144 



risliermert, ship-builders, and others employed in the trade and fish- 

 eries of New England, that after the plenty of the ocean, they may 

 poke in the brooks, and rake in the puddles, and diet on what we con- 

 sider as husks and draft for hogs. 



He averred that he was convinced by the whole tenor of the de- 

 bale, as well as by private conversation, that most of those who 

 would vote for the bill had never read it, and would support it out of 

 respect to the opinions of others ; and he concluded with expressing 

 the hope that such, if any there were, would have the benefit of the 

 prayer made for those who alone had done an act worse than this : 

 *' Forgive them; they know not what they do." 



The Lord Advocate of Scotland replied, and closed the discussion. 

 He charged upon those who took part with the Americans in Parlia- 

 tnent and elsewhere, all the guilt and bloodshed that might come of 

 the measures of the government. He sat down in temper ; the House 

 evincing much impatience. 



The vote on the question of passing the bill to a third reading was 

 then taken : two hundred and fifteen members answered aye, and 

 sixty-one no. 



On the day assigned, namely, the Sth of March, the bill was put 

 upon its final passage. Mr. Hartley introduced an amendment provi- 

 ding that the colonies might transport coastwise, and from one to the 

 other, "fuel, corn, meal, flour, or other victual;" and supported his 

 views in a speech of great power. He reviewed the dealings of Par- 

 liament with Massachusetts, and pointed out the disastrous consequences 

 that were sure to result to the commerce and manufactures of the 

 mother country herself from the act before the House. 



Lord North opposed the amendment. Mild and courteous in his 

 words and bearing, he yet avowed his determination to adhere to the 

 principles of the bill as they stood ; and so far from relaxing from these, 

 said he, more severe measures must follow if the conduct of the colo- 

 nists rendered such further legislation necessary. 



Mr. Burke* again attacked the ministry in a speech of exceeding 

 warmth and bitterness. The act, he uttered, is not sanguinary. No ; 

 it did not mean to shed blood; but, to suit some gentlemen's humanity, 

 it oviy meant to starve five hundred thousand people — men, women, 

 and children at the breast. Some gentlemen had even expressed their 

 approbation of famine in preference to fire and sword. The act not 

 onl}'^ took from these people the means of subsisting themselves by their 

 own labor, but, if the amendment proposed should be rejected, would 

 deprive them also of support by the charity of their friends. The 

 ministry reduced them to beggary first, and then took the beggar's scrip 

 from them ; nay, they even dashed from the mouth of hunger the mor- 

 sel which the hand of benevolence would bestow. 



Lord Clare, in reply, said he would not enter the list with the hon- 

 orable gentleman who had just spoken ; he should wage an unequal 

 war. But he had in his hand a friend who was a match for him — his 



* Mr. Burke, in his speech, subsequeutly, oq his "resolutions for conciliation with the colo- 

 nies," March 22, 1775, refers to this bill as "the grand penal bill by which we have passed 

 aeeteace on tiie trade and sustenance of America." 



