d particularly remarkable
by the unexpected defection of a noble duke (Duke of Grafton) who had
been for some years at the head of the Administration, had resigned of
his own accord at a critical period, but who had gone with the
Government ever since, and was at this time in high office. The line
which he immediately took was still more alarming to the Administration
than the act of defection. Besides a decisive condemnation of all their
acts for some time past with respect to America, as well as of the
measures now held out by the speech, he declared that he had been
deceived and misled upon that subject; that by the withholding of
information, and the misrepresentation of facts, he had been induced to
lend his countenance to measures which he never approved; among those
was that in particular of coercing America by force of arms, an idea the
most distant from his mind and opinions, but which he was blindly led to
give a support to from his total ignorance of the true state and
disposition of the colonies, and the firm persuasion held out that
matters would never come to an extremity of that nature; that an
appearance of coercion was all that was required to establish a
reconciliation, and that the stronger the Government appeared, and the
better it was supported, the sooner all disputes would be adjusted."

"He declared that nothing less than a total repeal of all the American laws
which had been passed since 1763 could now restore peace and happiness,
or prevent the most destructive and fatal consequences--consequences which
could not even be thought of without feeling the utmost degree of grief
and horror; that nothing could have brought him out in the present ill
state of his health but the fullest conviction of his being right--a
knowledge of the critical situation of his country, and a sense of what
he owed to his duty and to his conscience; that these operated so strongly
upon him, that no state of indisposition, if he were even obliged to come
in a litter, should prevent his attending to express his utmost
disapprobation of the measures which were now being pursued, as well as
of those which he understood from the lords in office it was intended
still to pursue. He concluded by declaring that if his nearest relations
or dearest friends were to be affected by this question or that the loss
of fortune, or of every other thing which he most esteemed, was to be
the certain consequence of his present conduct, yet th