George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition.

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Chapter 18:

Chatham Lays the foundation of peace.

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January 20, 1775.

at the meeting of parliament after the holidays,

Chap. XVIII.} 1775. Jan.

Lord North, who had no plan of his own, presented papers relating to America. Burke complained of them as partial. Chatham, who alone among the public men of England had the sagacity and courage to propose what was necessary for conciliation, was reminded of the statesman who said to his son: ‘See with how little wisdom this world of ours is governed;’ and he pictured to himself Ximenes and Cortes discussing their merits in the shades.

The twentieth of January was the first day of the

Jan. 20.

session in the house of lords. It is not probable that even one of the peers had heard of the settlements beyond the Alleghanies, where the Watauga and the Forks of Holston flow to the Tennessee. Yet on the same day, the lords of that region, most of them Presbyterians of Scottish Irish descent, met in council near Abingdon. Their united congregations, having suffered from sabbaths too much profaned, or