[386] The Bills proposed by Lord North were: (1) "For removing
all doubts and apprehensions concerning taxation by the
Parliament of Great Britain in any of the Colonies;" (2) for the
appointment of five commissioners to treat with the Colonies. By
the first the claim of taxation was abandoned. A third Bill, for
the express repeal of the Massachusetts Charter Act, was also
supported by the Government. The three Bills received the royal
assent on March 11, 1778. Walpole, writing to Mason, February
18th, 1778, says, "You perhaps, who have all ecclesiastical
history at your finger-ends, may recollect something approaching
to the transaction of _yesterday, the 17th of February_, a day
of confession and humiliation that will be remembered as long as
the name of England exists. Yesterday, Feb. 17th, did the whole
Administration, by the mouth of their spokesman, Lord North, no,
no, not resign; on the contrary, try to keep their places by a
full and ample confession of all their faults, and by a still
more extraordinary act, by doing full justice both to America
and to the Opposition,--by allowing that the former are no
cowards nor conquerable,--that they are no Rebels, for the new
Commissioners are to treat with the Congress or anybody, and, by
asking pardon by effects, _i.e._ the cancelling all offensive
acts, and by acknowledging the independence of the 13 provinces,
not _verbally_ yet _virtually_."
[387] A solemn fast was kept on February 27, 1778.
[388] The treaty was also one of friendship. It was signed on
February 6.
[Sidenote: SUEING FOR PEACE.]
337.
_To his Stepmother._
February 28th, 1778.