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greater, not a glow of sympathy, appears, yet, either to have moved the ministers or people of England; nay, not even an expression of condolence, has escaped either.

The second bill authorized the appointment of commissioners by the crown, with power "to treat either with the constituted authorities, or with individuals in America, provided that no stipulations which might be entered into, should have any effect, till approved in parliament, other than is afterwards mentioned."-It was thereby enacted, "that the commissioners may have power to proclaim a cessation of hostilities, in any of the colonies; to suspend the non-intercourse law; and further, to suspend, during the continuance of the act, so much of all, or any of the acts of parliament which have passed, since the 10th day of February, 1763, as relates to the colonies."-" To grant pardon to any number or description of persons, and to appoint a governor in any colony, in which His Majesty had heretofore exercised the power of making such appointments."These two bills, passed both houses of parliament, without any considerable opposition.

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Such was the conduct of England, at the momentous period, when experience had taught her ministers, the fatal consequences of a rash act, and the many difficul ties of carrying on a war at such a distance. Such were the proceedings of an enlightened nation, moved by the calamities that must necessarily follow in the train of a bloody civil war; the continuance of which, without these preliminary steps to conciliation had preceded, would have been most unjust and tyrannical. These measures were adopted, even though her aggravations were very different to those of Spain, and when the

points of controversy, were perfectly distinct. The olive branch, heré accompanied the sword, and, if possible, England, considering she was fighting against her own blood, was more magnanimous in this act, than if she had decreed fresh troops to replace those of Burgoyne, since all they could produce, were fresh horrors and more calamities. Had Spain now on her national records, such overtures as these, and had she manifested à disposition to concord, on a rational basis, then, the destruction she has caused, might have some excuse; and then, the existing stigma, had been wiped from her name. Had she heard the claims of her distant brethren, had she coolly and deliberately discussed their hardships, and redressed what was just, and had all her pacific overtures been treated with contempt, then, and only then, would her war have been just, and in that case alone, could England have beheld her conduct, with indifference.

In prosecution of their conciliatory plans, the British commissioners arrived in North America, but it was, unfortunately, too late, circumstances had materially changed. General Burgoyne had been defeated, and, above all, the French and Spaniards had now manifested a readiness to join in the quarrel, in favour of the colonists. Their efforts to carry through the objects of their mission, were, consequently, ineffectual; the terms were indeed such, as the colonists would, at one time, joyfully have accepted; but these terms now required an union of both countries, under one common sovereign, and this was supposed too lowering for the ground, on which the Colonists then stood. All those mutual affections, which as parts of the same monarchy, they

had been accustomed to feel for their European brethren, had now been extinguished, by a long and distressing war; the States, by this time, had discovered their own strength; brilliant careers were already opened to most of their new chiefs; and their recent treaty with France, upheld them in their views of absolute independence. Another material trait, in the election of these commis sioners, was well deserving of the imitation of the Spanish government, viz. they were all persons, who had openly condemned the violent measures of the adminis tration, and had wished a settlement of differences, on the ground first taken by America, and were consequently, serious friends to a restoration of peace, on just and reasonable terms. And, were these the qualities found in a Cortabarria, a Venegas, a Calleja, &c.? In her terms of pacification, England authorizes her commissioners to treat with constituted authorities, and even with individuals; but Spain, has deemed it dishonourable, to treat with the Juntas of the ultramarine provinces, though they were assembled in imitation of her own, and for the most legal and constitutional motives.

In order, however, to complete my parallel, I conceive it my duty, to add the terms, on which the kings commissioners, offered to renew the bonds of former friendship, and to put an end to the ravages, by which the several States of North America, were desolated. They are as follow. "To consent to a cessation of hostilities, both by sea and land. To restore free intercourse, to revive mutual affection, and renew the common benefits of naturalization, through the several parts of the empire. To extend every freedom of trade, that the respective interests of Britain and America, could

require. To agree, that no military force should be kept up in North America, without the consent of the general Congress, or particular assemblies.-To concur in measures calculated to discharge the debts of America, and to raise the credit and value of the paper circulation. To perpetuate the union, by a reciprocal deputation of an agent or agents, who shall have the privilege of a seat and voice in the parliament of Great Britain; or if sent from Britain, to have a seat and voice in the assemblies of the different colonies, to which they may be deputed respectively, in order to attend to the several interests of those, by whom they may be deputed. In short, to establish the power of the respective legislatures in each particular colony; to settle its revenue, in civil and military establishments, and to exercise a perfect freedom in legislation and internal government; so that the British colonies, throughout North America, acting with Great Britain, in peace and war, under one common sovereign, may have the irrevocable enjoyment of every privilege, short of a total separation of interests, or consistent with the union of force, on which the safety of their common religion and liberty depend."

Such were the assurances under which England, as a powerful nation, sought to reestablish her bonds of relationship with a country, she herself had settled, in the light of colonies and plantations, and over which the king, besides his public capacity as sovereign, had private prerogatives, which still added to his right of controul. Thus did England address herself to a people, less than three millions in number, contained on a comparatively much smaller tract of country than Spanish America, which, though inhabited by seventeen millions, was

treated by the Cortes, as has already been shewn, like a handful of dependant vassals. Spanish America, though equal in rights with European Spain, as well by primitive charters, as by recent decrees, is warred upon, for the establishment of Juntas for interiour government, though such establishments were, by England, deemed essential to the happiness and well being of North America, even prior to her attempts to separate; and which all enlightened powers, consider indispensable to the common principles of freedom, even in a West India island, that only contains half a million of souls. A principle of justice, and an earnest desire to spare the further effusion of human blood, dictated to the parliament of England the offer of the preceding terms; and, for the sake of humanity, every one was desirous to terminate a calamitous war, whilst policy also, strongly urged for the return of harmony and peace.

England, at the above period of her differences with North America, asked no more than such a bond, as was necessary to preserve that union of force, in which the safety and advantage of both consisted; and she pledged herself ready and willing, to enter into a fair discussion of all the circumstances necessary to insure, or even enlarge, that rational independent state, which, as a continent, she acknowledged North America ought to possess. How different were these advances to peace, then made by Great Britain, when compared with the conduct of the three governments, which have presided over the destinies of Spain, during the absence of Ferdinand. To the one, principles of reason and justice, accompanied by considerations of mutual interest, were held out as a basis of adjustment; to the others, threats of blockade, ra、

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