Page:Substance of the speech of His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, in the House of Lords.djvu/19

 they appear to possess the most tenacious and perfect recollection; and when it suits their purpose, their memories, with remarkable facility, totally fail them. Mr. Dawes, a marine officer, who had the honour of serving the King the whole of the last war, and the greater part of it in America, does not recollect what both these gentlemen chose to call the Nova Scotia Blacks! These Blacks were Slaves in the American Colonies, and promised their freedom by Royal Proclamation, upon condition of serving the whole war with the army; in which situation they acted as guides and pioneers; and in every menial capacity that an army requires. On the Peace of 1783, these Negroes were carried to the remaining part of the British settlements in North America, where the government of this country, with great liberality, gave them tools and utensils for the erection of houses and the cultivation of their lands; in addition to these cherishing acts, they were also supplied the first year with