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the same, in respect to the Principle of the Law, when it first
Passed, alluding to a Conversation at that time between him
& Lord Lyttelton, which the other Confirmed His Lordship
expressed his Acquiescence in the other parts of the Address,
Congratulated the King on the Encrease of his Family, &
Condoled with him on the Death of the Duke of Cumberland,
the Conqueror at Culloden, (which I think was all his Lord-
ship said of him) And concluded with assuring the Adminis-
tration of a Strict Scrutiny into the Papers when they came
before the House, to See what Offences had happened who
were the Offenders, when the first Notice was given, what
Steps taken &c.
The opposers of the Question purposely Avoided Entring
into the Merits that they might not prejudice the Question by
Intemperate Sallies and Precipitate Resolutions before they
were properly Possessed of it by the Production of the Papers.
Lord Dartmouth admitted they had been apprized of the
opposition given to the Act Two or Three Months before the
Meeting of the Parliament but said the most material Papers
had been reced within Four or Five Days & more were daily
Expected. Lord Shelburne alone Ventured to Launch a little
out, plainly Intimating his Sense for a Repeal of the Law,
which was not avowed by any other Lord: He said before
they resolved upon rash Measures they Should Weigh the
matter well. Should first Consider the Expediency of the
Law and If found Expedient what Power they had to Enforce
it. That the Wisest Legislatures had been mistaken, the
Laws of Carolina tho' Planned by the Great Lord Shaftesbury
& Mr Lock had been found Impracticable in the Execution &
were now grown Obsolete. That this Government had been
Struggling with one Colony ever since Lord Clarendons
time* but to very little Purpose. That the Romans Planted
their Colonys to encrease their Power We to extend our
Commerce. Precipitate measures might bring the Indians
upon the Colonys, that Indians were no bad Politicians: Sup-
posing there were a few Regiments in America one or Two
at Halifax & as many at Pensacola. Let them all Embark at
once upon the same Destination equally Compleat Disciplined
& Victualled & no Intervening Accident to Disappoint the
Expedition what could be Effected by their little united efforts
against Colonies so Populous & of such a Magnitude and
Extent The most that could be expected would be to ruin
the Colonies first but the Distress would end with ourselves.
I was not present in the other House where a Similar
* Alluding perhaps to the Disputes between the Massts Bay & New
Hampshire.
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