The Virginia Gazette

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

General Conway, after a speech of an hour, moved for an address to his Majesty, that he would direct to be laid before the House of Commons, copies of the instructions to Lord and General Howe, for making peace with America.

He arraigned the conduct of the Ministry, in very severe and pointed terms, and concluded his speech by observing, "That if the House continued to vote at the pleasure of the Ministry, argument would have as little effect there as the troops had in America."

He was seconded by Col. Barre, who, in an animated style, condemned every measure that had hitherto been taken, asserted that whenever a motion of this nature was to be made, he saw a set of features to which he was an entire stranger, except upon such treasury dominancies.

Lord North combatted the arguments of the Colonel and General; denied the necessity of showing the accounts and orders, and argued upon the prudence and good management of keeping that secret, which if known, might frustrate future operations.

He was answered with severity by Lord John Cavendish; Mr. Burke contended for the necessity of the motion, rallied the weakness of Administration. Their measures he said, were full of blunders, their designs attended with an uncommon fatality, and the execution of their orders was such, as served to heighten the spirit of the Americans, and disgrace the glory of England.

Mr. Fox strenuously opposed every measure of Government, canvassed every argument of Lord North's, with spirit and judgment, and said, they magnified every defeat into victory, and every shameful retreat into prudence, good conduct, and heroism.

At length the question was put, when the numbers were, for the motion, 85—Against it, 171.