February 1782—March 1782. Political Memorandums. No. 4.

On Monday, Feb. 4, the D. of Richmond, agreeable to what he had said on the Thursday before, moved an address to the Crown for several papers to be laid before the House relative to civil as well as military Government at this time observed in America ; the debate, however, almost entirely turned upon the execution of Isaac Haynes, a Rebel Colonel. I had no doubts, myself, with regard to the justice of the sentence, but voted for the address from a desire of information on many other subjects included in it.Previous to the debate, Lord Shelburne apologized to me for my not seeing him a few days before when I call'd, and told nae he had given orders for me to be let in at all times when he was at home; he mentioned he had much to say-to me in private. He knew we agreed upon one very important point (objecting to the independence of America), and told me he had seen Lord Rockingham but could not bring him to the point he wish'd. Lord Coventry desired to speak with me in the P's Chamber. When we came there he repeated his wishes of union amongst the Opposition, and shewed me a motion he proposed soon to make.