which it was undertaken, and that perseverance would be unavailing and also injurious to the country, by weakening her power to resist her ancient and confederated enemies, was lost by a vote of 220 to 179, showing a considerable defection in the ministerial ranks. In the course of the debate, the Prime Minister announced that it was no longer in the contemplation of government to prosecute the wa internally in America, but to concentrate the forces in a few ports to assist the operations of the fleets. The debate was renewed with acrimony several days afterwards, on the discussion of the military estimates. General Conway, Mr. Fox, Burke, and Wm. Pitt, the second son of the late Earl of Chatham, distinguished themselves by the force of their language in denouncing the ministerial course towards America. The opposition daily gained strength, and during the recess of the holidays, a general plan of attack upon the administration was arranged. These efforts were now seconded by addresses and petitions from the city of London, and other important places. Before the struggle was recommenced, the American Secretary, Lord George Germaine, resigned his office, and was created a peer, by the title of Viscount Sackville. He was succeeded by Welbore Ellis, Esq., and it was further determined to send out Sir Guy Carleton, to supersede Sir Henry Clinton as Commanderin-chief in America.

On the 23d January, Fox opened the concerted assault upon the administration, with a long and able Jan. 23d. speech, reviewing the whole management of the war, and concluding with a motion for censuring the official conduct of Earl Sandwich, the First Lord of the Admiralty. On this grave question the ministry found themselves, in a full house, in a majority of only twenty-two votes-205 noes to 183 ayes, for the vote of censure on Lord Sandwich. The gradual falling off of the ministerial majorities, encouraged the opposition to more direct efforts to put an end to the war, and defeat Lord North upon that question. On the 22d of February, General Conway brought forward a motion to obtain the sense of Parliament on an address to his majesty "that the war might be no longer pursued for the impracticable purpose of reducing the people of America by force." Ministers resisted the motion with all their strength, and on the decision found themselves in a majority of one vote-194 noes to 193 ayes. There was no longer

Feb. 22d.

any doubt of the fate of the administration: but the king's obstinacy required to be overcome by a distinct legislative expression of the popular wish. Accordingly, on the 27th of February, General Conway renewed his motion.

Feb. 27th.

in a more explicit form, declaring that it was the opinion of the House of Commons, that "the farther prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America, for the purpose of reducing the revolted colonies by force, would be the means of weakening the efforts of this country against her European enemies, and tend, under the present circumstances, dangerously to increase the mutual enmity, so fatal to the interests of Great Britain and America, and by preventing a happy reconciliation with that country, to prostrate the earnest desire graciously expressed by his majesty to restore the blessings of public tranquility."

This motion, which virtually put an end to the war, was carried against the ministry by a majority of nineteen-234 ayes to 215 noes: and it was farther resolved that the House should go in a body to present an address to his majesty to this effect. It was noted as an offensive circumstance, that when the House were admitted to offer this address to the throne, Benedict Arnold, the American traitor, stood at the right hand of the king. Lord Surrey, afterwards Duke of Norfolk, complained in Parliament of this indignity, as an insult to the House, and deserved its

one that was 66

censure."

The king's answer to the address was vague and unsatisfactory. His reluctance to yield any thing to the opposition was still manifest. He did not allude to the direct expression of the sense of the House against the war, but expressed, in general terms, his determination to take such measures as should appear to him "conducive to the restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the revolted colonies, so essential to the prosperity of both."

The exulting Whigs were not content with this evasive answer. They accordingly persevered in asking for stronger pledges; and on the 4th of March, on motion of General Conway, it was resolved, without a division, that

March 4.

This House will consider as enemies to his majesty and the country all those who should advise a prosecution of offensive war on the Continent of North America." On the same day the appointment of Carleton to supersede Clinton in command, took effect.

Two such successive votes against the policy kept up by the ministry for eight years, were expected to compel their instant resignation. To the astonishment of the country, they still held on. The opposition determined to test the House directly, on a vote for a general censure of ministers. This was brought forward by motion made by Lord John Cavendish, on the 8th of March. The debate March 8. lasted until two in the morning. The ministerial party rallied and defeated this direct vote of censure, by a majority of ten, and adjourned the House to the 15th. The interval was occupied in efforts to divide the opposition, and form a mixed Cabinet, all of which failed. On the 15th, the Whigs returned to the attack. The motion was renewed, declaring that the House had "no further confiMarch 15. dence in the ministers who had the direction of public affairs," which was again lost by a majority of nine votes-227 ayes and 236 noes. On the announcement of this division, notice was given that the same motion would be renewed on the 20th; and as many of those who voted in the majority, were known to have done so from the uncertainty as to the new cabinet, rather than from preference to that of Lord North, the fate of the administration was considered as sealed. So they understood it themselves; and when, on the 20th, the Earl of Surrey rose in a very crowded house to make the promised motion, Lord North interrupted him by announcing that the ministry was dissolved, and only held place until the king should have selected their successors.

