cured. Partly as a sop to Britons who still hoped for a negotiated settlement, George in the spring had reluctantly agreed to also appoint the Howe brothers as peace commissioners in a last-ditch attempt to end the war. For months the cabinet had wrangled over how far the Howes could go in conciliation; in the end, it was not far at all. Lord Germain, denouncing “a sentimental manner of making war,” insisted that the commissioners be constrained in any negotiations. Twenty-four paragraphs of instructions issued in May directed that no blanket pardons be given or concessions tendered until the
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