CCH OF EDMUND BURKE, ESQ., MOVING HIS RESOLUTION FOR CON- PE, Sir, that, notwithstanding the austerity of the r, your good nature will incline you to some degree gence towards human frailty. You will not think it -al that those who have an object depending, which engages their hopes and fears, should be some- 5 clined to superstition. As I came into the House anxiety about the event of my motion, I found, to nite surprise, that the grand penal Bill, by which passed sentence on the trade and sustenance of a, is to be returned to us from the other House. 10 nfess, I could not help looking on this event as a te omen. I look upon it as a sort of providential by which we are put once more in possession of iberative capacity upon a business so very quesin its nature, so very uncertain in its issue. By 15 urn of this Bill, which seemed to have taken its or ever, we are at this very instant nearly as free se a plan for our American government as we were irst day of the session. If, Sir, we incline to the conciliation, we are not at all embarrassed (unless 20 se to make ourselves so) by any incongruous mix of the grave. When I first had the honor of a his House, the affairs of that continent pressed es upon us as the most important and most deliect of parliamentary attention. My little share reat deliberation oppressed me. I found myself er in a very high trust; and, having no sort of › rely on the strength of my natural abilities for er execution of that trust, I was obliged to take n common pains to instruct myself in everything lates to our Colonies. I was not less under the of forming some fixed ideas concerning the geney of the British Empire. Something of this sort o be indispensable, in order, amidst so vast a flucof passions and opinions, to concentre my to ballast my conduct, to preserve me from ben about by every wind of fashionable doctrine. did not think it safe, or manly, to have fresh s to seek upon every fresh mail which should om America. t period I had the fortune to find myself in percurrence with a large majority in this House. under that high authority, and penetrated with ness and strength of that early impression, I have I ever since, without the least deviation, in my sentiments. Whether this be owing to an oberseverance in error, or to a religious adherence appears to me truth and reason, it is in your judge. arliament, having an enlarged view of objects, ring this interval, more frequent changes in their Es and their conduct than could be justified in a r person upon the contracted scale of private ion. But though I do not hazard anything apg to a censure on the motives of former Parliaall those alterations, one fact is undoubted,— d by, an heightening of the distemper; until, by a of experiments, that important country has been into her present situation;-a situation which I miscall, which I dare not name, which I scarcely ow to comprehend in the terms of any description. 5 is posture, Sir, things stood at the beginning of ion. About that time, a worthy member of great entary experience, who, in the year 1766, filled the the American Committee with much ability, took e; and, lamenting the present aspect of our poli- 10 d me things were come to such a pass that our methods of proceeding in the House would be no tolerated; that the public tribunal (never too into a long and unsuccessful opposition) would now ze our conduct with unusual severity; that the very 15 des and shiftings of ministerial measures, instead victing their authors of inconstancy and want of would be taken as an occasion of charging us with termined discontent, which nothing could satisfy; we accused every measure of vigor as cruel, and 20 proposal of lenity as weak and irresolute. The he said, would not have patience to see us play ne out with our adversaries; we must produce our It would be expected that those who for many ad been active in such affairs should show that 25 d formed some clear and decided idea of the prin-f Colony Government; and were capable of drawsomething like a platform of the ground which e laid for future and permanent tranquillity. t the truth of what my honorable friend repre- 30 but I felt my situation too. His application might |