ocure
its favourable reception; but Mr. Penn, though from the city whose
Congress had twice assembled, a man distinguished in the colony for
moderation and loyalty, and the appointed agent of the Congress, was not
asked a question, even when he presented the American petition to the
Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, and the King refused to
see him.--_Ib._, pp. 231, 232.

"Two days after the delivery of a copy of the petition of Congress, the
King sent out a proclamation for _suppressing rebellion and sedition_.
It set forth that many of his subjects in the colonies had proceeded to
open and avowed rebellion by arraying themselves to withstand the
execution of the law, and traitorously levying war against him. 'There
is reason,' so ran its words, 'to apprehend that such rebellion hath
been much promoted and encouraged by the traitorous correspondence,
counsels, and comfort of divers wicked and desperate persons within our
realm.' Not only all the officers, civil and military, but all the
subjects of the realm were therefore called upon to disclose all
traitorous conspiracies, and to transmit to one of the Secretaries of
State 'full information of all persons who should be found carrying on
correspondence with, or in any manner or degree aiding or abetting the
persons now in open arms and rebellion against the Government within any
of the colonies in North America, in order to bring to condign
punishment the authors, perpetrators, and abettors of such traitorous
designs.'

"The proclamation, aimed at Chatham, Camden, Barre, and their friends,
and the boldest of the Rockingham party, even more than against the
Americans, was read, but not with the customary ceremonies, at the Royal
Exchange, where it was received with a general hiss."

"The irrevocable publication having been made, Penn and Arthur Lee were
'permitted' on the 1st of September to present the original of the
American petition to Lord Dartmouth, who promised to deliver it to the
King; but on their pressing for an answer, 'they were informed that as
it was not received on the throne, no answer would be given.' Lee
expressed sorrow at the refusal, which would occasion so much bloodshed;
and the deluded Secretary answered: 'If I thought it would be the cause
of shedding one drop of blood, I should never have concurred in it."
(Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. VIII., Chap, xlix., pp.
132, 133.)

Yet "on the 23rd of August Lord Dartm