f in our commerce
or otherwise, that I could never suffer myself to think of
such reasonings for lessening the obligation."

On the 28th of February, 1782, General Conway, one of the leaders of
the Opposition, the same who had moved the repeal of the stamp act,
seventeen years before, presented a resolution in the House of Commons
that,

"THE REDUCTION OF THE COLONIES BY FORCE OF ARMS IS
IMPRACTICABLE."

A violent, even fierce debate ensued, which was continued until one
o'clock in the morning. Then the cry of _question_ became general.
The vote was carried by a majority of nineteen. This terminated
the American war. The people of England had decided against it.
"Acclamations," writes Wraxall, "pierced the roof, and might have
been heard in Westminster Hall."

This great victory was followed by another resolve. It was an address
to George III. soliciting him to "Stop the prosecution of any further
hostilities against the revolted colonies, for the purpose of reducing
them to obedience by force."

Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, these votes were immediately
communicated to the king, who was in a pitiable condition, aged,
nearly blind, half crazed, and stubborn even to insanity, in his
determination to subjugate the Americans. The poor old man, in his
rage, threatened to abandon England, to renounce the crown, and to
cloister himself in his estate of Hanover. He was however compelled
to yield, to dismiss his Tory ministers and to accept a whig cabinet.
Edmund Burke wrote a warm, congratulatory letter to Franklin.[35]

[Footnote 35: Edmund Burke wrote to Dr. Franklin that "The motion was
the _declaration_ of two hundred and thirty four members; but it was
the _opinion_, he thought, of the whole house."]

And now the final struggle arose respecting the terms of peace. The
three great questions discussed, as diplomatic arrangements, were
gradually and very cautiously entered into, were: 1. What shall be the
boundaries of the United States. 2. Shall the Americans be allowed to
fish on the great banks. 3. What provision shall be made for the
Tories in America, whose estates have been confiscated?

There were many preliminary meetings, private, semi-official, and
official. There was a general impression that Franklin was the man
whose opinion would entirely control that of his countrymen. He was
approached in every way, and the utmost endeavors were made to induce
the American Commission