CHAPTER XXXI.. Change of Administration in England; Change of Policy

CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION IN ENGLAND; CHANGE OF POLICY FOR BOTH ENGLAND AND THE COLONIES; PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AT PARIS; CAUSE OF THE UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS; CHANGE OF MINISTRY; THE KING COMPELLED TO YIELD 53-65

Names of the new Ministers; death of the Marquis of Rockingham, the Premier, succeeded by the Earl of Shelburne, in consequence of which several Ministers resign, and are succeeded by others, among whom was Pitt, as Chancellor of the Exchequer (in a note) 53

Correspondence between Dr. Franklin, at Paris, and the Earl of Shelburne, which led to negotiations for peace 54

Parliament does not pass an Act to authorize peace with America until three months after the accession of the new Ministry 54

Dr. Franklin proposes to include Canada in the United States 54

English and American Commissioners meet at Paris and hold protracted negotiations, with many delays, in regard to terms of peace 56

Two most difficult questions of the treaty--The fishing grounds of Newfoundland and the Loyalists 56

It was agreed that the Americans should have the right to take fish on the Banks of Newfoundland, but not to dry or cure them on any of the King's settled dominions 56

Preamble and articles of the treaty (in a note) 56

The most important question of the Loyalists 57

They constituted the majority of the population of the Colonies at the beginning of the contest 57

It was at length agreed that the Congress should recommend to the several States to compensate the Loyalists; but Dr. Franklin anticipated no success from it, as of course he did not desire it 58

Dr. Franklin's counter-scheme to defeat the proposition of the English Commissioners, who gave way 58

Dr. Ramsay on the Loyalists being "sacrificed" to their sufferings 59

Mr. Hildreth on the same subject 61

What was demanded for the Loyalists had been sanctioned by all modern civilized nations in like circumstances 61

How honourable to the United States to have imitated such examples 62

The fallacy of the plea or pretext that Congress had no power to grant an amnesty and compensation to the Loyalists 62

Severe censure of the royal historian, Dr. Andrews, upon the English Commissioners for having agreed to sacrifice the Loyalists (in a note) 62

"All parties in the Commons unanimously demand amnesty and indemnity for the Loyalists." (Bancroft, in a note) 62

Dr. Franklin and his colleagues outwitted the English Commissioners not only in regard to the Loyalists but also in regard to immense territories 63

Deplorable condition of the Loyalists during the war; utter abandonment by the English Commissioners 64