Feb. 18th, 1783, Ten, A.M.
My dear Brother,
I write these few lines by a messenger, to let you know that
this morning, at seven o'clock, after a debate of fifteen hours,
the House of Commons divided: 209 for the original Address upon
the peace, and 224 for the Amendment.
The Address was very cautiously worded, and by no means conveyed
any strong approbation. The Amendment was merely to assure His
Majesty that we _will_ consider the preliminaries, and in the
meantime we consider ourselves bound strictly to adhere to the
articles to which, by the ratification, the national faith is
pledged; with something about the loyalists.
The Address was moved and seconded by T. Pitt and Wilberforce;
the Amendment, by Lord John Cavendish and St. Andrew St. John.
Lord North spoke next to them, in approbation of it. Fox avowed
the coalition with Lord North, and was a good deal attacked upon
it, particularly by Powis. Tom, to my infinite joy, did not
speak. Jemmy spoke. Rigby spoke and voted with us.
In the House of Lords, the Amendment was a strong censure: this
was rejected, 69 to 55.
Where this is to end, God knows! _Je n'en scai rien._ I am too
much fatigued to be able to give you any particulars of the
debate. Adieu.
Ever yours,
W. W. G.