The British Offer Terms to America.Seeing the colonists about to be joined by France in a common war on the English empire，Lord North proposed，in February，1778，a renewal of negotiations.By solemn enactment，Parliament declared its intention not to exercise the right of imposing taxes within the colonies；at the same time it authorized the opening of negotiations through commissioners to be sent to America.A truce was to be established，pardons granted，objectionable laws suspended，and the old imperial constitution，as it stood before the opening of hostilities，restored to full vigor.It was too late.Events had taken the affairs of America out of the hands of British commissioners and diplomats.
Effects of French Aid.The French alliance brought ships of war，large sums of gold and silver，loads of supplies，and a considerable body of trained soldiers to the aid of the Americans.Timely as was this help，it meant no sudden change in the fortunes of war.The British evacuated Philadelphia in the summer following the alliance，and Washington's troops were encouraged to come out of Valley Forge.They inflicted a heavy blow on the British at Monmouth，but the treasonable conduct of General Charles Lee prevented a triumph.The recovery of Philadelphia was offset by the treason of Benedict Arnold，the loss of Savannah and Charleston （1780），and the defeat of Gates at Camden.
The full effect of the French alliance was not felt until 1781，when Cornwallis went into Virginia and settled at Yorktown.Accompanied by French troops Washington swept rapidly southward and penned the British to the shore while a powerful French fleet shut off their escape by sea.It was this movement，which certainly could not have been executed without French aid，that put an end to all chance of restoring British dominion in America.It was the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown that caused Lord North to pace the floor and cry out："It is all over！It is all over！"What might have been done without the French alliance lies hidden from mankind.What was accomplished with the help of French soldiers，sailors，officers，money，and supplies，is known to all the earth."All the world agree，"exultantly wrote Franklin from Paris to General Washington，"that no expedition was ever better planned or better executed.It brightens the glory that must accompany your name to the latest posterity."Diplomacy as well as martial valor had its reward.
Peace at Last
British Opposition to the War.In measuring the forces that led to the final discomfiture of King George and Lord North，it is necessary to remember that from the beginning to the end the British ministry at home faced a powerful，informed，and relentless opposition.There were vigorous protests，first against the obnoxious acts which precipitated the unhappy quarrel，then against the way in which the war was waged，and finally against the futile struggle to retain a hold upon the American dominions.Among the members of Parliament who thundered against the government were the first statesmen and orators of the land.William Pitt，Earl of Chatham，though he deplored the idea of American independence，denounced the government as the aggressor and rejoiced in American resistance.Edmund Burke leveled his heavy batteries against every measure of coercion and at last strove for a peace which，while giving independence to America，would work for reconciliation rather than estrangement.Charles James Fox gave the colonies his generous sympathy and warmly championed their rights.Outside of the circle of statesmen there were stout friends of the American cause like David Hume，the philosopher and historian，and Catherine Macaulay，an author of wide fame and a republican bold enough to encourage Washington in seeing it through.
Against this powerful opposition，the government enlisted a whole army of scribes and journalists to pour out criticism on the Americans and their friends.Dr.Samuel Johnson，whom it employed in this business，was so savage that even the ministers had to tone down his pamphlets before printing them.Far more weighty was Edward Gibbon，who was in time to win fame as the historian of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.He had at first opposed the government；but，on being given a lucrative post，he used his sharp pen in its support，causing his friends to ridicule him in these lines：
"King George，in a fright Lest Gibbon should write The story of England's disgrace，Thought no way so sure His pen to secure As to give the historian a place."
Lord North Yields.As time wore on，events bore heavily on the side of the opponents of the government's measures.They had predicted that conquest was impossible，and they had urged the advantages of a peace which would in some measure restore the affections of the Americans.Every day's news confirmed their predictions and lent support to their arguments.Moreover，the war，which sprang out of an effort to relieve English burdens，made those burdens heavier than ever.Military expenses were daily increasing.Trade with the colonies，the greatest single outlet for British goods and capital，was paralyzed.The heavy debts due British merchants in America were not only unpaid but postponed into an indefinite future.Ireland was on the verge of revolution.The French had a dangerous fleet on the high seas.In vain did the king assert in December，1781，that no difficulties would ever make him consent to a peace that meant American independence.Parliament knew better，and on North America according to the Treaty of 1783February 27，1782，in the House of Commons was carried an address to the throne against continuing the war.Burke，Fox，the younger Pitt，Barré，and other friends of the colonies voted in the affirmative.Lord North gave notice then that his ministry was at an end.The king moaned："Necessity made me yield."