tranfitory, delufiye gleams of fuccefs in this unjuft, and providentially unfortunate American conteft, this bellum fine hofte, as fuch a flate of arms was defined by the ancients. Not a fingle Frenchman or Spaniard in arms againft us fell at this moft glorious victory at Camden, but Romanæ mifcent acies. Is it probable that this most glorious victory will lead to an honourable peace? If it does not, but is the cause of continuing the war, I fhall deem it a public calamity. Peace, peace with America, only can fave this finking ftate, and give us permanent profperity. We are already nearly exhaufted, yet continue bleeding at every vein. Peace ought to be had on almost any terms; for from the estimates on our table, the expence, of this, war, continued a few years longer, will bankrupt this nation; the population, commerce, and navigation of which are visibly decreasing. I confider peace as of abfolute neceffity for ourfelves, for the internal ftate and independence of our own ifland, in the prefent crifis of horror, and almost despair. I would subscribe to almoft any conditions to obtain it, because I believe the NorthAmericans would then readily quit an unnatural alliance, into which they have been driven by our more unnatural conduct. Neceffity brought forward the new idea, formed, figned, and has hitherto observed that ftrange treaty.. Ainerica, detached from her prefent connections, and in a real union of interefts and strength with Great-Britain, is more than a match for the confederate Houfe of Bourbon. In fuch a fituation the Family Compact would not dare to be avowed, The laft war gives us the proof in point. We had then an able and enterprifing Minifter, in full poffeffion of the most active genius and vigour of mind, feconded by the whole ftrength of the British nation and America, What is our prefent profpect? America is at this moment thrown into the fcale of the Houfe of Bourbon. Muft it not then weigh us down? It furely, Sir, becomes Ministers to lay afide all paffions and prejudices, and endeavour to heal this unhappy breach between two powerful friends, when every conceffion to America, either as a fubject or an ally, may win her to us, reftore the balance of power in our favour, and compenfate the lofs of all our other allies. The independence, Sir, of the colonies has been frequently mentioned in this debate, but with a pofitive declaration that it is a point never to be conceded, Whether it is granted, or not, by a British Parliament, de jure, feems to me of little moment and avail, It is merely an ainufing, curious theme theme of fpeculation among a set of idle, liftlefs, loiting, lounging, ill-informed gentlemen at Westminster, who ark the diforders of the ftate, to combat which they poffe not vigour of mind or virtue. A country, much larger the our European empire, which we ftill love to call our colies, does, and will, poffefs it de facto, notwithstanding a the prefent delufive affurances of Minifters within thefe alls, notwithstanding the late exploits of a Cornwallis and Clinton, notwithstanding ail the former repeated victor's of Gage and the Howes. It is in this ifland only that prfons are found, who doubt that the prefent war will end i the acknowledging of American independence. The hiftory of this war warrants me, Sir, in the fuficion that all these boafted fucceffes do not tend to any real eiolument to our country, to bring nearer the wifhed-for mment of a re-union, and fincere reconciliation with our alioated brethren in the colonies. After the evacuation of Baton, Rhode-Ifland, and Philadelphia, for the acquifition of which no thanks, I believe, were given by this House, a mall degree of fagacity might lead any man to fufpe&t that he reduction of Charles-Town, by the army and navy unler the command of Sir Henry Clinton and Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot, and the late moft glorious victory obtained by Lord Cornwallis at Camden, will in due time be followed by the evacuation of Charles-Town, and the two Carolinas. Á future Gazette will probably announce it, to fcreen the generals, in the fame terms as with respect to Philadelphia, and with as much cold indifference as any play or farce at either of our theatres, by his Majefty's command. Sir, I can never feparate in my mind the rotten foundation on which the whole fyftem of the American war is built, from fome fpecious parts of it, by which the unthinking are at the first view allured and dazzled. As 1 reprobate the want of principle in its origin, I the more lament all the fpirited exertions of valour, and the wifdom of conduct, which in a good caufe I fhould warmly applaud. Thinking as I do, I see more matter of grief than of triumph, of bewailing than thanksgiving, in this civil conteft, and the deluge of blood which has overflowed America. Would to God, Sir, we could leave perfecuting, even to death, thofe of our own blood, who only defired to be received as friends and fellow-fubjects, to fhare our fortunes, to fight our battles, as before, by our fide, and to enjoy at home peace, liberty, and fafety. Public thanks from this Houfe on the prefent prefe occafion will only widen the breach, and demonftrat Lord North. Lord North regretted that he found himself obliged to deviate fomewhat from his intentions, to