ebellion,
but was created by the conduct of those whose views were to establish
despotism." The Attorney-General (Thurlow) argued strongly against Mr.
Dunning's position that the Americans were not in rebellion, and
affirmed the contrary. General Grant said "he had served in America,
knew the Americans well, and was certain they would not fight; they
would never dare to fight an English army; they did not possess any of
the qualifications necessary to make good soldiers; and that a very
slight force would be more than sufficient for their complete reduction.
He repeated many of their commonplace expressions, ridiculed their
enthusiasm in religion, and drew a disagreeable picture of their manners
and ways of living."

Mr. Fox entered fully into the question; pointed out the injustice, the
inexpediency, the folly of the motion; prophesied defeat on one side of
the water, and ruin and punishment on the other. He said, among other
things, "The reason why the colonies objected to taxes by Parliament for
revenue was, that such revenue, in the hands of Government, took out of
the hands of the people that were to be governed that control which
every Englishman thinks he ought to have over the Government to which
his rights and interests are entrusted." He moved an amendment to omit
all the motion but the three first lines, and to substitute: "But
deploring that the information which they (the papers) had afforded
served only to convince the House that the measures taken by his
Majesty's servants tended rather to widen than to heal the unhappy
differences which had so long subsisted between Great Britain and
America, and praying a speedy alteration of the same."

A long debate ensued; after which the House divided on Mr. Fox's
amendment, which was lost by a majority of 304 to 105. Lord North's
motion was then adopted by a majority of 296 to 106.

Thus was war _virtually_ proclaimed by the British Ministry of the day
and the Parliament (not by the people) of Great Britain against the
colonies.

On the 6th of February the report of Lord North's address was made to
the House, when Lord John Cavendish moved to recommit the proposed
address agreed to in the Committee. He strongly recommended the
reconsideration of a measure which he deemed fraught with much mischief.
He commented on the proposed address; thought it improper to assert that
rebellion exists; mentioned the insecurity created by the Act changing
the Government of Ma