the miniftry to incenfe the nation against the colonists, but the ftrongeft, and which had moft effect, was, that our trade to America would ceafe to exift, if the flagrant outrage at Bofton fhould pafs unpunished. By ftrong representations of this evil, the people began to be inflamed against the colonists, and in the time of this artifical fermentation, the miniftty pushed on their schemes of coerción and violence with the greateft rapidity. They knew the minority would not choose to refift in express terms, what was fo pofitively affirmed to be for the advantage of the nation, or if they did, they would foon lofe all their popularity; they therefore made the best of this opportunity to carry their points in the houfe of commons. By carrying the vote of address to the king, giving him thanks for the communication of the papers that had been laidbefore the house, the ministry gained a great advantage; for they found by the difpofition of the house, which was ftrongly against taking any retrospect view of things past, that they would confine themselves to the mere behaviour of the Americans. The violence of the colonifts was manifeft and indifputable, and while no other reafons were produced except what appeared in the face of their actions, it was the most likely thing in the world, that any propofition against them would be carried. It was fortunate for the ministry that no part of the weakness and disorderly statė, of fo many governments, was laid before the house, for in this cafe they were likely to get clear of feveral years mifmanagement, which would have been a clog to all their motions, and must certainly have issued in their difgrace.

the ftorm that was would fall firft upon

It appeared manifeft that gathering against the colonies, that of Maffachufett's-Bay. This made the agent for that colony prefent a petition to the house, by way

of

of precaution, defiring that he might be permitted to lay before them the acta regia of Queen Elizabeth, and her fucceffors, for the fecurity of the planters and their defcendants, and the perpetual enjoyment of their liberties. Thefe proofs he alledged had never been laid before the house, nor had the colonies ever had an opportunity to afcertain and defend them. This petition was received without much oppofition, and ordered to lye upon the table.

The minifter, after having moved that the king's meffage of the 7th of March fhould be read, opened his plan for the restoring of peace, order, justice and commerce, in the province of Maffachufett's-Bay. He ftated that the oppofition to the authority of parliament had always originated in that colony; and that that colony had been always inftigated by the irregular and feditious proceedings of the town of Bofton. That, therefore, for the purpose of a thorough reformation, it became neceffary to begin with that town, which, by a late unparalleled outrage, had led the way to the deftruction of commerce in all parts of America. That if a fevere and exemplary punishment was not inflicted on this heinous act, Great-Britain would be wanting in the protection fhe owed to her moft peaceful and meritorious fubjects. That, had fuch an infult been offered to British property in a foreign port, the nation would have been called upon to demand fatisfaction. He would therefore propofe that the town of Bofton fhould be obliged to pay for the tea which had been destroyed in their port. That the injury was indeed done by perfons unknown and in disguise, but that the town magiftracy had taken no notice of it, had never made any fearch for the offenders, and therefore, by a manifest neglect of a known duty, became accomplices in the guilt. That

the fining of communities for their neglect of punishing offences committed within their limits, was juftified by feveral examples. Thefe examples were one in the 1. cafe of London, one in the cafe of Edinburgh, and another in the cafe of Glasgow, with regard to Dr Lamb, Captain Porteus, and Mr Campbell. Thefe examples were faid to be ftrong, and in point for fuch punishments. It was not a fingle act of violence. It was a series of feditious practices of every kind, and carried on for several years. He was of opinion, therefore, that it would not be fufficient to punish the town of Boston, by obliging her to make a pecuniary fatisfaction for the injury, which, by not endeavouring to prevent and punith, fhe had in fact encouraged; fecurity must be given in future, that trade may be safely carried on, properly protected, laws obeyed, and duties re.gularly paid; otherwise the punishment of a fingle illegal act is no reformation. It would, he faid, be pro,per to take away from Dofton the privilege of a port, until his majefty fhould be fatisfied in thefe particulars, and publicly declare in council, on a proper certificate of the good behaviour of the town, that he was fatisfied.

Until this fhould happen, the customhoufe officers, which were not now fafe in Boston, or fafe no longer than when they neglected their duty, should be removed to Salem where they might exercife their functions. By this Boston, would certainly fuffer. But fhe ought to fuffer; and by this refolution would fuffer lefs punishment than her delinquents fully juftified. For fhe was nor wholly fecluded from all fupply. She was, by this propofition, only to be virtually removed feventeen miles from the sea. The duration of her punishment was entirely in her Jown power. For when the fhould discharge this debt to the Eaft-India company, which had been con

tracted

tracted by her own violence, and had given full affurances of obedience in future to the laws of trade and revenue; there was no doubt but that his majesty, to whom he proposed to leave that power, would again open the port, and exercife that mercy which was agreeable to his difpofition. He strongly recommended unanimity, and said that this was a crifis that demanded vigour. He was by no means an enemy to lenient measures. Refolutions of warning and cenfure will avail nothing; now is the time to stand out and defy them; to defy them with firmness and without fear. A conviction must be produced to America, that we are in earnest, and will proceed with firmness and vigour. This conviction would be loft if they found us doubting and hesitating. Some friends to British authority may fuffer a little, but if with this temporary inconveniency we compare the loss of the country, and its due obedience, it will bear no comparifon. It is faid the Americans will not pay their debts; this they threatened before the repeal of the ftamp act. The act was repealed. What was the confequence. They did not pay. This threatening, if attended to, muft difable parliament equally in all her operations. This act will not require a military power to inforce it; four or five frigates will be fufficient. But if they fhould not be fufficient, he would not scruple to use a military force, which might act with effect, and without bloodshed. The other colonies will not take fire at the proper punishment inflicted on those who have disobeyed the laws. They will leave them to fuffer their own punishments. If they do combine with them, the confequence of their rebellion belong not to us, but to them. We are only anfwerable that our measures be juft and equitable. Let us proceed, fays he, with firmnefs, juftice, and refolution; which courfe,

1

courfe, if purfued, will certainly produce that due obedience to the laws of this country, and fecurity of the trade of this people, which I fo earneftly wish for. These are the arguments of the minifter which he used to fupport his motion for bringing in the Boston Portbill; and accordingly, leave was given for bringing it

in.

In the progrefs of this a motion was made for an amendment, for the purpofe of laying a fine on the town of Boston, equivalent to the damage fustained by the East-India company. If they refused to pay

this fine, that the other penalties mentioned in the bill, might be inflicted. This ammendment was rejected, and this bill pregnant with fo many important confequences, was pushed on with fo much vigour and dispatch, that it did not remain long in the house. It is fomewhat furprizing that a law fo full of direful confequences, fhould have been received with fo much applause and approbation, as this did at first. Without enquiring into the reafon of the behaviour of the people of Bofton, they were condemned unheard, and disfranchifed without ever having their cause brought before those who pretended to be their judges. The equity of obliging a delinquent and refractory colony to make fatisfaction for the diforders which were fuppofed to have arifen from their factious temper, and negligent police, was taken for granted to be a neceffary exertion of the powers of government, and many things exceptionable in the act were, on that account, overlooked. But when thefe proceedings of parliament are accurately confidered, and the fpeech of the minifter seriously annalized, they will appear to be pregnant with baleful influence to every fpecies of liberty. The fpeech of the minifter declares, that he took for granted what neither the British con

ftitution