I have endeavoured to lay it before you, seems to me irresistibly to suggest; I then address myself to the noble Lord at the head of the American Department, to remind him of his own responsibility, and I make my tender to him of the proposition of conditional terms, as arising out of the Address of the City of London to the King. I have drawn up the sentiments of that Address, in the form of an Address from the House to the King, which I confess appears to me most indispensable, and which, with great deference, but most earnestly, I recommend to the consideration of the House. The substance of the proposition is, to put the American Colonies upon the same footing of taxation that Ireland is, and always has been; and to give them security for Charters. If you do not meditate to introduce the same innovations into the mode of taxation in Ireland, which you have attempted in America, then put them both upon the same ground, and let them be mutually a security to each other. The example of Ireland is entirely pertinent to the case of the Colonies; your Provinces in America have always hitherto been upon the same footing in taxation as Ireland. Let them be simply replaced as they were, and then the principles and uniformity of your Provincial Governments in all your dependencies will be maintained. Your Colonies, in their late humble and dutiful Petition to the King, have implicitly submitted themselves to his wisdom and gracious interposition, to prescribe the terms of peace. Then let these terms precede your acts of vengeance. Assure to them the security of their rights and liberties, and then make your demand of submission.

One word, sir, of apology for myself. My situation is at present distressing to me. I have so often troubled you upon the subject of America, which I confess engrosses all my thoughts, that I do not know how to trespass upon your patience any further, especially at the conclusion of an intricate debate upon the state of the nation. But having set before you on the one side the very alarming though real state of things, if I do not, on the other hand, offer to you the alternative by which you may avert the calamities impending upon this country, my work will be incomplete, and the ultimate object of it will be frustrated. Let me entreat you to open the door to reconciliation and peace, and not to drive them from you while they are yet within your reach. With the permission of the House, I will read to you an Address to the King, for specifick terms of peace to be offered to the Colonies. I will importune you no farther, but to recommend it to the serious consideration of the House-I wish I might add to their adoption-that it might receive the weight of their sanction and authority before it be too late. It is as follows:

“That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, setting forth, that the House, having taken into their serious consideration the very alarming state of the present disturbances in America, and the ruinous prospect thence arising to the commerce and publick credit of these kingdoms, and to the safety of all his Majesty’s dominions, together with the enormous debt, deficiencies, and boundless expense which every day and hour accumulate out of measure, in this destructive and exhausting civil war; and that his Majesty’s faithful Commons, being most anxious to provide for the peace, prosperity, and security of all his Majesty’s dominions, and to save the effusion of blood; and thinking the most probable means of restoring peace to his Majesty’s subjects in America, and of securing their constitutional dependance on Great Britain, would be to empower his Commissioner or Commissioners to offer to them some specifick line of rational obedience instead of unconditional submission, and to give them assurance of redress to all their reasonable complaints of grievances, together with a full security of all their constitutional rights,-beg leave to recommend to his Majesty to give instruction to his Commissioner or Commissioners to issue a Proclamation in his Majesty’s name, declaring that his Majesty’s Colonies in America shall be put upon the same footing of giving and granting their own money by their own Representatives, as his Majesty’s subjects in Ireland are, and always have been; and that all Charters which have at any time been granted to any of the said Colonies by his Majesty, or any of his predecessors, shall be confirmed and secured to them; and to assure his Majesty that this House will give his Majesty every possible assistance to put such assurances into full effect and execution."

A negative was put upon all the motions, except the last, (distinguished by Italicks in page 350,) upon which Lord North put the previous question. There was no division.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Thursday, May 2, 1776.

The Lord North acquainted the House that he had a Message from his Majesty to this House, signed by his Majesty; and he presented the same to the House; and it was read by Mr. Speaker, (all the members of the House being uncovered,) and is as followeth, viz:

“GEORGE R.

“His Majesty, relying on the experienced zeal and affection of his faithful Commons, and considering that, during the present troubles in North-America, emergencies may arise which may be of the utmost importance, and be attended with the most dangerous consequences, if proper means should not be immediately applied to prevent or defeat them, is desirous that this House will enable him to defray any extraordinary expenses incurred, or to be incurred, on account of military services, for the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, and as the exigency of affairs may require. And his Majesty, having judged it expedient to issue his Proclamation, in pursuance of an act of Parliament, passed in the fourteenth year of his reign, for calling in the remainder of the deficient gold coin, doubts not but his faithful Commons will enable him to make good the charges which shall be incurred in this service, and which cannot at this time be ascertained.

G. R.”

The Lord North presented to the House, by his Majesty’s command,

Copy of a Treaty between his Majesty and the Prince of Waldeck, signed at Arolsen, the 20th of April, 1776, and Translation.

And the Titles of the said Copy and Translation were read.

The said copy is preserved amongst the other Papers of this session; and the said Translation is as followeth, viz:

Translation of a Treaty between his Majesty and the Prince of WALDECK, signed at Arolsen, the 20 th of APRIL, 1776.

Be it known to those whom it may concern, that his Majesty the King of Great Britain, having judged proper to accept of a body of Infantry of the Troops of his Most Serene Highness the reigning Prince of Waldeck, to be employed in the service of Great Britain, the high contracting parties have given their orders on this subject to their respective Minister, to wit: his Britannick Majesty to Colonel William Faucitt, Captain in the Guards, and the Most Serene Prince of Waldeck to his Privy Counsellor and President of the Regency, Frederick Lewis Wiepert de Zerbst, who, after the exchange of their respective full powers, have agreed upon the following Articles:

ART. I. The said Most Serene Prince yields to his Britannick Majesty a Corps of Infantry of six hundred and seventy men, which shall be at the entire disposition of the King of Great Britain, to be employed in his service on the same footing as the other German Troops, both in Europe and in North-America. The Regiment shall moreover be provided with two pieces of Field Artillery, with two Bombardiers, twelve Gunners, and other attendants, and the Train thereto belonging.

ART. II. The Most Serene Prince engages to equip this corps completely, and that it shall be ready to march at the latest on the 6th of May next. The said corps shall pass in review, at the place of embarkation, before his Britannick Majesty’s Commissary.

ART. III. The Most Serene Prince engages to furnish the recruits annually necessary. These recruits shall be delivered to his Britannick Majesty’s Commissary disciplined and completely equipped. His Most Serene Highness will do his utmost for the whole to arrive at the place of embarkation at the time which his Majesty shall appoint.

ART. IV. His Majesty’s service and the preservation of the troops requiring equally that the Commanding Officers and subalterns should be perfectly skilled in the service, his Most Serene Highness will take proper care in the choice of them.