March 20.

Thus terminated the administration of Lord North, during which the affairs of Great Britain had declined from a height of unexampled prosperity to almost inextricable confusion. It had been marked by a series of political disasters and blunders, which deprived the country of its richest foreign possessions; and accumulated a load of debt and taxation, beneath which the nation groaned heavily.

The Whigs, who had been for eight years contending against the American war, came immediately into power. The Marquis of Rockingham was placed at the head of the new administration, with the pledge to put an end to the war, at all events-even at the price of acknowledging American Independence. Lord Chancellor Thurlow alone, of the old administration, was permitted to retain his place. The early and leading advocates of America were taken into

the cabinet. Lord John Cavendish was made Chancellor of the Exchequer; Fox and the Earl of Shelburne, Secretaries of State; Lord Camden, President of the Council; the Duke of Grafton, Lord Privy Seal; Burke, Paymaster, and General Conway placed at the head of the army. This ministry, during its brief existence, laboured zealously to conclude peace. Overtures were at first made separately to the bellige rents, to induce them to treat separately. This had been also the favourite policy of Lord North, with a view of dividing the strength of the adversaries of Britain. After the surrender of Cornwallis, Mr. Hartley had been sent to Paris, to confer with Mr. Adams and Dr. Franklin, on a projet for treating separately from France; and at the same time, an agent was commissioned to sound the French minister upon a proposal to treat, independent of the Americans. This emissary was Mr. Forth, Secretary to Lord Stormont, recently British minister to France. Dr. Franklin states that the offers to the French were large: France was to retain all her conquests in the West Indies; to reserve some peculiar advantages in the East Indies, and the British right of keeping a Commissary at Dunkirk was to be abandoned. It was further understood, that the restoration of Canada to the French would be acceded to, if required as an ultimatum. The ministers of both nations declined these proposals, as irreconcilable with their mutual engagements. The fall of the North administration, and the pacific principles upon which its successor was formed, renewed these efforts to separate the allies.

Sir Guy Carleton, the new Commander-in-chief, arrived in New York on the 5th, and announced that he and Admiral Digby, the naval Commander-in-chief, were appointed Commissioners by the new ministry to treat upon terms of peace with the United States. He communicated to General Washington the vote in Parliament abandoning the war, and the pendency of measures authorizing the king to conclude a peace or truce with the "revolted provinces" in North America. He requested a passport for his Secretary to proceed to Congress as a bearer of these dispatches. Congress, before whom General Washington laid these papers, declined to negotiate without their allies, and refused the passport. This closed the efforts of the Commissioners in America, until they announced to General Washington, on the 2d of August, that the Rockingham ministry had deter

mined in cabinet council to "offer America unlimited, unconditional independence," as the basis of a negotiation for peace-that Mr. Grenville had been commissioned for that burpose to treat with all parties in a general negotiation, which had been agreed upon to be opened at Paris.

This policy was adopted in the cabinet by the influence of the Marquis of Rockingham and his friends. The succeeding ministry, of which the Earl of Shelburne was the chief, acquiesced reluctantly, and the king was at all times exceeddingly averse to it.

Ministers soon after their appointment, about the same time that they sent Sir Guy Carleton to America, dispatched Mr. Richard Oswald to France, to confer with the diplomatic agents of the allied powers. It was found impracticable to separate them, and on the 18th of April, Mr. Oswald returned to London with a report of his mission. The British cabinet thereupon assented to a general negotiation, which assent was conveyed to Paris on the 4th of May, and Mr. Grenville soon after arrived there with a commission to treat with the king of France, and "any other prince or state whom it might concern." He informed Dr. Franklin explicitly, that he was authorized to admit the Independence of the United States as a preliminary act.

American Independence was formally acknowledged by Holland on the 19th of April; and on the 22d Mr. Adams was received in the quality of "Ambassador from the United States of North America to their high mightinesses." Negotiations with Holland for treaties of commerce detained Mr. Adams in Holland, so that he was unable to take part in the important affairs at Paris, until the month of October.

All parties had now consented to abandon the prosecution of the war, and the essential article of American Independence was agreed upon, when the death of the Marquis of Rockingham, which took place on the 1st of July, broke up July 1st, the English cabinet, and embarrassed the progress 1782. of the negotiations. The Earl of Shelburne became Prime Minister, and the Rockingham part of the cabinet, headed by Mr. Fox and Lord John Cavendish, seceded,upon the ground that the principles of the late Prime Minister in respect to American Independence, were abandoned. Lord Shelburne took early occasion to declare, in his place in Parliament, his continued repugnance to the acknowledgment of Independence. The difficulties which this