Ditto: George Mathew, Gent. to be Enfign, vice Thomas Willet Saltren; by pur chafe. 3d reg. of foot-guards: Capt. William Grinfield to be Captain of a Company, vice John Neale; by purchase. Ditto: Enf. Charles Adams to be Lieutenant, vice William Grinfield; by purchrafe. Ditto: Francis Sacheverel Stead, Gent. to be Enfign, vice Charles Adams; by pur chafe. Ditto: Capt. Sir Francis Carr Clerke to be Adjutant, vice William Grinfield. Ditto Capt. Thomas Fowke to be Captain of a Company, vice Frederick Hollingfworth; by purchase. Ditto; Enf Arnoldus J. Skelton to be Lientenant, vice Thomas Fowke; by purchase., Ditto: Charles Chriftopher Vandenburg, Gent. to be Enfign, vice Arnoldus Jones Skelton: by purchase. be Ditto: Enf. William Anne Douglas to Lieutenant, vice Alexander Murray; by pur chafe. Ditto: George Milner, Gent. to be Enfign, vice William Anne Douglas; by pur chafe. Ditto Enf. Naflau Thomas to be Lieute Wheat, Bear, Oats, Peafe, ib. Books. Fordyce on the female fex 139. letter to Mr Jebb, concerning the Trinity 142. On paper-currency, in answer to Dr Price 144. Other answers to Dr Price American force 145. A plan of reconciliation by an equal tax ib. POETRY On the American rebellion 147. Boston in diftrefs ib. The April morning ib. American Rebellion and Highland Loyalty 148. Military difpofition ib. Frequent reviews ib. All-Foot's day ib. To the memory of Mr Dickin b. HISTORICAL AFFAIRS. Foreign 149, 50. England. London compliments to Dr Price 150. London petition to the King ib. Chamberlainfhip 152. Acts paffed 153. Trials 154, 5. A nation of dwarts 154. Ireland. On the number of troops 157. On employing Papifts 157, 9. Heffians not to be admitted 158. On penfions; fees, &c. ib. On bills returned from London ib. An imbargo 159. Scotland. Fife election 180. Recruit ing, charities, premium, and trial 162. C PARLIAMENT. [85.] OMPLAINT was made to the Commons, Feb. 15. by Mr Thomas Townshend, That the Earl of Harcourt, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, did, on the 23d of November laft, in breach of the privilege, and in derogation of the honour and authority of this Houfe, fend a written mef face to the Houfe of Commons of the Parliament of Ireland, figned with his own hand, to the following effect: "That he had his Majefty's command to acquaint that Houfe, that the fituation of affairs in part of his Majefty's American domirious was fuch as to make it neceffary, for the honour and fafety of the British empire, and for the fupport of his MajeVOL. XXXVIII. fty's just rights, to defire the concurrence of his faithful Parliament of Ireland, in fending out of that kingdom a force not exceeding 4000 men, part of the number of troops upon that establishment, appointed to remain in that kingdom for its defence; and to declare to them bis Majefty's most gracious intention, that fuch part of his army as fhall be fpared out of that kingdom, to answer the prefent exigency of affairs, is not to be continued a charge upon that establishment, fo long as they fall remain out of that kingdom: And that he was further commanded to inforin that Houfe, that as his Majefty has nothing more at heart than the fecurity and protection of his people of Ireland, it is his intention, if it fhall be the defire of that parliament, to replace fuch P furces forces as may be fent out of that kingdom, by an equal number of foreign Proteftant troops, as foon as his Majefty fhall be enabled fo to do, the charge of fuch troops to be defrayed without any expence to that kingdom."[147.)-He concluded with moving, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the matter of the complaint, and to report. The Lords Middleton, Fred. Cavendifh, and Irnham, and Meff. Conolly, Powis, Dunning, and Charles Fox, fupported the motion, upon this ground, That it was a flagrant violation of the most effential privilege of the Commons of Great Britain, for the crown, or the minifters of the crown, to affume a power of declaring what the parliament of Great Britain will do refpecting any meafure, but more especially that of voting fupplies for troops, previous to any communication of the intention of the crown to employ or take into its fervice and pay any fuch troops, whether natives or fo reigners. With refpect to the laft, it was obferved, that the taking them at all into the fervice of the crown, without the confent of parliament, was a meafare, which, though it had been carried by a majority in the beginning of the feffion as a legal one [16.], fome of thofe gentlemen, particularly Mr Fox and Mr Danning, would never allow to be fo It was obferved, that the Speaker of the Houfe of Commons of Ireland, in his aufwer to the royal message, had plainly demonftrated; that the Houfe of Commons of Ireland conceived by the terms of the meffage, that the parliament of G. Bri. tain ftood pledged to Ireland for the payment of the 4000 troops to be fent out of the kingdom, and of the 4000 foreign troops to be fent to Ireland, if required by the parliament of Ireland, to replace them. It appeared to thefe gentlemen to be an aggravation of the offence, that the intention of the crown, thus to burthen England, and exculpate Ireland, was communicated to the Irish parliament, and not to the House of Commoas of G. Britain, whom it fo effentially concerned: and it was added, that if fuch a breach of privilege fhould be paffed over, by not fending the motion to a committee, the people out of doors would fuppofe, that the Houfe contended only for privileges respecting themselves, but always gave up thofe which concerned the people. The folly and extravagance