ems to be attached to the king: the plans were in reality his own, and
he imposed them upon Lord North and the administration.

PETITION OF NOVA SCOTIA.

At the opening of this session, a petition was presented to both houses
from Nova Scotia, which proposed to grant to his majesty in perpetuity
a duty of poundage, _ad valorem_, on all commodities imported into the
colony, not being the produce of the British dominions in Europe or
America, bay-salt only excepted, by which means the amount of the
revenue would keep pace with the wealth of the province. Ministers
conceived that this loyal petition would serve as an example to the
other colonies, and therefore gave it their support. They suggested
a duty of eight per cent.; but objections were drawn from the
unproductiveness compared with the old duties, and the small chance
of other colonies following the example of a district which had always
occasioned an expense to government, and ministers themselves finally
abandoned it: nothing was heard of the petition after it went into
committee.

PETITION OF CONGRESS.

On the 7th of November, a copy of the petition of congress alluded to
in the king's speech was laid before the lords. On its presentation,
the Duke of Richmond seeing Mr. Penn below the bar, moved for his being
examined before they entered upon the discussion of the petition. This
was rejected by a majority of fifty-six against twenty-two, and the
noble mover then made another motion, that Mr. Penn should be
examined on the next day, which, after a long debate was conceded. The
examination was conducted by the Duke himself, and the opinions elicited
from it were, that the members of congress were men of character and
intelligence; that the people considered themselves able to resist the
arms of Great Britain employed to enforce the obnoxious acts; that the
war was begun in defence of their liberties, and not with any desire
of obtaining independence; that unless conciliatory measures were
immediately pursued, it was probable connexions with foreign powers
would be formed, which they would not be easily induced to renounce;
and that they were dissatisfied with the reception of their petitions,
though inclined to acknowledge the authority of Great Britain in all
matters, except taxation. Penn was an honest man, and doubtless sincere
in his sentiments, but he had certainly been deceived, like many others,
and even some members of the congress itself.