xxvz LORD NORTH'S TARDY ATTEMPT 335 



through parliament the coercive part of their cabinet 

 resolution of January 21, an Address to the king referring 

 to the " rebellion " in the colonies, and praying him to 

 take effectual measures to enforce obedience. There 

 was much debate upon it, and the opposition vote rose 

 to 106 in the Commons. 



On the 2oth a more important step was taken : Lord 

 North introduced his conciliation motion. His own 

 party were surprised to see him in a new character, one 

 indeed more congenial to his own feelings ; they were 

 unaware of the influences that had been at work, all 

 these negotiations having been conducted in private. 

 The Bill followed the lines of the cabinet's resolution of 

 January 21, granting to any colony, which would provide 

 subsidies for defence and civil government, exemption 

 from all taxation, save for the regulation of commerce, 

 and the net produce of the latter to be carried to the 

 account of the colony. It was explained in debate that 

 the subsidies would be proportional to those raised in 

 England, which, as we have seen, was Fothergill's sugges- 

 tion. Franklin states his belief that the original draft of 

 the motion probably contained more of Barclay's " Plan," 

 but that the concessions were curtailed before it was 

 allowed to come forward. Indeed, as it was, North had 

 much difficulty in carrying his resolution. The " king's 

 men " opposed it until they received a hint that it was 

 to pass : it was then carried by 274 votes to 88. The 

 measure was a real and honest attempt to meet the 

 colonists, and it may be regarded as perhaps the solitary 

 definite outcome of the negotiations at Harpur Street. 

 Had it come earlier, or had it now been accompanied by 

 the repeal of the acts, it might have paved the way to 

 an agreement. The new law was communicated to the 

 colonies with an able and considerate letter from Lord 

 Dartmouth. But it was accompanied with the dispatch 

 of troops, and ere it arrived in America blood had been 

 shed, and the time for half measures was past. 



The hour drew near for Franklin to depart. A few 

 days before he left London he met the two friends once 



