le, can it be believed, that ministers are yet blind to this
impending destruction? I did hope, that instead of this false and empty
vanity, this overweening pride, engendering high conceits and
presumptuous imaginations, ministers would have humbled themselves in
their errors, would have confessed and retracted them, and by an active,
though a late, repentance, have endeavored to redeem them. But, my
Lords, since they had neither sagacity to foresee, nor justice nor
humanity to shun these oppressive calamities--since not even severe
experience can make them feel, nor the imminent ruin of their country
awaken them from their stupefaction, the guardian care of Parliament
must interpose. I shall, therefore, my Lords, propose to you an
amendment of the address to his Majesty, to be inserted immediately
after the two first paragraphs of congratulation on the birth of a
princess, to recommend an immediate cessation of hostilities, and the
commencement of a treaty to restore peace and liberty to America,
strength and happiness to England, security and permanent prosperity to
both countries. This, my Lords, is yet in our power; and let not the
wisdom and justice of your Lordships neglect the happy, and, perhaps,
the only opportunity. By the establishment of irrevocable law, founded
on mutual rights, and ascertained by treaty, these glorious enjoyments
may be firmly perpetuated. And let me repeat to your Lordships, that the
strong bias of America, at least of the wise and sounder parts of it,
naturally inclines to this happy and constitutional reconnection with
you. Notwithstanding the temporary intrigues with France, we may still
be assured of their ancient and confirmed partiality to us. America and
France _cannot_ be congenial.

My Lords, to encourage and confirm that innate inclination to this
country, founded on every principle of affection, as well as
consideration of interest; to restore that favorable disposition into a
permanent and powerful reunion with this country; to revive the mutual
strength of the empire; again to awe the House of Bourbon, instead of
meanly truckling, as our present calamities compel us, to every insult
of French caprice and Spanish punctilio; to re-establish our commerce;
to reassert our rights and our honor; to confirm our interests, and
renew our glories forever--a consummation most devoutly to be
endeavored! and which, I trust, may yet arise from reconciliation with
America--I have the honor