| Description | Regrets the failure of his negotiation owing to the Boston Port Bill and the Government of Massachusetts and Quebec Acts for "as a concession to pay a tax was the sine qua non on this side, so a reconciliation on the other", no permission had been given to him to raise hopes that the Acts would be repealed and nothing less would satisfy, if the whole of America were as sensible of the advantages of peace and as disposed to it as his Lordship, it would be soon accomplished, but the contrary is the case at present, if these Acts were repealed America would return to every just expression of duty, the party [Dr Franklin] we conferred with would have no objection to petition for the restoration of peace, to offer on the part of Boston to pay the East India Company for the tea though at the risk of his own private fortune, and concert every means of a lasting and reciprocally beneficial union |