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To which his Excellency was pleased to make the following Answer:
Gentlemen:
I have done my duty. I lost no time in laying before you the propositions I had received for an amicable accommodation of the present unhappy differences. I gave you as full and candid an explanation of them as I was authorized or enabled to do. Whether those propositions only explanation of them did or did not contain any thing new, is but little to the purpose. The question is, whether they ought or ought not to be approved, either in whole or in part, or be made the ground of a negotiation; and whether, in the latter case, every Assembly on the Continent ought not to take some active measures to effect an end so desirable. In stating the matter to you, I could have no suspicion that you did not think yourselves competent to the business, and were necessarily to wait the determination, of another body. It was but the last session you assured me that you would not "suffer any of the rights vested in you by the Constitution to be wrested out of your hands by any person or persons whatsoever." I shall forbear to point out the inconsistency of this Address with that declaration. Nor shall I aim to convince you of the wrong ideas you have formed of those propositions. Were they ever so rightly understood, or ever so well approved by you, yet, to judge by your own declaration, it could be of no avail. The times are indeed greatly altered. I shall be happy to see some proper attempts made to mend them. My representations and endeavours, from the first commencement of this unnatural dispute to this day, have not been, nor shall they ever be, wanting towards
The House adjourned till three, P˙M.
Governour' s Answer
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effecting a reconciliation. I am persuaded that if a disposition of this sort is manifested, and the proper steps are pursued by those who have it in their power to take the lead in this important affair on the part of America, it may be easily accomplished to mutual satisfaction. His Majesty, I am sure, would wish to avoid the shedding of the blood of his American, as much as that of his British subjects. They must be all equally dear to him, if they are equally dutiful. The Americans, in general, have been, and I hope will ever prove as well disposed to His Majesty and Family, as the subjects of any other part of the Dominions.