DOCUMENTS BEARING ON TREATY OF 1783. 193 



Mr. Townshend desires me to insert his best Compliments and to 

 say that he received your letter by Monsr. de Moustier, but that he 

 has hitherto been prevented by hurry of business from paying him 

 all the due Attention. 



No. 125. 1782, December 5, to 1783, February %1 : Debates in British 

 Parliament, being excerpts from the Parliamentary History of 

 England in reference to the preliminary Treaty between the 

 United Kingdom and the United States of the 30th November, 1782. 



[The King's Speech on the opening of the session (5th December, 

 1782) referred to the preliminary articles of peace in the following 

 words : ] 



" .... I lost no time in giving the necessary orders to prohibit 

 the further prosecution of offensive war upon the continent of North 

 America. Adopting, as my inclination will always lead me to do, 

 with decision and effect, whatever I collect to be the sense of my 

 Parliament and my people; I have pointed all my views and 

 measures, as well in Europe as in North America, to an entire and 

 cordial reconciliation with those colonies " 



[The following is from the reply to the address adopted by the 

 House of Lords : ] 



" .... It is with the sincerest gratitude we acknowledge the 

 sacrifice which your Majesty has been graciously and affectionately 

 pleased to make to the wishes and opinions of your people, .... 

 we acknowledge likewise your Majesty's constant care .... and in 

 a particular manner for your Majesty haying been graciously pleased 

 to direct your measures towards promoting a cordial reconciliation 

 between Great Britain and America " 



[In the debates in the Lords on the address of thanks Lord Hawke 

 said : ] 



.... Since then, such is the relative situation of each respective 

 country, Ministers have certainly acted wisely in resting the connec- 

 tion of Great Britain and America, on the permanent bases of affec- 

 tion, consanguinity, religion and mutual interest 



The Earl of Shelbume said, .... 



He had opposed and reprobated those Spanish measures, session 

 after session; he had deprecated the vengeance of Ministers; he had 

 unceasingly endeavoured to preserve some little remains of the 

 friendship in America for this country: some atom or spark from 

 which he had hoped, and did still hope, to re-kindle a mutual affec- 

 tion, before all the feelings, passions and habits of that country be- 

 came absorbed in the politics and interests of France 



[The following is from the reply to the address adopted by the 

 House of Commons (5th December, 1782) : ] 



" . . . . We beg leave to acknowledge, with sincere and hearty 



thanks, your Majesty's royal care and attention to the important 



and critical state of public affairs since the last session, and 



117 particularly for having been graciously pleased to direct your 



measures to promote a cordial reconciliation between Great 



Britain and America " 



