The Works of Benjamin Franklin, Volume 7. Бенджамин Франклин

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СКАЧАТЬ William, but the restriction on the crown in building fortresses refused.

      11. The eleventh refused absolutely, except as to the Boston Port Bill, which would be repealed; and the Quebec Act might be so far amended as to reduce that province to its ancient limits. The other Massachusetts acts, being real amendments of their constitution, must for that reason be continued, as well as to be a standing example of the power of Parliament.

      12. The twelfth agreed to, that the judges should be appointed during good behavior, on the Assemblies providing permanent salaries, such as the crown should approve of.

      13. The thirteenth agreed to, provided the Assemblies make provision as in the preceding article.

      15. The fifteenth agreed to.

      16. The sixteenth agreed to, supposing the duties paid to the colony treasuries.

      17. The seventeenth inadmissible.

      We had not at this time a great deal of conversation upon these points, for I shortened it by observing that, while the Parliament claimed and exercised a power of altering our constitutions at pleasure, there could be no agreement; for we were rendered unsafe in every privilege we had a right to, and were secure in nothing. And, it being hinted how necessary an agreement was for America, since it was so easy for Britain to burn all our seaport towns, I grew warm, said that the chief part of my little property consisted of houses in those towns; that they might make bonfires of them whenever they pleased; that the fear of losing them would never alter my resolution to resist to the last that claim of Parliament, and that it behoved this country to take care what mischief it did us, for that sooner or later it would certainly be obliged to make good all damages with interest. The Doctor smiled, as I thought, with some approbation of my discourse, passionate as it was, and said he would certainly repeat it to-morrow to Lord Dartmouth.

      In the discourse concerning the “Hints,” Mr. Barclay happened to mention that, going to Lord Hyde’s, he found Lord Howe with him; and that Lord Hyde had said to him: “You may speak any thing before Lord Howe that you have to say to me, for he is a friend in whom I confide”; upon which he accordingly had spoken with the same freedom as usual. By this I collected how Lord Howe came by the paper of “Hints,” which he had shown me. And, it being mentioned as a measure thought of, to send over a commissioner with powers to inquire into grievances, and give redress on certain conditions, but that it was difficult to find a proper person, I said: “Why not Lord Hyde? He is a man of prudence and temper, a person of dignity, and, I should think, very suitable for such an employment; or, if he would not go, there is the other person you just mentioned, Lord Howe, who would, in my opinion, do excellently well.” This passed as mere conversation, and we parted.

      Lord Chatham’s rejected plan being printed, for the public judgment, I received six copies from Lord Mahon, his son-in-law, which I sent to different persons in America.

      A week and more passed in which I heard nothing further of any negotiation, and my time was much taken up among the members of Parliament, when Mr. Barclay sent me a note to say that he was indisposed, but desirous of seeing me, and should be glad if I would call on him. I waited upon him the next morning, when he told me that he had seen Lord Hyde, and had some further discourse with him on the Articles; that he thought himself now fully possessed of what would do in this business; that he therefore wished another meeting with me and Dr. Fothergill, when he would endeavor to bring prepared a draft conformable chiefly to what had been proposed and conceded on both sides, with some propositions of his own. I readily agreed to the meeting, which was to be on Thursday evening, February 16th.

      We met accordingly, when Mr. Barclay produced the following paper. viz.:

       “A PLAN WHICH, IT IS BELIEVED, WOULD PRODUCE A PERMANENT UNION BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND HER COLONIES

      1. The tea destroyed to be paid for; and, in order that no time may be lost to begin the desirable work of conciliation, it is proposed that the agent or agents, in a petition to the king, should engage that the tea destroyed shall be paid for; and, in consequence of that engagement, a commissioner to have authority, by a clause in an act of Parliament, to open the port (by a suspension of the Boston Port Act) when that engagement shall be complied with.

      2. The Tea-duty Act to be repealed, as well for the advantage of Great Britain as the colonies.

      3. Castle William to be restored to the province of Massachusetts Bay, as formerly, before it was delivered up by Governor Hutchinson.

      4. As it is believed that the commencement of conciliatory measures will, in a considerable degree, quiet the minds of the subjects in America, it is proposed that the inhabitants of the province of Massachusetts Bay should petition the king, and state their objections to the said act. ^{Ref. 009} And it is to be understood that the said act shall be repealed. Interim, the commissioner to have power to suspend the act, in order to enable the inhabitants to petition.

      5. The several provinces who may think themselves aggrieved by the Quebec Bill, to petition in their legislative capacities; and it is to be understood that so far of the act, as extends the limits of Quebec beyond its ancient bounds, is to be repealed.

      6. The act of Henry the Eighth to be formally disclaimed by Parliament.

      7. In time of peace the Americans to raise, within their respective provinces, by acts of their own legislatures, a certain sum or sums, such as may be thought necessary for a peace establishment, to pay governors, judges, etc. Vide Laws of Jamaica.

      8. In time of war, on requisition made by the king with consent of Parliament, every colony shall raise such sums of money as their legislatures may think suitable to their abilities and the public exigency, to be laid out in raising and paying men for land and sea service, furnishing provisions, transports, or such other purposes as the king shall require and direct.

      9. The acts of navigation to be reëxamined, in order to see whether some alterations might not be made therein as much for the advantage of Great Britain as the ease of the colonies.

      10. A naval officer to be appointed by the crown to reside in each colony to see those acts observed.

      N. B.—In some colonies they are not appointed by the crown.

      11. All duties arising on the acts for regulating trade with the colonies to be for public use of the respective colonies, and paid into their treasuries, and an officer of the crown to see it done.

      12. The admiralty courts to be reduced to the same powers as they have in England.

      13. All judges in the king’s colony governments to be appointed during good behavior, and to be paid by the province, agreeable to article seventh.

      N. B.—If the king chooses to add to their salaries, the same to be sent from England.

      14.—The governors to be supported in the same manner.”

      Our conversation turned chiefly upon the first article. It was said that the ministry only wanted some opening to be given them, some ground on which to found the commencement of conciliating measures; that a petition containing such an engagement as mentioned in this article would answer that purpose; that preparations were making to send over more troops and ships; that such a petition might prevent their going, especially if a commissioner were proposed. I was therefore urged to engage the colony agents to join with me in such a petition. My answer was, that no agent had any thing to do with the tea business but those for Massachusetts Bay, who were Mr. СКАЧАТЬ