Colonies. War with France was now only a question of days. In this critical situation of affairs the unanimous voice of the country demanded that Chatham should take the helm. If peace was to be made with America, he was the statesman best able to obtain advantageous terms; if the war was to be continued, he was the minister most fit to direct it. From all quarters, directly and indirectly, he was imperatively summoned to quit his retreat. Bute, abandoning for a moment the retirement in which he had lived ever since 1763, expressed his opinion that his old antagonist was the man for the situation; Mansfield did the same; Richmond, though believing that it was no longer possible to defer a final separation from the revolted colonies, said, that if Lord Chatham thought it right to adopt a different course, he would be the first to give him every support in his power.[1]
Unfortunately the other members of the Rockingham connection were unwilling to follow the example of Richmond. By the beginning of February 1778, it had become clear that any co-operation between the two leaders was impossible. "I am as entirely of your Lordship's opinion," writes Shelburne to Chatham, "as to not subscribing to the independence of the Colonies, as any one can be who does not choose to bind his future life in, I am sorry to say it, the desperate state of this country. I am perfectly satisfied, that if the Court gave the subject fair play, and the contrary language was not held by persons out of Government, the object would be still more than attainable to us. But your Lordship may be assured a different opinion gains ground every day; and it fills me with astonishment to meet with persons totally unconnected with each other daily coming over to the acknowledgment of their independence." In almost identical terms he wrote to Dr. Price, who however was not persuaded by his arguments.[2]
On the 5th of March the American Conciliatory
