ts attainment. Eight days before the separate
preliminaries were signed, Lord Shelburne wrote to the lord mayor,
acquainting him that the negociations promised a speedy conclusion; on
which account parliament would be prorogued from the 26th of November
to the 5th of December. At this time it was, indeed, considered that
America was wholly detached from the league, and there was no anxiety
about the prolongation of a naval war with the rest of our enemies.
There was in truth, no fear of this, for France, Spain, and Holland had
all suffered too much on the ocean to make them desirous of continuing
hostilities. Pride might dictate haughty demands, but it was clear that
they would rather abate them than renew the struggle.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament met on the 5th of December, when the king announced from the
throne, that in pursuit of a general pacification, he had offered to
declare the American colonies free and independent states, by an article
to be inserted in the definite treaty. This was against his majesty's
wishes as is evident from the following remarks which he made in
continuation. He said:--"In thus admitting their separation from the
crown of Great Britain, I have sacrificed every consideration of my own
to the wishes and opinion of my people. I make it my humble and earnest
prayer to Almighty God, that Great Britain may not feel the evils which
might result from so great a dismemberment of the empire; and that
America may be free from those calamities which have formerly proved
in the mother country how essential monarchy is to the enjoyment of
constitutional liberty. Religion, language, interest, affections, may,
and I hope will, yet prove a bond of permanent union between the two
countries: to this end neither attention nor disposition shall be
wanting on my part." Among other topics in his speech, his majesty
alluded to the valiant exertions of the army and navy; the economical
reforms which would be necessary after so expensive a war; and the
attention which the concerns of Ireland and India demanded. There was
no regular opposition to the address in either house, but in the commons
Fox suggested that it would be better to recognize the independence
of America at once, and not to reserve it as one of the conditions of
peace. Some severe remarks were also made in the house of lords, on the
inconsistency of the minister, who, at a former period, had so strongly
opposed the recognition of A