[Lord Effingham's Resignation Speech before the House of Lords]. Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet. Or, the General Advertiser. Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania]; Monday, July 31, 1775. Printed by John Dunlap. Volume IV [4], number 197. Four pages of a bifolium, 12.25" x 18.5". Unpaginated and printed in four columns. "Therefore, my Lords, whatever has been done by the Americans, I must deem it the mere consequence of it our unjust demands...Is it then a wonder if they say in despair, ‘for the short remainder of our lives we will be free!'" This issue of Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet contains Lord Effingham's [Thomas Howard] May 25 speech before the House of Lords. The previous month, Effingham (1746-1791) wrote to the British Secretary of War, Lord Barrington, to resign his commission in protest against the war with America. In his resignation, Effingham explained that his conscious would not allow him to wage war against his fellow citizens in America, "Your Lordship is no stranger to the conduct which I have observed in the unhappy disputes with our American colonies...the very same sentiments of duty and affection to his Majesty, will not suffer me to be instrumental in depriving any part of his people of those liberties which form the best security for their fidelity and obedience to his government. As I cannot, without reproach from my conscience, consent to bear arms against my fellow subjects in America in what, to my weak discernment, is not a clear cause...and humbly bed that I may be permitted to retire." He was required to provide an explanation for his decision to the House of Lords and the result was this sensational speech, printed in full in this issue on page [2]. It reads, in part: "...I confess I wish to avoid the discussion of our right to such a power as we are contending for; that is to say, a power of taxing a set of subjects who are not represented among us, and who have full powers to tax themselves in the ordinary and constitutional manner...we have no more right to exercise the power of taxation in that country, than a Roman Dictator had to begin his office with a declaration that his power should be perpetual, and was necessary in the ordinary business of government. Therefore, my Lords, whatever has been done by the Americans, I must deem it the mere consequence of it our unjust demands. They have come to you with fair argument, you have refused to hear them; they make the most respectful remonstrances, you answer them with pains and penalties; they know they out to be free, you tell them they shall be slaves. Is it then a wonder if they say in despair, ‘for the short remainder of our lives we will be free!' ...To bring the history down to the present scene. Here are two armies in presence of each other; armies of brothers and countrymen; each dreading the event, yet each feeling, that it is in the power of the most trifling accident, a private dispute, a drunken fray in any public house in Boston; in short, a nothing, to cause the sword to be drawn, and to plunge the whole country into all the horrors of blood, flames, and parricide...Ever since I was of an age to have any ambition at all, my highest has been to serve my country in a military capacity. If there was on earth an event I dreaded, it was to see this country so situated as to make that profession incompatible with my duty as a citizen...When the duties of a soldier and citizen become inconsistent, I shall always think myself obliged to sink the character of the soldier in that of the citizen, till such time as those duties shall again, by malice of our real enemies, become united." The thunderous speech as met with gratitude and praise in the colonies. When a 32-gun frigate was completed by the Continental Navy in 1777, it was named the USS Effingham in his honor. John Adams also visited with Effingham in London in 1785 while serving as minister to Britain. There are several additional articles in this issue that related to the battles of Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill. Also found on page [2], is a report from London dated May 30 that reads, "papers dated the 25th of April last, which mentions an engagement having happened on the 19th of the same month with the Bostonians, who killed and wounded 160 of the regulars..." Page [3] contains an order from the Philadelphia Committee of Safety signed in type by its president, Benjamin Franklin, and an account of a declaration read upon Prospect Hill by General [Israel] Putnam. On page [4] is a report "of the Officers of the Ministerial troops killed and wounded at the battle of Charles-Town" that contains a detailed accounting of the casualties by name and regiment. Reference: Hilda Engbring Feldhake. The Lords Effingham and the American Colonies. Pages 9-11. Condition: Near complete separation along central portion of integral fold. Edges trimmed close, just touching text at upper margins. Partial ink ownership to upper margin of frontpage. Light scattered dampstaining and soiling with minute foxing. 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