that a new corporation might be formed, if
the company did not offer a fair bargain to the public, his motion was
carried without a division.

GENERAL CONWAY'S PLAN OF RECONCILIATION WITH AMERICA.

On the 5th of May, General Conway offered a plan of reconciliation with
the American provinces, by removing all just cause of complaint, without
acknowledging their independence. This plan, however, neither pleased
ministers nor the opposition, and it was rejected by passing to the
order of the day.

{GEORGE III. 1780-1781}

POPULAR RAGE AGAINST THE CATHOLICS; RIOTS IN LONDON, ETC.

It has been seen that during the session of the year 1778, that an act
was passed for relieving the Roman Catholics from some of the heavier
penalties inflicted upon them in the preceding century. This measure
did not extend to Scotland, but as the Papists in that country were more
oppressed than those in England, and as they had claims upon government
and the legislature of the United Kingdom, by their loyalty, &c, it was
contemplated by ministers that they should be admitted into the benefits
of the Repealing Act. The people of Scotland, however, were not so
liberal in sentiment on this subject as the people of England. A cry
that Popery was about to be re-established was heard throughout the
country; and the Presbyterian preachers made their pulpits ring with
warnings and comminations. Associations were formed in various parts of
the kingdom to oppose the contemplated concessions, and the votes and
resolutions of these associations being published in the newspapers,
they gave rise to the spirit of persecution. In the month of January,
1779, copies of the following letter were dropped in every part of the
city of Edinburgh:--"Men and brethren, whoever shall find this letter
will take it as a warning to meet at Leith Wynd, on Wednesday next, in
the evening, to pull down that pillar of Popery lately erected there.
Signed, A Protestant. P. S. Please to read this carefully, keep it clean
and drop it somewhere else. For king and country. Unity." In a great
city, whatever mischief may be set on foot, there will always be found
too many volunteers to put it into effect. Thus it was at Edinburgh.
This summons was obeyed, and the pillar of Popery, which was the
habitation of a Catholic priest with a chapel attached to it, was
demolished. Similar scenes occurred in Black-friars Wynd in Edinburgh,
and even the magistrates of that city par