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Show [64] l 65 l any other, than a moft refolute minifter, from his meafure, or from his Ration. The houfe- hold troops Openly revolted. The allies of miniflry, thofe, I mean, who, fupported fome of their meafures, but refuted refponfibility for any) endeavoured to undermine their credit, and to take ground that mull be fatal to the fuccefs of the be thought to the repeal was Committee of very caufe which they would countenance. The quellion of brought on by miniltry in the this houfe, in the very infiant when it was known that more than one ceurt and refolution. We all felt infpired by the cxa ample he gave us,down even to myfelfithe weakefl: in that phalanx. I declare for one, I knew well enough (it could not be concealed from any hody) the true {late of things; but, in my life,I never came with fo much fpirits into this Houfe. It was a time for a man to aé'c in. We had powerful enemies ; but we had faithful and determined friends; and a glorious caufe. We had a great battle to fight; but we had the means of fighting; not as now, when our arms are tied behind us. We did fight that negotiation was carrying on with the heads of the oppofition. Every thing, upon every tide, was full of traps and mines. Earth below day and conquer. fliook; heaven above menaced; all the ele- fure, the fituation of the Hon. Gentleman" who made the motion for the repeal; in that crifis, when the Whole trading intereft of this empire, crammed into your lobbies, with a trembling and anxious expefl'ation, waited, almoll to a winter's return of light, their fate from your refl)lutions. When, at length, you ments of minifterial fafety were diliblved. It was in the midlt of this chaos of plots and counter-plots; it was in the midit of this com- plicated warfare againfl: public oppolition and private treachery, that the firmnefs of that noble Perfon was put to the proof. He never flirted from his ground; no, not an inch. He remained fixed and determined, in principle, in meafure, and in conduct. He practifed no managements. He fecurcd no retreat. He fought no apology. Irememher, Sir, with a melancholy plead had determined in their favour, and your doors, thrown open, thewed them the figure of their deliverer in the well-earned triumph of his important viEtory, from the whole of that grave multitude there arofe an involuntary burll: of gratitude and tranfport. They jumped upon I will likewife do juf'tice, I ought to do it, him like children on a long abfent father. to the Hon. Gentleman who led us in this They clung about him as captives about their Houfe 9*. Far from the duplicity wickedly charged on him, he acted his part with alacrity * General ConWay. edeemer. in his All England, all America joined applaufe. Nor did he ieem infen- * General Conway. and fible |