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what was just. I might otherwise have adverted to the very formidable Armament preparing by Spain; but as that argument ought to have no consideration with your Lordships, I shall not suppose it would have any; and for that reason will entirely reject it. What weight these few observations may have, I do not know; but the candour your Lordships have indulged me with, requires a confession on my part which may still lessen that weight. I must own I am not personally disinterested. Ever since I was of an age to have any ambition at all, my highest has been to serve my country in a military capacity. If there was on earth an event I dreaded, it was to see this country so situated as to make that profession incompatible with my duty as a citizen. That period is, in my opinion, arrived; and I have thought myself bound to relinquish the hopes I had formed, by a resignation,* which appeared to me the only method of avoiding the guilt of enslaving my country, and embruing my hands in the blood of her sons. When the duties of a soldier and a citizen become inconsistent, I shall always think myself obliged to sink the character of the soldier in that of the citizen, till such time as those duties shall again, by the malice of our real enemies, become united. It is no small sacrifice which a man makes, who gives up his profession; but it is a much greater, when a predilection, strengthened by habit, has given him so strong an attachment to his profession as I feel. I have, however, this one consolation, that, by making that sacrifice, I, at least, give to my country an unequivocal proof of the sincerity of my principles.
The question was then put, "Whether these words shall be inserted?"
It was resolved in the Negative.
The question was then put, "Whether the said Memorial shall be read?"
It was resolved in the Negative.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
FRIDAY, May 26, 1775.
His Majesty being seated on the Throne, adorned with his Crown and Regal Ornaments, and attended by his Officers of State, (the Lords being in their Robes,) commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know "It is his Majesty's pleasure that they attend him, immediately, in this House."
Who being come, their Speaker, after the following Speech, in relation to the Money Bills to be passed, delivered them to the Clerk:
SIR: Your faithful Commons present to you three Money Bills: the first for raising Money, by loans of Exchequer Bills, for the Service of the year 1775; the second for establishing a Lottery, and for paying off one million Pounds Three per centum Annuities, and for other purposes therein mentioned; and the other for appropriating the surpluses of the Sinking Fund for the service of the current year.
These are all necessary grants, but they are yet very heavy, and are what nothing but the particular exigencies of the times could justify, in a time of profound peace. The unhappy differences in America, have been the chief cause of this expense; and I trust that when the people of America see, in a proper light, the conduct of this country, they will learn to pay the proper obedience to the laws; if, on the contrary, they should persist in their Resolutions, and that the sword must be drawn, your faithful Commons will do every thing in their power to maintain and support the supremacy of the Legislature. A great part of the session has been taken up in determining complaints respecting Controverted Elections. I cannot but admire the wisdom of the last Parliament in enacting that law; neither can I withhold the praise justly due to the Committees who have acted so much to the satisfaction of the publick, and so fully in discharge of their own consciences. On the whole, sir, I make no doubt but you will faithfully apply the Money, thus granted, to the purposes for which it was appropriated.
After his Majesty had given his assent to several Bills, he was pleased to make a most gracious Speech from the Throne, to both Houses of Parliament, as followeth, viz:
My Lords and Gentlemen:
I cannot, in justice to you, forbear to express my entire satisfaction in your conduct, during the course of this important session.
You have maintained, with a firm and steady resolution, the rights of my Crown, and the authority of Parliament, which I shall ever consider as inseparable. You have protected and promoted the commercial interests of my Kingdoms; and you have, at the same time, given convincing proofs of your readiness (as far as the Constitution will allow you) to gratify the wishes, and remove the apprehensions, of my subjects in America; and, I am persuaded, that the most salutary effects must, in the end, result from measures formed and conducted on such principles.
The late mark of your affectionate attachment to me, and to the Queen, and the zeal and unanimity which accompanied it, demand my particular thanks.
I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, that, as well from the general dispositions of other Powers, as from the solemn assurances which I have received, I have great reason to expect the continuance of peace. Nothing, on my part, consistent with the maintenance of the honour and interest of my Kingdoms, shall be wanting to secure the publick tranquillity.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons:
It gives me much concern, that the unhappy disturbances in some of my Colonies have obliged me to propose to you an augmentation of my Army, and have prevented me from completing the intended reduction of the
ADELPHI BUILDINGS, April 12, 1775.
MY LORD: I beg the favour of your Lordship to lay before his Majesty the peculiar embarrassment of our present situation.
Your Lordship is no stranger to the conduct which I have observed in the unhappy dispute with our American Colonies.
The King is too just, and too generous, not to believe that the votes I have given in Parliament, have been given according to the dictates of ray conscience. Whether I have erred or no, the course of future events must determine. In the mean time, if I were capable of such duplicity, as to be any way concerned in enforcing those measures, of which I have so publickly and solemnly expressed my disapprobation, I should ill deserve, what I am most ambitious of obtaining, the esteem and favourable opinion of my Sovereign.
My request, therefore, to your Lordship is this: that, after having laid these circumstances before the King, you will assure his Majesty, that he has not a subject who is more ready than I am, with the utmost cheerfulness, to sacrifice his life and fortune, in support of the safety, honour, and dignity of his Majesty's Crown and person; but the verysame principles which have inspired me with these unalterable sentiments of duty and affection to his Majesty, will not suffer me to be instrumental in depriving any part of his people of those liberties, which form the best security for their fidelity, and obedience to his Government.
As I cannot, without reproach from my own conscience, consent to bear arms against my fellow-subjects in America, in what, to my weak discernment, is not a clear cause; and as it seems now to be finally resolved, that the Twenty-second Regiment is to go upon the American service, I desire your Lordship to lay me, in the most dutiful manner, at his Majesty's feet, and humbly bog that I may be permitted to retire.
Your Lordship will also be so obliging to entreat, that, as I waive what the custom of the service would entitle me to, the right of selling what I bought, I may be allowed to retain my rank in the Army, that, whenever the envy or ambition of foreign Powers should require it, I may be enabled to serve his Majesty and my country in that way, in which, alone, I can expect to serve them with any degree of effect.
Your Lordship will easily conceive the regret and mortification I feel, at being necessitated to quit the military profession, which has boon that of my ancestors for many generations; to which I have been bred almost from my infancy; to which I have devoted the study of my life; and, to perfect myself in which, I have sought instruction and service in whatever part of the world they were to be found.
I have delayed this to the last moment, lest xany wrong construction should be given to a conduct which is influenced, only by the purest motives. I complain of nothing; I love my profession; and should think it highly blameable to quit any course of life, in which I might be useful to the publick, so long as my constitutional principles, and my notions of honour, permitted me to continue in it.
I have the honour to be, with great respect, your Lordship's most obedient and most humble servant,
EFFINGHAM.
Lord BARRINGTON, Secretary at War.
Lord Barrington declined laying the above Letter before the King, saying, it should come through the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as the Regiment was there. Lord Effingham replied, he might do as he pleased with the Letter, but that he would not go to America.
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