he commons upon various
petitions presented to the house, and especially upon one presented
from Franklin, Bolland, and Lee, who prayed to be examined at the bar in
support of the demands made by the general congress at Philadelphia. A
motion, that this petition should be brought up, was negatived, on the
ground that it would have the appearance of sanctioning the proceedings
of the congress.

On the 2nd of February, Lord North, in the commons, in a committee of
the whole house, moved for an address of thanks to the king for the
communication of the papers. In introducing this motion Lord North
intimated that a large military force was to be sent to America, and
that the foreign commerce of New England and their fishing on the banks
of Newfoundland were to be effectually stopped, until they should return
to their duty. Fox moved an amendment, censuring ministers for having
rather inflamed than healed differences, and praying for their removal.
In doing so he descanted largely on the injustice of the motion for an
address; predicting defeat in America and ruin at home. The amendment
was negatived by a large majority, and, on a second division, the motion
for an address was carried. It was reported on the 6th of February, when
there was another warm debate, in which Wilkes, whose conduct on this
subject was steady and consistent, took part. He remarked:--"Who can
tell whether, in consequence of this day's violent and mad address, the
scabbard may not be thrown away by the Americans, as well as by us;
and should success attend them, whether, in a few years, they may not
celebrate the glorious era of the revolution of 1775, as we do that
of 1608? Success crowned the generous efforts of our forefathers for
freedom, else they had died on the scaffold as traitors and rebels;
and the period of our history which does us most honour would have been
deemed a rebellion against lawful authority--not a resistance sanctioned
by all the laws of God and man, and the expulsion of a tyrant." There is
much truth in these observations; but in reply it was observed, that the
present crisis had been produced as much by a zeal for their cause and
a seditious spirit at home, as by the restless spirit of the colonists
themselves; and that, while the proceedings of the Americans evidently
tended to independence, and a future age might perhaps see them
successful, it was the duty of all to unite in preventing the evil day
from arriving at that per