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XLIV.

of those who had excluded him from power, would CHA P. effect a change in the public opinion beneficial to his fame, and gratifying to their hopes".

Gibbon fays: a certain late fecretary of Ireland, reckons the house of commons thus: Minifter one hundred and forty, Reynard ninety, Boreas one hundred and twenty, the rest unknown or uncertain. The last of the three, by self or agents, talks too much of abfence, neutrality, moderation. I ftill think he will difcard the game. See Gibbon's mifcellaneous Works, vol. i. p. 561.

1782.

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С НА Р.
XLV.

1782. 5th Dec. Meeting of parliament. King's fpeech.

1782-1783.

Meeting of parliament.-Debates on the addrefs.—Recefs.—Preliminaries of peace figned.—Substance of the treaties.—America-France-Spain-Ceffation of hoftilities with Holland. Affairs of Ireland.-Coalition of lord North with Mr. Fox. -Debates on the preliminaries of peace-which are difapproved by the house of commons.-Refignation of lord Shelburne. -Parliamentary reflections on the coalition.-Senfation of the public.-Minifterial interregnum.-Motions on the fubject. -New miniftry.-Commercial intercourfe with America regulated.-Debates on the loan and receipt tax.-Economical reforms.-Pitt's motion for a reform of parliament.-First petition for abolishing the flave trade-Separate establishment of the prince of Wales.-Clofe of the Seffion.-General peace.

On the day appointed, the king addreffed to par

liament a fpeech of uncommon length. He stated his exertions for a general pacification, in purfuit of which he had exercifed the powers vested in him by the legiflature, and offered to declare the American colonies free and independent ftates, by an article to be inferted in the treaty of peace. "In thus admitting their feparation from the crown of Britain," he faid, "I have facrificed every confideration of my own to the wishes and opinion of my people. I make it my humble and earneft prayer to Almighty God, that Great Britain may not feel the evils which might refult from fo great a difmemberment of the empire; and that America may be free from those calamities which have formerly proved in the mothercountry how effential monarchy is to the enjoyment of

conftitu

conftitutional liberty.

XLV.

Religion-language-intereft CHA P. -affections, may, and I hope will, yet prove a bond of permanent union between the two countries: to this end, neither attention nor difpofition fhall be wanting on my part."

AMONG many other topics, the fpeech mentioned the valiant exertions of the army and navy, the favourable state of the negotiations, the reforms in economy which would be neceffary at home, and the attention which must be employed in the government of Ireland and of India.

1782.

THE addrefs in the house of commons was moved Debate on by Mr. Philip Yorke, and feconded by Mr. Bankes. the addrefs. No direct oppofition was made; but Mr. Fox objected to the mode of granting American independence, and ftated that a difference in opinion with the present ministers on that fubject, had induced him to quit the cabinet. He was inclined" to recognize the independence of America in the firft inftance, and not referve it as the condition of peace;" lord Shelburne, he faid, had fully, though reluctantly, agreed in this principle; but afterward fwerving from it, occafioned the divifion of the cabinet.

LORD NORTH did not agree with Mr. Fox, that the independency of America ought to be furrendered without an equivalent. The country, he faid, was not reduced to the abject fituation of accepting fuch terms of peace, as the enemy might think fit to offer: the houfe would be unanimous in demanding an honourable peace, or a vigorous war. He would not oppose the addrefs, but reserved the right of objecting to the provisional treaty when produced to parliament.

MR. BURKE decried the fpeech from the throne as a dangerous fpecies of delufion and infinuation, a collection of unmeaning profeffions, and of undeserved felf-praises; yet he expreffed his readiness to thank his majefty for concluding a provisional agreement which ended the American war,

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CHA P.
XLV.

1782.

In the

houfe of lords.

6th Dec. On the report.

11th and 13th Dec.

18th.

23d Dce.

IN the upper houfe, the addrefs alfo paffed without a divifion; a flight amendment, proposed by lord Radnor, acknowledging with gratitude the facrifice made by his majefty to the wifhes of his people, being unanimoufly adopted. In the converfation which took place, lord Stormont vehemently arraigned the irrevocable conceffion of independence, to American commiffioners acting under the infpection and controul of France. Lord Shelburne denied that the proceedings of the American commiffioners were fo influenced, and affirmed that the offer of independence was not unqualified, unconditional, and irrevocable. If France did not agree to peace, independence would not be granted.

THIS explanation occafioned severe animadverfions, on reporting the addrefs to the lower houfe. Several members feemed to repent their vote of the preceding day, and confined their approbation to the grant of American independence. Mr. Burke defcribed the king's fpeech as a farrago of hypocrify and nonfenfe. Mr. Fox declared that he detefted and defpifed it; but no motion being made, the house was not divided.

OTHER questions and reflections on American independence, occafioned debates in both houses, in which duplicity and difcordancy of opinion were imputed to ministers; but no divifion took place till Mr. Fox moved for copies of fuch parts of the provifional treaty as related to the recognition of American independence, founding his argument on the diverfity of language ufed by minifters in the various forms of communicating inftructions and intelligence.

MR. THOMAS PITT moved for the order of the day; he was fupported by lord North, and the divifion by which it was carried demonítrated the weakness of the other body of oppofition, who could only produce forty-fix votes, against two hundred and nineteen. In a few days the houfe adjourned for the Chriftmas recefs.

DURING this interval the preliminaries of peace CHA P. were executed by France and Spain.

AMERICA gained by her treaty a full recognition of the thirteen provinces as free, fovereign and independent states. The boundaries of their territory were accurately, and, for America, advantageously fettled. The people had liberty to take fish on all the banks of Newfoundland, but not to dry or cure them in any his majesty's fettled dominions in America; and the navigation of the Miffiffippi, from its fource to the ocean, was free to both parties.

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It was alfo agreed that congrefs fhould recommend to the legislatures of the respective states, to provide for the reftitution of all eftates, rights, and properties belonging to real British fubjects, and to perfons refident in districts in the king's poffeffion, who had not borne arms against them. All other perfons were at liberty to remain a year in any of the provinces, for the purpose of obtaining their confifcated eftates, congrefs recommending to the feveral legiflatures, a confideration or revifion of the laws of forfeiture, and a restitution of property, on payment, by the difpoffeffed proprietors, of the fums for which it had been fold to others. No future confifcations were to be made, or profecutions commenced; but all prifoners, military and political, to be liberated.

XLV.

1782.

20th Jan.

1793. Prelimina

ries figned.

Subftance of the trea

ty with America:

By the treaty with France, the right of that nation France. to fish at Newfoundland, and the gulph of St. Lawrence, was re-established on the fame footing as in the treaties of Utrecht and Paris, except that, for the prevention of difputes, the limits were more accurately defined and restrained. St. Pierre and Miquelon were furrendered to France.

IN the West Indies, Great Britain reftored St. Lucie, and ceded Tobago; and France reftored Grenada, with its dependencies St. Vincent's, Dominica, St. Chriftopher's, Nevis, and Montferrat.

GREAT BRITAIN ceded to France the river of Senegal in Africa, with its dependencies and forts, and

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