328 THE CONCILIATION PROPOSALS CHAP. 



treasuries. Franklin wished to add the offer, that if Britain 

 would give up its monopoly of American commerce, the 

 provinces would submit to a tax in peace-time equal to that 

 (presently described) in time of war ; but the others said 

 this was totally inadmissible. No 'troops were to enter and 

 quarter in any colony but with its consent ; the Englishmen 

 thought this was asking rather much. The Acts restraining 

 manufactures should be repealed ; this also was objected to, 

 but Franklin would only consent to substitute " reconsidered " 

 for " repealed." The salaries of judges and of governors 

 were to be under colonial control ; collectors and custom-house 

 officers were to be appointed by the governors, and not sent 

 out from England. All powers of internal legislation in the 

 colonies were to be disclaimed by parliament ; this provision 

 they thought could not be obtained, but the attempt might be 

 made. The articles bear witness to the essential part taken 

 by trade interests in the dispute. All parties felt this, and 

 Fothergill's prescience discerned that Britain, although then 

 still supplying corn to neighbouring countries, would be 

 dependent in the future upon America for this necessary food. 

 Then the penal measures of the last few years, under which 

 the colonies were smarting, were to be annulled. The Massa- 

 chusetts and Quebec Acts must be repealed and the freedom 

 of Canada restored. The fortress of Castle William was to 

 be given back, and, Franklin would add, no others built but 

 with consent. The Treason Act of Henry VIII. was to be 

 disclaimed, the powers of the Admiralty Courts reduced, and 

 their acts re-enacted in America. Something was granted 

 by way of concession from the colonies. Payment for the 

 tea spilt in Boston Harbour was insisted on as a sine qua non 

 by the English friends, and was tactfully put at the head of 

 the articles ; and since this was a point of honour on which 

 Franklin might hardly expect to carry his countrymen's 

 consent, he was willing to devote his own private fortune to 

 its fulfilment. Every colony should be untaxed in time of 

 peace, but should agree to raise money on the king's requisi- 

 tion, with consent of parliament, in time of war. It was not 

 easy to see how this should be limited, until Fothergill pro- 

 posed that the grants should bear some definite proportion 

 to the war-taxes on land paid in Britain say not less than 

 one-quarter or one-half of these, if they reached 33. or 43. in 

 the pound respectively ; more might be added as a voluntary 

 grant. 



Copies of the Hints, modified after conference, were 