of obtaining 4000 men, by a promife of paying for 8000, was likewife expofed in a strong point of view. In reply, the Lords Clare, North, and George Germaine, and Meff. Welbore Ellis, Dundas, and Attorney-General, defended the meflage. Lorth North's own juftification of it feemed to carry the greatest weight. His Lordship warmly exclaimed against putting an unfavourable conftruction on the words of the meffage, and declared against the fenfe in which it had been conftrued by the Speaker of the Houfe of Commons in Ireland. He would not avow having any hand in framing the instructions fent to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; but, at the fame time he faid, the meffage was fo very proper, that he fhould be proud to call it his own. He understood it to be only conditional, and of the nature of those fubfidiary treaties which the King makes by virtue of His royal prerogative, which are always understood by foreign princes not to be binding, unlefs the parliament of G. Britain approve the treaties, by granting the fapplies for paying the troops ftipulated for: That it never could be i magined, that former fubfidies with the King of Pruffia, the Emprefs of Ruffia, and other potentates, could have been paid by the King of G. Britain out of the income of the poor electorate of Hanover; nor could it now be fuppofed, that any fubfidies for foreign troops (fome of which he should thortly be under the unhappy necefity of laying before the Houfe) could be paid out of the King's civil life; therefore all these treaties, as well as the meffage by the Lord Lieutenant of Incland to the parliament of that kingdom, were no more than conditional engagements, by no means abfolute, but totally fubject to the power and controul of the House of Cominons. On this footing, then, where was the breach of privilege? And, even if fuch a forced conftruction could be put upon the words of the mes ́fage, he thought that they ought got, under the prefent unhappy circumstances of the nation, to involve this country and Ireland in fuch a difpute. His Lordship was very jocofe upon the rejection of the indemnity.bill, for employing foreign troops, in the upper house; obferving, that he never wanted fuch a bill, but was glad to find it had been thrown out on the motion of a Noble Marquis, (the Marquis of Rockingham), who upon that occafion had concurred with his friends in administration. Lord G. Germaine justified juftified the message, took it up as a mea- confideration, Feb. 29. It was moved fure of the crown, and reprefented Lord by Lord Barrington to refer them to the Harcourt to be only the oftenfible officer fupply-committee. This produced a deobliged to deliver it. He defired it might bate; in which feveral members bore a not be condemned upon any fenfe put part, who spoke in the following order, upon it by Sir John Blaquiere in the Houfe after Lord Barrington, viz. Lord J. Caof Commons of Ireland, (though Sir John vendish, Mr Cornwall, Ld Irnham, Mr is the perfon to whom Lord Harcourt de. Hartley, Mr E. Stewart, Mr Luttrel, legates his power); and his Lordfhip even jan. Mr Jolliffe, Mr G. Grenville, Gov. thewed the expediency of getting 4000 Johnston, Mr Townshend, Gov. Lyttelmen at the risk of paying for 8000, if the ton, Lord Barrington, Col. Barré, Ld 4000 could not be had. North, Col. Barré, Gov. Johnston, Mr Fox, L. Geo. Germaine, Gen. Conway, Ld North, Ld Mulgrave, Mr Burke, Mr Seymour, Capt. Washington, Sir Geo. Saville, Mr Rigby, and Col. Barré. The question being put, paffed in the negative, 224 to 106. A feco motion was then made, That the votes of the House of Commons of Ireland, printed by the order of the Speaker of that Houfe, of the dates, Nov. 23. 28. and 29. and Dec. 25. kaft, be delivered in, and read : but paffed in the negative. A third motion was made, That it is highly derogatory to the honour, and a violent breach of the privileges of this Houfe, and a dangerous infringement of the conftitution, for any person whatever to prefume to pledge his Majefty's royal word to the House of Commons of the Parliament of Ireland, "That any part of the troops upon the establishment of that kingdom fall, upon their being fent out of that kingdom, become a charge upen Great Britain," without the confent of this Houfe; or for any perfon to prefume to offer to the House of Com mons of the Parliament of Ireland, withcut the confint of this Houle, "That fuch national troops, fo fent out of reHand, fhall be replaced by foreign troops, at the expence of Great Britam." This alfo paffed in the negative, on the previous queftion. LORD North, by the King's command prefented to the Commons, Feb. 19. co. pies of three treaties entered into by his Majefty with foreign princes,viz. 1.one with the reigning Duke of Brunswick, figned at Brunswick, Jan. 9. 1776, and a paper, intitled, "Note concerning levymoney;" 2. one with the Landgrave of Heffe Caffel, figned at Caffel, Jan. 15. 1776.; and, 3. one with the Hereditary Prince of Helle-Caffel, figned at Hanau, Feb. 5. 1776.; with tranflations. The two main arguments ufed by oppofition against the treaties were, That before Christmas administration had repeatedly faid that no foreigners would be taken into British pay; and that paying them for two months in which they were not to be employed in the fervice of G. Britain, was the moft fhameful and wanton wafte of the public money, at a time that the miniftry themselves owned that money was fcarce, tho' men were fill fearcer. It was answered, That no affurance had been given that foreigners would not be employed; on the contrary, the fpeech implied, if not actually foretold, the measure [xxxvii. 