Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 249

Amendment was proposed by M^r Grenville & afterwards
withdrawn. The Expression of "Important Occurencys" in
the Speech was Objected to as too Weak & Inadequate What
said they would have been thought in 1745 of any Person
who had called the then Rebellion an Important matter only:
M^r Charles Townshend (tho' otherwise against the motion)
Said that Sooner than make our Collonies our Allies he wo^d
wish to see them returned to their Primitive Desarts. An
Instance having been called for to Shew the Legislature of
Great Britain had ever raised Money upon the Colonies the
Act in Queen Anns time for Establishing the Post Office was
mentioned, to which it was answered that that was a Measure
of Accommodation only & not of Burthen. It was further
said that tho' Great Britain had long Arms yet 3000 miles
was a long way to extend them.
By what I can recollect there Seems a Disposition in Gov-
ernm^t to Relax & Qualify the Law at least, attended probably
with an Indemnity and Oblivion for what is past, Whether to
repeal it totally seems not at present Settled & the Law Lords
Appear averse to it tho' that is understood to be the opinion
of M^r Pitt who is expected in Town after the recess to throw
his Weight into the ministerial Scale unless he should alter his
mind in consequence of Lord George Sacville's Promotion &
destination to take the Lead which is thought not to be very
agreable to him Delay Seems desired by the Ministry in
hopes it may Produce proper representations from the
Colonys and perhaps Addresses from our own people w^ch
may Countenance a Departure from the Law whilst the other
Party are pressing hasty resolves with a View of Involving
them in difficulties or Plunging them in Engagements which
they may not so well know how to Extricate themselves from
and perhaps not without hopes of Seeing the Law soon
Accepted by some of the Colonies. The Law is the Theme
and the Colonies are the Objects held forth to Publick View
whilst those who look ever so little behind the Curtain may
fancy they discover different Views in the Contending Partys,
Obliquely Glancing Censure upon each other. The Advocates
for the Amendment, or Repeal of the Law, to Cast an Odium
upon the Framers of it: the Partisans of the Law to Impute
its Inefficacy and the Exceptions taken to it to a Wilful
neglect in Goverment to Crush the opposition in its Infancy.
It is this day said, that M^r Pitt, Determined neither to Act
with the Minden Generall, nor yet with the Rochfort Second
in Command, will take a hasty Step into the other House, but
with the same resolution to oppose the Law. Both Houses
are now Adjourned to 14^th January, when the Law will
receive a very Serious Discussion, and I hope a Prosperous