but conciliatory measures could be productive of harmony; and it was particularly requisite, that above all, hatred and resentment should be discouraged. For the foundation of any just and equitable measures, on the part of Spain, there had long existed a broad platform on the other side of the Atlantic; for, as fully demonstrated, in the outset of my subject, at no period of time, had the attachment of the ultramarine provinces to the mother-country, been more strong or more general, than when the invaded state of the latter, was known to them. Whatever hostilities had been, hitherto, carried on, were for defensive purposes, but, the Spanish Americans, generally, still acknowledged the same monarch, and only complained of the degraded system by which they were governed, which it became necessary to remove, as a previous step to the restoration of concord. This desirable end could never be attained, as long as the members of the national legislature, were not disposed to divest themselves of prejudice, and till the reign of terror, was at an end; nor could the Spanish Americans conceive themselves satisfied, or happy with their lot, as Jong as the government at home, was continually distrustful, and rendered jealous and suspicious by the hardships of the American people, which it had neither the courage to remove, or even the liberality, candidly to discuss.

In the mean time, the Cadiz press, was continually plyed; invective, reproach, and scurrility, were daily dished up under a variety of seasonings, to please the palates of the votaries of gain, and galling expressions of scorn and contempt, were uttered on every possible occasion; till at last, the pride of the Spaniard was roused to the continuance of a war, which was supposed

just, because it was represented so, by the servile and the interested. In short, there was no disposition to render private convenience subservient to public good;> and such was at length, the prevalence of deception, that the national character was thought at stake, and bound for its honour, to continue the war, with fresh vigour. Any thing less than unconditional submission, was deemed a greater blot, than even bowing to the French yoke. Thence, were all the exertions of the American deputies, rendered useless, and the tardy and slack mediatory offers of England, were treated with disdain.

§ Had the Spanish government, at that time, only examined well, the history of the revolutionary war of North America, what a variety of useful lessons, might it not have culled out for its future guidance? It would there have seen, the fatal consequences of a rash and inconsiderate act, on the part of a parent state, who, by subsequent concessions proposed, seems heartily to have repented of her intemperance. Had the Cadiz government further compared the present demands of the Spanish American provinces, with the original situation of the various settlements, now called the United States, it would have found, that the former actually sue for no more, than what the latter enjoyed, before they asserted their independence; that is, whilst even colonies of England, they had local checks over their governors, and that their governing system was such, as not to clash with their happiness or prosperity. Another still more valuable lesson might have been borrowed, from which the Cortes would have learnt, that it is never too late to do an act of justice; nor is it unbecoming, or

dishonourable, in a parent state, to endeavour to reconcile her distant offspring, as long as the basis offered, is consistent with reason and justice, and conformable to the dictates of prudence and humanity. The original causes which lead to the North American war, are too recent and too well understood, to require any comment here, as an explanation to those circumstances, I am about to subjoin. The high tone, with which His Majesty's ministers and parliament, spoke to those colonies, and the sanguine hopes, under which hostilities were commenced on the part of England, are fresh in the memories of all. Yet, after the war had been prosecuted by the crown, for some years, with heavy expence and great calamity, the cabinet réceded from the high ground it had taken in the beginning, and a plan of pacification was determined upon, very different to the first preten sions insisted on, by the king and ministers.

After several motions had been made by the opposi tion, tending to the abandonment of the American war, Lord North gave notice in the House of Commons, that he had digested a plan of reconciliation; conformably to which, he moved to bring in 1st. "a bill for removing all doubts and apprehensions, concerning taxation by the parliament of Great Britain, in any of the colonies and plantations of North America." 2dly" A bill to enablē His Majesty, to appoint commissioners, with sufficient power, to treat, conduct, and agree upon the means of quieting the disorder, now subsisting in certain of the - colonies of America.”

The first bill, contained a declaration, "that parliament will impose no tax, or duty, whatever, payable within any of the colonies of North America, except

only such duties, as it may be expedient to impose for the purposes of commerce; the net proceeds of which, should always be paid and applied to, and for the use of the colonies, in which the same shall be respectively levied, in like manner, as other duties collected under the authority of their respective legislatures, are ordinarily paid and applied." It was insisting on the opposite of this clause, that, in fact, produced the war; but England, by fatal experience, had seen her error, and she was too liberal and too enlightened, to persist in it, any longer, in the face of justice. And may I not be allowed to ask, whether it would have been dishonourable in England, reminding Spain, as her ally, of these fatal momentos; and inspiring into her, sentiments of equity and just liberality, whilst it was yet time? Had the North American colonies, then to lay to the charge of their parent state, a fiftieth part of the hardships and restraints, with which Spanish America has now to reproach Spain? Yet, even their conduct had friends and partizans amongst ourselves, and eventually, England had to confess, that a great share of blame rested with herself, in not using timely redress, and plans of conciliation, before it was too late. The great and striking difference, between the situation of the Spanish, compared with the British Americans, may be well collected from the first sections of this exposê; and the opposite nature of the pretensions of the first, may be established from the transactions in the Cortes, of which a full detail has just been given. Yet, though the parallel of cases is so different, though the fate of Spanish America, is such, as to interest the feelings of the most apathized, and though the justice and nature of the object, is so transcendently

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.

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 difficulties 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