for an enquiry into the ftate of the nation, iu
which the minifter profeffed his cordial acquief^

cencev



GEORGE IIT{ tlS

Cence. Amongft other papers which were
thought neceffary to elucidate the fubfequent in-
veftigation, Mr. Fox moved for returns of fuch
colonies or places as had in purfuance of th^
powers vefted in the commiffioners been dc*
clared at the king's peace, or copies of fuch pa*
pers as had relation thereto. This motion the
minifter vehemently oppofed, and declared he
neither could nor would confent to make difeo*
veries inconfiftent with found wifdom and policy,
and prejudicial to the real interefts of the country*

During the heat of the debate intelligence was
brought, that, in confequence of a motion of the
fluke of Grafton, thefe very papers had been ac-
tually laid upon the table of the other houfej
but the minifter, as if to try how far the obfequi*
oufnefs of the houfe would extend, ftill perfifted
in his refufal, and maintained " that the houfe
of commons were not to be guided in their de-
terminations by any extrinfic confideration ;" and
on a divifion, incredible as it may feem, the mo^
tlon was adually negatived by ^ majority of 178
to 89. An aft by which the dignity of the houfe
was nK>re wantonly facrificed by minifterial ca-
price and infolence, it would be mod affuredly
|mpo(fible to find on the records of parliament.
The fucceeding day was rendered for ^ver rae-
iporable by the difclofure of the melancholy ca-
faftrophe at Saratoga. The American fecretary

being



9X9 GEORGE III/

htmg called upon to declare the purport of thft
difpatches recently received from Canada, with
fliame and reluftance communicated the intelli-
gence of that fatal event. Tliis was followed by.