fay nothing concerning the juftice or policy of the American war. The honou rable gentleman over the way, had attempted to fully laurels which he had hoped would be above the power of detraction. Lord Cornwallis was fighting, and fighting not against, but for his country. Nor had his conduct been in any degree inconfiftent. He had protested againft carrying on coer cive meatures against America, as long as he conceived the American's injured by fuch measures. But as foon as Great Britain Britain gave up the point of taxation, and made other eral conceffions, it was confiftent in Lord Cornwallis to dr his fword against those whom juftice, and more than jufticeould not fatisfy, and who had leagued themselves with theiveterate enemies of this country. He faid, he must remind the honourable gentleman' the political fentiments on this fubject of the Earl of Cham, who would have been moved with the greateft indignan at the idea of giving up the dependency of America on thisuntry, although he was not a friend to American taxatio He obferved that Earl Cornwallis was not a foldier of fane, or under any temptation to feek in war the advancent of his intereft. He had left the comforts of a liberal fore to rifque his life, and undergo many toils in war, to fe his country, and perhaps to a view of perfonal reputatio but a reputation well deferved, being founded on fervices the greatest importance to his country. He hoped that honourable gentleman' would be the only man in the He who would oppofe the motion. Mr. Wilkes defired it to be understood, that he hhever Mr. Wilkes. faid Lord Cornwallis was a foldier of fortune; he only faid, that after profeffions of a contrary difpofitione had drawn his fword againft the liberties of his countryme Sir Charles Bunbury faid, that the honourable gleman Sir Charles who had made the motion had wifhed ardently for urmity. Bunbury He wished that the motion had been conceived in otterms. Earl Cornwallis might be thanked for doing his as an officer, without any motion being made of the cause which his abilities were exerted, in the fame manner that artifan might be applauded for performning his part well, tgh the delign of the architect, of which his work formel part, might be condemned. Why was not Sir Henrlinton thanked immediately after the reduction of Charlesvn?— It did not seem a great mark of refpect to that geneofficer, to defer a vote of thanks to him, until he was odonally taken into the lift of meritorious officers, when ths were moved to others. Lord Beauchamp moved that, by way of amendm to the Lord Beaumotion, the thanks of the Houfe fhou'd be given Vice champ. Admiral Arbuthnot, at the fame time that they uld be given to Sir Henry Clinton. The Admiral had gributed his fhare towards that conqueft, and there were fedents, nay, it was customary to thank the Admiral, as as the General, when any fuccefs was owing to the joineration of oɓth army and fleet, as in the cafe of the reduction of Qbec in the last war. Jofeph Mawbey. Mr. Speaker, I was not in the Houfe wa the honourable gentleman made his motion for thanks tar Henry Clinton, and the Earl Cornwallis, which I am paaded originated with him from the pureft motives. The ne Lord in the blue ribband, and an honourable gentlem near me, has talked much of the glory and importance ohe victory at Camden; if, in any thing I fball fay on the fect, I fhould be thought to depreciate and deny that glory arhat importance, I hope no gentleman will believe I have anvill to the noble Lord, for whofe character and abilities Ile the highest respect. hink the thanks of the House should never be given but oncafions the most important; when a victory has been obned, which has been followed by confequences the moft colerable and beneficial; they will lofe their value when giv on light and trivial occafions. The victory of Camdenn my poor opinion, is deferving of no particular attentionom this Houfe; and I verily believe, the noble Lord himf would not wish to have the thanks of Parliament for fuchvictory. When fome honourable friends of mine lately mov the thanks of this Houfe to our late Speaker, Sir Fleter Norton, I did not vote, because they appeared to me the unprecedented and improper. Can any man be lieve,hat thanks, as in that cafe, opposed by more than two-fhs of the Houfe, reflect any honour on that gentlemano far from it, that I am perfuaded, that he himself muft h that queftion had never been agitated. The thanks of Parament fhould come with unanimity to be valuable. I thinkwith the Poet, that Praife undefer ved is cenfure in dif guife. It is impoffible the prefent motion fhould meet with generaconcurrence. If we believe the American account of the battle of Camden, their left wing and centre, compofed of militia, ran away athe very firft fire, and only a few regular continental troops oppofed for a fhort time the whole British army.A victory over troops who did not fight, is not of a fort to call for the thanks of Parliament. That at Bunker's-Hill was a moft gallant bufinefs, because it was obtained over troops who made a brave refiftance, and who were driven from their various intrenchments, one after the other, with great flaughter. The victory at Camden is not marked by any material confequences. Lord Cornwallis himself fays, the |