it he declared the necessity of continuing the war; and hinted, that
there was a probability that the land-forces must not only be kept up
to their full establishment, but even augmented by new contracts. Of
the disposition of foreign powers, his majesty now spoke in a doubtful
manner. They had given friendly assurances, he said, but as the
armaments of France and Spain continued, he thought it necessary that
his own naval force should be augmented. He had neither lost any of his
firmness, nor abated any of his hope, as to the issue of this contest.
He would always guard, he said, the honour of the British crown
faithfully; and he hoped that the Americans would yet return to their
allegiance; that the remembrance of their former happiness, and the
sense of their present misery, under the tyranny of their leaders, would
rekindle their loyalty and attachment to their mother country; and that
they would enable him, with the concurrence of parliament, to accomplish
peace, order, and confidence in the colonies.

{GEORGE III. 1777-1778}

DEBATES ON AMERICA.

The usual addresses were moved on the king's speech--addresses which
were replete with panegyric on its wisdom, and likewise the wisdom of
ministers. They were doomed, however, to meet with stern opposition. In
the lower house, the Marquess of Granby, after lamenting the disastrous
effects of the war, and expressing a desire of having the happiness
to lay the ground-work of a reconciliation, moved an amendment, to the
effect, that his majesty should be requested to adopt some measures
for accommodating all differences with America; that he should be
recommended to cease hostilities, as a preparatory step to that end; and
that he should be assured that the commons were determined to co-operate
with him in every measure tending to the re-establishment of peace. This
motion was seconded by Lord John Cavendish, and it was supported by the
opposition generally, on the grounds, that after three years' war, with
a heavy expenditure and a great loss of men, there was no prospect
of success; that, notwithstanding the hopes held out in the king's
speeches, our progress exhibited a series of disappointments and losses;
that trade was greatly affected by the contest; and that while the
defenceless state of our coasts and commercial fleets demonstrated we
were unable at this stage of the war to protect our national trade, we
should be still less able when, involved in a war,