FRIDAY, February 10, 1775.

Mr. Speaker reported, that both Houses did yesterday attend his Majesty with their Address, to which his Majesty was pleased to give this most gracious Answer:

My Lords and Gentlemen:

I thank you for this very dutiful and loyal Address, and for the affectionate and solemn assurances you give me of your support, in maintaining the just rights of my crown, and of the two Houses of Parliament; and you may depend on my taking the most speedy and effectual measures for enforcing due obedience to the laws and the authority of the supreme Legislature.

Whenever any of my Colonies shall make a proper and dutiful application, I shall be ready to concur with you in affording them every just and reasonable indulgence; and it is my ardent wish that this disposition on our part may have a happy effect on the temper and conduct of my subjects in America.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

THURSDAY, February 2, 1775.

The Earl of Dartmouth (by his Majesty's command) laid before the House more Papers relating to the Disturbances in America, together with a List thereof; which was read by the Clerk, as follows:—[See Folio 1539.]

The Order of the Day being read, for taking into consideration the several Papers laid before the House by the Earl of Dartmouth (by his Majesty's command) on the 20th day of January last, relating to the Disturbances in America, and for the Lords to be summoned,

The House proceeded to take the said Papers into consideration.

And the Clerk having read part of the said Papers, to No. 148;

Ordered, That the further consideration of the said Papers, and also of those delivered this day, be put off till to-morrow, and that the Lords be summoned.

FRIDAY, February 3, 1775.

The Order of the Day being read, for the further consideration of the several Papers laid before this House on the 20th of January last, and yesterday, by the Earl of Dartmouth, (by his Majesty's command,) relating to the Disturbances in America, and for the Lords to be summoned,

The remainder of the said Papers were read by the Clerk.

Ordered, That the further consideration of the said Papers be adjourned to Tuesday next, and the Lords summoned.

TUESDAY, February 7, 1775.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons by the Lord George Germaine, and others:

To desire a Conference with this House upon the state of his Majesty's Colonies in North America.

To which the House agreed.

The Messengers were again called in, and told "that the Lords agree to a Conference as is desired, and appoint the same presently in the Painted Chamber."

Then the Lords following were named Managers of the Conference:

Lord President, (Earl Gower,) Lord Privy Seal, (Duke of Grafton,) Duke Chandos, Duke Newcastle, Lord Chamberlain, (Earl of Hertford,) Earl Denbigh, Earl Sandwich, Earl Plymouth, Earl Rochford, Earl Galloway, Earl Loudoun, Earl Dalhousie, Earl Marchmont, Earl Ferrers, Earl Macclesfield, Earl Bucks, Earl Hardwicke, Earl Darlington, Viscount Falmouth, Lord Bishop London, Lord Bishop Landaff, Lord Bishop Chester, Lord Bishop St. Davids, Lord Cathcart, Lord Sandys, Lord Scarsdale, Lord Digby.

The House being informed "That the Managers for the Commons were ready for the Conference in the Painted Chamber;"

The names of the Managers for the Lords were called over:

And the House was adjourned during pleasure, and the Lords went to the, Conference.

Which being ended, the House was resumed:

And the Lord President reported, "That they had met the Managers for the Commons at the Conference," which, on the part of the Commons, was managed by the Lord North; who acquainted the Managers for the Lords "That they having taken into their consideration the state of his Majesty's Colonies in North America, have agreed upon an Address to be presented to his Majesty;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

Then his Lordship read the Address delivered at the said Conference, as follows:

"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's 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 Earl of Dartmouth and the Marquis of Rockingham both rising to speak, a debate arose who should speak first.

In this confusion the Lord Chancellor put the question "Is it your Lordships' pleasure that the Earl of Dartmouth be now heard?" This called up the Duke of Richmond, who contended that it was a most slavish position to say that any Lord in that House should have a preference before another; and that the preference should be determined by the House.

Lord Mansfield replied that he had always understood it was in the option of the Chairman in either House, (the Speaker in the other, and the Lord Keeper in this,) to so far decide as at least to put the question on which of the two persons he pleased. To prove this his Lordship cited an instance in a Committee of the House of Commons on the Spanish Convention in 1739, when two Members rising at the same instant to make motions of a direct contrary tendency, Mr. Winnington, the Chairman, pointed to one of them in preference to the other, which gave birth to the witty observation of Mr. Pulteney, afterwards Earl of Bath,