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Show l 4 1 than could be jtiililied in a particular per-fort upon the contrac'ted icale of private information. But though I do not hazard any thing approaching to a ceniure on the motives of former parliaments to all thole alterations, one fact is undoubted; that under them the flare of America has been kept in continual agitation. Every thing adminif'tered as remedy to the public of inconfiancy and want of {Mien}, would be taken as an occaiion of charging us with a pre- determined diltonrent, which nothing could ii".tisfy; whilf't we accufed every meaiiire of vigour as cruel, and every propoial of lenity as Weak and irrefolute. The publick, he laid, would not have patience to flee us play the game out with our adverfaries: we mull produce our hand. It complaint, if it did not produce, was at leaf} would be expeetecl, that thofe who for many followed by, an heightening of the diilemper; years had been active in inch aflfairs (hould thew, that they had formed fome clear and decided idea of the principles of Colony Government' and were capable of drawing out iomethinn until', by a variety of experiments, that important Country has been brought into her prelent iituarion ;--a fituation, which I will not milball, which I dare not name; which I fearcely know how to comprehend in the terms of any de- like a platform of the ground, which might b laid for future and permanent tranquillity. 1cription. .11) this poi'rure, Sir, things flood at the begin- ning of the lemon. About that time, a worthy membet'i't of great parliamentary experience, who, in the year 1766, tilled the chair of the American committee with much ability, took me aiide; and, lamenting the prefent afpcé‘c of our politicks, told me, things Were come to fucll a pals, that our former methods of proceeding in the houle would be no longer tolerated. That the public tribunal (never too indulgent to a long and uniuccelst‘nl oppolition) woJul d now icrutnnze our conduct with unuiual leverity. That the very viciflitudes and findings ot‘min iiiterial meal‘urcs, inilead or~ convirfting their authors * Mr. Roll- fuller. I felt the truth of what my Hon. Friend reprefented; but I felt my fituation too. llis application might have been made with far greater propriety to many other gentlemen. No man was indeed ever better difpoled, or worfe qualified, for inch an undertaking than myfelf. Though I gave to far into his opinion, that I immediately threw my thoughts into a fort of parliamentary form, I was by no means equally ready to pro- duce them. It generally argues iinnedegree of natural impotence of mind, or tome want of knowledge of the world, to hazard Plans of Government, except from a feat of Authority. Propolitions are made, not only iii-effectually, but lbmewhat diii‘eputably, when the minds of men are not properly difpofed for their reception; and B 3 01‘ fo r |