563.]; that if it had not, change of circumftances might make a measure neceffary at one time that would be extremely improper at another; and as to the extra pay, fo ftrongly objected to, it was no more than what had been done on former occafiops. At half an hour after one, the Houfe divided; and the motion was carried, 242 to 88. In a committee, March 1. feveral refolutions were agreed to in the committee, which were reported March 4. and agreed to by the House, for granting fums not exceeding thefe following for the several services specified, as at the bottom of the page. An addrefs was then ordered to the King, That his Majefty would ufe his endeavours, that fuch foreign troops as are now, or may hereafter be, employed in his fervice, be cloathed with the manufactures of G. Britain. Lord Hinch. The Houfe took these treaties into Dec. 25. 1710 P 45 2 121,475 12 10 **9,006 193 698.000 inbrook inbrook reported the answer, March 6. viz. "That his Majefty being always defirous to give every encouragement in his power to the manufactures of G. Britain, will use his endeavours as recommended by the addrefs." When the refolutions of the committee were reported to the Houfe, March 4. on reading the first refolution, for taking 12,000 Heffian troops into British pay, a motion being made for agreeing to it, a warm debate enfued. On a divifion, the motion was agreed to, Ayes 120, Noes 48.-The oppofition dwelt chiefly on the extravagant terms of the treaty; and Lord North as ftrenuously defended them on the principles of economy as well as policy. The other refolutions paffed of courfe without debate. IN the House of Lords, Feb. 28. the Duke of Richmond read a paffage out of the treaty with the Landgrave of Heffe, which provides, that the former treaties with that prince fhall be the bafis of the prefent; and moved, to addrefs the King, to give directions, that the treaties which formed the bafis of the prefent treaty be laid before the House: which was agreed to. His Grace then gave notice, that he would, on the Tuesday following, make a motion for taking the treaties into confideration, and moved that the Lords Ahould be fummoned. Accordingly, March 5. the Duke of Richmond proposed the treaties recently entered into as fubjects which merited the difcution of parliament. It remained first to be considered (said his Grace), whether, in the given fitua tion of things, it was politically expedient for G. Britain to enter into foreign treaties? A focial war had commenced. On the part of England this war was either juft or it was unjuft. Very many were of opinion, that the inother country was not justifiable in carrying on ho ftilities against her American colonies. The most thinking men amongst us were divided in their opinions. The Noble Duke was clear that the Americans were perfectly justifiable in their refiitance. They had fought and bled in a righteous caufe, and in defence of thofe effential privileges, for which men whose minds are tinctured with a love of liberty, fhould ever be ready to take the field. Admitting, however, the war to be ever fo juft on the part of England, what fort of figure must the cut in the eye of Europe, when the confefles herfelf-ina dequate to the task of fubduing her own colonies, without calling in the affiftance of foreign mercenaries? There was a prodigious difference between treaties concluded with allies, and compacts stipulated for the hire of men. An ally was a power, which, in fome refpecs, had a common intereft with ourfeives. This common intereft formed the natural bafis of mutual treaty. States naturally, or through motives of found policy, forming an alliance, had fome common object against which their efforts were di rected. They had a common end to attain; and, therefore, each party felt itfelf interested in the events likely to happen to the other. Thus, when the peace of Europe was disturbed by the Alexandrian exploits of Louis XIV. Bourbon was the common foe against which the arms of the allied powers of Europe were directed. Not a battle was loft by one of thofe allies but the intereft of the whole in fome measure felt a fhock. Was any thing like this applicable to the prefent cafe? Europe was at peace; and the Houfe of Bourbon, although the political, yet, at prefent, was not the hoftile foe of England. We had most unhappily plunged into an unnatural war with America. By what circuitous course of political events could Heffe Caffel be in terefted in this quarrel? Figuratively speaking, the Landgrave of Heffe-Caffel was as much interested in the calamities of America, as the player in Hamlet was concerned in the griefs of Hecuba, whofe sufferings he affected to lament. If therefore the treaties under confideration were not the treaties of `allies, under what defcription did they properly fall? Under no other than that of ftipulated compacts for the hire of mercenaries. The troops furnished by the Landgrave were to all intents and purpofes mercenaries. Viewing the treaties in this their true light, it remained, by a retrofpect to former treaties, to confider the accumulation of expence, and the objectionable claufe." From the year 1702, in every treaty, even of alliance, which G. Britain had ratified with foreign powers, fome exprofïion favourable to those powers had flipped in; and was at laft recognised as the basis of negociation. Thus in the compact with Heffe-Caffel, though the object was the hire of mercenaries, it had nevertheless been ftipulated, that his Britannic Majefty fhould afford the Land |