Lord Howe has the honor to acknowledge. the great obligations he is under to Lord George Germain, for the regard & indulgence shewn to his difficulties on the draft of the Instructions, by having obviated some of his former objections. But he begs leave to observe, that there still remains one material article upon which he finds himself under the necessity of giving His Lordship this farther trouble. .

Connecticut & Rhode Island, a.re totally excluded from the advantages of peace, until some measure be. agreed to respecting Alteration~ in their charters. Lord Howe understands that the commissioners are to receive propositions upon that head, and to transmit them to England where they are to be decided upon; But that in the mean time; those Colonies, however well disposed they maybe & whatever submissions they may profess themselves ready to make, are proscribed, and must remain under all the restraints & sufferings of the prohibitory act. He therefore takes the liberty to submit to Lord George, whether the precise alterations intended to be made in their charters (if that point is still to be insisted on) might not be specified in the Instructions; and the commissioners empowered to declare those Colonies at the Peac~ of the King, upon their consenting to such alterations, and to the general preliminary conditions.

He farther begs leave to submit a doubt he entertains whether the prohibitory Act is not compulsory, with regard to the declaring of Connecticut & Rhode Island, as well as all the other Colonies, at Peace, whenever they shall be disposed to return to theit duty.

He conceives that the declaring of peace (with an exception to Connecticut & Rhode Island) and the granting of Pardons, are the only decisive measures which the Commissioners are empowered to take. And that all the other Articles of the Instructions convey merely an authority to confer or treat upon propositions offered, and to transmit them to England. But he humbly submits, whether the desired accommodation would not be facilitated, if the Commissioners conferitig upon the Point of Taxation, . were at liberty to enter upon some explanation of the conciliatory proposition of the House of Commons; so far at least,' as to intimate what Ideas of contribution they can with any hope o.f success transmit to His Majesty's Ministers for the consideration of Parliament. .

He had the honor to mention th~se ~bjections :toLqrcl Ge~rge Germain when he returned the first Draft of the Instructions; and would not have 1 taken the' liberty to repeat them, if he had not thought them very.substantial and important. Howe