YONGE STREET AXD DUNDAS STREET. 617 



Hm. Sir George was Secretary at War from 1782 to 1794, when 

 he was succeeded by "William Windham. He also held the offices of 

 Vice-Treasurer for Ireland, and Master of the Mint. In 1797 he 

 became Governor and Commander-in-Chief at the Cape of Good 

 Hope, succeeding Lord Macartney there. He died at Hampton: 

 Court, September 26, 1812, set. 80. 



In the debates taking place in the House of Commons during the 

 movement in the American Colonies which resulted in their indepen- 

 dence. Sir George Yonge took a favourable view of the intentions 

 and wishes of the colonists. Thus, in reply to Lord North, when: 

 some resolutions were being adopted on a petition from ISTova Scotia 

 setting forth the grievances of that loyal colony, and calling respect- 

 fully for a redress of them at the hands of the Imperial Parliament, 

 Sir George Yonge said : " The sentiments of the petitioners were the 

 sentiments of the General Congress : they alike acknowledge the 

 Parliament of Great Britain as the supreme legislature ; they alike 

 own it their duty to contribute to the exigencies of the State ; and 

 they alike claim the right of giving and granting their own money." 

 He added, " that it was in the power of the Ministry so to frame the 

 bill as to give peace to all America, and he wished that were their 

 inclination." Thus his remarks are summarized in the Gentleman! s 

 Magazine of December, 1776. As a specimen of Sir George's 

 speeches at a later period, as Secretary at War, I give the summary 

 of one preserved in the same periodical; which will show that he 

 possessed tact and address. It relates to a proposed reduction in the 

 Household Troops in 1787, to eflFect which, however, a larger sum 

 than usual was to be asked for from the Parliament. The point was 

 to make it clear that the extra charge on the revenue wotrld result in 

 a "saving to the public." 



The reporter of the Gentleman^ s Magazine informs us that "The 

 Secretary of War rose and said, that when he presented the army- 

 estimates, he had not included in them those of the King's household 

 troops, because, as he had long since informed the House, His 

 Majesty had at that time under consideration a plan of reform in 

 those corps by which a considerable saving might be made to the- 

 public. It being impracticable, however, to digest this plan so soon 

 as was expected, the intended reform could not take place till the 

 24th of June next. It was therefore necessary to vote the pay of 

 all the household troops fi'om Christmas Day last up to Midsummer. 



