not believe in virtual representation, and because he would not believe that America was part of the manor of Greenwich. He said, he had two years before called their attention to Virginia, the mother Colony; and shewed that in all their proceedings Virginia had taken the lead; and that therefore it was plain it was not Boston, but America; and if we meant a war with the whole, we ought with our eyes open to prepare for that, and not for a scuffle with Boston. He also put it on its true bottom; you have, said he, your option, America or this Ministry; and he exposed with all his wit, the absurdity of balancing in such a choice.

Mr. Solicitor General Wedderburn replied to Mr. Burke. He spoke largely of the goodness of Britain to America. Thought it highly necessary to enforce the laws, and complained much of the dispositions of the Americans being encouraged from hence by those who avowed their cause in England.

Colonel Barré allowed that the Americans might be encouraged by their confidence in having friends at home, when they recollected that a few years ago the gentleman's voice who spoke last was made hoarse in condemning the measures of this country towards America. He was never louder than in his invective against Lord Hillsborough for the letter which he insisted deserved impeachment. The Colonel went into a fine eulogium on Colonels Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, destined to serve against America. He lamented that this country should lose their services when the course of things must call for it; for a foreign war was inevitable, if we incurred a civil one. He insisted that no honour could be gained there. He avowed a fear that we should not vanquish, and insisted it was our duty to cherish the Americans. He reproached the spirit of Administration, who in the Falkland's Island business, and in all foreign transactions, readily sacrificed the honour of the Nation; but in dealings with our own people, when the people's good ought to be the first object, pride and dignity was their only principle. He shew from Count De Guines's Memorial, that we had agreed on that occasion to disarm first, but now the Americans must submit first; and when they do, they may look to be pardoned when the Ministers are ashamed to punish. He said he felt himself connected with America more than any man in the House; and added, you are this night to decide, whether you are to make war on your Colonies.

Lord North professed good intentions, but did not seem to promise much success in his measures. He made some distinctions between his administration and the Duke of Grafton's; said he did not mean to tax America; and added, if they would submit, and leave to us the constitutional right of supremacy, the quarrel would be at an end.

Mr. Mackworth spoke against the Address, and observed that as the Minister had declared he did not mean to tax America, he was for stopping short, as he thought it an idle quarrel about words, when we were avowedly to get nothing.

Mr. Sawbridge was against the Address. Two parts in it he could not agree to: first, saying the Americans were in rebellion; the second, promising to risk his life and fortune.

The question then being put on the motion of Lord John Cavendish, to recommit the Resolution;

The House divided—Yeas 105, Noes 288.

So it passed in the Negative.

Then the said Resolution being read a second time,

An amendment was proposed to be made thereto, by leaving out from the first "and" to the end of the question, and inserting the words, "to assure his Majesty, that in order to fix the true dignity of his crown, and the authority of Parliament, on a sure foundation, we shall endeavour to recover the hearts of his subjects in America, too many of whom are unhappily alienated from their usual affection to their mother country, by attempting to remove all those causes of jealousy and apprehension which have arisen from an unfortunate management of his Majesty's affairs, and from Acts of the last Parliament made without sufficient information of the true state of America," instead thereof;

And the question being put that the words proposed to be left out stand part of the question,

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the said Resolution was, upon the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up an Address, to be presented to his Majesty upon the said Resolution.

And a Committee was appointed, of Lord North, Mr. Grenville, &c.; and they are to withdraw immediately into the Speaker's chamber.

The Lord North reported from the Committee, who was appointed to draw up an Address, to be presented to his Majesty, upon the Resolution this day reported from the Committee of the Whole House, to whom it was referred to consider further of the several Papers which were presented to the House by the Lord North, upon the 19th and 31st days of January last, and the 2d day of this instant, February, by his Majesty's command, that the Committee had drawn up an Address accordingly, which they had directed him to report to the House, and he read the same in his place, and afterwards delivered it in at the Clerk's table, where the same was read, and is as follows, viz:

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the * * * * * * * * * * * * * Commons, in Parliament assembled, return your Majesty our most humble thanks for having been graciously pleased to communicate to us the several Papers relating to the present state of the British Colonies in America, which, by your Majesty' commands, have been laid before us, we have taken them into our most serious consideration, and we find that a part of your Majesty's subjects in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, have proceeded so far to resist the authority of the supreme Legislature, that a rebellion at this time actually exists within the said Province; and we see with the utmost concern, that they have been countenanced and encouraged by unlawful combinations and engagements entered into by your Majesty's subjects in several of the other Colonies, to the injury and oppression of many of their innocent fellow-subjects resident within the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the rest of your Majesty's Dominions. This conduct on their part, appears to us the more inexcusable, when we consider with how much temper your Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament have acted, in support of the Laws and Constitution of Great Britain; we can never so far desert the trust reposed in us, as to relinquish any part of the sovereign authority over all your Majesty's Dominions, which, by law, is vested in your Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament; and the conduct of many persons in several of the Colonies, during the late disturbances, is alone sufficient to convince us how necessary this power is for the protection of the lives and fortunes of all your Majesty's subjects. We ever have been, and always shall be, ready to pay attention and regard to any real grievances of any of your Majesty's subjects, which shall in a dutiful and constitutional manner, be laid before us; and whenever any of the Colonies shall make a proper application to us, we shall be ready to afford them every just and reasonable indulgence. At the same time, we consider it as our indispensable duty, humbly to beseech your Majesty, that you will take the most effectual measures to enforce due obedience to the laws and authority of the supreme Legislature; and we beg leave, in the most solemn manner, to assure your Majesty, that it is our fixed resolution, at the hazard of our lives and properties, to stand by your Majesty, against all rebellious attempts, in the maintenance of the just rights of your Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament.

The said Address being read a second time,

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Address, to be presented to his Majesty.

Ordered, That the said Address be communicated to the Lords at a conference, and their concurrence desired thereto.

Ordered, That a conference be desired with the Lords, upon a matter of high importance and concern, respecting the state of his Majesty's Colonies in North America.

Ordered, That Lord George Germain do go to the Lords, and desire the said conference.

The Order of the Day being read, for the House to re-