396: Lord Mahon says: "In framing this measure, he sought the
aid and counsel of Dr. Franklin. Already, in the month of August
preceding, they had become acquainted, through the mediation of Lord
Stanhope, who carried Dr. Franklin to Hayes (the residence of Lord
Chatham). Lord Chatham had then referred to the idea which began to
_prevail in England, that America aimed at setting up for herself as a
separate State. The truth of any such idea was loudly denied by Dr.
Franklin_. 'I assured his lordship,' Dr. Franklin said, 'that having
more than once travelled almost from one end of the continent to the
other, and kept a great variety of company, eating and drinking and
conversing with them freely, I never had heard from any person, drunk or
sober, the least expression of a wish for separation, or hint that such
a thing would be advantageous to America.... In fine, Lord Chatham
expressed much satisfaction in my having called upon him, _and
particularly in the assurances I had given him that America did not aim
at independence_.'" (Works, Vol. V., p. 7, ed. 1844.)

The Earl of Chatham's last speech was an appeal against the separation
of the American colonies from England, and his last words were: "My
lords, I rejoice that the grave has not closed upon me; that I am still
alive to lift up my voice against the dismemberment of this ancient and
most noble monarchy." (Bancroft, Vol. IX., p. 495.)]

[Footnote 397: "In the beginning of the memorable year 1776, there was a
public opinion in favour of independence in New England, and but little
more than individual preferences for it in the Middle or Southern
colonies. So deeply seated was the affection for the mother country,
that it required all the severe acts of war, directed by an inexorable
Ministry and the fierce words from the throne, to be made fully known
throughout America before the _majority_ of the people could be
persuaded to renounce their allegiance and assume the sovereignty.
Jefferson says that Samuel Adams was constantly holding caucuses with
distinguished men, in which the measures to be pursued were generally
determined upon, and their several parts were assigned to the actors who
afterwards appeared in them." (Frothingham's Rise of the Republic of the
United States, pp. 468, 469.)]

[Footnote 398: Quoted by Bancroft, Vol. VII., p. 234.]

[Footnote 399: "Millions in England and Scotland" (said John Adams, who
nominated Washington as Commander-in-Chief, and