war with America to be the enemies of their country. The following day the Attorney-General introduced a Bill to conclude a peace or truce with America, and an informal negotiation was at once set on foot in Paris with Franklin. On the 8th of March a vote of censure on the Ministers was lost by a narrow majority. The King now thought it advisable to consult Rockingham, through the Chancellor. Rockingham, who had a winning game to play, stated the propositions to be assented to by the King as follows: "American Independence, no veto; Establishment Bill; Great parts of Contractors Bill; Custom House and Excise Bill; Peace in general if possible; Economy in every branch."[1] The King refused these terms, and the negotiation after lasting eight days failed. Meanwhile the attack in the House of Commons continued. On the 15th a direct motion of want of confidence was brought forward by Sir John Rous, a former supporter of the Government, and was lost by a majority of only 9. Another motion of a similar character was put down for the 20th. The King however still declared that he would not throw himself into the hands of the Opposition, and he even talked of retiring to Hanover.[2] At last on the morning of the dreaded 20th, the King understood that the struggle could no longer be continued, and the same evening Lord North announced in the House of Commons that his Administration was at an end. The King now bethought himself of sending for Shelburne and an interview between them took place at the Queen's house in the Park. "The King," says Lord Shelburne, "proposed to me to take the Administration with the Chancellor, Ld Gower, Ld Weymouth, Ld Camden, the Duke of Grafton, Ld Rockingham, &c., if the latter would agree to state their pretensions of what they meant by a broad bottom, for the King's consideration. I declined this, as absolutely impracticable. The other features of this conversation were, the state of his health; his agitation of mind; his determination to risk anything rather than do an act of meanness; the cruel usage of all the Powers
