He appeared to be extremely feeble, and spoke with that difficulty
of utterance which is the characteristic of severe indisposition.
His Lordship began with declaring that his ill health had for some
time obliged him to absent himself from the performance of his
parliamentary duty; he rejoiced, however, that he was yet alive to
give his vote against so impolitic, so inglorious a measure as the
acknowledgment of the independency of America; and declared he would
much rather be in his grave than see the lustre of the British throne
tarnished, the dignity of the empire disgraced, the glory of the nation
sunk to such a degree as it must be, when the dependency of America on
the sovereignty of Great Britain was given up. The Earl next adverted
to the conduct of the court of France, and observed, that at a crisis
like the present, he would openly speak his sentiments, although they
might turn out to be dangerous. As a reason for throwing off reserve,
he said he did not approve of halting between two opinions, when there
was no middle path; that it was necessary absolutely to declare either
for peace or war, and when the former could not be preserved with
honour, the latter ought to be declared without hesitation. Having made
this remark, he asked, where was the ancient spirit of the nation,
that a foreign power was suffered to bargain for that commerce which
was her natural right, and enter into a treaty with her own subjects,
without instantly resenting it? Could it be possible that we were the
same people who but fifteen years ago were the envy and admiration of
all the world? How were we altered! and what had made the alteration?
He feared there was something in the dark, something lurking near
the throne, which gave motion to administration--something unseen,
which caused such pusillanimous, such timid, such dastardly councils.
What! were we to sit down in an ignominious tameness? to say, “Take
from us what you will, but in God’s name let us be at peace?” Were we
blinded by despair? Could we forget that we were Englishmen? Could we
forget that the nation had stood the Danish irruptions? had stood the
irruptions of other nations! had stood the inroads of the Scotch! had
stood the Norman conquests! had stood the threatened invasion by the
famous Spanish armada, and the various efforts of the Bourbon compacts!
Why, then, should we now give up all, without endeavouring to prevent
our losses, without a blow, without an attempt to resent the insults
offered us? If France and Spain were for war, why not try an issue with
them? If we fell afterwards, we should fall decently, and like men.
Having spoken with some enthusiasm upon these points, his Lordship
said he waged war against no set of men, neither did he wish for any
of their employments: he then reverted to the subject of American
independency; and after recalling the attention of their lordships to
the extent and revenue of the estate of the crown of England, when
the present King came into the possession of it, asked what right the
Houses of Parliament had to deprive the Prince of Wales, the Bishop of
Osnaburgh, and the other rising hopes of the beloved royal family, of
the inheritance of the thirteen American provinces? Sooner than consent
to take away from any of the heirs of the Princess Sophia what they had
a legal and natural right to expect to possess, he declared he would
see the Prince of Wales, the Bishop of Osnaburgh, and the rest of the
young princes, brought down to the committee, and hear them consent to
lose their inheritance. The Earl declared he was exceedingly ill; but
as long as he could crawl down to that House, and had strength to raise
himself on his crutches, or to lift his hand, he would vote against
the giving up the dependency of America on the sovereignty of Great
Britain; and if no other lord was of opinion with him, he would singly
protest against the measure.
With regard to our power to carry on the war, or commence a new one
with France, there were, he said, means, though he knew not what;
if, however, he was called upon to give his advice, he would give it
honestly; and though, from his exceeding ill state of health, he feared
he had not abilities to insure to the execution of his measures the
wished-for success, he would make some amends by his sincerity.