independency was or could be general in the colonies. It was so contrary to their clearest interests, provided their liberties were preserved, that so far from disbelieving them, when they denied such a design, he could scarcely credit them if they should assert it. He then stated five or six capital facts, to prove that independency neither was or could be their object.

He said he was confident, both from the nature of the thing, and from information which did not use to fail him, that this bill would restore immediate peace; and as much obedience as could be expected after so rude a shock had been given to government, and after so long a continuance of public disturbances. That in this bill, a basis was laid for such satisfaction in the minds of all sober people in America, as would enable government to fix and settle, if common prudence were employed in its future construction and management. That in the first operation it would be the true means of dividing America. Not the dangerous and fallacious method of dividing which had been proposed, and from which nothing but confusion could grow: not the division of province from province, or the rich from the poor; or the landed from the trading interest; but the division of the peaceable from the factious; the quiet from the ambitious; the friends to the unity of the empire, from the projectors of independence. That this would put the standard of American liberty into the hands of the friends to British government; and when this was done, there was no doubt, but that a sense of interest, natural affection, the dread of the horrors of war, and even the love of freedom itself, better secured by such an act than by any schemes of hazardous speculation, would leave the really factious very few followers or companions.

He then strongly urged the necessity of granting peace to our colonies on terms of freedom; dilated largely on the uncertainty (to say no worse) of obtaining it upon any other; and the utter impossibility of preserving it in future, without setting the minds of the people at rest. He dwelt largely on the mischiefs which we must suffer by the con

tinuance of this quarrel. He rested little on the consideration of trade and revenue; he put that out of the question, as a matter that would require a large discussion by itself; but chiefly aimed at shewing, that in the progress of this business new powers must be daily added to the crown; so that in seeking to destroy the freedom of others we may fail to obtain what we pursue, and in the pursuit may lose our own liberty. On this head he dwelt very largely, and concluded the whole with a warm and earnest address to the consciences of the members, and an exhortation not to trust to general good intention, and to an opinion that what they were doing was for the support of government, when it was far from evident, that under the name of government, it was not the ambition, the interest, the ignorance, and obstinacy of particular men that they were supporting; that they were bound not to give confidence, where rational grounds of confidence did not appear; and that anarchy instead of government, and civil confusion instead of peace and obedience, would be the consequence of an encouragement given by that House to a blind perseverance in measures, which were not conceived with wisdom, or conducted with ability.

He moved "That leave be given to bring in a bill for composing the present troubles, and for quieting the minds of his majesty's subjects in America."

The following is a copy of Mr. Burke's Bill.

"Whereas by the blessing of Almighty God, and the industry, enterprise, and courage of several of the people of this realm, extensive and valuable territories have been acquired in America to the crown of Great Britain, which are now inhabited by great multitudes of his majesty's subjects, who have cultivated and improved the same for the most part at their own charges, to the great increase of the commerce and naval strength of this kingdom, and have also, of their own free gift, made provision for the support of the civil government within their said plantations, have maintained many expensive wars against the Indian nations, and have at sundry times granted large sums of money, and other very considerable aids to his

of the duries demanen aus saithe collectors, or re

cervers of his majesty's customus, ie the asposal of the general

assemblies, as if the same had been levied by the authority of the several general assemblies in the said colonies.

"And whereas, during these troubles, the assemblies, or inhabitants of the said colonies, have formed a general meeting, which said meeting was not authorized by law to make any order or resolution, or to do any other act of force, to bind his majesty's subjects. And whereas it may be necessary, that the said colonies should have authority to do certain acts by common consent, which should include the whole body of the said colonies. Be it therefore enacted, that it shall and may be lawful for his majesty, his heirs and successors, to give authority to his governors in America, to require the said several assemblies to send deputies to a general meeting, with full powers to bind their said several provinces, to all acts done by a majority of voices in the said general meeting, which meeting, and the powers thereof, shall cease and determine on not further continued by parliament.

if

"And whereas in consequence of the late troubles, several acts of parliament have been made for the purpose of coercing and restraining the colonies, of which an advantage has been taken to represent the same, as if a design had been formed to deprive the people of the said colonies of several rights, benefits, and advantages of nature, and of the British constitution, which hath greatly increased the discontents of the colonies, and fomented the troubles in America. In order, therefore, to quiet the minds of his majesty's subjects in America, and to reclaim the disobedient by that lenity, which ought to have the strongest operation on the minds of free subjects, be it enacted that an act made in the seventh year of his present majesty, intituled An act for granting certain duties in the British colonies and plantations in America, for allowing a drawback of the duties of customs upon the exportation from this kingdom, of coffee and cocoa nuts, of the produce of the said colonies or plantations; for discontinuing the drawbacks, payable on China earthen-ware, exported to America; and for more effectually preventing the clandestine running of goods in said colonies and plantations.' Also one other act, made in the 14th year of the reign of his present majesty, intituled An act to discontinue in such manner, and for such time, as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging, lading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandize, at the town, and

within the harbour of Boston, in the province of Massachuset's Bay, in North America.' Also one other act, made in the 14th year of his present majesty, intituled An act for the impartial administration of justice in cases of persons questioned for

any acts done by them in the execution of the law, or for the suppression of riots and tumults in the province of Massachuset's Bay, in New England.' Also one other act, made in the 14th year of the reign of his present majesty, intituled An act for the better regulating the government of the province of the Massachuset's Bay, in New England,' be hereby severally and respectively repealed.

"And the king's most excellent majesty taking into his gracious consideration the great troubles, discords, and wars, that have of late been in some of his majesty's colonies in America, and that divers of his subjects are, by occasion thereof, and otherwise, fallen into, and become obnoxious to great pains and penalties, out of a hearty and pious desire to put an end to all suits and controversies, that by occasion of the late distractions in America, have arisen, or may arise, between his subjects; and to the intent, that no crime whatsoever committed against his majesty, shall hereafter rise in judgment, or be brought in question, against any of them, to the least endamagement of them, either in their lives, liberties, or estates, or to the prejudice of their reputations; and to bury all seeds of future discords and remembrance of the former, as well in his own breast, as in the breasts of his subjects, one towards another; is graciously pleased, that it may be enacted, and be it enacted, &c. &c.

"That all and all manner of treasons, misprisions of treasons, murders, felonies, offences, crimes, contempts, and misde meanours, counselled, commanded, acted or done since the by any person or persons in America, before the by virtue or colour of any command, power, authority, commission, warrant or instruction from his majesty, or from any other person or persons, deriving or prete: ding to derive authority, mediately or immediately, from his maj sty, or of or from any assembly, council, general court, convention, congress, or meeting, in any of his majesty's colonies in America, called or reputed, or taking on them the name of the assembly, council, or general court, of any of his majesty's colonies in America, or of a general congress, or provincial congress; or any other name or style whatsoever, or by virtue