mn national accord between Great Britain and her
colonies stand an everlasting monument clemency and magnanimity in the
benignant father of his people; of wisdom and moderation in this great
nation, famed for humanity as for valour; and of fidelity and grateful
affection from brave and loyal colonies to their parent kingdom, which
will ever protect and cherish them."

There is full evidence that Chatham, in bringing such a bill as
this before the house--a bill which was rather theoretical than
practical--did not expect that it would be adopted. In a consultation
over the bill between himself and Franklin, after certain suggestions
made by the philosopher, none of which were adopted, he said that there
was not time to make alterations and another fair copy; that neither
of them expected it would be adopted; and that it might be afterwards
amended. On the part of Franklin, no desire seems to have existed in
his mind for its adoption. What he chiefly wanted, was another brilliant
speech from the veteran statesman, that government might be further
embarrassed, and the resistance of the colonies further stimulated. This
appears to have escaped the penetration of Chatham. Sincere himself in
the matter, he thought Franklin also sincere: otherwise there can be no
doubt that he would have spurned him from his door. Franklin, in truth,
took care to throw dust in the eye of Chatham. At a previous interview,
he assured him that he had never heard any person, drunk or sober,
express a wish for the disseveration of the two countries, or hint that
such a thing would be advantageous to America. This he expressly
states in a letter to his son, so that he stands condemned by his own
hand-writing of the most gross duplicity for ulterior purposes. It is
pitiable to see a mind so highly gifted as was that of Franklin stoop so
low in a matter of such momentous consequences The eyes of all America
were turned towards him as their champion in England, and had he been
so inclined there is little doubt but he could have procured great
and lasting benefits to his country without the shedding one drop of
precious blood. But his single aim was the dismemberment of the empire.

At the conclusion of Chatham's speech, the Earl of Dartmouth, secretary
of state for America, moved that the bill should lie on the table, till
the papers referred to the house by his majesty should have been taken
into consideration. On the other hand, the Earl of Sandwich m