for sea service, £830,000; Guards, Garrisons, &c., £627,000; Military Establishment in America, West Indies, and Africa, £386,000; difference of pay between British and Irish Establishment, £2,800; Staff Officers, £11,000; Chelsea, £122,000; Ordnance for Land service, £228,000; services incurred and not provided for ditto, the present year, £32,000; in all amounting to, with the fractions, £2,244,000. He observed that the Land Tax continued at three Shillings, would produce £1,500,000; which, added to the Malt, would amount to no more than £2,250,000, making a surplus of £6,000. He acquainted the Committee further, that the Militia Money and the general deficiencies amounted last year to £580,000, and would for the present be at least £400,000. And that for these reasons he should move that the Land Tax for the ensuing year be three Shillings in the Pound; which was agreed to.

Mr. Hartley rose, and in a mild, sensible speech, enlarged upon the very extraordinary conduct of Administration concerning American affairs. He said the accounts from that country were truly alarming; that the Resolutions of the Continental Congress evidently proved that the people were determined not to submit to the late Acts passed in relation to America, nor to any other of a like complexion; that the Troops now stationed at Boston, and the inhabitants of that Town, had no means of procuring subsistence but by Sea, or from the country; that either method was now equally difficult, as the Harbour would be frozen up, and the land carriage, even if subsistence was to be had, rendered impracticable, as the country would be covered with snow; and that, under such circumstances, the situation of the Troops would be no less deplorable than that of the miserable inhabitants. He continued to say, that he was not well versed in sieges; but if he understood right, he took it that the Town of Boston was surrounded by General Gage with lines of circumvallation, and that such being the very critical stale of things, respecting both the situation, the temper, and disposition of the military and the natives, he submitted it to the gentlemen on the other side how they could reconcile it to the duty they owed to the Nation in their publick, or to their constituents in their private capacity, to agree to a long adjournment, while things remained in so dangerous and alarming a state, without taking any one step to avert the numerous and fatal mischiefs which they portended. For his part, he affirmed solemnly, he would much rather sit on Christmas-day, and continue to do so, de die in diem, than go to the country in so critical a season, without at least agreeing to some measures, though they should extend no further than prevention.

Mr. Rose Fuller said, that we were too precipitate in our last measures, and that was the chief reason why they miscarried; that he foresaw at the time they would answer no end but to inflame, nor ever would, while they were continued to be directed to the same end; on which account he would be much better pleased that the affairs of America, the necessary information first had, were taken up on mature deliberation, and discussed with coolness, in order in the end to come to a wise, deliberate, and rational decision.

Mr. T. Townshend said, that whatever that decision might be, the conduct of Administration was, for the present, extremely reprehensible; for while we were informed from Administration that America was almost, in a state of rebellion, the Land, the Malt, the Navy, and the Army, were voted with as much ease, and without a single syllable, as if that country was in a state of the most perfect tranquillity and obedience: for, concluded he, either the information we have had is false, which I can hardly suppose, or the estimates on the table are by no means proportioned to the objects which are recommended from the Throne: for instance, if the Army now in America be to be augmented, or the Ships stationed there reinforced, the three Shilling Land Tax now voted will certainly be insufficient; and the deficiencies must be made up without the knowledge of Parliament, by a vote of credit to defray expenses incurred in the support of measures with which at present it is evident we are totally unacquainted.

Mr. Rigby facetiously replied. Would the honourable gentleman have a War Establishment in time of peace? Would he have us embrue our hands in the blood of our countrymen on the other side of the water? I dare say no man in this House is ignorant of my sentiments, and yet I should shudder at the thought. The honourable gentleman complains that the Land, the Malt, &c., is voted without a syllable being said; pray whose fault is that? He would not have, I presume, the gentleman who presented the Navy estimates, rise and condemn them. He would not desire the noble Lord, I suppose, who laid the Army estimates before you, to tell the House that the number of Troops to be employed in America was insufficient, considering the state of that country; nor the noble Lord who proposed the tax of three Shillings in the Pound, to inform us in the same breath that it ought to be four. Who, then, is to blame? Those who are convinced that the estimates and grants are too low, and will not speak, or those who think them sufficient, and declare their opinions? For my part, I do not think myself capable of defending the gentleman now alluded to, nor have I, nor do I pretend to speak from any information of my own; but as the establishment is a Peace Establishment, as I always thought that the present is a very proper one, till I am informed that a War Establishment is become necessary; and as I voted for taking off the other Shilling, I shall give my vote that the Land Tax be three Shillings for the ensuing year. The other honourable gentleman says, the Port of Boston is frozen up at this season of the year. I have conversed with many on the subject, who have assured me of the contrary; whether it be or be not, I cannot see how our sitting here on Christmas-day, or the whole holidays, can be the means of relieving the Army or the inhabitants, or of preventing the mischiefs he seems so much to dread.

Mr. Edmund Burke. I should not have risen in this debate, if I had not heard the moderation of one gentleman, (Mr. Fuller,) and the precipitation of another, (Mr. Hartley,) stated as if militating against each other. Now, sir, I, who see matters in another light from the right honourable gentlemen on the floor, can easily perceive them to be exactly correspondent. The former, from his exprience of what has been already done, is cautious and willing to avoid repeating our former blunders, or adopting