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CHAP. inmost thoughts of Franklin. At this very period a young American from Boston, Mr. Josiah Quincy, arrived in England. He had taken a zealous part with the "Sons of Liberty," as they termed themselves, of his native province, and in London had almost daily intercourse with Dr. Franklin, his father's early friend. In one of his secret letters to his confederates at Boston, dated the 27th of November 1774, Mr. Quincy says: "Dr. Franklin " is an American in heart and soul; you may trust "him; his ideas are not contracted within the narrow limits of exemption from taxes, but are "extended upon the broad scale of total emancipation. He is explicit and bold upon the "subject!"*

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At the time in question Chatham was not, and could not be, aware of this double game. Confiding in Dr. Franklin's truthfulness, and knowing the great influence of his name in America, he was most anxious to secure his co-operation in his healing measure. As a channel of communication Chatham employed Lord Mahon, who, already his kinsman by birth, had recently become his son-inlaw. Lord Mahon had been bred at Geneva; "that little but learned Republic" as he long afterwards termed it, where he had imbibed an eager, nay enthusiastic, attachment both for liberty and science. At the age of only seventeen he had gained the gold medal prize from the Academy at Copenhagen for the best Essay on

*Life by Jared Sparks, p. 372.

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the Vibrations of the Pendulum; and since that CHA P. time he had zealously pursued the experiments of Franklin upon Electricity. To Franklin therefore at his lodgings in Craven Street was Lord Mahon now despatched by Chatham, requesting a visit from the philosopher at Hayes. The philosopher went as invited, and some preliminary conversation ensued. Next Sunday morning the Earl returned the visit in Craven Street, bringing with him his plan of conciliation ready written out for Dr. Franklin to keep awhile and consider carefully. "I am come," said Chatham, "to set my judgment by yours as men set their "watches by a regulator!"-"His Lordship," adds Franklin, "stayed with me near two hours, "his equipage waiting at the door; and being "there while people were coming from Church "it was much taken notice of and talked of,

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as at that time was every little circumstance "that men thought might possibly any way affect "American affairs. Such a visit from so great a "man on so important a business flattered not a "little my vanity; and the honour of it gave me "the more pleasure, as it happened on (the 29th "of January) the very day twelvemonth that the

Ministry had taken so much pains to disgrace "me before the Privy Council."

On the Tuesday following (for time was precious since Chatham intended to make his motion on the Wednesday) Franklin once more repaired to Hayes with the Draft Bill and some notes of

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CHAP. his own upon it. "I stayed," says he, "near four "hours, but his Lordship in the manner of, I think, "all eloquent persons was so full and diffuse in

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supporting every particular I questioned that "there was not time to go through half my me"moranda. He is not easily interrupted, and I "had such pleasure in hearing him that I found "little inclination to interrupt him. Therefore

considering that neither of us had much expec"tation that the plan would be adopted entirely "as it stood, and that in the course of its consi"deration if it should be received proper altera"tions might be introduced, I therefore "ceased my querying. And though afterwards many people were pleased to do me the honour "of supposing I had a considerable share in com"posing it; I assure you that the addition of a single word only was made at my instance, namely, CONSTITUTIONS after CHARTERS; for my filling up at his request a blank with the titles. "of Acts proper to be repealed, which I took "from the proceedings of the Congress, was no "more than might have been done by any copying "clerk."-Franklin perhaps was not sorry to have thus avoided committing himself as to any one of the details, and might rather choose to ascertain and to be guided by the prevailing opinion in America.

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On Wednesday the 1st of February, as already determined, Chatham again appeared in the House of Lords, and after a preliminary speech," a most

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"excellent speech," says Franklin,--laid his Bill CHAP. upon the Table. The scheme which it unfolded was a large and comprehensive one. In the first place it declared in the most explicit terms the dependency of the colonies upon the British Crown, and their subordination to the British Parliament in all matters touching the general weal of the whole empire, and above all in the regulation of trade. On the other hand it proposed to enact no less explicitly that no tax or tallage or other charge for the revenue should be levied from any body of British freemen in America without the consent of its own representative assembly. It declared that delegates from the several colonies lately assembled at Philadelphia should, as they desired, meet at the same town and hold another Congress on the 9th of May ensuing; then to consider, in the first place, the making due recognition of the supreme legislative authority of Parliament, and next, over and above the usual charges for the support of civil government in the respective colonies, the making a free grant to the King of a certain perpetual revenue towards the alleviation of the national debt. "No doubt," it was added, "being had but this just free aid will "be in such honourable proportion as may seem "meet and becoming from great and flourishing "colonies towards a parent country labouring "under the heaviest burthens, which in no incon"siderable part have been willingly taken upon "ourselves and our posterity for the defence,

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extension, and prosperity of the colonies; "always understood that the free grant of an "aid as heretofore required and expected from "the colonies is not to be considered as a con"dition of redress, but as a just testimony of "their affection." But although the new grant was thus left to the spontaneous choice of Congress, it was stipulated that the other provisions relinquishing the right of taxation to the American Assemblies should not take effect unless the Congress as an indispensable condition first duly recognized the supreme legislative authority of Parliament. Another clause provided, in conformity with the prayer of the last Congress, that the powers of the Admiralty and Vice Admiralty Courts in America should be restrained within their ancient limits, and that it should not in future be lawful to send persons indicted for murder in any province of America to another colony or to Great Britain for trial. The Acts of Parliament relating to America since 1764, and above all the Acts of the last Session, were wholly repealed. Judges in America as in England were henceforth to hold their offices during their good behaviour, and not merely during the pleasure of the Crown. The Charters and Constitutions of the several provinces were not again to be invaded or resumed unless on some legal grounds of forfeiture. So," -these words form part of the concluding sentence of the Bill," so shall true reconcilement "avert impending calamities."