334 THE CONCILIATION PROPOSALS CHAP. 



The optimist Barclay, however, building hopes perhaps 

 on the polite phrases of Lord Hyde, whom he had again 

 seen, devised a new scheme, and sent a few days later for 

 Franklin. The negotiators met once more at Fothergill's 

 house on the i6th, and Barclay brought forward " A 

 Plan which it was believed would produce a permanent 

 union between Great Britain and her Colonies " (Appendix 

 A, No. VII.). This scheme embodied most of the articles 

 in the " Hints," but the difficulties were sought to be 

 overcome by making the language less definite. The 

 ministry needed an opening, some overture from the 

 colonies which would save their face. The Agents there- 

 fore were to petition for the repeal of the acts : in the 

 interim a commissioner was to have power to suspend 

 them, and "it is to be understood " that they would be 

 repealed when the petition had stated the objections of 

 the colonists. It was thought that if this was agreed to 

 it might prevent the sending out of more troops, especially 

 if a commissioner such as Howe or Hyde went out 

 to treat with the colonists. Franklin said that neither 

 he nor the other Agents had any clear authority for 

 petitioning, but he was willing to hazard it if it would do 

 good, although the many petitions in the past had only 

 been neglected. So he brought up next day drafts of 

 petitions to the king and to Dartmouth, asking that 

 commissioners might be sent out to meet delegates of the 

 colonies. He insisted, however, to his friends that all the 

 acts must be at once suspended and later repealed ; and 

 that damages ought also to be paid. They made common 

 cause with Canada : "we must all be free or none." To 

 trust in the government's examination and their doing 

 what " may be thought necessary " was of no use. It 

 was to say " Try on your fetters first, and then if you 

 don't like 'em, petition and we will consider." Fothergill 

 and Barclay had regretfully to tell him that the repeal 

 of the Boston Port Act could alone be hoped for in the 

 temper of the government, so Franklin pocketed his 

 drafts, and the conference was at an end. 



In the meantime (February 2) the ministry had passed 



