n on the same subject was equally unavailing.

DEBATES ON AMERICA, ETC.

On the 20th of February, Mr. Fox made a motion for a committee to
inquire into the causes of the ill-success of our arms in North America,
and the defection of the Canadians. In a speech of considerable power,
Fox maintained that the ultimate design of government was to overthrow
the constitution. He chiefly confined himself to an inquiry whether the
proceedings of ministers had produced the desired effects. To this end
he pursued a detail of ministerial operations beginning with the Boston
Port Bill, in the course of which he endeavoured to show that folly
existed in the cabinet, and that their plans were conceived in ignorance
and executed in imbecility. At the same time he inveighed against the
disgraceful servility of parliament, and concluded by remarking that
none would object to inquiry but those who were culpable themselves.
Unable to resist his reasoning, ministers attempted to elude it, but
their arguments rather weakened than strengthened their cause. Lord
North, indeed, candidly admitted that some of his plans had miscarried;
arguing, in extenuation of their failure, that it was impossible to
foresee every event. He concluded by saying that he was ready to resign,
whenever the house should withdraw its confidence. There was no danger,
however, of this extremity; for, though excited by the speech of the
mover, several friends of government joined in calling for an inquiry,
the motion was negatived by a majority of two hundred and forty against
one hundred and four.

On the 29th of February, copies of treaties lately-entered into with
the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, the Duke of Brunswick, and the Hereditary
Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, for the hire of troops, to the amount of
about 17,000 men, for the American service, were laid before the house
of commons. Lord North moved to refer these compacts to a committee; on
doing which he dilated on the fairness of the terms, and dwelt on the
advantages of employing foreign troops. By the opposition, however,
Great Britain was represented as disgraced in the sight of all Europe,
by applying to the petty states of Germany for succours against her own
subjects. They complained also, that the troops had been obtained at an
immoderately high price; L7 10s. levy-money being paid for every man.
The princes, likewise, it was said, who let them out like slaves, or
beasts of draught, were to be subsi